JPH06138392A - Illuminating device for video microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an inexpensive illuminating device for a video microscope by which illuminating light is switched between vertical illumination and lateral illumination without waste and which is excellent in assembling workability. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with an annular light guiding means 12 guiding the illuminating light on the outer periphery of the leading edge of an objective lens main body 8, and an illuminating head 14 attached to the leading edge of the main body 8. It is equipped with plural circular arc members 24-1 to 24-4 provided on the annular aperture part 14c of the head 14 so as to respectively freely advance and retract, respectively having reflection surface reflecting the illuminating light from the means 12 to an optical axis side, wholly integrated to form the annular reflection surface concentric with the aperture part 14c when they advance on the aperture part 14c, and separated from each other when they retract from the aperture part 14c, and a reflection ring 36 reflecting the reflected light being the illuminating light from the means 12 to the leading edge when the members 24-1 to 24-4 form the annular reflection surface and reflect the illuminating light from the means 12 to an optical axis side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminating device for a video microscope in which an objective lens main body is brought close to or in contact with an object to be observed and an enlarged image thereof can be displayed on a monitor.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a lighting device capable of switching between epi-illumination and side-illumination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One of important items in magnifying observation with a video microscope is an irradiation angle of illumination light with which an object to be observed is irradiated. In general, the spectroscopic method of the object to be observed includes epi-illumination in which illumination light is incident on the object to be observed from the optical axis direction, and side illumination in which the illumination light is incident to the object to be observed from a direction orthogonal to the optical axis. There is.

Although the above-mentioned epi-illumination is suitable for observing the entire object to be observed, it is easily affected by the reflected light from the surface of the object to be observed. The side illumination has an advantage that it can observe a three-dimensional structure that cannot be seen only by incident light by giving a shadow, but it is not suitable for illuminating a concave portion of an object to be observed.

Therefore, if one of the lighting devices can freely select the epi-illumination and the side-illumination and can combine them,
It is possible to make more effective observations. Techniques that allow such epi-illumination and side-illumination to be freely selected are disclosed in JP-A-4-86717 (first conventional example) and JP-A-4-86718 (second conventional example). Have been described.

In the above-mentioned first conventional example, FIG. 9 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the entrance surface 1a and the reflection surface 1b are provided at the base end surface opening of the illumination head 1 attached to the tip of the objective lens body.
And are formed alternately. Then, the base end face opening of the illumination head 1 is arranged so as to face the annular emitting end face 2a of the light guide means 2 such as an optical fiber, and the mask body 3 is provided between the base end face opening and the emitting end face 2a. It is arranged. The mask body 3 has cutouts 3a corresponding to the entrance surface 1a and the reflection surface 1b formed in the opening of the base end surface of the illumination head 1.

In the case of performing side illumination with the illuminating device configured as described above, the notch 3a of the mask body 3 is made to face the incident surface 1a of the base end face opening as shown in FIG. 10 (a). The annular illumination light from the light guide means is introduced into the illumination head from the incident surface 1a, and the object to be observed is side-illuminated from its tip.

When epi-illumination is performed, FIG.
As shown in (b), the notch 3a of the mask body 3 faces the reflecting surface 1b of the base end face opening, and the annular illumination light from the light guide means is reflected by the reflecting surface 1b toward the optical axis, Further, the light is reflected by the shield 4 toward the side of the object to be observed to make it incident light. As described above, in the first conventional example, the epi-illumination and the side-illumination can be switched by rotating the mask body 3.

In the second conventional example, as shown in FIG. 11, the incident surface 5a and the reflective surface 5b are alternately formed in the base end face opening of the illumination head 5 as in the first conventional example. There is. Then, the optical fiber is divided into two systems 6 and 7, one end of the optical fiber 6 has an exit end face 6a facing the entrance face 5a, and the other end of the optical fiber 7 has an exit end face 7a facing the reflection face 5b.

