Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Microscope
Reexamination Certificate
1996-04-10
2001-11-20
Henry, Jon (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Compound lens system
Microscope
C359S389000, C359S363000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320696
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to light microscopes including light microscopes having dual eyepiece (binocular) viewing and the ability to produce a stereoscopic (stereo) image that can be viewed and/or photographed in real time. The invention further relates to reflected light illumination (including epi illuminated fluorescent images) for microscopes with reduced flare without reduced specimen illumination.
2. The Prior Art
Although many microscopes are equipped with a binocular viewing arrangement, that alone does not produce a stereoscopic view of an object since both of the viewing eyepieces typically see the exact same image from the same angle. Stereoscopic viewing requires that each eye see a different image of the object. This is accomplished by creating parallax (viewing the object from different angles) in much the same way that human eye pairs create stereoscopic vision.
At the present time there are two types of stereoscopic microscopes widely known and used. The first of these (inclined axes type) is, in essence, two complete microscopes with their objectives close together and with their major axes inclined to each other to permit object viewing from two different angles to create the parallax necessary for producing a stereo pair. An example of this type of microscope is the Nikon® model SMZ-2B/2T.
The other type of stereo microscope (parallel-axis type) utilizes a single large objective lens followed by two smaller side-by-side lens groups whose axes are parallel to the objective lens axis and which share the aperture of the large objective. In this arrangement, only a small portion of the aperture of the large objective lens is used. An example of this type of microscope is the Nikon® model SMZ-10.
Both of these types of stereo microscopes have the well recognized limitation in the magnification that can be achieved. This limitation, that prevents total magnification of more than 100 times (approximately), is imposed by the practicalities of size and space. As magnification increases, the size of the objective (and its focal length and working distance) decreases. In the case of the inclined type of microscope, there is insufficient space for two objective lenses when the objective magnification exceeds approximately 10 times (the centers of the lenses need to be closer together than their physical size—radii—permits). Likewise, for the parallel-axis microscope, it is not possible to physically dispose two side-by-side secondary lenses behind the primary objective when the objective is diminished beyond a certain size (i.e. as the objective magnification increases beyond 10 times—approximately).
One undesirable characteristic of reflection illumination, and especially fluorescent illumination (either by virtue of natural fluorescence or the use of fluorescent markers), is flare, which if not controlled, can prevent good images from being captured. Prior art systems using epi fluorescent illumination, for example, have attempted to control flare by the use of an iris within the rear aperture of the objective. Since all such irises are optically disposed between the light source and the objective, they necessarily reduce the light that reaches the specimen as they reduce flare. Thus, the cost of controlling the flare is a reduction in the amount of light that reaches the specimen (object) and a concomitant reduction in the numerical aperture of illumination. While the control of flare in this way eliminates one source of image degradation, the accompanying light loss can prevent images from being recorded on film in some specimens and seriously reduces the quality of images that are achieved in others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides improvements in microscopes including reduced flare without reduced illumination and an improved binocular viewing head and camera recording system in which each eyepiece and/or camera views the object from a different angle through a single objective, regardless of the size of the objective, and therefore, regardless of the overall magnification of the microscope. The invention permits the simultaneous viewing and photographing of stereo images and convenient means for photographing images in two dimensions for the highest possible resolution.
The objects of the invention are achieved by projecting an image of the rear aperture of the microscope objective lens at a remote location in space (relative to the actual rear aperture) and dividing the beam at the projected image and/or placing an iris at the projected image to control flare.
For stereo viewing or recording, reflector means operate very near the rear aperture of the objective lens to divide the light into two separate beams and direct those beams to the two separate viewing means (eyepieces and/or cameras) of the binocular viewing system. A reflector means in the form of a “V” shaped mirror reflects the light from one half of the objective (via other reflector means) to one of the viewing means while the other half of the light is reflected to the other viewing means. In this way each viewing means receives the light from one half of the objective rear aperture and therefore views the object from a different angle, producing true stereoscopic viewing in real-time, with real color, using either transmitted light, reflected light or fluorescence light.
Because limitations of size and space for high power microscopes make it impossible or impractical to place a mirror at the rear aperture of the objective lens where the beam is most advantageously divided, lenses are used to relay an image of the rear aperture of the objective at a location in space where the mirror can be practically located. The beam is then divided at this location in space precisely as it would be if the mirror were physically located adjacent the objective's rear aperture. The particular lenses used to produce the remote imaging of the objective rear aperture depend on whether the objective is of the “infinity focus” type or the “finite focus” type, as well as on all the other parameters of the particular optical system. In either case the result is the same.
The unique combination of the projected image of the rear aperture of the objective and the placement of an iris near that projected image (in that proximity to the projected image of the rear aperture of the objective lens in which the image of the iris is not seen by the viewing means), provides for the first time the ability to control flare in a microscope using reflected light without having to reduce the intensity and cone angle of the illumination reaching the specimen. Using this unique combination, it is possible to see and record epi illuminated images (including specimens that fluoresce) of a quality never before known. When combined with the stereo teachings of the invention, it also provides for the first time the ability to take high power simultaneous stereo pair photographs of reflected light images, including epi illuminated fluorescent images.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved stereoscopic viewing system for a light microscope for producing, viewing and/or recording stereo images of an object.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved head for a light microscope for stereo viewing in which the spacial orientation of the viewed image is the same as that of the object being viewed.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a high power microscope stereoscopic viewing head which can readily produce 3D stereo pair photographs simultaneously, as well as high resolution two dimensional photographs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide reflection illumination (including epi fluorescent illumination) with reduced flare without reducing the amount of light directed onto the specimen (object).
There are other objects of the invention which in part are obvious and in part will become apparent from the description of the invention set forth herein below.
REFERENCES:
patent
Ginsberg Robert
Greenberg Gary
Brucker H. Michael
Henry Jon
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