JP2011028108A - Microscope, transmission dark field lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microscope and transmission dark field lighting system where an observer easily handles a sample even in the state where an optional transmission dark field lighting system is mounted to the microscope. <P>SOLUTION: This microscope 1 includes an objective lens 9 for observing the sample, the transmission bright field lighting system 17, and a base part 3 having a mounting mechanism for mounting the transmission dark field lighting system 25 on the lower side or the upper side of the transmission bright field lighting system 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a microscope and a transmission dark field illumination device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a microscope in which a transmission dark field illumination device and a transmission dark field illumination device are built in a base portion of a microscope and can be switched between transmission bright field illumination and transmission dark field illumination. Thus, in the case of a microscope incorporating both illumination devices, there is a problem that even a user who does not require transmitted dark field illumination must purchase a microscope equipped with a transmitted dark field illumination device. On the other hand, there is a transmission dark field illumination device as an option, and in this case, there is no problem described above.

  For example, an optional transmission dark field illuminating device accommodates a light source unit arranged by tilting LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) along a circumference in a holding unit, and a specimen placed on a glass plate provided above the holding unit. Illuminating from an oblique direction, for example, it can be used by being installed on the upper surface (the surface on which the sample is placed) of the base portion of a stereomicroscope as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-142004

  However, a microscope in which the optional transmission dark field illumination device as described above is installed on the upper surface of the base portion has a shape in which the transmission dark field illumination device protrudes from the upper surface of the base portion. There is a problem that the operability when the spectrographer handles the sample is reduced because the distance between the part and the sample mounting surface becomes small.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a microscope and a transmission dark field illumination device in which an analyst can easily handle a specimen even when the optional transmission dark field illumination device is mounted on a microscope. Objective.

  In order to solve the above problems, a microscope according to the present invention includes an objective lens for observing a specimen, a transmitted bright field illumination device, and a transmitted dark field illumination device below or above the transmitted bright field illumination device. A base portion having a mounting mechanism for mounting is provided.

  In addition, the transmission dark field illumination device according to the present invention can be attached to the microscope.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a microscope and a transmission dark field illumination device in which a spectroscope can easily handle a sample even when an optional transmission dark field illumination device is mounted on the microscope.

It is a side view which shows the microscope which concerns on 1st Embodiment equipped with the transmitted dark field illumination device. It is a side view which shows a mode that a transmission dark field illumination apparatus is mounted | worn with the microscope which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the state which turned on the light source part for dark field illumination of the transmission dark field illumination apparatus with which the microscope which concerns on 1st Embodiment was mounted | worn. It is AA sectional drawing in FIG. It is a side view which shows the external appearance of the base part in FIG. It is a side view which shows the microscope which concerns on 2nd Embodiment equipped with the transmitted dark field illumination device. It is a side view which shows a mode that a transmission dark field illumination apparatus is mounted | worn with the microscope which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the state which turned on the light source part for dark field illumination of the transmission dark field illumination apparatus with which the microscope which concerns on 2nd Embodiment was mounted | worn.

  Hereinafter, a microscope according to an embodiment of the present application and a transmission dark field illumination device that can be attached to the microscope will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 show the configurations of the base portion of the microscope and the transmission dark field illumination device in cross section. 2 and 7 show a state in which the bright field illumination light source unit of the transmission bright field illumination device of the microscope is turned on.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, a microscope (stereomicroscope) 1 according to the first embodiment is attached to a base 3, a column 5, and a column 5 and can be moved in the vertical direction (vertical direction) by a vertical movement handle (not shown). And the objective lens 9 attached to the lower side of the mirror body 7, the lens barrel 11 attached to the upper side of the lens body 7, the eyepiece 13 attached to the lens barrel 11, and the like. Further, the mirror body 7 is provided with a zoom handle (not shown) for moving the constituent lenses of the zoom optical system inside the mirror body 7 in the optical axis direction.

  A circular glass plate 15 is attached to the upper portion of the base portion 3. The center of the glass plate 15 coincides with the optical axis of the objective lens 9. A specimen (not shown) is placed on the upper surface of the glass plate 15.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a transmission bright field illumination device 17 for performing transmission bright field illumination on the specimen on the glass plate 15 is provided inside the base portion 3. The transmitted bright field illumination device 17 holds the bright field illumination light source unit 19 and the optical element 21 by a bright field illumination holding unit 23. The bright-field illumination light source unit 19 is a thin surface-emitting light source unit using LEDs, for example. The optical element 21 is a diffuser plate, a condenser lens, or the like used as necessary.

