JPH0868944A - Optical path splitting device for microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To eliminate the need of a new space for switching an optical path, to make a microscope compact and light in weight and to enhance the operability thereof by allowing a moving means to move an optical path splitting means from a prescribed position in a prescribed direction. CONSTITUTION: The microscope is provided with the optical path splitting means for transmitting one part of incident light and reflecting the residual light. The optical path splitting means is constituted of two prisms 1 and 2 provided with a joining surface inclined with respect to the incident light, for example. Then, the optical path is switched by moving the optical path splitting means in a reflecting direction and removing it from the optical path of the incident light. That means, when it is positioned in the optical path, one part of the incident light is transmitted and guided to a first photographing equipment or a first observing equipment. Besides, the residual light is reflected and guided to a second photographing equipment or a second observing equipment. When it is removed from the optical path, all of the incident light is guided to the first photographing equipment or the first observing equipment. Therefore, the need of the space for removing the optical path splitting means from the optical path is eliminated and the microscope is made compact and light in weight.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical path splitting device for a microscope, and more particularly to an optical path splitting device used for mounting a plurality of photographing devices such as a TV camera and a photographing device or an observation device such as a binocular tube on a microscope. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional optical path splitting device for a microscope. Further, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. For the sake of explanation, a three-dimensional coordinate system XYZ is shown in the figure. The illustrated apparatus includes a main body 31 that is detachably attached to a mirror base (main body) of a microscope (not shown). In FIG. 4, on the upper right side of the main body 31, there is provided a first attachment portion 33 to which an observation device such as a binocular tube is attached. Also, FIG.
In the upper left side of the main body 31 of the second body, a photographing device such as a TV camera or a photographing device is attached.
A mounting portion 32 is provided.

Further, in FIG. 4, on the lower right side of the main body 31, a light beam 25 from the sample is passed through an objective lens (not shown).
Is formed in the Y direction. As is apparent from FIG. 5, two prisms 21 and 22 are supported by a prism receiver 34, and the prism receiver 34 is reciprocally moved by being guided by a guide rail 30 extending in the Z direction. That is, the two prisms 21 and 22 having the joint surface 27 inclined by 45 ° with respect to the X direction and the Y direction are arranged between the first position shown by the broken line in FIG. 5 and the second position shown by the solid line in FIG. It can move back and forth in the Z direction.

Therefore, the two prisms 21 and 2
2 is positioned in the first position, the incident light flux 2
Part of the light flux 25a of the light beam 5 passes through the two prisms 21 and 22 and is guided to the first mounting portion 33 through the opening portion 37. In addition, the remaining luminous flux 25 of the incident luminous flux 25
b is reflected in the X direction on the joint surface 27 of the two prisms 21 and 22. The reflected light beam 25b is reflected by the lens holder 26.
It is incident on the mirror 24 via the lens 23 supported by. Light flux 25b reflected in the Y direction by the mirror 24
Is guided toward the second mounting portion 32 through the opening 36.

On the other hand, when the two prisms 21 and 22 are positioned at the second position, that is, when the two prisms 21 and 22 are out of the optical path of the incident light beam 25, the incident light beam 25 has two prisms 21. And 2
It does not enter 2. As a result, all the incident light beams 25 are Y
It goes straight in the direction and is guided to the first attachment portion 33 through the opening 37. Then, the incident light beam 25 is not guided to the second mounting portion 32 at all.

[0006]

In the conventional optical path splitting device for a microscope as described above, in order to guide the incident light beam from the sample through the objective lens only to the first mounting portion 33, it is necessary to
The two prisms 21 and 22 are removed from the optical path of the incident light beam 25 in the Z direction. That is, the two prisms 21 and 22 are removed by moving in a direction orthogonal to the light beam 25a guided to the first mounting portion 33 and the light beam 25b guided to the second mounting portion 32. Therefore, an extra space for accommodating the two prisms 21 and 22 in the above-mentioned second position is required. In other words, a new space is needed for switching the optical path. As a result, there is an inconvenience that the apparatus main body becomes large and the weight becomes large.

Further, when the main body 31 is provided with a projecting region 31a as shown in FIG. 5 as a new space, the projecting region 31a becomes an obstacle and the operability is deteriorated. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical path splitting device for a microscope, which does not require a new space for switching the optical paths, is small, lightweight, and has high operability. To do.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, a part of the light from the sample is part of a first photographing device or observation device at a predetermined position where the light from the sample is incident. And a light path splitting means for transmitting the remaining light in a predetermined direction toward the second photographing device or the observing device, and the light from the sample to only enter the first photographing device or the observing device. In order to make the optical path splitting means move from the predetermined position, a moving means for moving the optical path splitting means for a microscope in the optical path splitting device for a microscope. An optical path splitting device for a microscope is provided.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, an image forming optical system for forming an image of the reflected light from the optical path splitting means,
It further comprises a holding means for holding the optical path dividing means and the imaging optical system together, and the moving means moves the holding means in the predetermined direction.

