GB2182170A - Microscope with a reflecter and supplementary sliders - Google Patents

Abstract

A microscope has one or more supplementary sliders 3, 5, which run parallel with a reflector slider 4, on which optical elements B1-3, C1-3 like neutral density filters, filters for fluorescence excitation or polarizers are mounted in change mounts.The supplementary sliders 3, 5 are connected with the reflector slider 4 by a cutoff coupling 7, 11. The sliders may be in an illumination or observation beam path. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Microscope with a reflector slider The invention concerns a microscope with a reflector slider containing at leasttwo different incident-light reflectors and, by means of a cutoff coupling device being connected with additional switching elements in the illumination or observation beam path.

Such a microscope is known, for example, from DE-A1 28 041. The reflector slider of this known microscopefeaturestwo switching positions in which either a brightfield our a darkfield reflector is swung into the incident-light beam path. The additional switching elements are a neutral density filter which is automatically swung into the beam path in "brightfield" position of the reflector slider for light intensity adjustment in the observation beam path for both contrast-enhancement techniques (brightfield and darkfield).The coupling device can be manually disconnected to remove the neutral densityfilterfrom the beam path for photo-micrography in brightfield, which requires the maximum available light This known solution simplifies merely the change between brightfield and darkfield illumination. But it is often necessary to change quickly to and between other contrast-enhancementtechniques such as Nomarski differential interference contrast (DIC), observation in polarized light (Pol), orfluorescence excitation.With the known system this cannot be readily achieved, because the coupling between neutral density filter and reflector slider must at first be unlocked, and then the additional optical elements required for the next contrast-enhancementtech- nique, e.g. polarizers and analyzers, provided at another place in the beam path.

These disadvantages can be avoided by providing a further switching position forthe reflector slider and incorporating the elements required for a further contrast-enhancement technique, e.g. polarizers, in the reflector slider proper at the corresponding place. This would, however, considerably confine the number of feasible contrast-enhancement techniques, because the available space already precludes the use of a reflectorsliderwhich occupies a dif ferentswitching position for each feasible contrast-enhancement technique. Besides, this type of reflector sliderwould be too expensive andre- quire too much outlay.

The subject matterofthe invention therefore isto design a microscope of the aforementioned type which allows the user, by one and the same operation, to adjust at least one further frequently needed contrast-enhancement technique apart from changing between brightfield and darkfield,thereby, however, not limiting the numberoffeasiblecon- trast-enhancementtechniques.

According to the main claim this problem is solved by the arrangement of the additional switching elements on one or several supplementary sliders which run parallel and can be connected with the reflector slider.

One benefit of this solution is that the user can adjust the contrast-enhancement technique of his choice using the third switching position of the re flector slider by the equipmentof the corresponding positions of the supplementary slider with suitable elements. With connected supplementary slider(s) the selected contrast-enhancement technique is adjusted by a single manipulation. After cutoff of the coupling other, less frequently used contrast enhancementtechniquescan beindividuallyadju- sted either by changing the assignment of the positions of reflector slider and supplementary reflector slider or by exchanging the supplementary sliderfor anotherwith different equipment.

Further advantages of the invention are shown by the following description of a design in accordance with Figures 1-5 of the annexed drawings.

Figure lisa perspective view of that part of a microscope stand which contains the incident-light reflectors; Figure2 is an enlarged sectional drawing of the reflector slider and the supplementary reflector sliders in the stand according to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a part-sectional view of the supplementary slider3 aiong the line 1II/III in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a part-sectional view of reflector slider4 and supplementary slider 5 along the line lV/lV in Figure 2; Figure 5a-c shows top views of reflector slider 4 and supplementary sliders 3 and 5.

Figure 1 shows that part ofthe stand of an upright microscope and designated 1, which carries the nos epiece 2. The port 6 on top of stand 1 usually accepts the binoculartube which is not shown here. Three parallel sliders are arranged between nosepiece and port 6: one reflector slider 4 whose incident-light reflectors deflect the light from an illumination system at the back of stand 1, and direct it towards the nose piece, one supplementary sliderSto swing filters, polarizers, etc. in the illumination beam path between light source and reflector slider 4, and a second supplementary slider 3 in the observation beam path between incident-light reflectors and port 6.

According to Figure 5a the reflector slider 4 has three switching positions. The corresponding positions contain a first semitransparent brightfield re flectorAl, a darkfield reflectorA2 in the form of a ring mirror, and a second semitransparent brightfield reflectorA3. The three switching positions of the supplementaryslider5shown in Figure Sb contain a neutral density filter B1, a free passage B2, and a polarizing filter B3. These filters are interchangeably mounted on slider 5 in corresponding mounts.

The supplementary slider3 (Figure 5a) alsofea- tures three mounts for exchangeablefilters, ofwhich only one carries an analyzer C3, C1 and C2 are, therefore, free passages.

As shown in Figures 2-4, the sliders 3, 4 and 5 can be mechanically coupled. Reflectorslider4and supplementary slider 5 are connected by a bolt7 in reflector slider 4. Bolt7 engages a slot 15 in slider5; movement of reflectorslider4thus drives supple mentary slider 5. To unlockthe coupling bolt7 is held on device 8 and pulled backagainstthe tension of a spring 9; it can be locked in this position byturning device 8 into a notch 10.

A lever 11 is pivoted in supplementary slider 3 for coupling ofsupplementaryslider3and reflectorslider 4. A hook 12 of this pivoting lever engages the notch 14 on top of reflector slider4. To unlockthe coupling pivoting lever 11 isturned on the device (Figure 3) which projects from slider3.

If three sliders 3,4 and 5 are coupled as shown in Figures2-4theycan be moved jointly by a single manipulation. This permits quick change between the contrast-enhancement techniques brightfield (switching position Al -B1-C1), darkfield (switching position A2-B2-C2), and polarization or DIC (switching position A3-B3-C3). If neutral density filter B1 is switched at the same time, no major brightness differences occur during the change between brightf ieldanddarkfieldillumination. If more light is needed for photomicrography in brighffield, slider5 can be disconnected from reflector slider4 and setto switching position 82.

If both sliders 3 and 5 are disconnected from reflec tor slider 4, they can be completely pulled outof stand 1 and equipped with filters for fluorescence excitation in positions B3 and C3, for example. The supplementary sliders can also be exchanged for equipped spare sliders, if necessary.

Claims (4)

1. Microscopewith reflectorslider(4) containing at least two different incident-light reflectors (Al, A2) and coupled with additional switching elements (B1- 3,C1-3) intheillumination or observation beam path by means of a cutoff coupling (7,11), characterized by the factthatthe additional switching elements are arranged on one or several supplementary sliders (3,5) which run parallel and can be connected with the reflectorslider.

2. Microscope accordingto claim l,char- acterized by the factthat the additional elements are mounted on the supplementary sliders (3,5) in change mounts.

3. Microscope according to claim 1, characterized bythe factthatthe reflector slider has three switching positions and carries a darkfield reflector (A2) in one position, andthatthe mounts ofthesupp- lementary slider (5) assigned to the two remaining switching positions are equipped with a neutral densityfilter (B1 ) and a polarizing filter (B3) in the illumination beam path.

4. Microscopeaccording to claim 3, characterised by the fact that a second supplementarysli- der (3) is provided in the observation beam path, which also carries a polarizing filter (analyzer C3).