JPH06214166A - Vertical illumination type microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To properly set a variable aperture diaphragm with simple constitution and easy operation in accordance with the diameter of the exit pupil of an objective lens by providing a graduation part in which a graduation indicating the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens and an index opposite to the graduation move relatively according to the operation of an aperture diaphragm operating part. CONSTITUTION:An index 9 is printed on an operation ring 8 for an aperture diaphragm, a graduation 10 is printed on the main body 5a of a vertical illumination device 5 along the operation ring 8 for the aperture diaphragm so as to be opposite to the index 9 and the graduation 10 indicates the exit pupil diameter of an objective lens. The operation ring 8 for the aperture diaphragm is manually moved, the diameter of the variable aperture diaphragm is adjusted in accordance with the rotation angle and the index 9 is moved relative to the graduation 10. Thus, the figure indicating the exit pupil diameter and printed on the display part of the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens to be used is read out and, by rotating the operation ring 8 for the aperture diaphragm, the index 9 is made to be coincident with the position of the graduation 10 corresponding to the read figure. Then, the image of the variable aperture diaphragm having the same size as the exit pupil diameter is projected on the exit pupil of the objective lens.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an epi-illumination type microscope, and particularly, it corresponds to the exit pupil diameter of an objective lens.
The present invention relates to an epi-illumination microscope in which a variable aperture stop in an illumination optical path can be easily set.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an epi-illumination type microscope has a stage 2 and an objective lens 3 attached to a microscope body 1, and an epi-illumination device 5 between the microscope body 1 and a lens barrel 4, as shown in FIG. Is intervening. An eyepiece 6 is attached to the lens barrel 4, and the epi-illumination device 5 includes an illumination light source 5b, an illumination optical system (not shown), a variable aperture stop 7 arranged in the illumination optical system, and the like. . The variable aperture stop 7 is arranged so that an image of the aperture is projected on the exit pupil of the objective lens 3, and is set to an optimum aperture by an aperture stop operating ring 8 so as to obtain an optimum illumination condition.

In an epi-illumination microscope, the optimum aperture of the variable aperture stop 7 is determined by the diameter of the exit pupil of the objective lens 3. Therefore, the aperture of the variable aperture stop 7 is set by various conventional methods. It was For example, by removing the eyepiece lens 6 and directly observing the exit pupil of the objective lens 3 and the image of the aperture stop 7 projected thereon, the size of the image of the aperture stop 7 has a constant relationship with the exit pupil of the objective lens 3. In general, the aperture diaphragm adjusting ring 8 is adjusted to be equal to or slightly smaller.

Further, in the case where the exit pupil of the objective lens is small and the precision is insufficient for the naked eye observation, a more accurate method is to mount a centering telescope on the lens barrel 4 instead of the eyepiece lens 6 and Aperture stop 7 projected on exit pupil 3
To observe the image of. In this case, the objective lens 3
The exit pupil of is re-imaged by the convex lens which is the first lens in the centering telescope, and its image forming surface is made to coincide with the front focus position of the eyepiece in the centering telescope, and the exit pupil of the objective lens 3 and the aperture are opened. The aperture stop adjusting ring 8 is operated while observing the image of the stop 7.

As another method, a method using a bertlan lens is also known. This is to arrange a Bertrand lens in the optical path between the objective lens 3 and the eyepiece lens 6 in a detachable state. The Bertrand lens is placed in the optical path so that the exit pupil of the objective lens 3 is the front focal plane of the eyepiece lens 6. And the image of the exit pupil and the aperture stop 7 through the eyepiece 6.
To observe the image of.

[0006]

However, all of the above-mentioned conventional methods have the following problems.
That is, since the exit pupil image of the objective lens is formed by the light reflected from the sample on the stage, for example, if minute irregularities exist on the sample surface, the image is disturbed and the size becomes unclear. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to accurately confirm and set the size of the aperture stop image to a predetermined size with respect to the exit pupil diameter. In order to avoid the distortion of the image, there has been a troublesome work that the aperture stop must be adjusted after replacing the sample with a perfect mirror surface.

