JPH05281474A - Lighting switching device for video microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To variously light a body to be inspected without increasing the size of a probe part, etc., nor making its structure complicate. CONSTITUTION:A probe part is provided with a 3rd light guide connector 49 where a 2nd light guide fiber 55 connected to another probe part can freely be connected, and the light from a lamp 24 is branched to one or both of a 1st light guide fiber 21 and the 2nd light guide fiber 55. Consequently, the probe part which provides desired lighting can be connected to the 3rd light guide connector 49.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is for a video microscope applied to a video microscope for performing a microscope without approaching or contacting a necessary portion of a specimen without collecting and processing the specimen as a specimen piece. The present invention relates to a lighting switching device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram of such a video microscope. The control box 1 is provided with a lamp 2, an illumination light branching mechanism 3 is provided in the light emitting direction of the lamp 2, and the illumination light branching mechanism 3 is provided with a double light guide path mechanism 4. The double light guide mechanism 4 is composed of two light guides 5 and 6, and optical fibers 7 and 8 called ride guides are optically connected to these light guides 5 and 6.

On the other hand, a probe section 9 is connected to the other ends of these optical fibers 7 and 8. This probe part 9
The objective lens unit 10 and the illumination head unit 11 are provided in the optical pickup unit 11, and the light guide paths 12 and 13 are optically connected to the illumination head unit 11 among them. The light guide path 12 is for epi-illumination, and the light guide path 13 is for side-illumination. Although not shown, the probe unit 9 has an imaging lens and a CCD image pickup element built therein.

With this structure, the light emitted from the lamp 2 is branched by the illumination light branching mechanism 3 into one or both of the light guide paths 5 and 6. Of these, the light guide path 5
The light incident on is transmitted through the ride guide 7 and the light guide path 12, and is incident on the object to be inspected. Further, the light that has entered the light guide path 6 is transmitted through the ride guide 8 and the light guide path 13 and side-illuminated with respect to the test object.

The light radiated to this test object is reflected, and a part of it is condensed by the objective lens 10 and focused on the CCD image pickup device. The CCD image pickup device outputs a video signal according to the intensity of the received light.

[0006]

By the way, since only one probe unit 9 can be connected to the control box 1 through the ride guide 7, the illumination head provided on the probe unit 9 illuminates the object to be inspected. It is decided by the mechanism of section 11. Therefore, there is a limitation in the type of illumination method performed by one probe unit. For example, in the case of a probe unit having a side-illumination structure, epi-illumination on an object becomes extremely difficult. Therefore, it is difficult to quickly change the illumination method according to the reflectance of the test object.

Further, since the probe section 9 is provided with the respective light guide paths 12 and the illumination head section 11, the size is increased and the structure is complicated. Furthermore, since the control box 1 and the probe unit 9 are connected by the two ride guides 7 and 8,
The structure becomes more complicated and the weight increases.

Therefore, the present invention is to provide an illumination switching device for a video microscope capable of performing various illuminations on an object to be inspected without increasing the size of the probe portion and complicating the structure thereof. To aim.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a probe unit is connected to a control box equipped with a light source through an optical fiber, and light is transmitted to the probe unit to irradiate the object to be observed to irradiate the object to be observed. In a video microscope for capturing an image, a light guide connector in which an optical fiber connected to a probe part different from the probe part is optically connectable, and light from a light source is either an optical fiber or a light guide connector, or both. An illumination switching device for a video microscope, which is provided with a light switching means that branches into two parts and which is intended to achieve the above object.

[0010]

By providing such means, the light emitted from the light source of the control box is branched to either one or both of the optical fiber and the light guide connector by the light switching means. However, if an arbitrary illumination, for example, an optical fiber of the epi-illumination probe unit is connected to the light guide connector, epi-illumination is performed on the object.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an illumination switching device for a video microscope. The control box 20 includes a first light guide cable 2 made of an optical fiber.
1 and the video signal cable 22, the probe unit 23 is connected.

