JP2950946B2 - Magnifying observation device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to various fields such as medical, academic, and industrial fields, for example, the outer surface of an object to be observed such as human skin, microscopic organisms, or integrated circuits. To be used for observing the surface layer in an enlarged manner, in particular, by merely bringing the object into contact with or close to the surface of the object to be observed, and subjecting the object to be observed to any processing at the position as it is TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a magnifying observation apparatus that can perform magnified observation without any problem.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a microscope or a loupe has been used as an instrument or device for magnifying observation, but a microscope needs to process an object to be observed and take it to the side of the microscope. The object can be easily observed without being subjected to any processing by taking it to the side, but does not include a light source for irradiating the object and has a low possible magnification.

Against this background, the present applicant has previously developed a magnifying observation apparatus having both the advantages of a microscope with high magnification and the advantages of a loupe with ease (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-308527).
No. 1, Japanese Patent Application No. 1-24622 and Japanese Patent Application No. 1-273419).

This magnifying observation apparatus comprises an observation apparatus main body comprising a display (display means) and a controller (not shown), and an objective tool (barrel and light guide cap described in JP-A-1-308527) 100 shown in FIG. The objective 100 includes an optical system 102 for enlarging an image and an optical fiber 103 for guiding irradiation light for illuminating the observation object M from a light source provided on the observation apparatus main body side. Is provided with a light guide cap (object tip) 105. And this objective tool 1
00 while holding the light guide cap 105 in the object M
The image capturing device 104 (CCD device) built in the objective tool 100 reproduces and observes the image captured by the image pickup device 104 on the display. If it is brought into contact with or close to a predetermined proximity distance, it will be focused on itself, so that anyone can easily observe at magnifications of 50 to several thousand times without any skill or skill. That is.

By the way, in this magnifying observation apparatus, a light source is provided in the controller to obtain more powerful irradiation light, and the irradiation light is guided from the light source to the objective tool by an optical fiber,
Also, a signal processing means interposed between the image sensor and the display is provided in the controller. For this reason, a controller is required in addition to the objective and the display, and accordingly, it is insufficient when the overall size is increased and the easiness is further emphasized.

Further, in such a magnifying observation apparatus, control of irradiation light irradiating the observation object or control of image light from the observation object is important for better observation. That is, in general, the irradiation light irradiating the object to be observed includes incident light that illuminates the object from the front, side light that irradiates the object at a steep angle that is nearly parallel to the front of the object, and transmission of the object to be observed. In the case of an object, there is transmitted light that illuminates the surface layer from the inside with light that has been transmitted internally, and image light from the object to be observed is surface reflected light that is directly reflected directly on the surface of the object to be observed, and There is non-surface reflected light that has once passed through the surface layer of the object, but more effective observation can be performed by appropriately selecting or combining these lights.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a magnifying observation apparatus that can be further miniaturized and can be easily handled, and can select irradiation light.

[Means for solving the problem]

Such an object is achieved by using an objective in which a transparent light guide cap having a hemispherical front portion having a through hole formed at the center is connected to the distal end, and an enlarged image of an object to be observed obtained with the objective. The objective tool is divided into a front block and a rear block that can be freely contacted and separated, and an optical system for enlarging the object to be observed and a light source for illuminating the object are built in the front block. In addition, the rear block incorporates image pickup means for capturing an enlarged image from the optical system and signal processing means for processing a signal from the image pickup means and outputting the processed signal to the display means, and an incident surface and a reflection surface on the base end surface of the light guide cap. Are alternately formed, and a mask body is interposed between the light source and the base end face of the light guide cap, so that light from the light source can be selectively applied to the incident surface and the reflective surface by operating the mask body. Achieved by a magnifying observation device That.

[Action]

In this magnifying observation apparatus, since the light source and the signal processing means are also built in the objective tool, the controller which was required in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus is not required, and accordingly,
The whole is downsized. In addition, the incorporation of the light source and the signal processing means into the objective means that the light source becomes closer to the object to be observed when viewed from the light source, so that the output of the light source can be smaller, and the light source itself can be significantly reduced. In connection with the fact that it can be miniaturized, and when looking at the signal processing means,
Since the signal processing means is closer to the imaging means, the capacity of the signal processing means can be much smaller than in the conventional case, which leads to the signal processing means being much smaller. In other words, the incorporation of the light source and the signal processing means into the objective tool leads to the downsizing of the light source and the signal processing means,
The organic association that this miniaturization also allows for self-containment has led to overall miniaturization.

