JP5273453B2 - microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability and workability of a microscope. <P>SOLUTION: A freely attachable/detachable intermediate variable device 31 is disposed on an optical axis in front of an imaging lens 101 that causes an eyepiece optical system and an imaging optical system in the body of the microscope to form an image, and in a specific space where parallel luminous flux is formed. Intermediate variable lenses 104, 105, and 106 and an aperture 107a disposed on a turret 107 are selectively disposed on the optical path 16 by the rotation of the turret 107. The selected intermediate variable lens 104 varies the luminous flux from a relay lens 100 at predetermined magnification and makes it incident to the imaging lens 101. The present invention can be used in, for example, a microscope system. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a microscope.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an intermediate zooming device arranged in an imaging optical system of a microscope has a structure like an intermediate lens barrel so that it can be arranged between a microscope main body and a lens barrel. In other words, the structure like an intermediate lens barrel is provided with an interface such as a round ant so that the device can be connected to the microscope main body and the lens barrel, and the insertion and removal thereof is also free.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for detachably mounting an intermediate barrel unit having a variable magnification such as a zoom optical system as an imaging optical system between a barrel and a barrel. ing.
Japanese Patent No. 2002-303795

  However, in the structure of the conventional microscope including Patent Document 1 described above, when the intermediate zooming device is inserted between the microscope main body and the lens barrel, it is natural that the lens barrel corresponds to the thickness of the intermediate zooming device. Since it was placed above, the eye point was high, which hindered observation.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is intended to improve the operability and workability of a microscope in which an intermediate zooming device is detachably mounted.

The microscope of the present invention includes an objective lens, an imaging optical system, an eyepiece optical system for observing an observation image of an observation object obtained by the imaging optical system, and a main body section that houses the imaging optical system. In the microscope having the above, the main body portion is provided with mounting means for detachably mounting the intermediate zooming device , and the intermediate zooming device is disposed in the optical path downstream from the intermediate image forming position of the observation object, The imaging position in the imaging optical system is the same regardless of whether or not the intermediate zooming device is attached to the attachment means.

  Optical path branching that branches the imaging light for imaging the observation image, the imaging light that has passed through the imaging optical system, to the eyepiece optical system and the imaging optical system that guides the imaging light to the imaging means And the intermediate zooming device mounted on the mounting unit is disposed on the optical path on the incident side of the imaging light of the optical path branching unit.

  The image processing apparatus further includes a connector unit that outputs information related to zooming of the intermediate zooming device mounted on the mounting unit to the control unit of the microscope.

  The intermediate zooming device mounted on the mounting means includes a rotating turret capable of mounting zooming lenses having different magnifications.

  The intermediate zooming device mounted on the mounting means includes a zoom optical system that performs zooming by a zoom method.

  The microscope is an inverted microscope.

  A stage having the observation object placed on one side is fixed to the main body, and the eyepiece optical system is held on the other side while facing the front. The lens barrel is fixed, and an accommodation area for accommodating a revolver on which the objective lens is mounted is provided below the stage.

In the microscope of the present invention, an intermediate zooming device is detachably attached to the main body, and the intermediate zooming device is disposed in an optical path downstream from the intermediate image forming position of the observation object. Regardless of whether or not is mounted, the imaging position in the imaging optical system is guided to the same position.

  According to the present invention, the operability and workability of the observer can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 4 show the configuration of an embodiment of a microscope to which the present invention is applied.

  1 is a front view of the microscope 11 of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a top view thereof, FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1 viewed from the right direction, and FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. It becomes a figure. Moreover, the member drawn with the dotted line in the figure is each member arrange | positioned in the main-body part 21, and has shown the approximate arrangement position of the member.

  A revolver 25 is rotatably arranged on the upper right side of the main body 21 of the microscope 11. Several objective lenses are detachably attached to the revolver 25, and the user, that is, the observer rotates the revolver 25 as necessary, and selects a desired objective lens among the attached objective lenses. The objective lens to be used can be selected by arranging it at a predetermined position. 1 and 3 show a state in which only one objective lens 23 is attached.

  A stage 15 on which an observation target is placed is disposed above the revolver 25 and horizontally with respect to the main body 21. The stage 15 is fixed by a mounting seat surface 91 provided on the right side of the main body 21.