In the illuminating device constructed as described above, the illumination light is supplied to only one of the optical fibers 6 to provide side illumination, and the illumination light is provided to only the other optical fiber 7 to provide epi-illumination.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned first conventional example, since about half of the total amount of light supplied from the light guide means 2 is shielded by the mask body 3,
About half of the illumination light is wasted, and a light source having a large power is required to obtain bright illumination light, resulting in an increase in cost.

Further, in the above-mentioned second conventional example, since it is necessary to provide two systems of optical fibers and alternately arrange the emission end faces 6a and 7a of each system, the assembly work becomes complicated and the workability is deteriorated. There is. Further, in the illumination light supply section, a switching mechanism using a mirror is required to divide the illumination light into different systems, resulting in an increase in cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is possible to freely switch between epi-illumination and side-illumination without wasting illumination light. Moreover, the assembling workability is excellent and the cost is low. An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device for a video microscope.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the illumination device for a video microscope according to the present invention has an annular shape around the outer periphery of the front end of an objective lens body having an optical system for enlarging an image of an object to be observed. And a light guide means for guiding the illumination light, and a base end face is attached to the tip of the objective lens body, and the annular illumination light is introduced from the annular opening of the base end face to emit side light from the tip end opening. An illumination head that emits light, the illumination head is provided on the annular opening of the illumination head so as to be movable back and forth, and each has a reflecting surface that reflects the illumination light from the light guide means to the optical axis side. A plurality of arc-shaped members, which form a ring-shaped reflecting surface that is concentric with the ring-shaped opening when it advances into the opening, and separate from each other when retracted from the ring-shaped opening, and the arc-shaped members. Is a circular reflection To form a was assumed comprising a reflective ring that reflects the reflected light to the tip when the reflected illumination light from the light guide means to the optical axis side.

[0014]

In the video microscope illumination device of the present invention, when a plurality of arc members are arranged on the annular opening of the illumination head base end surface, each arc member has a concentric annular reflecting surface on the annular opening. Formed to reflect the annular illumination light from the light guide means to the optical axis side, and after the reflected light is reflected by the reflection ring, it is incident on the tip of the illumination head where the object to be observed is placed as incident light. Incident.

Further, the plurality of arc members are separated from each other and retracted from the annular opening on the base end face of the illumination head, whereby the annular illumination light from the light guiding means enters the head from the annular opening of the illumination head. The incident light is incident on the object to be observed from the tip of the head as side light.

As described above, according to the present invention, by advancing and retracting a plurality of arc members disposed between the tip of the objective lens body and the base end surface of the illumination head, epi-illumination and side-illumination are selectively switched. To be

[0017]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional structure of a main part of a video microscope illuminating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 shows a schematic overall structure. First, the overall configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 8 shown in the figure is an objective lens main body to which the illumination device according to the present embodiment is attached. The objective lens body 8 is provided with an objective lens optical system 10 for forming an image of the observation object M on the image pickup device 9. Image sensor 9
Is connected to a signal cable 11, and is connected to a processing device (not shown) via the signal cable 11.
The observed object M converted into an electric signal by the image sensor 9
The image is transmitted to the observation display through the processing device and can be magnified and observed.

Further, the objective lens main body 8 is connected with a light guide means 12 formed of a large number of optical fibers for guiding illumination light from a light source provided in the processing apparatus. The light guide means 12 is arranged through the outer peripheral portion of the objective lens body 8 to the tip of the objective lens, and the tip of each optical fiber 12 forms a ring-shaped emission end face around the optical axis at the tip of the objective lens. ing.

