JP3404913B2 - Optical path splitting device for microscope - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical path splitting device for a microscope, and more particularly, to an imaging device such as a TV camera or a photographing device or an observation device such as a binocular tube. The present invention relates to an optical path splitting device used for attaching to a plurality of microscopes. 2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional optical path splitting device for a microscope. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. Note that a three-dimensional coordinate system XYZ is shown in the figure for the sake of explanation. The illustrated apparatus includes a main body 31 having a structure detachably attached to a mirror base (main body) of a microscope (not shown). In FIG. 4, on the upper right side of the main body 31, a first attachment portion 33 to which an observation device such as a binocular tube is attached is provided. FIG.
On the upper left side of the main body 31, a second photographing device such as a TV camera or a photographing device is attached.
An attachment portion 32 is provided. In FIG. 4, a light beam 25 from a sample through an objective lens (not shown) is provided on the lower right side of the main body 31.
Are formed in the Y direction. As is apparent from FIG. 5, the two prisms 21 and 22 are supported by the prism receiver 34, and the prism receiver 34 is reciprocated by being guided by the guide rail 30 extending in the Z direction. That is, the two prisms 21 and 22 having the joint surface 27 inclined at 45 degrees with respect to the X direction and the Y direction are positioned between the first position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 5 and the second position indicated by the solid line in FIG. It is possible to reciprocate in the Z direction between them. Accordingly, the two prisms 21 and 2
2 is positioned at the first position, the incident light beam 2
5, a part of the light beam 25a passes through the two prisms 21 and 22, and is guided to the first mounting portion 33 through the opening 37. Also, the remaining light beam 25 of the incident light beam 25
b is reflected in the X direction at the joint surface 27 between the two prisms 21 and 22. The reflected light beam 25b is
Is incident on a mirror 24 via a lens 23 supported by the lens. The light beam 25b reflected in the Y direction by the mirror 24
Is guided to the second mounting portion 32 through the opening 36. On the other hand, when the two prisms 21 and 22 are positioned at the second position, that is, when the two prisms 21 and 22 are out of the optical path of the incident light beam 25, the incident light beam 25 And 2
No incident on 2. As a result, all the incident light beams 25 are Y
, And is guided toward the first attachment portion 33 through the opening 37. The incident light beam 25 is not guided at all toward the second mounting portion 32. In the above-described conventional optical path splitting device for a microscope, since the incident light beam from the specimen through the objective lens is guided only to the first mounting portion 33, the light path splitting device is not used.
The two prisms 21 and 22 are removed from the optical path of the incident light beam 25 in the Z direction. That is, the two prisms 21 and 22 are removed by moving in a direction orthogonal to the light beam 25a guided to the first mounting portion 33 and the light beam 25b guided to the second mounting portion 32. Therefore, extra space is required to accommodate the two prisms 21 and 22 at the above-described second position. In other words, a new space is required for switching the optical path. As a result, there has been an inconvenience that the apparatus body becomes large and the weight becomes large. Further, when a projecting area 31a as shown in FIG. 5 is provided on the main body 31 as a new space, there is a disadvantage that the projecting area 31a becomes an obstacle and the operability is reduced. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide an optical path splitting device for a microscope that does not require a new space for switching optical paths, is small, lightweight, and has high operability. I do. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, at a predetermined position where light from a sample is incident, a part of the light from the sample is converted into a first photographing device. Or an optical path splitting unit that transmits the light toward the observation device and reflects the remaining light in a predetermined direction toward the second imaging device or the observation device; and the first imaging device or the observation device that transmits the light from the sample. Moving means for moving the light path dividing means from the predetermined position, so that the light path dividing means is moved from the predetermined position to the light path dividing means in the predetermined direction from the predetermined position. An optical path splitting device for a microscope, characterized by being moved. According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, an image forming optical system for forming an image of the reflected light from the optical path dividing means;
The image forming apparatus further includes a holding unit that holds the optical path dividing unit and the imaging optical system together, and the moving unit moves the holding unit in the predetermined direction. The optical path splitting device for a microscope according to the present invention is provided with an optical path splitting means for transmitting a part of the incident light and reflecting the remaining light. The optical path splitting means includes, for example, two prisms having a joint surface inclined with respect to the incident light. Then, the optical path is switched by moving the optical path dividing means in the reflection direction to remove the optical path from the optical path of the incident light. That is, when positioned in the optical path,
Part of the incident light is transmitted and guided to the first imaging device or observation device, and the remaining light is reflected and guided to the second imaging device or observation device. When the light is removed from the optical path, all the incident light is guided to the first photographing device or the observation device. In the present invention, an optical path for guiding light to one of a plurality of photographing devices or observation devices is used as a space for retracting the optical path dividing means. Therefore, the optical path splitting device for a microscope according to the present invention does not require a new space for removing the optical path splitting unit from the optical path. As a result, the device body can be reduced in size and weight. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an optical path splitting device for a microscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 and shows a state where two prisms are out of the optical path. The illustrated apparatus has a main body 11 having a structure detachably attached to a mirror base (main body) of a microscope (not shown).
