JP2011158778A - Adapter for microscope, and microscope having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adapter for a microscope capable of acquiring a bright image in a desired part including the bottom of a recess even when the recess such as a deep flaw or the like exists in a specimen. <P>SOLUTION: This adapter for the microscope includes a casing 64 that is detachably attached to a sample side end of an objective lens barrel of the microscope where an illumination section for observation is arranged in the periphery of an objective lens 41 and has an opening 61 in the bottom, and an irradiation angle adjusting means 65 that is arranged in the casing 64 and adjusts the irradiation angle of illumination light from the illumination section for observation to the sample. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a microscope adapter that can be attached to and detached from a microscope, and a microscope having the same.

  Conventionally, a magnification observation unit that images an image of a specimen illuminated by an illumination device disposed on the outer periphery of an objective lens with an imaging device (CCD) via the objective lens, and a display device that displays the captured specimen image (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-11-164293

  However, in a microscope composed of a conventional magnification observation unit, an illumination system such as an LED is disposed outside the imaging optical path, so that a deep scratch or the like on a test object (also referred to as a specimen in the present specification). When there is a concave portion, the irradiation light from the illumination system cannot irradiate the entire concave portion, and there is a problem that a bright image of a desired portion including the bottom portion of the concave portion cannot be obtained.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is detachably attached to the specimen side end of an objective lens barrel of a microscope in which an observation illumination unit is arranged on the outer periphery of the objective lens, and has an opening at the bottom. There is provided a microscope adapter comprising: a housing having a housing; and an irradiation angle adjusting unit that is disposed in the housing and adjusts an irradiation angle of illumination light from the observation illumination section with respect to a specimen.

  The present invention also provides a microscope comprising the microscope adapter.

  In addition, the present invention provides a microscope comprising a microscope including the microscope adapter and a stand that detachably holds the microscope.

  In addition, the present invention provides a light source that is arranged on the outer periphery of the objective lens and that irradiates the specimen with illumination light, an imaging means that captures an image of the specimen, and processes signals from the imaging means to form an image of the specimen An image processing means, a control means for controlling the light source, the imaging means, and the image processing means, and a sample-side end of the objective lens barrel in a casing having an opening at the bottom. A microscope is provided, which is equipped with a removable microscope adapter provided with an irradiation angle adjusting means for adjusting an irradiation angle of the illumination light with respect to the specimen.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the microscope adapter which can acquire the bright image of the desired location including the bottom part of the recessed part of a to-be-tested object, the microscope which has this microscope adapter, and the microscope provided with this microscope adapter, and the said microscope are attached or detached. A microscope comprising a stand that can be held can be provided.

It is a schematic structure side view of the microscope based on this embodiment hold | maintained at the stand. FIG. 2 shows a microscope equipped with the microscope adapter according to the present embodiment, and is a view showing a state where the microscope is removed from the stand and the test object is observed.

  Hereinafter, a microscope adapter and a microscope according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are only for facilitating understanding of the invention, and exclude additions and substitutions that can be performed by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. Is not intended.

  First, the overall configuration of the microscope according to the embodiment of the present application will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration side view of a microscope according to an embodiment of the present application, and shows a state in which a microscope main body is attached to a stand. As shown in FIG. 1, a microscope 101 according to the present embodiment includes a stand 20 and a microscope main body 40 (hereinafter simply referred to as “main body”) that is detachably attached to the stand 20. The main body 40 functions as a microscope even in a single state detached from the stand 20. Therefore, the main body 40 includes an optical system 41, an image sensor, a small monitor 46, and an electric system 42 for controlling each part. A microscope adapter 60 according to this embodiment, which will be described later, shown in FIG.

  The stand 20 includes a base portion 12 on which a stage 10 on which a specimen is placed is disposed, a support column 14 provided upright from the base portion 12, and an arm unit provided vertically from the support column 14 in a direction facing the stage 10. The cylindrical main body 40 is connected to the arm portion 16.