At the tip of the objective lens body 8, the base end face of the illumination head 14 is attached so as to face the annular emission end face. The illumination head 14 is made of light-transmitting methacrylic resin or the like, and transmits illumination light from the optical fiber tips arranged in a ring shape to the head tip through the inside to perform side illumination, and at the same time as the object M to be observed. It has a function of keeping the positional relationship of the objective lens optical system 10 so as to form an image on the image sensor 9. Next, the configuration of a portion related to the switching mechanism of the present lighting device will be described with reference to FIGS. A plurality of optical fibers 12-1 to 12 constituting the light guide means 11
-N is arranged in a ring shape on the outer peripheral portion of the objective lens body 8, and the ring lens 2 having the same diameter is formed on the ring-shaped emission end surface formed by the tip surfaces of the respective optical fibers 12-1 to 12-n.
1 is provided.

Further, a fixed ring 22 having a flange having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the objective lens body 8 is screwed onto the tip portion of the objective lens body 8 having a screw groove formed on the outer peripheral surface.
An annular fixing member 23 is fixed to the lower surface of the flange of the fixed ring 22 by screwing at a plurality of positions.

A cylindrical space having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the ring lens 21 and opening downward is formed on the inner circumference of the tip of the fixing member 23, and a screw groove is formed on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical space. Has been done. Further, on the outer circumference of the illumination head 14, there is formed a flange 14a having the same diameter as the cylindrical space and having a screw groove formed on the outer circumference. And the fixing member 2
The base end of the illumination head 14 is inserted and fixed by screwing a flange 14a into the opening of the tip of the cylindrical space on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical space. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the fixing member 23.

As shown in the figure, on the upper surface of the fixing member 23, a cylindrical sliding space having a diameter sufficiently larger than the diameter of the annular opening 14c of the illumination head base end surface is formed concentrically with the central opening. Has been done. A plurality of arc members 24-1 to 24-4 shown in FIG. 4B are housed in the sliding space of the fixing member 23, and further in the thrust direction between the upper surface of the arc member and the lower surface of the fixed ring 22. The operation ring 25 shown in FIG. 5 is sandwiched with a slight gap.

In the sliding space of the fixing member 23, the central opening through which incident light and reflected light from the observed object M pass is formed in the central portion, and guides 26 are formed around the central opening and are oriented in the diametrical direction. It has a bottom surface 27 on which -1 to 26-4 are formed. Further, a cutout portion 28 for inserting a turning lever of an operation ring 25, which will be described later, is formed on an outer peripheral portion which forms a sliding space of the fixed member 23.

The plurality of arc members 24-1 to 24-4
4 is a circular body having the same diameter as the inner diameter of the annular opening 14c of the illumination head 14 as shown in FIG.
It is divided. The corresponding guides 26-1 to 26-4 are provided on the lower surfaces of the arc members 24-1 to 24-4, respectively.
Guide grooves 29-1 to 29-4 (only 29-2 is shown in FIG. 4) are formed so as to be slidably fitted with the guide grooves. The arcuate members 24-1 to 24-4 have respective guides 26-1 to 26 corresponding to the respective guide grooves 29-1 to 29-4.
-4 is fitted and arranged in the sliding space. Further, cam pins 31-1 to 31-4 are planted in the center of the upper surface of each of the arc members 24-1 to 24-4. On the other hand, the operation ring 25 is formed with elongated hole-shaped cam grooves 32-1 to 32-4 inclined in the circumferential direction by a predetermined angle with respect to the diameter direction. The cam pins 31-1 to 31-4 are inserted into the corresponding cam grooves 32-1 to 32-4. In addition, the operation ring 25 projects from the outer periphery of the operation ring 25 and rotates the lever 3.
3 is formed, and the rotation lever 33 thereof protrudes from the cutout portion 28 to the outside. Cam groove 32 of operation ring 25
-1 to 32-4 and the cam pins 31-1 to 1-3 of each arc member 24
The relationship with 31-4 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5A, each cam pin 31
Is located at the inner peripheral side end of each cam groove 32, the arc members 24 are assembled together to form an annular body as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when each cam pin 31 is located at the outer peripheral side end of each cam groove 32,
As shown in FIG. 4B, the arc members 24 are separated from each other and retracted from the center (the annular opening 14c of the illumination head 14).

