JP4149304B2 - microscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a microscope that is provided, for example, in a cultured cell observation apparatus in a clean room and is suitable for remote operation, and particularly relates to a technique that can ensure a good illumination field in both low magnification observation and high magnification observation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In microscopes widely used in the medical and biological fields, Koehler illumination is employed to obtain a good observation image. This Koehler illumination is configured to illuminate the observation object in principle without unevenness by projecting the image of the light source onto the position of the aperture stop provided at the pupil position of the condenser lens. In order to improve the Koehler illumination and achieve a more uniform illumination, Patent Document 1 below discloses a configuration in which a light diffusing element is arranged in an optical path between a light source and an observation object. .
[0003]
By the way, when considering obtaining a good observation image, in addition to the above-mentioned problem of illumination unevenness, it is essential to secure an illumination field (illumination range) according to the enlargement ratio.
That is, in microscope observation, since the objective lens is exchanged in accordance with the magnification ratio, it is necessary to enlarge or reduce the illumination field according to the magnification of each objective lens. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when an objective lens 1 having a large magnification is used, the illumination field may be narrowed, but the value of the angle ω shown in FIG. 5 needs to be increased. On the other hand, when the objective lens 1 having a small magnification is used, the value of the angle ω may be small, but the illumination field needs to be widened.
[0004]
In order to optimally illuminate the high-magnification objective lens 1, it is necessary to increase ω, which is equivalent to increasing the aperture diameter φ in FIG. In order to increase the aperture diameter φ, it is necessary to increase the magnification at which the light source is projected onto the aperture stop position. However, when the projection magnification is increased, the value of the angle α shown in the figure is decreased, and the illumination field cannot be widened.
Therefore, when both low-magnification observation and high-magnification observation are performed, there is inevitably a limitation that the illumination field during low-magnification observation becomes narrow. In order to keep the value of the aperture diameter φ optimal when using the high-magnification objective lens 1 and to increase the angle α when using the low-magnification objective lens 1, the projection magnification from the light source to the aperture stop Is required to be variable for each magnification. However, making the projection magnification of the light source variable makes the configuration of the illumination optical system complicated and large, and is difficult to realize.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-274138 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, in practice, as a method of securing both the NA (numerical aperture) of the high-magnification objective lens 1 and the illumination field of the low-magnification objective lens 1, some lenses constituting the condenser lens are made high. A method of switching by locating in the illumination optical path at the time of observing the magnification and removing it from the illumination optical path at the time of observing at a low magnification is adopted.
[0007]
However, when such a lens switching operation is used, it is necessary to adjust the optical axis every time the lens is switched from outside the illumination optical path into the illumination optical path. Performing such optical axis adjustment during microscope observation is very troublesome and hinders smooth observation work.
In addition, this microscope may be placed in a clean room where people cannot enter and exit, and the internal microscope may be remotely operated from the outside. In this case, the optical axis cannot be adjusted manually. It becomes difficult to adopt.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a means capable of ensuring a good illumination field in both low magnification observation and high magnification observation without requiring optical axis adjustment.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
In other words, the microscope according to claim 1, the illumination light from the light source, an illuminating optical system for irradiating the object to be illuminated through the aperture stop, the light from the illumination object illuminated by the illumination optical system In a microscope having a plurality of objective lenses that can be selectively arranged coaxially with the optical axis of the illumination optical system for receiving light, a plurality of light diffusions having different diffusivities at the position of the aperture stop Illuminating elements on the illumination object when the illuminating elements are arranged in the optical path of the illumination light and can be switched and arranged, and the plurality of light diffusing elements are respectively arranged in the optical path of the illumination light. The size of the range is set to be larger than the size of the illumination range on the illumination object when none of the plurality of light diffusing elements is arranged in the optical path of the illumination light .
According to the microscope of the first aspect, the illumination light emitted from the light source passes through the light diffusing element and the aperture stop, and is then irradiated onto the illumination object. At this time, light incident on the aperture stop from the light source is decomposed into light beams having various directions by the light diffusing element. Thereby, the diffusion angle of the illumination light directed from the aperture stop toward the illumination object can be expanded as compared with the case where the light diffusing element is not placed on the optical path. Therefore, by changing the presence or absence of the light diffusing element or the diffusivity of the light diffusing element, it is possible to arbitrarily change the illumination field that is the range in which the object to be illuminated is illuminated. Moreover, the light diffusing element does not adversely affect the optical axis of the illumination optical system even when the light diffusing element is taken in and out of the optical path.