  In the present embodiment, the arm portion 16 and the main body 40 are connected by connectors 18-1 and 18-2 of the grip portion 48 and fixing means (not shown) such as a concave and convex fitting by a male ant and a female ant. It is configured to be connected electrically at the same time. The main body 40 is provided with a clamp (not shown) for fixing the main body 40 to the arm portion 16 when the connectors 18-1 and 18-2 are connected. The means for fixing the main body 40 to the arm portion 16 is not limited to the clamp, and for example, the main body 40 may be connected to the stand 20 with an appropriate fitting force. Hereinafter, the connectors 18-1 and 18-2 are simply referred to as connectors 18 when it is not necessary to distinguish them individually.

  A stage vertical movement handle 24 for moving the stage 10 up and down is provided on the side of the base portion 12, and the stage 10 moves up and down when the observer operates the stage vertical movement handle 24. . Further, an arm part vertical movement handle 26 for moving the arm part 16 up and down is provided on the side of the support column 14, and the arm part 16 is operated by an observer operating the arm part vertical movement handle 26. Can be moved up and down. By moving the stage 10 and the arm part 16 up and down, the observer can adjust the focus. The vertical movement of the stage 10 and the arm unit 16 may be performed manually or automatically.

  Further, on the side of the base portion 12, a zoom for changing a magnification ratio of a variable magnification optical system (not shown) in the main body 40, which is used when the main body 40 is mounted on the arm portion 16 and used. In addition to the switch 27 and the dimming switch 28 for adjusting the amount of light of the LED 43 (see FIG. 2), the capture button 29 operated when instructing the capture of the live image, the playback for instructing the playback of the captured image A button 31 and a switching button 32 for instructing switching of display of the observation image are provided.

  The stand 20 is provided with a stand-side control board 33 that controls the operation of the entire stand 20, and the main body 40 is provided with a main body-side control board 42 that controls the operation of the entire main body 40.

  In such a configuration, when the body 40 is mounted on the arm unit 16 and the specimen is observed, power from a power source (not shown) connected to the stand 20 is supplied from the power supply unit 35 in the stand 20 to the arm unit 16. To be supplied to each part of the main body 40 to drive the main body 40. The observation image obtained by the main body 40 is supplied from the main body side control board 42 to the stand side control board 33 via the connector 18 and displayed on the monitor 37 connected to the stand 20. When the above-described capture button 29 or the like provided on the base unit 12 is operated, the stand-side control board 33 performs an operation according to a signal supplied from the operated button or the like via the connector 18 on the main body side. The control board 42 is instructed and an operation corresponding to the operated button is performed.

  In the microscope according to the present embodiment, when the main body 40 is separated from the arm unit 16, the main body side control board 42 switches the power supply source to the main body 40 from the power supply unit 35 to the battery 44 in the main body, The supply destination of the observation image is switched from the monitor 37 connected to the stand 20 to the small monitor 46 provided on the side surface of the main body 40. Thereby, the electric power to each part of the main body 40 comes to be supplied from the battery 44, and the main body 40 functions as a microscope alone.

  When the main body side control board 42 determines that the main body 40 is electrically connected to the stand 20 via the arm portion 16, the main body side control board 42 does not accept the operation on the operation system of the main body 40 as invalid and does not accept the operation on the operation system of the stand 20. Only is accepted as valid. The validity / invalidity of the operation for each operation system of the main body 40 and the stand 20 is not limited to this. For example, the operation for both operation systems may be validated or the validity / invalidity may be appropriately switched by a separately provided switch. good.

  Next, the microscope adapter 60 and the main body 40 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 shows the main body 40 equipped with the microscope adapter 60 according to the present embodiment, and shows a state where the main body 40 is detached from the stand 20 and the concave portion R of the test object 1 is observed.