  A focusing handle 41 is attached to the right side surface of the main body 21 and a focusing handle 42 is rotatably attached to the left side surface of the rotating shaft (not shown). A coarse knob and a fine knob are coaxially attached to the focusing handle 42. The observer rotates and adjusts the coarse adjustment knob of the focusing handle 42 to move the revolver 25 on which the objective lens 23 is attached to the observation target by coarse movement, so that the focus by the objective lens 23 is increased. The state can be roughly adjusted. The observer can finely adjust the focus because the revolver 25 is moved closer to or away from the observation target by rotating and adjusting the fine adjustment knob of the focusing handle 41 or the focusing handle 42. .

  A lens barrel 29 is disposed on the upper left side of the main body 21. An eyepiece 27 is attached to the lens barrel 29. The observer can observe an image (observation image) of the observation object through the eyepiece lens 27.

  The imaging device 16 can be attached to the camera port 18 provided at the upper end of the lens barrel 29, and images an observation image formed by the lens barrel 29.

  The display unit 17 is connected to the imaging device 16 via a signal cable 19, and is disposed behind the stage 15 of the microscope 11, and is almost the same as the eye point in the lens barrel 29 when viewed from the front of the microscope 11. It is arranged at the height. The display unit 17 is fixed to the main body unit 21 by the arm unit 20. The display unit 17 displays various types of information such as observation images transmitted from the imaging device 16 via the signal cable 19 and microscope setting conditions and observation conditions output from the microscope 11 via a cable (not shown), and observation. The user displays a GUI for operating the imaging device 16. For example, the display unit 17 has a function as a touch panel. When the observer touches a GUI displayed on the display unit 17, an operation signal corresponding to the operation of the observer is captured via the signal cable 19. Transmit to device 16. Then, the imaging device 16 captures an observation image under an imaging condition set according to the operation signal.

  As described above, the present embodiment is based on the inverted microscope 11 that magnifies and observes the observation target, the imaging device 16 that captures the observation image, and the display unit 17 that displays the observation image captured by the imaging device 16. It can also be regarded as a configured microscope system.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a mounting portion 21a, which is a dedicated space corresponding to the shape of the intermediate zooming device 31, is provided in the middle of the left front of the main body portion 21, and the intermediate changing portion is provided in the mounting portion 21a. A magnification unit (magnification unit) 31 is detachably attached. In the intermediate zooming device 31, a plurality of zooming lenses are arranged on a turret (not shown) so that the magnification desired by the observer can be arranged on the optical path. For example, by projecting a part of a circular turret (the turret 107 in FIG. 5 described later) to the outside of the main body 21, the observer can move the projection. By doing so, the turret itself rotates according to the amount of movement of the protruding portion by the observer's operation, so that a desired lens among the plurality of variable magnification lenses can be arranged on the optical path. Further, since the protruding portion is located above the focusing handle 42 and is disposed at a position that is easily grasped by the observer, the observer looks into the eyepiece lens 27 and uses the focusing handle 42 with the left hand. It is also possible to change the magnification of the intermediate magnification changing device 31 by moving the protrusion while adjusting the focus state.

  Thus, by attaching the intermediate magnification changing device 31 to the attachment portion 21a, it becomes possible to change the magnification without changing the objective lens, and the types of magnifications that can be selected increase. Specifically, by rotating the turret, intermediate magnifications such as 1x, 1.25x, 1.5x, and 2x can be selected.

  Further, the intermediate magnification changing device 31 is provided with a connector 31a for outputting to the microscope side how many times the currently selected magnification is. This connector 31a is connected to a pair of connectors 21b provided in the main body 21, so that information related to zooming by the intermediate zooming device 31 (for example, to the control board (control unit) of the microscope 11 (for example, (Magnification information of intermediate magnification) can be output. Conventionally, when the intermediate lens barrel unit is installed in the microscope main body, the connection to the personal computer or controller that is the control device is connected by the wiring exposed to the outside. In such a configuration, the wiring is a noise source. It was. However, since the intermediate magnification changing device 31 is connected not by the externally exposed wiring but by the connector 21b and the connector 31a provided in the microscope body as in the present application, there is no problem of noise generation. Then, for example, by outputting the magnification information of the intermediate magnification to the display unit 17 through a cable (not shown), information that can specify the selected intermediate magnification is displayed on the display unit 17. . Thereby, the observer can know the magnification information of the current intermediate magnification.