Further, each arc member 24-1 to 24-4 includes
Reflecting surfaces 34 for reflecting the illumination light from the optical fiber 12 toward the optical axis are formed respectively. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the arc members 24-1 to 24-4 form an annular body, the reflecting surfaces 34 are integrally formed with each other to form an annular reflecting surface 35.

On the inner peripheral surface of the tip of the objective lens body,
A reflecting ring 36 is provided to reflect the illumination light reflected by the annular reflecting surface 35 formed by the arc members 24-1 to 24-4 to the tip end opening 14b of the illumination head 14. Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as above will be described.

From the light source to the optical fibers 12-1 to 12-
The illumination light guided to the objective lens main body 8 via n is
The light is incident on the ring lens 21 through the optical fibers arranged in an annular shape on the outer peripheral portion of the objective lens 8 to be collimated.

At this time, the operation ring 25 is at the position shown in FIG. 5A, and the circular arc members 24-1 to 24-4 are annular openings of the illumination head 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A. Part 14
It is supposed to be placed on c. Each arc member 24-1 to 2
In the state in which 4-4 has advanced over the annular opening 14c, the reflecting surface 34 of each arc member 24-1 to 24-4 forms the annular reflecting surface 35 shown in FIG. The illumination light is totally reflected toward the optical axis by the annular reflecting surface 35. The reflected light is reflected by the reflecting ring 36 and enters the object to be observed M as incident light.

On the other hand, when the rotating lever 33 in the state shown in FIG. 5A is rotated A degrees along the notch 28 to the state shown in FIG. 5B, the cam groove 32 of the operating ring 25 is rotated. Is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the diametrical direction, so that each cam pin 31 is pushed outward. As a result, each arc member 24 connected to the operation ring 25 via the cam pin 31 is interlocked with the rotation of the operation ring 25 and is guided by the guide 26 to move outward.

The arcuate members 24, which are guided by the guides 26 of the fixing member 23 and moved outward, are separated from each other as shown in FIG. 4B, and the annular opening of the illumination head 14 is shown in FIG. Completely evacuate from above 14c. Therefore, the annular illumination light goes straight into the illumination head 14 as it is, propagates in the illumination head 14 and is radiated to the observation object M from the tip opening 14b as side-light.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of arc members 24-1 to 24- housed by the fixing member 23 between the tip of the objective lens body 8 and the base end surface of the illumination head 14.
4 is provided on the annular opening 14c of the illumination head 14 so as to be able to advance and retreat, and each arc member 24 is made to advance and retract by interlocking with the operation ring 25 via a cam mechanism, so that the illumination light is not wasted. Further, epi-illumination and side-illumination can be switched freely without complicating the structure. Further, since it is not necessary to divide the optical fiber into two systems, the assembling workability is excellent, the cost can be reduced and the device can be downsized. Next, a modified example of the one embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

This modified example relates to a modified example of the operating ring in the above-described embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those of the one embodiment, the operation relating to the shape of the operation ring and the deformed shape of the operation ring will be described here.

In the operating ring 40 of this modification, guide grooves 41-1 to 41-4 each bent in a dogleg shape are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The guide grooves 41-2 and 41-4 facing each other across the center have one bent side on the inner circumference described later, and the other side end on the outer circumference described later. The remaining two guide grooves 41-1 and 41-3 facing each other across the center have one bent side on the outer circumference and the other side end on the inner circumference described later. is there.

The above-mentioned inner circumference is the circumference where each guide pin is located when each circular arc member forms the annular reflecting surface 35, and the above-mentioned outer circumference is such that each circular arc member is separated. It is the circumference where each guide pin is located when it is completely retracted from above the annular opening 14c.