  The main body 40 includes a cylindrical casing 47 and a grip portion 48 for the observer to grip. In the housing 47, the objective lens 41, a variable power optical system and an imaging optical system (not shown), and observation light formed by the imaging optical system in this order from the end of the housing 47 on the object 1 side. A CCD 45 for picking up the image is arranged to constitute a photographing optical path.

  Around the objective lens 41, a plurality of LEDs 43 are arranged in a ring shape and fixed along the inner wall of the housing 47 so as to surround the objective lens 41, and the illumination light output side of the LED 43 is illuminated from the LED 43. A lens 49 for irradiating the test object 1 with light is disposed. As shown in FIG. 2, the lens 49 is also disposed along the inner wall of the housing 47 so as to surround the objective lens 41. In the main body 40, all of the plurality of LEDs 43 can be turned on at once, or only a part of the LEDs 43 can be turned on to obliquely illuminate the test object 1.

  In addition, the above-described battery 44 is disposed in the housing 47, and the battery 44 is configured to be detachable from the main body 40. By making the battery 44 detachable, the battery 44 can be charged by a charger (not shown) when the battery 44 is removed from the main body 40. The battery 44 can also be charged in a state where it is mounted on the arm portion 16.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a small monitor 46 for displaying an observation image is provided on the outer surface of the housing 47. The small monitor 46 may be provided by being fitted on the side surface of the housing 47, or may be provided with a hinge structure or the like that can be opened and closed with respect to the housing 47. Further, various switches such as a main body side dimming switch 50 (see FIG. 1) for adjusting the amount of illumination light from the LED 43 and the like are provided on the outer surface of the housing 47.

  The microscope adapter 60 according to the present embodiment is externally fitted to the end of the casing 47 on the side of the test object 1 so that the observer can attach and detach appropriately. The method of fixing the microscope adapter 60 to the housing 47 is not limited to external fitting, and may be fixed by a fixing means such as a screw.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the microscope adapter 60 includes an adapter bottom portion 62 having an opening 61 in the center and an adapter housing 64 having a substantially U-shaped cross section including a cylindrical portion 63. Irradiates the object 1 through the opening 61.

  The adapter housing 64 has irradiation angle adjusting means 65 for adjusting the irradiation angle of the illumination light from the LED 43 inside. The irradiation angle adjusting means 65 includes a total reflection mirror 66 that totally reflects the illumination light from the LED 43 and a half mirror 67 that reflects the illumination light reflected by the total reflection mirror 66 to the test object 1. The total reflection mirror 66 is disposed on the optical path of the illumination light outside the imaging optical path of the microscope, and the half mirror 67 is disposed on the optical path of the illumination light reflected by the total reflection mirror 66 in the imaging optical path of the microscope. Yes. That is, the total reflection mirror 66 is provided on an extension line of the arrangement position of the LED 43 and the lens 49, and the half mirror 67 is provided on an extension line (on the optical axis) of the arrangement position of the CCD 45 and the objective lens 41. .

  One end of the half mirror 67 is fixed on an axis 67a orthogonal to the optical axis of the objective lens 41 (perpendicular to the paper surface), and this axis is the center of rotation, and the vertical direction (arrow A direction) in the figure. Rotate to. The shaft 67a extends to the outside of the housing 47, and a knob is provided on the outer shaft 67a. When the observer rotates this knob, the half mirror 67 rotates in the arrow A direction, and the irradiation angle of the illumination light can be adjusted. In this way, the observer can irradiate the concave portion R of the test object 1 as a whole, and can obtain a bright image of a desired location including the bottom of the concave portion R.

  Instead of rotating the half mirror 67, it may be configured to be movable in the vertical direction by a moving mechanism, and in this case also, the irradiation angle of the illumination light can be adjusted. Further, the same effect can be obtained by fixing the half mirror 67 and moving the total reflection mirror 66 in the left-right direction (arrow B direction) in the drawing along the optical axis. Alternatively, the illumination angle of the illumination light may be adjusted by driving both the total reflection mirror 66 and the half mirror 67. Thus, if the irradiation angle of illumination light can be adjusted, the way of moving the total reflection mirror 66 and the half mirror 67 can be changed as appropriate. The total reflection mirror 66 and the half mirror 67 may be driven either automatically or manually. The microscope adapter 60 itself may be rotated to adjust the illumination light irradiation angle. In this case, oblique illumination can be performed on the test object.

