Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Microscope
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-10
2001-03-20
Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Compound lens system
Microscope
C359S368000, C359S385000, C359S392000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06204965
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a microscope with a table or stage which is adjustable in coordinates X, Y and/or Z, with a drive for stage adjustment and with a control circuit for presetting different adjusting speeds.
b) Description of the Related Art
In optical precision instrument engineering, all-purpose routine microscopes outfitted with electromechanically driven functional components are known. Microscopes of this type have, for example, a high-precision positioning device for stage focusing, a motorized condenser function, coded specimen and reflector turrets, an objective-dependent brightness control coupled with the objective turret, an automatic balancing of focusing speed and focusing position of the utilized objectives and, if necessary, also the possibility of linking the microscope to a PC via a RS232 interface.
A construction of this kind corresponds, for example, to the Zeiss microscope known under the brand name “Axioskop 2 MOT”. In addition to the above-mentioned equipment, an LED line is provided in this case for displaying the brightness adjusted in transmitted-light operation. The operating voltage applied to the light source is used as a quantity proportional to the brightness in order to show the adjusted brightness; the higher the operating voltage, the more LEDs are illuminated in the LED line.
The stage adjustment can be carried out at different speeds for stage focusing when changing objectives depending on the programming of the sequence. It is disadvantageous in microscopes of this type that there is no display available to show the speed at which the stage adjustment is carried out. This deficiency becomes noticeable particularly when programming the microscope for different applications and operating modes. Accordingly, it is difficult to reproduce values of the adjusting speed that have already been adjusted. Also, fine speed gradations which can not be detected visually through the eyepiece are difficult to distinguish.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Against this background, it is the primary object of the invention to further develop a microscope of the type described above in such a way that adjustment and/or pre-programming is further facilitated with respect to different cases of application and operating modes.
According to the invention, means are provided in a microscope of the type mentioned above for showing the preset adjusting speed during displacement of the stage in at least one of coordinates X, Y, Z.
Therefore, it is advantageously possible during the adjustment and/or programming of the microscope to visually perceive the adjusting speed or to display speed gradations which are not otherwise detectable in the eyepiece.
In a particularly preferred construction of the invention, in a microscope which is outfitted with a light source for transmitted light operation and/or reflected light operation, with a control circuit for presetting different brightnesses for this light source and with a display device for showing the respective preset brightness, this display device is provided for showing the respective preset brightness as well as for showing the respective preset adjusting speed. For this purpose, according to the invention, the display device is connected in a selectable manner with the control circuit for the stage drive or with the control circuit for the light source by a switchover device.
The advantage of the invention can be achieved with virtually no additional technical expenditure in that the display device that is already present for displaying lamp brightness is also utilized for displaying the adjusting speed of the stage. The display device is preferably used to display the speed of the stage adjustment in the focusing direction, i.e., for adjusting the stage in coordinate Z.
As a rule, microscopes of this type are outfitted with a device for selecting the mode of operation by which, among other things, the microscope can be switched from programming operation to microscope operation, and vice versa. According to the invention, it is provided in microscopes of this type that the switchover device for selectable use of the display device is integrated in the operating mode selector or is at least linked with the latter such that the display device is connected with the control circuit for the stage drive in the programming operating mode and with the control circuit for the light source in the microscope operating mode.
In this way, it is advantageously accomplished, without the need for additional manipulation, that the adjusted adjusting speed of the stage is displayed on the display device in the programming mode, while information about the adjusted lamp brightness, which is more important for the user in the microscope mode, can be read off in this mode.
As is well-known, a display device of this type can comprise an LED line in which, for example, the quantity of LEDs at a high signal level increases as the operating voltage given for the light source increases. In an analogous manner, according to the invention, it is provided that after the switching over or the linking of the display device with the control circuit for the stage drive, the number of LEDs in the LED line which are at the high signal level and which are illuminated increases as the operating voltage given for the stage drive increases. In this case, the given operating voltage serves as an equivalent for the adjusting speed of the stage.
Of course, it is also possible to provide an arrangement with a plurality of individual LEDs which are used together as a so-called bar display instead of an LED line constructed as a compact component, wherein the quantity of lit or unlit LEDs represents a measure for the adjusting speed as in the case of the LED line.
The LEDs can be triggered by a high signal level as well as by a low signal level (or negative high). The decisive factor in this respect is that the operating voltage is an equivalent for the quantity of illuminated LEDs.
Accordingly, depending on the arrangement of the invention in programming mode or, as the case may be, also in microscope mode, sufficiently accurate information on the given adjusting speed of the stage is made available to the user of the microscope.
In another very preferable construction of the invention, a microprocessor is provided for programming the stage drive and for controlling the light source and the LED line, which microprocessor is connected on the input side with the operating mode selector which is outfitted, for example, with a keypad or keyboard.
The invention will be explained more fully hereinafter with reference to an embodiment example.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4443008 (1984-04-01), Shimano
patent: 4821056 (1989-04-01), Shinoda et al.
patent: 5684627 (1997-11-01), Ganser et al.
patent: 6-138395 (1994-05-01), None
Doering Gerhard
John Matthias
Rau Rolf-Gero
Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
Nguyen Thong
Smith LLP Reed
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