It has. In FIG. 1, on the upper right side of the main body 11,
For example, a first attachment portion 13 to which an observation device such as a binocular tube is attached is provided. In addition, in FIG. 1, on the upper left side of the main body 11, for example, a second mounting portion 12 to which a photographing device such as a TV camera or a photographing device is mounted.
Is provided. In FIG. 1, an opening 15 is formed on the lower right side of the main body 11 so that a light beam 5 from a sample through an objective lens (not shown) is incident in the Y direction.
2 and 3, the two prisms 1 and 2 have a lens holder 6 for supporting the lens 3.
And are integrally supported by the block 7.
The block 7 is reciprocated by being guided by a pair of guide rails 8 and 9 extending in the X direction. That is, the two prisms 1 and 2 having the joining surface 10 inclined at 45 ° with respect to the X direction and the Y direction
At the same time, it is possible to reciprocate in the X direction between the first position shown in FIG. 1 and the second position shown in FIG. Thus, when the two prisms 1 and 2 are positioned at the first position shown in FIG.
Part of the incident light beam 5 passes through the two prisms 1 and 2 and is guided to the first mounting portion 13 through the opening 17. The remaining light beam 5b of the incident light beam 5
Is reflected in the X direction at the joint surface 10 between the two prisms 1 and 2. The reflected light beam 5b enters the mirror 4 via the lens 3 supported by the lens holder 6. The light beam 5 b reflected in the Y direction by the mirror 4 is guided to the second mounting portion 12 through the opening 16. The lens holder 6 is attached to the block 7 so as to be finely movable in the X direction. Therefore, the position where an image is formed above the second mounting portion 12 can be adjusted by the fine movement of the lens holder 6 in the X direction. The two prisms 1 and 2 are accurately positioned and fixed at the first position shown in FIG. 1 by appropriate fixing means. On the other hand, when the two prisms 1 and 2 are positioned at the second position shown in FIG. 3, that is, when the two prisms 1 and 2 are out of the optical path of the incident light beam 5, the incident light beam 5 The light does not enter the two prisms 1 and 2. As a result, all the incident light beams 5 travel straight in the Y direction and are guided to the first mounting portion 13 through the opening 17. Then, the incident light beam 5 is directed to the second mounting portion 12.
Is not guided at all. In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which two prisms having a joint surface inclined with respect to incident light are used as the optical path dividing means. However, another suitable light dividing means such as a half mirror may be used. It can also be used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the observation device is attached to the first attachment portion and the imaging device is attached to the second attachment portion has been described. However, the imaging device is attached to the first attachment portion by making appropriate changes. The observation device can be attached to the second attachment portion. Further, in the above embodiment, the photographing device is the second
Although an example in which the image pickup device is attached to the attachment portion in the vertical direction is shown in the figure, a deflecting unit such as a mirror may be omitted, and the photographing device may be attached in the horizontal direction in the figure. As described above, according to the optical path splitting device for a microscope of the present invention, the optical path is switched by retracting the optical path splitting means to the optical path for guiding light to one of the mounting portions.
The apparatus main body can be reduced in size and weight, and the operability of the apparatus is significantly improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an optical path splitting device for a microscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a state where two prisms are out of an optical path. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional optical path splitting device for a microscope. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4; [Description of Signs] 1, 2 Prism 3 Lens 4 Mirror 5 Incident light flux 6 Lens holder 7 Blocks 8, 9 Guide rail 10 Joining surface 11 Main body 12 Second mounting portion 13 First mounting portion

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] At a predetermined position where light from a sample is incident, a part of the light from the sample is transmitted toward a first photographing device or an observation device, and An optical path splitting means for reflecting light of the sample in a predetermined direction toward a second imaging apparatus or an observation apparatus; and an optical path splitting means for causing light from the sample to enter only the first imaging apparatus or the observation apparatus. Moving means for moving the light path from the predetermined position; and an image forming light for forming an image of reflected light from the light path splitting means in the optical path splitting device for a microscope, comprising:
Together with the optical system, the optical path dividing means and the imaging optical system.
Holding means for holding, wherein the moving means moves the holding means in the predetermined direction.
And moving the optical path dividing means from the predetermined position in the predetermined direction.