JP2556098Y2 - microscope - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a microscope for observing a sample using a Nomarski interference contrast method.

[Prior Art] The interference contrast method is a method of giving a contrast even to a slight undulation by an interference phenomenon. If the light is split into two and superimposed again, the superimposed light will reinforce or weaken each other according to the phase difference between the light and appear as a contrast enhancement. A special prism called Nomarski prism realizes this phenomenon as an interference contrast by applying it to a microscope. The Nomarski prism is made of quartz, and superimposes light by using the birefringence of the crystal. An interference contrast can be obtained simply by inserting this prism in a polarization optical system. According to this interference contrast method, slight undulations are shown by a pigment different from the background color, and the contrast can be clearly observed as a gray or reddish purple sensitive color due to a dark field effect.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in a microscope using the above-mentioned Nomarski interference contrast method, one kind of Nomarski prism is configured to correspond from a low-magnification objective lens to a high-magnification objective lens. In addition, there is a problem that the interference effect cannot be improved. Further, since a complicated mechanism is used for the lateral movement of the Nomarski prism, there is a problem that the manufacture of the microscope becomes difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a microscope capable of improving an interference effect of interference contrast as compared with a conventional microscope.

[Means for Achieving the Object] In order to achieve the above object, a microscope according to the present invention is a microscope for observing a sample using a Nomarski-type interference contrast method. A turret plate having a Nomarski prism dedicated to a magnification objective lens and a hole when the Nomarski prism is not used, an elevating drive mechanism for moving the turret plate up and down, and rotating the turret plate according to the magnification of the objective lens used. A switching mechanism for switching the Nomarski prism to be used, and the Nomarski prism dedicated to the low-magnification objective lens and the Nomarski prism dedicated to the high-magnification objective lens such that each horizontal center line is orthogonal to the rotational radius line of the turret board. Features that it is attached to the turret board It is assumed that.

[Operation] According to the microscope according to the present invention, by rotating the turret board, the magnification of the objective lens is increased.
Two types of Nomarski prisms can be used properly, and the interference effect can be enhanced. Further, a switching mechanism for switching the Nomarski prism to be used by rotating the turret board according to the magnification of the objective lens to be used, and a Nomarski prism dedicated to the low-magnification objective lens and a Nomarski prism dedicated to the high-magnification objective lens are respectively provided. Is mounted on the turret board so that the horizontal center line of the turret board is perpendicular to the turning radius line of the turret board, so rotating the turret board makes it easy to move the Nomarski prism in the horizontal direction to change the interference color Can be done. Further, the back focus position of each objective lens and the position of the Nomarski prism can be matched by the elevation drive mechanism.

[Examples] Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described.

1 is a plan view around a turret disk which is a characteristic part of the microscope according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a side view of a box containing the turret disk.

The turret board 2 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of objective lenses 30
Are housed in a box 10 provided below the revolver 32 to which is attached. The turret board 2 is configured to be able to rotate smoothly by mounting a miniature bearing 15 on a turret board holding shaft 12 erected in the center of the box 10. A gear 16 fixed to the holding shaft 12 is provided on the center opening 2a of the turret board 2, and by rotating a uniformity adjusting knob 20 provided on the upper surface of the box 10, the gear 18 and the gear The holding shaft 12 is rotated via a shaft 16. Since the lower end of the holding shaft 12 is screwed to a nut 14 fixed to the box 10, the turret plate 2 itself is configured to move up and down as the holding shaft 12 rotates.

In addition, three openings are provided on the upper surface of the turret plate 2 at an angular interval of about 120 °, one of which is a hole 4, and the other two are Nomarski prisms 6 for low-magnification objective lenses (hereinafter, low-magnification). A high-magnification objective lens Nomarski prism 8 (hereinafter, referred to as a high-magnification NP prism 8) is attached. The NP prism 6 for low magnification and the NP prism 8 for high magnification are mounted so that their horizontal center line 9 is orthogonal to the radius line 11 of the turret board 2. Or it is configured to be the same as the state moved in the lateral direction.