In addition, this magnifying observation apparatus incorporates the light source and the signal processing means in the objective tool, and incorporates the objective tool with the front block containing the optical system and the light source, and the imaging means and the signal processing means. The front block is divided into a rear block and both can be freely contacted and separated.Therefore, a dedicated front block is prepared in advance according to the magnification and the type of the object to be observed. Can be handled, and handling becomes even easier.

Further, in the objective of the magnifying observation apparatus, the irradiation light from the light source passes through the inside space of the light guide cap to illuminate the object to be observed from the front through the through hole, and the inside of the solid inside of the light guide cap. The side emission irradiates the object under observation at a steep angle close to the front by passing through the hole and coming out of the through hole, and the surface layer hits the object from other parts than the through hole and penetrates the surface layer. Although transmitted light that illuminates the object from the inside can be obtained, either incident light or side light can be selected by operating the mask body, and both can be combined in an appropriate ratio. That is, if the mask body is operated so that the irradiation light from the light guide means is applied only to the reflection surface, only the incident light is obtained, and if the irradiation light is applied only to the incident surface, only the side emission light is obtained, If the incident light and the reflected light are applied to both surfaces at an appropriate ratio, the incident light and the side light can be combined at an appropriate ratio.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

This magnifying observation apparatus includes an objective 1 as shown in FIG.
And display means (not shown), such as a CRT, for reproducing and displaying an enlarged image of the observed object M obtained by the objective 1.

The objective tool 1 has a long and slender cylindrical shape and is divided into a front block 3 and a rear block 4 so that the front block 3 can be attached to and detached from the rear block 4.

The front block 3 includes an optical system 5 for enlarging an object to be observed.
And a light source 6 for illuminating the object to be observed, and a light guide cap 7 is connected to a distal end thereof.

The optical system 5 is configured by holding an objective lens 9 and other lenses in a cylindrical holder 8. At the tip of the holder 8, a light-shielding eave 10 formed in a tapered shape is provided.
The optical system 5 is basically positioned so that the tip of the light guide cap 7 abuts on the surface of the object M by focusing on the surface of the object M,
By adjusting the screwing state of the light guide cap 7 with respect to the front block 3, non-contact observation is also possible.

The light source 6 is disposed so as to face the base end surface 13 of the light guide cap 7 at a position corresponding to the outside of the light-shielding eaves 10 of the holder 8, so that the light does not directly enter the optical system 5. Have been. As the light source 6, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of small light emitting sources 6b may be arranged in an annular shape, or an annular lamp may be used.

The light guide cap 7 is for bringing the tip of the light guide cap 7 into contact with the surface of the observation object M so that the surface of the observation object M is aligned with the focal point of the objective lens 9 of the optical system 5. The irradiation light from the light source 6 is divided into the incident light Ld, the side light Ls, and the transmitted light Lt to irradiate the observation object M, and is a highly transparent synthetic material such as an acrylic resin (methacrylic resin). It is made of resin (Fig. 2). The front block 3 is screwed to the front end of the front block 3 by a screw 14 formed on the rear portion 7r. In this screwed state, the above-mentioned focusing is performed. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a base portion 13 formed of a cylindrical rear portion 7r and a hemispherical front portion 7f has the same length on the base end surface 13 formed at the end of the rear portion 7r. Incident surface 13s
And the reflecting surface 13d are formed alternately every four surfaces, and a small through-hole 15 is formed in the center of the front end of the front portion 7f.

The incident surface 13s is provided with a light guide cap
It is intended to penetrate into the inside of the solid, so that it is orthogonal to the main traveling direction of the irradiation light,
d is for totally reflecting the irradiation light from the light source 6 and guiding it to the space inside the light guide cap 7, and is in an inclined state capable of totally reflecting the irradiation light in the traveling direction of the irradiation light.