  An optional transmission dark field illumination device 25 is mounted below the transmission bright field illumination device 17 of the base unit 3. The transmitted dark field illumination device 25 includes a dark field illumination light source unit 29 in which a plurality of white LEDs 27 are inclined and arranged along a circumference in a dark field illumination holding unit 31, and a specimen on a glass plate 15. The white LED 27 is obliquely irradiated with light to perform transmission dark field illumination (see FIG. 3).

  The base unit 3 has a mounting mechanism for mounting the transmitted dark field illumination device 25 on the lower side of the transmitted bright field illumination device 17 as described below. A first guide groove 33 that is a mounting mechanism that extends straight forward and backward is formed on the left and right inner surfaces of the base portion 3 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). On both left and right side surfaces of the dark field illumination holding portion 31, flanges 35 that extend straight forward and backward and engage with the first guide groove 33 are formed (see FIG. 4). In the present specification, “up / down”, “left / right”, and “front / back” are directions as viewed from the spectroscope.

  In order to attach the transmission dark field illumination device 25 to the base 3 of the microscope 1, the spectrographer first removes a cover member (not shown) attached to the bottom of the base 3. FIG. 2 shows a state where the cover member is removed. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the drawer 35 is just closed while the flange 35 is engaged with the first guide groove 33 and slid in the direction of the arrow from the front of the base portion 3 (analyzer side). A transmission dark field illumination device 25 is inserted. The transmitted dark field illumination device 25 is inserted until the front end portion 37 of the dark field illumination holding portion 31 comes into contact with a stopper 39 provided at the back of the base portion 3. Then, the transmission dark field illumination device 25 is fixed to the bottom of the base unit 3 by a fixing unit (not shown). Although the form of a fixing | fixed part is not specifically limited, For example, it can fix using a volt | bolt, a clamp screw, a leaf | plate spring, etc.

  Further, when the transmission dark field illumination device 25 is mounted on the bottom of the base portion 3, in order to electrically control the transmission dark field illumination device 25, for example, a transmission darkness is provided by a connector or the like on a substrate (not shown) provided in the base portion 3. A field illumination device 25 is connected. Alternatively, an external power supply device (not shown) may be separately prepared, and the transmission dark field illumination device 25 may be connected thereto.

  When performing transmission bright field observation with the microscope 1 equipped with the transmission dark field illumination device 25, the bright field illumination light source unit 19 of the transmission bright field illumination device 17 above the transmission dark field illumination device 25 is turned on and transmitted. Bright field illumination is performed (see FIG. 2). Of course, the transmitted bright field illumination can be performed in the same manner even when the optional transmitted dark field illumination device 25 is not installed.

  The base unit 3 is a moving mechanism for moving the transmitted bright field illumination device 17 out of the optical path when the transmitted dark field illumination device 25 mounted on the base unit 3 performs the transmission dark field illumination, as will be described below. Have As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, two guide rods 41 that extend straight forward and backward and are parallel to each other are provided inside the base portion 3. Both front and rear ends of the guide bar 41 are supported by plate-like support portions 43. As shown in FIG. 4, the bright field illumination holding portion 23 has a guide hole 45 on the left side and a second guide groove 47 on the right side as viewed from the spectroscope. The left guide rod 41 is inserted into the guide hole 45, and the right guide rod 41 is engaged with the second guide groove 47.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an operating lever 49 is provided on the left side surface of the bright field illumination holding portion 23, and a long hole 51 extending in the front-rear direction is formed on the left side wall of the base portion 3. Yes. The operation lever 49 is inserted into the long hole 51, and the distal end portion protrudes outside the base portion 3. The spectrographer can move the transmitted bright field illumination device 17 back and forth along the guide bar 41 by moving the tip of the operation lever 49 back and forth.

