Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B21/00—Microscopes
  • G02B21/02—Objectives
  • G02B21/025—Objectives with variable magnification
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B21/00—Microscopes
  • G02B21/24—Base structure
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B21/00—Microscopes
  • G02B21/24—Base structure
  • G02B21/248—Base structure objective (or ocular) turrets
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B7/00—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements
  • G02B7/001—Counterbalanced structures, e.g. surgical microscopes
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B21/00—Microscopes
  • G02B21/18—Arrangements with more than one light path, e.g. for comparing two specimens
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B21/00—Microscopes
  • G02B21/18—Arrangements with more than one light path, e.g. for comparing two specimens
  • G02B21/20—Binocular arrangements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B21/00—Microscopes
  • G02B21/18—Arrangements with more than one light path, e.g. for comparing two specimens
  • G02B21/20—Binocular arrangements
  • G02B21/22—Stereoscopic arrangements

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to a microscope having multiple coaxial mechanical controls. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a microscope head having a pivot axis located generally at a center of gravity of the head with multiple mechanical controls coaxial with the pivot axis.
• FIG. 1 shows a prior art microscope head 10 attached to a support arm 12 at a pivot connector 14 located at the upper left portion of microscope head 10. It is noted that in use, microscope head 10 may further include an unshown pair of eye-pieces and an unshown objective lens. Handles 16 are attached to microscope head 10 at handle connector 18 located towards the lower right portion of microscope head 10. A user attempting to rotate microscope head 10 about pivot connector 14 by manipulating handle 16 is likely to cause undesired movement of the microscope head in a vertical direction indicated by arrow 20 and/or in a horizontal direction indicated by arrow 22.
• buttons 26 require a user to memorize the layout configuration and function(s) of each button at each location, if the user is to operate the buttons 26 without removing his gaze from the microscope's view field.
• the buttons 26 also add significant cost to the microscope because of the required electrical power supply, wiring connections, software, and control circuitry, compared to a microscope with only mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
• FIG. 1 is a modified block diagram of a prior art microscope mounted on a support arm
• Mounting structure shown generally at 108, is for rotatably mounting a support arm 110 coaxially with the pivot axis 104.
• Example mounting structure 108 is described in more detail below.
• a tension control ring 112 is attached coaxially with the pivot axis 104 for varying a rotation force required to rotate the housing 102 with at least one handle 106 about the pivot axis 104.
• Mounting structure 108 and tension control ring 112 interact as described below.
• a magnification selector mechanism 114 is connected to the housing 102 coaxially with the pivot axis 104.
• the magnification selector mechanism is described in more detail below and may be any acceptable mechanism that allows multiple levels of magnification to be selected by a user manipulating the knob 116 shown. Again, because knob 116 and the required user manipulation movement are coaxial with the pivot axis, any undesired microscope head 100 movement caused by a user changing magnification levels during use is minimized or eliminated.
• Knob 116 may cooperate with additional parts of magnification selector mechanism 114 such that rotation of knob 116 causes shaft 128 to rotate to change the magnification level.
• Handle 106 may be pushed inward (towards housing 102), along pivot axis 104, releasing handle insert 138 and allowing handle 106 to be repositioned. Once a user releases handle 106, compression spring 136 causes handle insert 138 to reengage and lock handle 106 is its new position.
• Handle insert 138 also acts as a rotation bearing surface between microscope mount 122 and handle 106.
• Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
• first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Microscoopes, Condenser (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2014
  • 2014-12-03 US US14/558,982 patent/US9244263B1/en active Active
• 2015
  • 2015-11-04 WO PCT/US2015/058948 patent/WO2016089525A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2015-11-04 DE DE112015005471.5T patent/DE112015005471T5/de active Pending
  • 2015-11-04 CA CA2968819A patent/CA2968819C/en active Active
  • 2015-11-04 JP JP2017529831A patent/JP6680784B2/ja active Active
  • 2015-11-04 GB GB1710227.8A patent/GB2548757B/en active Active

Patent Citations (4)

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