  For example, by displaying the magnification information of the intermediate magnification together with the observation image captured by the imaging device 16 on the display unit 17, the observer can determine how much the intermediate observation image is currently observed. You can know instantly whether it is expanding. If the type of objective lens (magnification, etc.) attached to each of the mounting parts of the revolver 25 can be recognized on the control board side of the microscope 11, information on the type of objective lens is displayed on the display unit 17. May be. Further, a voltage (intensity of illumination) supplied to a lamp included in the lamp house 43 described later can be displayed on the display unit 17. By displaying such information on the display unit 17, the observer can easily grasp observation conditions such as intermediate magnification by simply looking at the display unit 17 in monitor observation.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate magnification changing device 31 is configured to be disposed in a dedicated space in the main body portion 21 by the mounting portion 21 a. When the intermediate zoom device 31 is not used, nothing is arranged in the space, and the outer surface of the main body 21 is covered. In this case, the microscope 11 observes an observation image that has not been subjected to intermediate magnification. That is, as described above, since the conventional intermediate magnification changer was physically inserted between the microscope main body and the lens barrel, there was a problem that the position of the lens barrel was increased. 1 to FIG. 4, since it is arranged in the dedicated space in the main body 21, the problem that the lens barrel position becomes high does not occur.

  A lamp house 43 for epi-illumination is arranged on the rear left side of the back surface of the main body 21, that is, on the opposite side of the lens barrel 29. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a filament 47 as a light source for illumination and a collector lens 57 are accommodated in the lamp house 43.

  FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the optical system inside the main body 21 of the microscope 11.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the optical system is provided with an illumination optical system 201 that guides illumination light from the filament 47 in the lamp house 43 to the observation object 210. In addition, the optical system is provided with an imaging optical system 202 that guides the image plane of the observation object 210 illuminated by the illumination light to the spectroscopic side, that is, the eyepiece lens 27 (FIG. 1 and the like). .

  In the illumination optical system 201, the collector lens 57 converts the divergent light from the filament 47 into substantially parallel light. The relay optical systems 92 and 93 form a light source image, which is an image of the filament 47, at the position of the aperture stop 49a. The deflecting optical element 94 is disposed between the light source image and the relay optical system 93, and emits the light flux on the optical path P11 from the filament 47 toward the observer's direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) to the right in FIG. The light is deflected in the direction (lateral direction in FIG. 2) to be a light beam in the optical path P12.

  The aperture stop 49a of the aperture stop unit 49 (FIG. 1) is disposed at a position in the optical path P12 where the image of the filament 47 is formed by the collector lens 57 and the relay optical systems 92 and 93. The field stop 51a of the field stop unit 51 (FIG. 1) is disposed in the vicinity of the aperture stop 49a in the optical path P12. In order to project the image of the field stop 51a onto the observation surface of the observation object 210, the field lens group 95 is arranged so that its front focal plane in the optical path P12 overlaps the field stop 51a.

  The half mirror 65 as a light beam splitting member deflects the light beam on the optical path P12, that is, the illumination light beam from the field lens group 95 in the vertical upward direction (upward in FIG. 1). The light beam deflected vertically upward propagates in the optical path P13 toward the objective lens 23. As a result, the optical axis of the illumination optical path P13 coincides with the optical axis of the optical path P14 for image formation by the objective lens 23. The light beam deflected in the optical path P13 forms an image of the filament 47 at the position of the pupil of the objective lens 23, becomes substantially parallel light by the objective lens 23, and illuminates the observation object 210 made of, for example, metal.

  In the imaging optical system 202, the light beam as reflected light reflected by the observation object 210 is collected by the objective lens 23, and the light beam reflected at each point of the observation object 210 becomes a parallel light beam. It becomes the light flux in the optical path P13 closest to the objective lens 23 that directs the direction. This light beam is separated from the illumination light beam by passing through the half mirror 65. That is, the half mirror 65 and the objective lens 23 have the functions of both the illumination optical system 201 and the imaging optical system 202, and the optical path P13 is a common optical path for the illumination optical system 201 and the imaging optical system 202. In other words, the objective lens 23 is a part of the illumination optical system 201 and is disposed below the observation target 210.

  The deflecting optical element 97 transmits the light beam propagating through the optical path P13 and the optical path P14 substantially perpendicular to the stage 15 (FIG. 1 and the like) on which the observation object 210 is placed in the left direction in FIG. 1 and FIG. Direction). The light beam deflected in the left direction propagates through the optical path P15. The optical path P15 is such that the light beam propagating in the optical path P15 approaches the direction in which the eyepiece optical system with the eyepiece lens 27 (FIG. 1 and the like) and the imaging optical system with the imaging device 16 (FIG. 1 and the like) are arranged. Is set. In addition, the second objective lens 96 is configured so that an intermediate image 210I of the observation target 210 is formed in the optical path P15, and a scale and the like desired to be viewed together with the observation target 210 are described in the optical path P15. The focusing screen 103 can be attached and detached. That is, the microscope 11 has a configuration in which the focusing screen 103 can be arranged at a position where the intermediate image 210I of the observation target 210 in the optical path P15 is formed.

