Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Microscope
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-19
2001-01-09
Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Compound lens system
Microscope
C359S368000, C359S375000, C359S383000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06172804
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is the U.S. national phase under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/DE98/00547 filed Feb. 25, 1998 claiming priority of German Patent Application No.197 07 520.7 filed Feb. 25, 1997.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to an optical device with at least one lens and at least one swiveling observation tube.
Such optical devices are, for instance, microscopes and particularly surgical microscopes with two imaging channels for stereoscopic viewing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical devices comprising one or two swiveling observation tubes are known from quite a number of prior art references. Just by way of example reference is made to the documents quoted below which, by the way, explicit reference is made to with respect to the explanation of all details or applications which are not mentioned here separately:
German Patent DE 1 098 233, German laid-open Patent Application DE-OS 25 02 209, German Patent DE 26 54 778 C2, German Patent DE 31 05 018 A1, German Patent DE 31 17 254 C2, German Patent DE 33 05 650 A1, German Patent DE 37 18 843 A1, German Utility Model DE-GBM 79 31 427, European Patent EP 0 627 642 A1 and British Patent GB 637 198.
In the device known from the German Patent DE 31 17 254 C2 the observation tube can be swiveled about an axis. A rotatable mirror is disposed with the same axis as the rotational axis of the observation tube, onto which mirror the light beam coming from the lens is deflected by a first mirror fixedly arranged in the base section.
The optical device known from the German Patent DE 31 17 254 C2, which comprises a swiveling observation tube, hence presents disadvantages with respect to both the variability of the viewing direction and the overall length and aperture of the optical system.
The same applies to the optical systems or devices known from the other prior art documents.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based on the problem of proposing an optical device comprising at least one lens and at least one swiveling observation tube, which achieves a high variability of the viewing direction of typically ±60°, i.e. 120° in total, with a short overall length and a reduced weight.
The invention starts out from the basic idea that an observation tube with a variable viewing direction could be implemented by the provision that the observation tube is rolled along the arc of a circle on the base section rather than being rotated. With this provision and with the use of two rotatable deflecting mirrors, whereof one is disposed in the base section whilst the other one is arranged in the swiveling eyepiece carrier, it is possible to achieve a wide swiveling angle of up to 120° and more with a short overall length and a reduced weight.
In one preferred embodiment, a swiveling motion of the eyepiece carrier through the angle &agr; causes the first deflecting mirror to rotate through the angle ¼&agr; in a direction towards the eyepiece carrier an the second deflecting mirror through an angle of ¼&agr; relative to the eyepiece carrier in opposition to the swiveling motion of the eyepiece carrier. With this provision the required deflection of the light beam coming from the lens is uniformly distributed to the two deflecting mirrors so that a wide aperture of the observation tube is achieved at a small overall length.
The inventive device permits a wide swiveling range of the eyepiece carrier, which can, in particular, be as wide as ±60° and more.
The inventive principle is, of course, applicable in devices comprising a single observation tube only, i.e. for monocular observation. The inventive principle is particularly expedient, however, in devices which comprise a binocular tube which permits the observation through two separate viewing openings. For reasons of both space and tolerance it makes sense to use the deflecting mirrors in common in both imaging channels.
In another preferred embodiment an optical means is provided which offsets the optical axis of the eyepiece observation opening proper and of the eyepiece carrier downstream of the second deflecting mirror in parallel. With this provision of ergonomic layout is improved. The optical device may comprise two Porro prisms which are preferably rotated through 90° relative to each other. The optical means may also serve to set the pupil distance—in those embodiments in which the Porro prisms are used—by rotation of these prisms. The ergonomic configuration is even further enhanced when the inventive device is rotatable through an angle of 180° or more in a holder which may be an angular dovetail guide, for instance.
For the implementation of the rolling movement of the eyepiece carrier on the base portion preferably rolling gears are provided which mesh with each other. One of the rolling gears—preferably the rolling gear provided on the base portion—may be stationary whilst the other rolling gear is rotating.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment, gearing means are provided which rotate the deflecting mirrors in correspondence with the swiveling motion of the eyepiece carrier. These gearing means may be driven particularly by one of the rolling gears.
For a reduction of the tolerances and clearances the rolling gears may be provided on both sides of the eyepiece carrier or the base section, respectively. It is moreover preferred to provide a biasing means which biases the rotational axes of the deflecting mirrors in a direction toward their shortest spacing as with this provision, too, the clearance is reduced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4175826 (1979-11-01), Blaha et al.
patent: 4299439 (1981-11-01), Stromblad
patent: 4576450 (1986-03-01), Westphal
patent: 4798451 (1989-01-01), Fujiwara
patent: 5177636 (1993-01-01), Furuhashi
patent: 5543962 (1996-08-01), Kitajima et al.
patent: 3117254 A1 (1982-11-01), None
patent: 637198 (1950-05-01), None
Götz Alexander
Koch Klaus
Schuck Manfred
Stoeckl Georg
Nguyen Thong
Rodenstock Prazisionsoptik GmbH
Simpson, Simpson & Snyder, L.L.P.
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