The control box 20 is provided with a lamp 24 and a controller 25 for processing video signals.

Further, the probe portion 23 is provided with an illuminating head portion 26 for side illuminating at the tip portion thereof.
An optical fiber 27 optically connects between 6 and the first light guide cable 21. Further, the probe section 23 is provided with an objective lens section 28, and an imaging lens 29 is arranged on the objective lens section 28. The CCD image pickup device 30 is arranged on the optical axis of the imaging lens 29.

On the other hand, an illumination switching device body 40 is attached to the control box 20. It is to be noted that the portion A is a configuration diagram of the illumination switching device main body 40 viewed from the arrow (a) direction.

A specific configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The control box 20 is provided with a first light guide connector 41. An illumination switching body 43 is connected to the first light guide connector 41 via an illumination light switching device adapter 42.

The illumination light switching device adapter 42 has a collector lens 44 on the lamp 24 side and a collimator lens 45 on the illumination switching body 43 side held by lens holding rings 46 and 47, respectively.

The illumination switching body 43 is provided with second and third light guide connectors 48 and 49 in directions orthogonal to each other. Of these, the second light guide connector 48 is fastened to the illumination switching main body 43 by the thread 52, and the mounting direction thereof faces the collimator lens 45. This second light guide connector 4
A first light guide fiber 21 is inserted and fixed in the inside of 8. A collector lens 51 is provided on the tip end side of the first light guide fiber 21 in the light guide connector 48. The second light guide connector 48 and the first light guide fiber 21
The connection with is made by a ring 50 which is rotatable by a retaining member 53a.

The other third light guide connector 49 is provided on the side plate 54 and is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis connecting the first light guide fiber 21 and the collimator lens 45. This third light guide connector 49
A second light guide fiber 55 is inserted in the optical fiber, and is fixed by being tightened by a screw 56. That is, the second light guide connector 49 has a second
The light guide fiber 55 can be attached freely. A collector lens 57 is provided on the tip end side of the second light guide fiber 55 in the third light guide connector 49. Note that the third light guide connector 49 is fixed by the rocker can 58.

The guide 60 is fixed to the illumination switching body 43 by screwing. A prism movable dovetail 62 is provided on the guide 60 so as to be movable in the arrow (B) direction as shown in FIG. The prism moving ant 62 has three prisms 63, 6
4, 65 are arranged. These prisms 63, 6
The light quantity ratios after branching of Nos. 4 and 65 are respectively “100: 0”, “50:50”, and “0: 100”.

A movable operation arm 66 is provided on the prism movable dove 62, and each prism 6 is operated by operating and moving the movable operation arm 66 in the arrow (B) direction.
Desired prism 63, 64, 65 out of 3, 64, 65
The reflecting surface is set at 45 ° with respect to the optical axis connecting the first light guide fiber 21 and the collimator lens 45.

Next, the operation of the device configured as described above will be described.

When the prism 63 having the light quantity ratio "100: 0" is used, the light emitted from the lamp 24 reaches the prism 63 by being transmitted through the illumination light switching device adapter 42. In this illumination light switching device adapter 42, the lamp 2 is configured by a collector lens 44 and a collimator lens 45.
The light from 4 is efficiently introduced, and the light is shaped so as to pass through the prism 63 and become a parallel light flux. Then, the light passes through the entire prism 63 and enters the first light guide fiber 21.

Further, the prism 64 having a light quantity ratio of "50:50" is used.
In the case of using, the light emitted from the lamp 24 is transmitted through the illumination light switching device adapter 42 and reaches the prism 64. In this prism 64, incident light is split into equal parts, one of which is incident on the second light guide fiber 55 and the other of which is incident on the first light guide fiber 21.

On the other hand, the prism 6 having the light quantity ratio "0: 100"
5 is used, the light emitted from the lamp 24 is transmitted through the illumination light switching device adapter 42 and is transmitted to the prism 63.
And is reflected by the prism 63 at an angle of 90 ° and is incident on the second light guide fiber 55.