  The light beam on the optical path P15 is incident on the deflecting optical element 99 via the relay lens 98, and is deflected by the deflecting optical element 99 in the vertical upward direction (upward in FIG. 1). The light beam deflected in this way propagates in the optical path P16. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the optical path P16 is formed substantially parallel to the optical path P13 and the optical path P14 and on the left side when the microscope 11 is viewed from the front.

  The relay lens 98 and the relay lens 100 relay the imaging light to guide the primary image to the eyepiece optical system and the imaging optical system. The light beam from the deflecting optical element 99 passes through the relay lens 100 disposed in the optical path P16 constituting the relay optical system together with the relay lens 98 disposed in the optical path P15, and passes to the imaging lens 101 in the optical path P16. Incident.

  Here, a parallel light beam is formed between the relay lens 100 and the imaging lens 101 in the optical path P16. When the detachable intermediate magnification changing device 31 is attached to the attachment portion 21a, as shown in FIG. 5, the imaging lens 101 is in front (downward direction in FIGS. It is arranged on the optical path on the incident side. Therefore, the image forming position in the image forming optical system is the same regardless of whether or not the intermediate zooming device is mounted on the mounting means. In the intermediate zooming device 31, a plurality of zooming lenses having different magnifications such as intermediate zooming lenses 104, 105, and 106 are arranged on a turret 107, for example. The turret 107 is configured to be rotatable in the intermediate zoom device 31. In the example of FIG. 5, the intermediate variable lens 104 on the turret 107 is disposed on the optical path P16, and the intermediate variable lens 104 changes the luminous flux from the relay lens 100 at a predetermined magnification. The zoomed light beam enters the imaging lens 101.

  On the turret 107, in addition to the intermediate variable lens 104, intermediate variable lenses 105 and 106 are detachably disposed, and an opening 107a that does not change the magnification is provided. In the intermediate zooming device 31, by rotating the turret 107, the intermediate zooming lenses 104, 105, 106 and the opening 107a are selectively arranged on the optical path P16. Thus, the observer can apply an arbitrary magnification to the intermediate image 210I.

  The intermediate zoom device 31 is preferably arranged so that the selected zoom lens is located between the relay lens 100 and the imaging lens 101 (parallel system portion) on the optical path P16 that becomes a parallel light beam. However, for example, it may be arranged between the focusing screen 103 and the relay lens 98 or between the relay lens 98 and the deflecting optical element 99 on the optical path P15. It is sufficient to provide a dedicated space and a mounting portion in which the intermediate zooming device 31 can be mounted at the position.

  Then, the light beam emitted from the imaging lens 101 enters the half mirror 102. A part of the light beam incident on the half mirror 102 passes through the reflection surface of the half mirror 102, and the other light beam is reflected on the reflection surface of the half mirror 102. The light beam reflected by the half mirror 102 is deflected in the direction of the observer's eyes 222 (longitudinal direction in FIG. 2) and propagates through the optical path P17 by the eyepiece optical system. That is, the optical path P17 is set so as to be substantially orthogonal to the optical path P15 formed in the horizontal direction in FIG. The light beam propagating through the optical path P17 is divided into two optical paths by an eyepiece optical system such as a light splitting optical element (not shown) and is incident on the eyepiece lens 27 (FIG. 1 and the like). Therefore, the observer can observe an enlarged image of the observation object 210 through the eyepiece lens 27 with the eyes 222.

  On the other hand, the light beam that has passed through the half mirror 102 propagates on the optical path P18 by an imaging optical system (not shown) that guides the light beam to the imaging device 16, enters a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor 111 of the imaging device 16, and the CCD. Light is received by the light receiving surface of the sensor 111. In the imaging device 16, predetermined image processing such as processing for removing noise components is performed on the image data captured by the CCD sensor 111. Thereafter, the image data subjected to the image processing is output to the display unit 17 via the signal cable 19 and displayed.

  As described above, the detachable intermediate magnification changing device 31 is a position on the optical path in front of the imaging lens 101 inside the main body 21 of the microscope 11 and a parallel light beam, and is an optical path branching unit. Since it is disposed on the optical path on the incident side of the imaging light of the half mirror 102, an intermediate image 210I multiplied by an arbitrary magnification is formed by a variable power lens selected for both the eyepiece optical system and the imaging optical system. It becomes possible.