In addition, a desired illumination field can be obtained with a configuration in which a light diffusing element is inserted into and removed from the inside or outside of the optical path, or is appropriately selected from a plurality of light diffusing elements having different diffusivities and placed in the optical path. be able to.
[0010]
Microscope according to claim 2, in the microscope according to claim 1, in conjunction with the magnification of the illumination optical system of the objective lens arranged optical axis coaxial position, corresponding to the magnification of the objective lens The light diffusing element can be arranged while ensuring an illumination range .
According to the microscope according to the claim 2, when in performing the adjustment of the illumination field by using a light diffusing element, to observe by using a relatively magnification small objective lens, in conjunction with this, A light diffusing element having a large diffusivity is selected and arranged at the aperture stop position. When observation is performed using an objective lens having a relatively large magnification, a light diffusing element having a low diffusivity is selected and arranged at the aperture stop position in conjunction with the observation. As described above, the illumination field required by the objective lens to be used can be easily adjusted by selecting the light diffusing element .
[0011]
The microscope according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the size of the illumination range on the illumination object when none of the plurality of light diffusing elements is arranged in the optical path of the illumination optical system is the plurality of objectives. The illumination range according to the objective lens having the highest magnification among the lenses is secured .
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the microscope of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is of course not limited to these. In addition, FIG. 1 is explanatory drawing which shows the cultured cell observation apparatus provided with the microscope of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an illumination optical system and an imaging optical system provided in the microscope. Moreover, FIG. 3 is a figure which shows the illumination field obtained with the same microscope, Comprising: It is an AA arrow line view of FIG. FIG. 4 is a view showing a light diffusing element provided in the illumination optical system of the microscope, and is a view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 2.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the cultured cell observation apparatus of the present embodiment is schematically configured to include a microscope 10 and a robot 20 disposed in a clean room R, and a terminal device 30 disposed outside the clean room R. .
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the microscope 10 includes a sample stage 11 (not shown in FIG. 2) on which an observation object (illumination target) O placed on a glass plate 11 a is placed, and the sample stage 11. Illumination optical system 12 for irradiating the observation object O placed on the illumination light, an imaging optical system 13 for forming an image of the observation object O illuminated by the illumination optical system 12, and a casing for housing these 14.
[0014]
Although not shown in the drawing, the sample stage 11 is moved in the X-axis direction (left and right direction in FIG. 2) and the Y-axis direction (perpendicular direction in FIG. 2). The Y stage is moved, and the Z stage is moved in the Z-axis direction (up and down direction in FIG. 2). Each of the X stage, the Y stage, and the Z stage is provided with a motor connected to the terminal device 30 via the wiring C1 shown in FIG. 1, and remotely controls the positioning of the observation object O from outside the clean room R. It is possible to do in.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, the illumination optical system 12 includes a lamp 12a, which is a light source, and a collector lens 12b for forming an image of the illumination light L1 emitted from the lamp 12a at the pupil position of the condenser lens 12d, and the collector lens 12b. Between the condenser lens 12d and the condenser lens 12d, a mirror 12c for deflecting the illumination light at a substantially right angle is disposed. Furthermore, the pupil position of the condenser lens 12d is provided with an aperture stop 12e having a variable aperture diameter and a light diffusing element 12f.
[0016]
The light diffusing element 12f is composed of an optical element having a light scattering characteristic such as a holographic element, frosted glass, frost, or opal glass. It has a function of expanding the angle when the light L1 is emitted from the pupil. As a result, the illumination light L1 is emitted from the aperture stop 12e at an angle wider than the angle of incidence on the aperture stop 12e of the condenser lens 12d, as compared with the case where the light diffusing element 12f is not inserted into the optical path. A wide illumination range can be obtained.
[0017]
A plurality of types of light diffusing elements 12f are provided according to the imaging magnification on the imaging optical system 13 side. In the present embodiment, for example, four types (four sheets) indicated by reference numerals 12f1 to 12f4 in FIG. 4 are provided, and the light diffusing element holding members 12g are annularly arranged at equal angular intervals. .