  The microscope adapter 60 preferably has a retracting mechanism that allows the irradiation angle adjusting means 65 to retract from the microscope adapter 60. For example, the total reflection mirror 66 and the half mirror 67 are stored in a box as a unit (part indicated by a chain line in FIG. 2), and the irradiation angle adjusting means 65 is retracted by making this box detachable from the adapter housing 64. Can be possible. In this case, the adapter housing 64 has an opening for inserting / removing the box and a lid member for closing the opening. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the adapter housing 64.

  This is the end of the description of the microscope adapter and the microscope having the microscope adapter. The microscope adapter is arranged not only for the microscope as described above, but also for the observation illumination unit on the outer periphery of the objective lens. It can also be attached to other microscopes such as stereo microscopes. By using this microscope adapter, the irradiation angle of the illumination light can be adjusted, and even when the test object has a deep recess, the observer acquires a bright image of a desired location including the bottom of the recess. can do.

  In the present embodiment, a microscope having an illumination unit made of an LED has been described. However, an illumination unit may be provided along the inner wall of the housing of the microscope adapter, and the microscope may be attached to the microscope as an adapter with an illumination unit. The same effect as above can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Stage 12 Base part 14 Support | pillar 16 Arm part 18 Connector 20 Stand 24 Stage vertical movement handle 26 Arm vertical movement handle 33 Stand side control board 40 Microscope main body 41 Objective lens 42 Main body side control board 47 Housing 48 Grasping part 49 Lens 60 Microscope adapter 61 Opening portion 62 Adapter bottom portion 63 Tubular portion 64 Adapter housing 65 Irradiation angle adjusting means 66 Total reflection mirror 67 Half mirror 101 Microscope

Claims (9)

A housing that is detachably attached to a sample side end of an objective lens barrel of a microscope in which an observation illumination unit is arranged on the outer periphery of the objective lens, and has an opening at the bottom,
A microscope adapter, comprising: an irradiation angle adjusting unit that is arranged in the housing and adjusts an irradiation angle of illumination light from the observation illumination unit to the specimen. The microscope includes an imaging unit that captures an image of the specimen through the objective lens;
The irradiation angle adjusting means includes a first reflecting member disposed outside the photographing optical path composed of the objective lens and the imaging means and on the optical path of the illumination light from the observation illumination unit,
The microscope adapter according to claim 1, further comprising: a second reflecting member that is disposed in the photographing optical path and reflects the illumination light from the first reflecting member with respect to the specimen.   3. The microscope adapter according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first reflecting member and the second reflecting member is moved to adjust an irradiation angle of illumination light to the specimen.   4. The microscope adapter according to claim 2, wherein the first reflecting member is a total reflection mirror, and the second reflecting member is a half mirror. 5.   5. The microscope adapter according to claim 2, further comprising a rotation mechanism that rotates the second reflecting member.   The microscope adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a retracting mechanism for retracting the irradiation angle adjusting unit to the outside of the photographing optical path.   A microscope comprising the microscope adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   A microscope comprising the microscope according to claim 7 and a stand that detachably holds the microscope. A light source arranged on the outer periphery of the objective lens and irradiating the specimen with illumination light
Imaging means for capturing an image of the specimen;
Image processing means for processing the signal from the imaging means to form an image of the specimen;
Control means for controlling the light source, the imaging means, and the image processing means,
A detachable microscope adapter having an irradiation angle adjusting means for adjusting the irradiation angle of the illumination light with respect to the specimen is mounted in the case side end of the objective lens barrel in a housing having an opening at the bottom. A microscope characterized by having

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