Next, the light incident on the first light guide fiber 21 is transmitted to the probe section 23, and further transmitted through the optical fiber 27 in the probe section 23, and is transmitted from the illumination head section 26 to the object to be inspected as side illumination. Is irradiated.

The light radiated to this test object is reflected and a part of the light is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD image pickup device 30 by the image forming lens 29. The CCD image pickup device outputs a video signal according to the intensity of the received light. Then, this video signal is transmitted through the video signal cable 22 and input to the controller 25 of the control box 20, where it is subjected to image processing and the like.

On the other hand, a second light guide fiber 55 to which a probe of desired illumination, for example, epi-illumination is connected, is inserted into the third light guide connector 49, and the screw 5 is inserted.
It is clamped and fixed by 6. Therefore, the light incident on the second light guide fiber 55 is transmitted to the probe portion thereof, and further transmitted through the optical fiber in the probe portion, and is irradiated to the object as epi-illumination from the illumination head portion.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the third light guide connector 49 for freely connecting the second light guide fiber 55 connected to the probe section different from the probe section 23 is provided, and the third light guide connector 49 from the lamp 24 is provided. Since the light is branched into either one or both of the first light guide fiber 21 and the second light guide fiber 55, various illuminations can be performed without increasing the size of the probe unit 23 and complicating its structure. For example, the object can be irradiated with light by side illumination, epi-illumination, or a combination of these illuminations. Further, the probe part 23 and the light guide fiber connected thereto used in this case can be used without modifying the existing one.

Since the illumination light switching device adapter 42 of the first light guide connector 41 has a structure used in the existing video microscope, the illumination switching main body 43 and the first light guide fiber 21 can be used. Easy to connect.

On the other hand, in the third light guide connector 49, the second light guide fiber 55 is fixed by screwing, so that the probe portion for desired illumination can be easily connected and the versatility is enhanced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and may be modified within the scope of the invention. For example, the movement of each prism 63, 64, 65 is not limited to the prism moving dovetail 62, but may be a slide mechanism or a turret type mechanism, or each prism 63, 64, 6 may be moved.
A mirror may be used instead of 5, and the mirror may be rotated to guide light to the first or second light guide fibers 21, 55.

The ratio of the amount of light to the first and second light guide fibers 21, 55 is determined by the respective prisms 63, 64, 65.
Alternatively, it may be continuously changed by devising the moving mechanism thereof.

Further, the third light guide connector 49
The number is not limited to one, but a plurality of probes may be provided for each illumination. In this case, a light distributor that splits light in multiple directions may be used instead of the prism.

[0036]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a video microscope capable of illuminating various objects to be inspected without increasing the size of the probe or the like and complicating the structure thereof. It is possible to provide an illumination switching device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an illumination switching device for a video microscope according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a main body of a lighting switching device in the same device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a main body of an illumination switching device in the same device as viewed from above.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 ... Control box, 21 ... Light guide cable, 22 ... Video signal cable, 23 ... Probe part, 2
4 ... Lamp, 25 ... Controller, 26 ... Illumination head section, 27 ... Optical fiber, 28 ... Objective lens section, 29 ...
Imaging lens, 30 ... CCD image pickup device, 40 ... Illumination switching device body, 41 ... Light guide connector, 42 ... Illumination light switching device adapter, 43 ... Illumination switching body, 48, 49 ...
Light guide holder, 55 ... Second light guide fiber, 60 ... Guide, 62 ... Prism moving dovetail, 63,
64, 65 ... Prism.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A video microscope in which a probe unit is connected to a control box equipped with a light source via an optical fiber, and light is transmitted to the probe unit to irradiate an object to be inspected to image the object to be inspected. An optical fiber that is optically connectable to an optical fiber connected to a probe part different from the probe part,
An illumination switching device for a video microscope, comprising: a light switching means for branching light from the light source to one or both of the optical fiber and the light guide connector.