  When performing transmission dark field observation with the microscope 1 equipped with the transmission dark field illumination device 25, the spectroscope moves the operation lever 49 from the front to the back (in the direction of the arrow) as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the transmitted bright field illumination device 17 on the upper side of the transmitted dark field illumination device 25 is moved from the front to the back (in the direction of the arrow) to be removed from the optical path in the transmitted dark field observation. Then, the dark field illumination light source unit 29 (white LED 27) of the transmission dark field illumination device 25 is turned on to perform transmission dark field illumination (see FIG. 3). By moving the transmitted bright field illumination device 17 out of the optical path by the moving mechanism described above, the illumination light of the dark field illumination light source unit 29 is irradiated to the specimen on the glass plate 15 without being disturbed.

  When attempting to perform transmitted bright field observation again from the transmitted dark field observation state, the dark field illumination light source unit 29 is turned off, and the operation lever 49 is pulled forward to bring the transmitted bright field illumination device 17 to the original position. Returning, the bright-field illumination light source unit 19 may be turned on. The spectrographer can selectively perform transmission bright field observation and transmission dark field observation.

  According to the microscope 1 of the first embodiment, the spectrographer operates the microscope 1 with an operational feeling as if the transmitted dark field illumination device 25 had been incorporated in advance even when the optional transmitted dark field illumination device 25 was mounted. Can be used. That is, the transmitted dark field illumination device 25 does not protrude from the upper surface of the base portion 3, and the spectrographer can easily handle the specimen after the transmission dark field illumination device 25 is mounted as before the mounting.

  In particular, the microscope 1 according to the first embodiment is configured such that a space is provided below the transmitted bright field illumination device 17 of the base unit 3 and the transmitted dark field illumination device 25 is incorporated in this space. Due to this configuration, it is preferable to take a distance between the transmission dark field illumination device 25 arranged below the transmission bright field illumination device 17 and the specimen on the glass plate 15 and prevent both from being too close. Transmission dark field illumination conditions can be taken, and high optical performance in transmission dark field observation can be obtained.

  Further, even in the case of performing transmission bright field observation with the optional transmission dark field illumination device 25 attached, a conventional technique in which a transmission dark field illumination device is installed on the upper surface of the base portion and a specimen is placed thereon. Unlike the prior art, the distance between the bright field illumination light source 19 of the transmitted bright field illumination device 17 and the specimen is the same as that before the transmission dark field illumination device 25 is mounted, so that the optical performance in the transmitted bright field observation is not deteriorated. .

  Further, the strength of the base part 3 can be increased by thickening the base part 3 as much as the space for mounting the transmission dark field illumination device 25 is provided in the base part 3.

(Second Embodiment)
The microscope (stereomicroscope) 53 of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the base portion 55. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a transmission bright field illumination device 57 for performing transmission bright field illumination on the specimen on the glass plate 15 is provided inside the base portion 55. The transmitted bright field illumination device 57 is a device that holds a bright field illumination light source unit 59 and an optical element 61 by a bright field illumination holding unit 63. The bright-field illumination light source unit 59 is a thin surface-emitting light source unit using LEDs, for example. The optical element 61 is a diffuser plate, a condenser lens, or the like used as necessary.

  A space as a mounting mechanism is provided above the transmitted bright field illumination device 57 of the base portion 55, and an optional transmitted dark field illumination device 65 is incorporated therein. The transmitted dark field illumination device 65 includes a dark field illumination light source unit 69 in which a plurality of white LEDs 67 are inclined and arranged along a circumference, and is disposed between the transmitted bright field illumination device 57 and the glass plate 15. Then, the sample on the glass plate 15 is irradiated with the light of the white LED 67 from an oblique direction to perform transmission dark field illumination (see FIG. 8). The transmitted dark field illumination device 65 is held by an annular holding portion 71 provided inside the base portion 55.

  In order to attach the transmitted dark field illumination device 65 to the base portion 55 of the microscope 53, the spectrographer first removes the glass plate 15 attached to the upper portion of the base portion 55. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the transmitted dark field illumination device 65 is dropped from above the base portion 55 in the direction of the arrow. The transmitted dark field illumination device 65 is fitted into the holding unit 71, and the transmitted dark field illumination device 65 is fixed to the holding unit 71 by a fixing unit (not shown). Then, the glass plate 15 is attached again.

