Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Microscope
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-14
2001-07-31
Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Compound lens system
Microscope
C359S368000, C359S373000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06268959
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 11-239129, filed Aug. 26, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an inverted microscope for use in observing a specimen that allows the operator to confirm the settings of the microscope from a normal viewing position, and a method for using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
As shown in
FIG. 5
, a conventional inverted microscope
30
has a main body
31
, to which are attached a stage
32
, a nosepiece
33
located below the stage
32
, an objective lens
34
attached to the nosepiece
33
, an eyepiece
35
located diagonally above the stage
32
, and an illumination system
36
located over the stage
32
. A sample container
21
for observation is placeable on the stage
32
.
As shown in
FIG. 6
for this conventional inverted microscope
30
, the stage
32
has an opening
32
a,
which is used to confirm the type of objective lens
34
being used under the stage
32
, and to confirm adjustments made to the operating state of the objective lens
34
using a correction ring on the objective lens
34
. The opening
32
a
is a hole having a diameter between 100 mm and 110 mm, and is larger around than the objective lens
34
. A transparent annular disk
32
c,
which is made of a glass or a resin, is fitted into the opening
32
a
and allows an observer to view and confirm the conditions around the objective lens
34
.
As shown in
FIG. 7
for this conventional inverted microscope
30
, a sample container
21
, such as a petri dish having an internal diameter of approximately between 35 mm and 100 mm, or a ninety-six-holes plate, are both widely used. However, when the sample container
21
is placed on the stage
32
, the sample container
21
often blocks the field of view through annular disk
32
c,
and thus the conditions around the objective lens
34
cannot be confirmed by the observer from near the eye piece
35
, diagonally above. As a result, an observer is forced to take an awkward position to confirm the conditions around the objective lens
34
, and he/she cannot stay in the normal position for observation using the microscope
30
.
One solution to this problem is to manufacture the stage
32
from glass materials. However, this solution causes other problems, such as an increased cost for machining since glass materials are heavier and more difficult to work with than when the stage
32
is manufactured from aluminum using die-casting or resin moulding. In addition, when the observer is performing a physiological experiment, the observer needs a tap in order to affix a micro-manipulator (not shown) on the stage
32
. However, observers have found it difficult to bore the tap-hole on the stage
32
when it is made of glass. An alternative solution is to use a special tool, which is otherwise useless and wasted, to grasp the stage
32
without a tap in order to affix the micro-manipulator, thus increasing the operating cost of the inverted microscope
30
. Therefore, while it is possible to manufacture the whole of stage
32
from a glass material, this causes both manufacturing and user problems as discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an inverted microscope which overcomes the above discussed problems of conventional inverted microscopes.
It is another object of the invention to provide an inverted microscope where the observer is able to view the objective lens from a normal viewing position diagonally above the objective lens when a sample container is placed on a stage of the microscope.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an inverted microscope having a stage that allows the objective lens to be viewed during observation of the sample from a normal viewpoint, is easier and cheaper to manufacture than comparable conventional stages, and can be altered by the user without the need for special tools.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide an inverted microscope having a nosepiece that is oriented to facilitate viewing of the objective lens from a normal viewing position.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an inverted microscope comprises a stage to hold a sample, the stage having an observation opening and a confirmation opening that are separate from each other, an objective lens arranged under the stage, and an eyepiece provided diagonally above the stage. The observation opening secures a first optical path to observe the sample using the objective lens, and the confirmation opening secures a second optical path apart from the first optical path between a normal viewpoint near the eyepiece and the objective lens, wherein the confirmation opening is sized to allow confirmation of at least a half of an outer surface of the objective lens from the normal viewpoint, and the confirmation opening is fitted with a light-transmitting member made of glass or resin which is at least semi-transparent.
In accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, the confirmation opening of the inverted microscope allows confirmation of conditions around and on the objective lens disposed under the stage, including viewing a marking on the objective lens, from a normal viewpoint that is between 5 cm and 10 cm away from the eyepiece.
In accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, with this inverted microscope, the light-transmitting member is a standardized slide glass.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an inverted microscope comprises a stage to hold a sample, the stage having an observation opening and a confirmation opening that are separate from each other, an objective lens arranged under the stage, and an eyepiece provided diagonally above the stage. The observation opening secures an optical path to observe the sample using the objective lens, and the confirmation opening has mesh disposed within it that secures a sight line between a normal viewpoint near the eyepiece and the objective lens as to allow confirmation of conditions under the stage.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for using an inverted microscope includes placing a sample on an observation opening formed on a stage, illuminating the sample with an illumination light from over the sample, obtaining an image of the sample using an objective lens arranged under the sample through an eyepiece, and confirming a marking and other conditions on and around the objective lens from a normal viewpoint located in the vicinity of the eyepiece through a confirmation opening also formed on the stage.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the method for using the inverted microscope utilizes a normal viewpoint that is between 5 cm and 10 cm above, below, and to the side of the eyepiece.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the method for using the inverted microscope includes confirming the marking of the objective lens through a light-transmitting member fitted in the confirmation opening.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4210384 (1980-07-01), Meyer et al.
patent: 4337991 (1982-07-01), Benajam
patent: 4619503 (1986-10-01), Reinheimer et al.
patent: 6184973 (2001-02-01), Baer et al.
patent: 10-186239 (1988-07-01), None
Patent Abstract of Japan, Inverted Microscope, Jul. 14, 1998, Uchida Tadashi, et al.
Nguyen Thong
Nikon Corporation
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