The light diffusive element holding member 12g has a disk shape as shown in the figure, and through holes 12g1 through which the illumination light L1 passes are respectively provided in portions where the light diffusible elements 12f1 to 12f4 are arranged. Is formed. The light diffusing element holding member 12g can be rotated around its central axis 12g2 by a motor (not shown). Thereby, only one of the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 can be selected and positioned in the optical path between the condenser lenses 12d shown in FIG. Note that the motor that rotates the light diffusing element holding member 12g is also connected to the terminal device 30 via the wiring C1, and any one of the light diffusing elements 12f1 to f4 from outside the clean room R. Remote control is possible by selecting one and placing it in the optical path. That is, the position of each of the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 can be switched to either the optical path of the illumination light L1 or outside the optical path.
[0018]
Each of the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 has a different diffusivity, and as shown in FIG. 3, an illumination field that is an illumination range in the observation object O is an area of any size indicated by reference numerals R1 to R4. It is possible to change to. That is, the light diffusing element 12f is gradually increased in diffusivity in the order of 12f1, 12f2, 12f3, and 12f4. When the light diffusing element 12f1 is selected, the smallest illumination field R1, light diffusing element If 12f2 is selected, the illumination field R2 wider than the illumination field R1, and if the light diffusing element 12f3 is selected, the illumination field R3 wider than the illumination field R2 and the light diffusing element 12f4 are selected. It is possible to obtain Teruno R4 wider than the field R3. The symbol R0 shown in the figure is an illumination field when the light diffusing element 12f is removed from between the condenser lenses 12d, and is smaller than the illumination field R1. Therefore, it is substantially possible to select illumination fields having five sizes of R0 to R4.
Since these light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 are not lenses, the optical axis between the condenser lenses 12d is not deviated even when the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 are moved in and out of the optical path.
[0019]
The light diffusing element 12f having the above-described configuration is provided at the position of the aperture stop 12e as shown in FIG. Here, the “position of the aperture stop 12e” represents the vicinity of the pupil position of the condenser lens 12d. Since the light diffusing element 12f has a characteristic of scattering incident light in a specific direction, when the light diffusing element 12f is disposed at a place other than the pupil position of the condenser lens 12d, the light diffusing element 12f is projected onto the pupil position of the condenser lens 12d. The effect of enlarging the image of the lamp 12a becomes remarkable, and the effect of expanding the illumination field is lost. Therefore, the illumination field cannot be changed even if a plurality of light diffusing elements 12f having different light scattering characteristics are exchanged at positions other than the pupil position of the condenser lens 12d.
[0020]
The imaging optical system 13 includes an objective lens 13a on which the transmitted light L2 of the observation object O illuminated by the illumination optical system 12 is incident, a mirror 13b that transmits the transmitted light L2 that has passed through the objective lens 13a, and an imaging lens 13c. , An eyepiece lens 13d and a CCD camera 13e for receiving the transmitted light L2 after passing through the eyepiece lens 13d.
For example, five objective lenses 13a having different magnifications are annularly arranged at equal angular intervals (only one of them is shown in FIG. 2), and a motor (not shown) is driven. Thus, one of these five is selected and arranged coaxially with the optical axis of the transmitted light L2. This selection operation is performed by remote operation of the terminal device 30 via the wiring C1.
[0021]
The CCD camera 13e is connected to the terminal device 30 via the wiring C2, and can transmit a light reception signal. In the terminal device 30, the received light signal obtained via the wiring C2 is converted into an image by a control device provided therein and displayed on the monitor 30a. Therefore, it is possible to observe the microscope image of the observation object O from outside the clean room R.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, the robot 20 includes a base 21 on which a plurality of observation objects O are placed, and a robot hand 22 fixed on the base 21. The robot 20 is connected to the terminal device 30 via the wiring C3, and the robot hand 22 is remotely operated from outside the clean room R to move the observation object O from the base 21 to the microscope 10, and to the microscope. The observation object O can be moved from 10 to the base 21.
[0023]
The terminal device 30 is a personal computer, and performs remote operation of the robot 20, remote operation of the microscope 10, and display and recording of an observation image obtained by the microscope 10 based on a user input operation or a program. Is possible. When the microscope 10 is remotely operated, focus adjustment of the imaging optical system 13, enlargement magnification adjustment by replacing each objective lens 13a, and illumination field adjustment performed in conjunction with the enlargement magnification adjustment can be performed. It has become. In the illumination field adjustment, the terminal device 30 selects the optimum illumination field determined according to the magnification of the selected objective lens 13a from the illumination fields R0 to R4, and selects any one of the illumination fields R1 to R4. In such a case, the terminal device 30 selects any one of the light diffusing elements 12f1 to 12f4 corresponding thereto and instructs the microscope 10 to do so. As a result, the objective lens 13a having the magnification selected by the user and the light diffusing element 12f capable of securing an illumination field corresponding to the magnification of the objective lens 13a are paired and the observation position (shown in FIG. 2). Position).