[0010]

The optical path splitting device for a microscope of the present invention is provided with an optical path splitting means for transmitting a part of the incident light and reflecting the remaining light. The optical path splitting means is composed of, for example, two prisms having a cemented surface inclined with respect to incident light. Then, the optical path is switched by moving the optical path splitting means in the reflecting direction to remove it from the optical path of the incident light. That is, when positioned in the optical path,
Part of the incident light is transmitted to be guided to the first photographing device or observation device, and the remaining light is reflected to be guided to the second photographing device or observation device. When the light is removed from the optical path, all the incident light is guided to the first photographing device or observation device.

In the present invention, the optical path for guiding the light to one of the plurality of photographing devices or observation devices is used as a space for retracting the optical path splitting means. Therefore, the microscope optical path splitting device of the present invention does not require a new space for removing the optical path splitting means from the optical path. As a result, the device body can be made smaller and lighter.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an optical path splitting device for a microscope according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. Further, FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 and showing a state where two prisms are out of the optical path.

The illustrated apparatus is a main body 11 which is detachably attached to a mirror base (main body) of a microscope (not shown).
It has. In FIG. 1, on the upper right side of the main body 11,
For example, a first attachment portion 13 to which an observation device such as a binocular tube is attached is provided. In addition, on the upper left side of the main body 11 in FIG.
Is provided.

Further, on the lower right side of the main body 11 in FIG. 1, an opening 15 is formed for allowing the light beam 5 from the sample through an objective lens (not shown) to enter in the Y direction.
As is apparent with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lens holder 6 in which the two prisms 1 and 2 support the lens 3 is shown.
Along with it, it is integrally supported by the block 7.
The block 7 is reciprocated by being guided by a pair of guide rails 8 and 9 extending in the X direction. That is, the two prisms 1 and 2 having the cemented surface 10 inclined by 45 ° with respect to the X direction and the Y direction are formed by the lens 3
At the same time, it can reciprocate in the X direction between the first position shown in FIG. 1 and the second position shown in FIG.

Thus, when the two prisms 1 and 2 are positioned at the first position shown in FIG. 1,
A part of the light beam 5a of the incident light beam 5 passes through the two prisms 1 and 2 and is guided to the first mounting portion 13 through the opening 17. In addition, the remaining luminous flux 5b of the incident luminous flux 5
Is reflected in the X direction at the joint surface 10 of the two prisms 1 and 2. The reflected light beam 5b enters the mirror 4 via the lens 3 supported by the lens holder 6. The light beam 5b reflected in the Y direction by the mirror 4 is guided to the second mounting portion 12 through the opening 16.

The lens holder 6 is attached to the block 7 so as to be finely movable in the X direction. Therefore, the position where an image is formed above the second mounting portion 12 can be adjusted by finely moving the lens holder 6 in the X direction. Further, the two prisms 1 and 2 are adapted to be accurately positioned and fixed at the first position shown in FIG. 1 by an appropriate fixing means.

On the other hand, when the two prisms 1 and 2 are positioned at the second position shown in FIG. 3, that is, when the two prisms 1 and 2 are out of the optical path of the incident light beam 5, the incident light beam 5 becomes It does not enter the two prisms 1 and 2. As a result, all the incident light beams 5 travel straight in the Y direction and are guided toward the first mounting portion 13 through the opening 17. Then, the incident light beam 5 is directed toward the second mounting portion 12.
Is not guided at all.

In the above embodiment, an example in which two prisms having a cemented surface inclined with respect to the incident light is used as the optical path splitting means has been shown, but another suitable light splitting means such as a half mirror may be used. It can also be used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the observation device is attached to the first attachment part and the imaging device is attached to the second attachment part has been shown, but the imaging device is attached to the first attachment part by making appropriate changes. The observation device may be attached to the second attachment portion. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image capturing device is the second
Although an example is shown in which the mounting portion is mounted in the vertical direction in the drawing, the deflecting means such as a mirror may be omitted and the photographing device may be mounted in the horizontal direction in the drawing.

[0019]

As described above, according to the optical path splitting device for a microscope of the present invention, the optical path splitting means is retracted to the optical path for guiding the light to one of the mounting portions, and the optical path is switched.
The main body of the device can be reduced in size and weight, and the operability of the device is significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an optical path splitting device for a microscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 and is a view showing a state in which two prisms are out of the optical path.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional optical path splitting device for a microscope.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1, 2 Prism 3 Lens 4 Mirror 5 Incident light flux 6 Lens holder 7 Block 8, 9 Guide rail 10 Bonding surface 11 Main body 12 Second mounting portion 13 First mounting portion

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. At a predetermined position where light from a sample is incident, a part of the light from the sample is transmitted toward the first imaging device or the observation device, and the remaining light is transmitted to the second imaging device or Optical path splitting means that reflects in a predetermined direction toward the observation device, and moving means that moves the optical path splitting means from the predetermined position so that the light from the sample is incident only on the first imaging device or the observation device. The optical path splitting device for a microscope comprising: an optical path splitting device for a microscope, wherein the moving means moves the optical path splitting means from the predetermined position to the predetermined direction. 2. An image forming optical system for forming an image of reflected light from the optical path splitting means, and a holding means for holding the optical path splitting means and the image forming optical system together. The optical path splitting device for a microscope according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit moves the holding unit in the predetermined direction. 3. The optical path splitting device for a microscope according to claim 1, wherein the moving means further comprises a positioning means for positioning the optical path splitting means at the predetermined position.