Further, in the method of observing by removing the eyepiece lens and the method of observing by exchanging the centering telescope with the eyepiece lens, the exit pupil diameter is generally different for each objective lens, and when the objective lens is replaced, the exit pupil is changed. Since the diameter changes, the aperture stop must be adjusted each time. For this reason, there is a problem in that it is inevitable to remove the eyepiece lens and replace the centering telescope with the eyepiece lens. Further, the method using the Bertrand lens requires a Bertrand lens and a mechanism for inserting / removing the Bertrand lens, which causes a problem of high cost due to complicated structure.

Despite this, the conventional epi-illumination microscope needs to observe the exit pupil of the objective lens as described above in order to adjust the diameter of the aperture stop.

Assuming that the variable aperture stop is not properly adjusted, if the aperture stop image is significantly smaller than the exit pupil of the objective lens, the resolution originally possessed by the objective lens is not exerted, and conversely the aperture stop image is not exhibited. Is larger than the exit pupil of the objective lens, unnecessary illumination light is likely to flare, resulting in a decrease in contrast. Therefore, when resolving power is important, it is desirable to make the aperture stop image the same size as the exit pupil of the objective lens. In order to emphasize contrast and not to significantly reduce the resolving power, the diameter of the aperture stop image is adjusted to the exit pupil. It is desirable that the diameter is about 75%.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the epi-illumination type in which the variable aperture stop can be appropriately set according to the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens with a simple configuration and easy operation. The purpose is to provide a microscope.

[0011]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention has a function of an aperture stop operating section for setting a diameter of a variable aperture stop arranged in an illumination optical path and a function of a microscope objective lens (that is, a sample). The function of projecting the surface in the vicinity of the front focal plane of the eyepiece at a specified magnification) and the function of the condenser lens for illumination (that is, the function of converging the illumination light within the fixed field of view of the sample surface)
In an epi-illumination microscope in which the image of the variable aperture stop is projected on the exit pupil plane of the objective lens, and the mirror of the objective lens is represented so as to represent the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens. A display section displayed on the outer surface of the cylinder,
A graduated scale having an exit pupil diameter of the objective lens and an index facing the graduated scale, and a graduated section in which the graduated scale and the index relatively move in response to an operation of the aperture stop operating section. It is a feature.

In this structure, the relationship between the aperture stop operating portion and the scale portion is such that when the scale indicating the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens is aligned with the index, the image size of the variable aperture stop is adjusted. Is preferably set to be approximately equal to the size of the exit pupil of the objective lens.

Alternatively, it is preferable that the display portion displayed on the outer surface of the lens barrel of the objective lens is displayed by a number indicating the size of the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens.

[0014]

When the aperture stop operating portion is operated so that the predetermined position of the scale corresponding to the display showing the exit pupil diameter displayed on the outer surface of the lens barrel of the objective lens used is operated so as to face the index, the diameter of the aperture stop is changed. Is set corresponding to the exit pupil of the objective lens.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the epi-illumination type microscope according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the same parts as those in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals. FIG. 1 shows the aperture stop operating ring 8 of the epi-illumination device 5 and its surroundings, and an index 9 is printed on the aperture stop operating ring 8. Further, a scale 10 is printed along the aperture stop operating ring 8 on the main body 5a of the epi-illumination device 5 so as to face the index 9, and the scale represents the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens.

The aperture stop operating ring 8 is rotated by a manual operation, and the aperture of the variable aperture stop 7 shown in FIG. 2 is adjusted according to this rotation angle, and the index 9 moves relative to the scale 10.

In FIG. 3, the lens barrel surface 1 of the objective lens 3 is shown.
The numeral 2 indicates the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens 3 itself printed on the exit pupil diameter display portion 13. In order to distinguish the exit pupil diameter display unit 13 from other display units displayed on the surface 12 of the lens barrel, an acronym "O" for Objective Pupil indicating the objective lens pupil is displayed before the number indicating the exit pupil diameter.
P "is attached. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
After reading the number representing the exit pupil diameter printed on the exit pupil diameter display portion 13 of the objective lens 3 to be used, the aperture stop operating ring 8 is rotated and the index 9 is changed to the read number on the scale 10. Match the corresponding position. Then, a variable aperture stop image having the same size as the exit pupil diameter is projected on the exit pupil of the objective lens 3.

Although the index 9 is attached to the aperture stop operating ring 8 and the scale 10 is attached to the main body 5a of the epi-illumination device 5 in the above-described embodiment, this can be reversed to set the index 9 to the epi-illumination device 5. It is also possible to attach a scale 10 to the aperture diaphragm operating ring 8 on the main body 5a.