A mask body 16 is provided between the base end face 13 of the light guide cap 7 and the light source 6. This mask body 16 is
The incident light 13s on the base end face 13 of the light guide cap 7
Alternatively, it is for selectively applying to the reflection surface 13d, a through hole 17 is provided at the center, and four slit holes 18 are provided around the periphery in accordance with the size, arrangement interval and number of the entrance surface 13s and the reflection surface 13d.
Are formed in a disc shape, and are disposed between the light source 6 and the base end surface 13 of the light guide cap 7 so as to be rotatable as indicated by an arrow X. That is, when the mask body 16 is rotated to align the slit hole 18 with only the incident surface 13s, as shown in FIG. 4, the irradiation light enters the solid inside of the light guide cap 7 from the incident surface 13s. Through hole 15
Is limited to only the side emission light Ls that irradiates the observation object M at a steep angle close to the front of the object M by exiting from the side surface, and conversely, if the slit hole 18 is aligned only with the reflection surface 13d, the fifth
As shown in the figure, the irradiation light is entirely reflected by the reflection surface 13d, passes through the inner space of the light guide cap 7, and is limited to only the incident light Ld that illuminates the observation object M from the front through the through hole 15. If 18 is made to match both the incidence surface 13s and the reflection surface 13d at an appropriate ratio, the side emission hole Ls and the epi-illumination hole Ld can be combined at an appropriate ratio. As a mechanism for rotating the mask body 16, a well-known technique can be appropriately adopted.

Since the front block 3 can be attached to and detached from the rear block 4, a plurality of dedicated blocks corresponding to the enlargement ratio and the type of the object to be observed are prepared in advance, and the dedicated block is selectively used. It is possible to use properly.

The rear block 4 has built-in imaging means (CCD element) 20 for capturing an enlarged image of the observed object M obtained by the optical system 5 and signal processing means 21 for processing signals from the imaging means 20. In the rear block 4, a fitting tube 22 for connecting the front block 3 is protruded from a front end surface, and a cable 23 connected to display means is led out from a rear end portion. A switch 24 for ON / OFF is provided on the side surface, and a terminal 25 of a lead wire from this switch 24 faces the front end face, and the light source 6 faces the rear end face of the front block 3.
From the terminal 26 of the lead wire.

In order to observe the observation object M using such a magnifying observation apparatus, the objective 1 is brought to the observation object M side,
If the object to be observed is capable of contact observation, the light guide cap 7
Need only be brought into contact with the surface of the object to be observed M. If non-contact observation is required, the screwing state of the light guide cap 7 with respect to the front block 3 is adjusted, and the light guide cap 7 is separated from the object M for observation.

〔The invention's effect〕

Since the magnifying observation apparatus according to the present invention is as described above, it has the following effects.

(A). Since the light source and the signal processing means are also built in the objective tool, the overall size is reduced and the handling becomes easier.

(B). The objective tool is divided into a front block and a rear block, and both can be freely moved in and out of the way. It can be easily handled, making observation easier.

(C). The light guide cap has an incident surface and a reflective surface, and the light from the light source can be selectively applied to the incident surface and the reflective surface by manipulating the mask body. Can be combined at an appropriate ratio of
More multifaceted observations can be made.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view including a partial cross section of an objective tool of a magnifying observation apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial schematic cross sectional view of a distal end portion of the objective tool. FIG. 3 is a light guide cap and mask. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a relationship between a body and a light source, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where irradiation light is applied to an incident surface, FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the objective of the conventional magnifying observation apparatus. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Object tool 3 ... Front block 4 ... Back block 5 ... Optical system 6 ... Light source 7 ... Light guide cap 13 ... Base end surface 13s ... Incident surface 13d ... Reflective surface 15 ... Through hole 16 Mask body 20 Imaging means 21 Signal processing means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An objective tool having a transparent light guide cap having a hemispherical front portion having a through hole formed at the center thereof connected to a distal end, and an enlarged image of an object to be observed obtained by the objective tool is displayed. The objective tool is divided into a front block and a rear block which can be freely attached and detached, and an optical system for enlarging the object to be observed and an object for illuminating the object are provided on the front block. And a signal processing means for processing the signal from the imaging means and outputting it to the display means, and incident on the base end face of the light guide cap. A surface and a reflective surface are formed alternately, and a mask body is interposed between the light source and the base end surface of the light guide cap. Light from the light source is selectively transmitted to the incident surface and the reflective surface by operating the mask body. The feature is that it can be applied That magnifying observation apparatus.