  Further, in the microscope 11, the optical paths P15 and P17 are set so that the optical paths P15 and P17 are substantially orthogonal to each other when viewed from above. As a result, the display unit 17, the objective lens 23, the revolver 25, the observation object 210, and the like are positioned on the right side of the observer's eyes. Therefore, the observer who uses the inverted microscope 11 can operate each member without moving the upper body, and can directly confirm by visual observation.

  In the present embodiment, the intermediate magnification changing device 31 is configured to be disposed in the dedicated space of the main body 21. However, instead of the intermediate magnification changing device 31, a zoom magnification changing device (not shown) is used. The same effect can be obtained by using. In that case, it is possible to apply an arbitrary magnification to the intermediate image 201I by changing the magnification of the zoom lens provided in the zoom magnifying device, instead of rotating the turret and selecting the magnification lens to change the magnification. It becomes. Of course, it is also possible to use a zooming device other than the above intermediate zooming device or zoom zooming device.

  The various deflecting optical elements are illustrated in FIG. 5 as being configured by mirrors, but need not be configured by mirrors. For example, the deflection optical element 99 may be composed of a staring prism, a roof prism, or the like.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if an intermediate magnification changing device is added to the microscope, the position of the eye point, the operation system handle position, etc. does not change, and the operability and workability of the observer compared to the conventional one. improves. That is, by adopting the configuration of the present invention, even when an intermediate zooming device is added as an option, the position of the lens barrel and the like does not increase, the position of the eye point does not change, and the positions of various operation units also Since it does not change, a microscope with excellent operability can be provided. In addition, since the intermediate zoom device and the microscope, which are optionally attached, are also electrically connected by the connector, various information can be output from the intermediate zoom device to the microscope.

  In addition, since a dedicated space for installing the intermediate zooming device is prepared from the beginning and stored in the main body, it can be configured beautifully in terms of design. In addition, since electrical connections can be placed inside the main unit, the cables do not look out of the microscope, the appearance can be made beautiful from that point, and the influence of external noise can be reduced. .

  In the present specification, the term “system” represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

  The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a front view which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the microscope of this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the microscope of this invention. It is a right view which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the microscope of this invention. It is a left view which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the microscope of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the optical system of one Embodiment of the microscope of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Microscope, 16 Image pick-up device, 17 Display part, 21 Main part, 21a Mounting part, 21b Connector, 23 Objective lens, 27 Eyepiece lens, 29 Lens barrel, 31 Intermediate magnification changing device, 31a connector, 100 Relay lens, 101 Imaging Lens, 104, 105, 106 Intermediate zoom lens, 107 Turret, 107a Aperture, 65, 102 Half mirror, 94, 97, 99 Deflection optical element, 103 Focus plate, 111 CCD sensor, 201 Illumination optical system, 202 Imaging Optical system, P11 to P18 optical path

Claims (7)

In a microscope having an objective lens, an imaging optical system, an eyepiece optical system for observing an observation image of an observation object obtained by the imaging optical system, and a main body that houses the imaging optical system,
The body portion includes a mounting means for mounting the intermediate variable magnification device removably and said intermediate scaling device is arranged downstream the light path than the intermediate image formation position of the observation object,
The image forming position in the image forming optical system is the same position regardless of whether or not the intermediate zooming device is mounted on the mounting means. Imaging means for imaging the observation image;
An optical path branching unit that branches the imaging light that has passed through the imaging optical system into the eyepiece optical system and an imaging optical system that guides the imaging light to the imaging unit;
The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate magnification changing device mounted on the mounting unit is disposed on an optical path on the incident side of the imaging light of the optical path branching unit. The microscope according to claim 1, further comprising: a connector unit that outputs information related to zooming of the intermediate zooming device mounted on the mounting unit to a control unit of the microscope. The microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intermediate zooming device mounted on the mounting unit includes a rotating turret capable of mounting zooming lenses having different magnifications. The microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intermediate zooming device mounted on the mounting unit includes a zoom optical system that performs zooming by a zoom method. The microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the microscope is an inverted microscope. A stage having the observation object placed on one side is fixed to the main body, and the eyepiece optical system is held on the other side while facing the front. The microscope according to claim 6, wherein a lens barrel is fixed, and an accommodation area for accommodating a revolver on which the objective lens is mounted is provided below the stage.

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