In the above embodiment, the scale 10 is a scale for 100% so that the image of the aperture stop 7 is the same as the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens 3, that is, 100% of the exit pupil diameter. However, this may be provided with a scale for 75% so that the image of the aperture stop 7 becomes 75% of the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens 3. This is because, generally, when the image of the aperture stop 7 is projected with a size of about 70% to 80% of the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens, the contrast is improved and the sample can be observed well. Of course, in the present invention, the size may be set to a desired ratio other than 100% or 75%.

Further, both the 100% scale and the 75% scale, for example, are provided in the main body 5 of the epi-illumination device 5.
It may be attached to a, and when the scales are displayed in parallel, it is desirable to display "for 100%" and "for 75%" and display them in different color numbers. In addition, in the embodiment, although the numbers are graduated, the characters and marks provided according to the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens are displayed, and the aperture stop operating portion also corresponds to the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens. Characters or marks may be displayed at the diameter position.

In the above embodiment, the epi-illumination device 5 is used.
The scale 10 attached to the main body 5a and the exit pupil diameter 13 displayed on the objective lens represent the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens, but it goes without saying that the aperture diameter of the aperture stop 7 can also be used. Nor. Also in this case, when the index 9 is made to coincide with the numerical value read from the objective lens of the scale 10, the image of the aperture stop 7 is scaled so as to be projected at a constant ratio to the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens. be able to.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the aperture stop opposes the index at the predetermined position of the scale corresponding to the display of the exit pupil diameter displayed on the outer surface of the lens barrel of the objective lens used. When the aperture stop operating section is operated in this way, the diameter of the aperture stop is set in correspondence with the exit pupil of the objective lens, so there is no need to observe the exit pupil of the objective lens, and the specimens can be replaced or the eyepiece lens can be used. There is no need to attach and detach, which has the effect of increasing the efficiency of speculum.

Further, the present embodiment has a simple construction in which the numerical value indicating the exit pupil diameter to the objective lens is displayed, and the scale and the index are displayed on the aperture stop operating portion, and the cost is hardly increased.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the predetermined position of the scale corresponding to the display showing the exit pupil diameter displayed on the outer surface of the lens barrel of the objective lens to be used is made to face the index. When the aperture stop operating unit is operated, the diameter of the aperture stop is set corresponding to the exit pupil of the objective lens. Therefore, the variable aperture stop can be set according to the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens with a simple configuration and easy operation. Can be set appropriately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of an aperture stop operating ring of an epi-illumination microscope according to an embodiment of the present invention and its surroundings as seen from the direction of a scale.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the epi-illumination device in the aperture stop operation ring portion of the epi-illumination microscope according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an objective lens used in the epi-illumination microscope of one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a conventional general epi-illumination microscope.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Microscope main body 2 ... Stage 3 ... Objective lens 4 ... Lens barrel 5 ... Epi-illumination device 5a ... Main body of epi-illumination device 5 ... Eyepiece 7 ... Variable aperture diaphragm 8 ... Aperture diaphragm operation ring 9 ... Index 10 ... Scale 12 ... Lens barrel surface 13 ... Exit pupil diameter display section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An aperture stop operating section for setting a diameter of a variable aperture stop arranged in an illumination optical path, and an objective lens having both a function of a microscope objective lens and a function of an illumination condenser lens, wherein: In an epi-illumination microscope in which an image of a variable aperture stop is projected on an exit pupil surface of the objective lens, a display unit displayed on an outer surface of a lens barrel of the objective lens to represent an exit pupil diameter of the objective lens, It has a graduation indicating the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens, and an index facing the graduation, and a graduation part in which the graduation and the index move relative to each other according to the operation of the aperture stop operating part. An epi-illumination microscope. 2. The size of the image of the variable aperture stop when the scale of the scale part showing the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens is aligned with the index by the operation of the aperture stop operation part. The epi-illumination microscope according to claim 1, wherein the size is set to be substantially equal to the size of the exit pupil. 3. The epi-illumination according to claim 1, wherein the display portion displayed on the outer surface of the objective lens barrel is displayed with a numeral indicating the size of the exit pupil diameter of the objective lens. Illuminating microscope.