  Further, when the transmission dark field illumination device 65 is mounted on the base 55, in order to electrically control the transmission dark field illumination device 65, for example, a transmission dark field illumination is performed by a connector or the like on a substrate (not shown) provided in the base portion 55. Connect the device 65. Alternatively, an external power supply device (not shown) may be separately prepared, and the transmission dark field illumination device 65 may be connected thereto.

  When performing transmission bright field observation with the microscope 53 equipped with the transmission dark field illumination device 65, the bright field illumination light source 59 of the transmission bright field illumination device 57 below the transmission dark field illumination device 65 is turned on. Transmitted bright field illumination is performed (see FIG. 7). Of course, the transmitted bright field illumination can be performed in the same manner even when the optional transmitted dark field illumination device 65 is not installed.

  When performing transmission dark field observation with the microscope 53 equipped with the transmission dark field illumination device 65, the dark field illumination light source unit 69 (white LED 67) of the transmission dark field illumination device 65 above the transmission bright field illumination device 57 is used. The light is turned on and transmitted dark field illumination is performed (see FIG. 8). In the second embodiment, since the transmitted bright field illumination device 57 is located below the transmitted dark field illumination device 65, it is not necessary to move it out of the optical path even when performing transmission dark field observation. In order to prevent a part of the light from the white LED 67 from being reflected on the surface of the transmitted bright field illumination device 57 and causing flare when performing the transmitted dark field illumination, a light shielding paper is placed on the upper surface of the transmitted bright field illumination device 57. It is desirable to be able to insert an antireflection member such as. The spectrographer can selectively perform transmission bright field observation and transmission dark field observation.

  According to the microscope 53 of the second embodiment, the spectroscope can operate the microscope 53 with an operational feeling as if the transmission dark field illumination device 65 had been incorporated in advance even when the optional transmission dark field illumination device 65 was mounted. Can be used. That is, the transmitted dark field illumination device 65 does not protrude from the upper surface of the base portion 55, and the spectrographer can easily handle the specimen after the transmission dark field illumination device 65 is mounted as before the mounting.

  Moreover, the base part 55 can be increased in strength by making the base part 55 thick as a whole by providing a space for mounting the transmission dark field illumination device 65 in the base part 55.

  As in the first embodiment, the transmission dark field illumination device is incorporated below the transmission bright field illumination device, or the transmission dark field illumination device is incorporated above the transmission bright field illumination device as in the second embodiment. As for the configuration, an appropriate one is selected in consideration of various optical conditions (observation magnification, NA, illumination field, required illumination brightness, etc.) and usability of the microscope.

  Note that the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and is not limited to the above-described configuration, and can be appropriately modified and changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, the bright field illumination light source unit of the transmission bright field illumination device and the dark field illumination light source unit of the transmission dark field illumination device are not limited to the above-described methods. In the above-described embodiment, the transmission bright field illumination device is built in the base portion in advance, but the transmission bright field illumination device may be an option that can be incorporated into the base portion later. The microscope of the present application is not limited to a stereomicroscope, and may be various microscopes in which an illuminating device is arranged in a base portion, for example, a macro zoom microscope.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,53 Microscope 3,55 Base part 9 Objective lens 13 Eyepiece lens 17, 57 Transmission bright field illumination device 19, 59 Bright field illumination light source part 21, 61 Optical element 23, 63 Bright field illumination holding part 25, 65 Transmission Dark field illumination device 27, 67 White LED
29, 69 Dark field illumination light source 31 Dark field illumination holder 33 First guide groove 35 Flange 41 Guide rod 45 Guide hole 47 Second guide groove

Claims (5)

An objective lens for observing the specimen;
A transmitted bright field illumination device;
A microscope comprising a base portion having a mounting mechanism for mounting a transmitted dark field illumination device below or above the transmitted bright field illumination device.   The base unit has a moving mechanism for moving the transmitted bright field illumination device out of the optical path when performing transmission dark field illumination by the transmitted dark field illumination device mounted on the base unit. The microscope according to claim 1.   The microscope according to claim 2, wherein the transmission dark field illumination device is attached to a lower side of the transmission bright field illumination device.   The microscope according to claim 3, wherein the mounting mechanism is capable of mounting a cover member when the transmission dark field illumination device is not mounted.   5. A transmission dark field illumination device that can be attached to the microscope according to claim 1.

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