When such an operating ring 40 is used, the positional relationship between the operating ring 40 and the cam pins 31-1 to 31-4 is shown in FIG.
In the case of the relationship shown in (a), each of the circular arc members 24-1 and 24-2
4-4 becomes the state shown in FIG.
All of the annular illumination light from 2 is reflected and becomes incident light.

Next, the operation ring 40 is rotated by B degrees and the operation ring 40 shown in FIG.
When the state of (a) is changed to the state of (b) in the figure, the cam pin 3 engaged with the opposing cam grooves 41-1 and 41-3.
The cam pins 31-2 and 31-4 engaged with the opposing cam grooves 41-2 and 41-4 move to the bending point on the outer circumference and the cam pins 31-2 and 31-4 move on the inner circumference. Move to the inflection point. At this time, the arc members 24-1 to 24-4 are in the state shown in FIG. That is, the cam pin 31-on the inner circumference.
Each arc member 24-2, 24-4 having 2, 31-4 remains at the inner position and the cam pins 31-1, 3 on the outer circumference.
Each of the circular arc members 24-1 and 24-3 having 1-3 moves to the outer retracted position. Therefore, the arc member 24-
The light that has entered the reflecting surfaces 34 of 2, 2 and 4-4 is reflected to become incident light, and the light that has entered the positions where the arc members 24-1 and 24-3 have retracted becomes the incident side incident light as it is. . Therefore, the illumination in which the incident illumination and the side illumination are combined is performed.

Further, when the operating ring 40 is rotated up to C degrees from the state shown in FIG. 6B to the state shown in FIG. 6C, the cam pins engaged with the respective cam grooves 41-1 to 41-4. 31-
1 to 31-4 all move to the outer circumference, all arc members 24-1 to 24-4 are in the state shown in FIG. Become.

As described above, according to this modification, the guide rings 41-1 to 41-bent in the operating ring 40 are bent in a dogleg shape.
By forming 4 along the circumferential direction, it is possible to switch between epi-illumination and side-illumination, and it is also possible to select illumination that combines both illuminations.

Although the ratio of the incident light to the side incident light is set to 1: 1 in the above-described modification, the number of arc members is increased to change the ratio of the number of arc members to move forward and backward.
Various ratios can be realized. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0043]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to freely switch the epi-illumination and the side-illumination without wasting the illumination light, and also the assembling workability is excellent and the video is inexpensive. An illumination device for a microscope can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of a lighting device for a video microscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are diagrams showing different operating states of the cross-sectional portion shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fixing member provided in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an advanced state and a retracted state of each circular arc member provided in the embodiment shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between an operation ring and a guide pin provided in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a modified example of the operation ring.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of arc members when the operating ring is in the state of FIG. 6 (b).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an illumination device for a video microscope.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a first conventional example.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a second conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

8 ... Objective lens body, 12 ... Optical fiber, 14 ... Illumination head, 14c ... Annular opening, 21 ... Ring lens,
22 ... Fixed ring, 23 ... Fixed member, 24-1 to 24-4 ...
Arc member, 25 ... Operation ring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light guide means for guiding an annular illumination light to the outer periphery of the tip end of an objective lens body provided with an optical system for enlarging an image of an object to be observed, and a base end face for the tip end of the objective lens body. An illumination device for a video microscope, comprising: an illumination head that is attached and has the annular illumination light entering inside from an annular opening of the base end face and emitting side-emitted light from an opening at a tip end of the annular opening of the illumination head. Each of them has a reflecting surface which is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward, respectively, and which has reflection surfaces for reflecting the illumination light from the light guide means to the optical axis side, and when it advances onto the annular opening, the whole is integrated with the annular opening. A plurality of arc members that form a concentric annular reflecting surface and are separated from each other when retracted from the annular opening, and each of the arc members forms an annular reflecting surface to illuminate the illumination light from the light guide means. Reflected to the optical axis side Video microscope illumination apparatus according to claim the can the reflected light that has been equipped with a reflective ring that reflects to the tip opening.