When the highest magnification among the objective lenses 13a is selected, the smallest illumination field R0 is secured by removing all the light diffusing elements 12f from the optical path.
[0024]
The microscope 10 of the present embodiment described above employs a configuration in which the light diffusing element 12f is provided at the position of the aperture stop 12e. According to this configuration, since the size of the illumination field can be arbitrarily changed, it is possible to ensure a good illumination field in both the low magnification observation and the high magnification observation with a simple configuration. Yes. In addition, the light diffusing element 12f used for adjusting the illumination field does not adversely affect the optical axis of the illumination optical system 12 even when the optical path is moved in and out of the optical path. It is said.
Moreover, the microscope 10 of this embodiment employ | adopted the structure provided with the light diffusible element 12f1-12f4 which has a diffusivity corresponding to the magnification of each objective lens 12a. According to this configuration, since the illumination fields R0 to R4 can be selected in conjunction with the magnification of the objective lens 12a, the utilization efficiency of the illumination light L1 can be increased.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
In the microscope according to claim 1 of the present invention, a plurality of light diffusing elements having different diffusivities are arranged at the position of the aperture stop so that they can be taken in and out of the optical path of the illumination light and can be switched. The size of each illumination range on the object to be illuminated when the light diffusing elements are respectively disposed in the optical path of the illumination light is such that all of the plurality of light diffusing elements are disposed in the optical path of the illumination light. A configuration was adopted that is larger than the size of the illumination range on the illumination object when not . According to this configuration, since the illumination field can be arbitrarily changed, it is possible to ensure a good illumination field in both the low magnification observation and the high magnification observation with a simple configuration. Moreover, the light diffusing element used for adjusting the illumination field does not adversely affect the optical axis of the illumination optical system even if the optical path is moved in and out of the optical path. .
[0026]
In addition, the microscope according to claim 2 secures an illumination range corresponding to the magnification of the objective lens in conjunction with the magnification of the objective lens arranged coaxially with the optical axis of the illumination optical system, and the light. A configuration in which a diffusive element can be arranged is adopted. According to this configuration, since the illumination field can be selected in conjunction with the magnification of the objective lens, it is possible to improve the use efficiency of illumination light.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a cultured cell observation apparatus provided with a microscope of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an illumination optical system and an imaging optical system provided in the microscope.
FIG. 3 is a view showing an illumination field obtained by the microscope, and is a view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2;
4 is a view showing a light diffusing element provided in the illumination optical system of the microscope, and is a view taken along arrow B-B in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an illumination optical system provided in a conventional microscope.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Microscope 12 ... Illumination optical system 12a ... Light source 12e ... Aperture stop 12f, 12f1, 12f2, 12f3, 12f4 ... Light diffusing element 13a ... Objective lens L1 ... Illumination Light O ... Observation object (illumination object)

Claims (3)

An illumination optical system that irradiates an illumination object with illumination light from a light source via an aperture stop , and an optical axis of the illumination optical system for receiving light from the illumination object illuminated by the illumination optical system And a microscope having a plurality of objective lenses provided so as to be selectively arranged at coaxial positions ,
A plurality of light diffusing elements having different diffusivities are arranged at the position of the aperture stop so that they can be put in and out of the optical path of the illumination light, and can be switched.
The size of each illumination range on the illumination object when the plurality of light diffusing elements are respectively disposed in the optical path of the illumination light is such that the size of each of the plurality of light diffusing elements in the optical path of the illumination light is A microscope characterized by being larger than the size of the illumination range on the illumination object when none of them is arranged . The microscope according to claim 1 ,
In conjunction with the magnification of the illumination optical system and the optical axis of the objective lens disposed coaxially position, to be able to place the light diffusing elements to secure the illumination range according to the magnification of the objective lens microscope according to claim was that the. The microscope according to claim 1 or 2,
The size of the illumination range on the object to be illuminated when none of the plurality of light diffusing elements is arranged in the optical path of the illumination optical system depends on the objective lens having the highest magnification among the plurality of objective lenses. The lighting range is secured
A microscope characterized by that.

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