Further, by rotating the turret board 2 with the objective lens 30 attached to the revolver 32 at a predetermined observation position, the hollow hole 4, the low magnification NP prism 6, and the high magnification NP prism 8 are respectively formed. Is adapted to match the position of the optical axis l of the objective lens 30.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the side peripheral surface of the turret board 2
2b is protruded from the side opening 10a of the box 10, and the turret plate 2 can be rotated about the holding shaft 12 by pushing around the side peripheral surface 2b by hand. A display portion 2c is provided on the side surface b so that the hole 4, the low-magnification NP prism 6, and the high-magnification NP prism 8 can be seen at the position of the optical axis l of the objective lens 30. Have been.
Further, a position fixing mechanism is provided at a corner of the box 10 so that the turret board 2 is stabilized at the observation position.

4 and 5 are a sectional view taken along line AA and a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1 of the NP prism 6 for low magnification and the NP prism 8 for high magnification attached to the turret board 2, respectively. Each NP prism is configured so that the interference effect is improved at high magnification and high magnification.

In the present embodiment, the configuration is as described above. Therefore, when the low-magnification objective lens 30 is used, the turret plate 2
By rotating the NP prism 6 for low magnification at the position of the optical axis 1 of the objective lens 30 and the objective lens for high magnification
When using the 30, by bringing the NP prism 8 for low magnification at the position of the optical axis 1 of the objective lens 30, it becomes possible to observe interference contrast tailored to each case,
The interference effect can be greatly improved as compared with the case where one type of NP prism is used for all conventional objective lenses.

In addition, since the turret disk 2 is provided with the holes 4 when the NP prism is not used, the turret disk 2 is rotated, and the holes 4 are inserted into the optical path of the objective lens 30. Visual field observation is possible. By simply rotating the turret board 2 in this manner, switching between normal microscopic observation and interference contrast method can be performed with a single touch, thereby improving operability.

When the interference color of the visual field is changed in order to enhance the effect of observing the interference contrast, the NP prism 6 for low magnification and the NP prism 8 for high magnification provided on the turret board 2 are connected to the optical path of the objective lens 30. By slightly rotating the interference color, the interference color can be continuously changed since each of them can be moved in the lateral direction with respect to the optical axis l. In this case, there is an advantage that a complicated moving mechanism is not required as in the related art, and the rotating mechanism of the turret board 2 which is also a switching mechanism for each NP prism can be used as it is.

In addition, the objective lens used to enhance the interference effect
When adjusting the NP prism to the 30 back focus position, rotate the uniformity adjustment knob 20 to set the gear 18
The turret board 2 is driven up and down via the gear 16.
By such an operation, the back focus of each objective lens 30 and the positions of the NP prisms 6 and 8 can be easily matched.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the NP prism attached to the turret board 2 is of two types: the NP prism 6 for low magnification and the NP prism 8 for high magnification. Three types of NP prisms may be used.

Further, it is apparent that various mechanisms can be adopted as the lifting drive mechanism for driving the turret board 2 up and down, in addition to the mechanism shown in the above embodiment.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the microscope according to the present invention has a plurality of types of NP prisms (Nomarski prisms).
The use of different types of NP prisms greatly improves the interference effect, and it is easy to move the NP prism laterally to change the interference color by rotating the turret. . Further, the back focus position of each objective lens and the position of the NP prism can be made to coincide with each other by the elevating drive mechanism, so that the interference effect can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view around a turret board which is a characteristic part of the microscope according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof, FIG. 3 is a side view of a box containing the turret board, FIGS. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA and a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of an NP prism for low magnification and an NP prism for high magnification, respectively, which are mounted on a turret board. 2… Turret board, 4… Hollow hole, 6 NP prism for low magnification, 8 NP prism for high magnification, 10… Box,
20: Uniformity adjustment knob, 30: Objective lens, 32: Revolver.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A microscope for observing a sample using a normal-ski type interference contrast method, comprising: a turret board having a Nomarski prism dedicated to a low-magnification objective lens and a Nomarski prism dedicated to a high-magnification objective lens; A moving mechanism for raising and lowering, and a switching mechanism for switching the Nomarski prism to be used by rotating the turret board according to the magnification of the objective lens to be used, dedicated to the Nomarski prism dedicated to the low-magnification objective lens and dedicated to the high-magnification objective lens The Nomarski prism is mounted on the turret board such that each horizontal center line is perpendicular to the rotational radius line of the turret board.