JP2001021815A - Video microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video microscope by which a cuticle can be more clearly observed by performing operation for the change of magnification and focusing by a single hand without interrupting the observation of hair. SOLUTION: A probe 1 enlarging an image and converting it into an image signal is provided with a probe housing 2 provided with a hollow projecting part 4 having an aperture 4a on its tip at a lower part, a lens barrel switching member 6 on the bottom part of which a plurality of lens barrels 7 and 8 having different magnifications are fixed side by side, which is slidably attached in a direction that the barrels 7 and 8 are fixed side by side, and which switches the lens barrel by sliding and selectively aligning the plurality of barrels to the aperture, an operating knob 9 provided on the member 6, a CCD supporting member supporting a CCD receiving image forming light from the lens barrel aligned to the aperture and slidably attached in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel, a focusing member sliding the CCD supporting member in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel and performing focusing and an operating lever 20 provided on the focusing member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the observation of hair and hairline, or skin condition,
The present invention relates to a video microscope used for observing an observation target such as various objects and articles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when observing an object to be observed such as hair or a hairline with a video microscope, the user holds the hair with one hand and holds the probe of the video microscope with the other hand. It has been common to observe the hair and the enlarged image of the hairline reflected on a television screen. When observing the hair, it is necessary to always perform focusing. In such a case, the operating member incorporated in the probe is operated. Also, in actual observation of the hair, it is preferable to set the magnification to 700 to 1000 times when observing the state of the cuticle of the hair, and to switch to about 200 times when observing the hair growth, To change the magnification,
This was a normal method in which a lens barrel having a different magnification was replaced from the microscope body. Further, the illumination at the time of hair observation is performed by irradiating from one direction with external illumination.

[0003]

However, in the conventional video microscope, since the magnification was changed by exchanging the lens barrels having different magnifications as described above, one of the hands holding down the hair was temporarily stopped. It was necessary to change the lens barrel away, and during that time, the observation of the hair had to be interrupted. Also, in this case, the probe must be held with the other hand, and one hand must be once separated from the hair to operate the operating member for focusing, and once the focus is achieved, the hair is pressed down again with one hand. The focus was often out of focus, and the operation was very troublesome. In particular, when observing a cuticle, the operation is more difficult due to the high magnification.

[0004] Furthermore, the cuticle of hair is scaly and has a structure like a roof tile, so that it is difficult to obtain a clear image with illumination from one direction.
The scaly structure could not be clearly observed. In addition, it is necessary to hold the microscope probe directly against the head so that the probe and hair do not move, but the observation object is easy to move, and the illumination distance changes each time the observation object moves. Observation of cuticles that require high magnification is more difficult.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a video microscope capable of changing the magnification with one hand, focusing, and easily observing a cuticle without interrupting the observation of the hair. With the goal.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video microscope, comprising: a probe for enlarging an image of an object to be observed and converting the image into an image signal; In a video microscope including a monitor television that displays an image signal as an image,
The probe has a probe housing having a projection having a hollow opening at the tip at the bottom, and a plurality of lens barrels having different magnifications are fixed side by side at the bottom, and the plurality of lens barrels in the probe housing are fixed. It is slidably mounted in the row direction,
A lens barrel switching unit that switches the lens barrel by sliding and selectively aligning one of the plurality of lens barrels with the opening, and a lens barrel switching unit that is provided with an end. An operation knob protruding out of the probe housing, and a CCD receiving imaging light from a lens barrel aligned with the opening
And a CCD support mounted in the probe housing so as to be slidable in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel. The CCD support is connected to the CCD support. A focus adjustment unit that slides in the optical axis direction to perform focusing, and an operation lever that is provided in the focus adjustment unit and that has an end protruding outside the probe housing. .

According to the above arrangement, the fingers are hung on the operation knob and the operation lever, respectively, while holding the probe with the palm of one hand, so that the magnification of the probe can be achieved while pressing the protrusion of the probe against the hair or hairline with only one hand. Since it is possible to change and focus, it is possible to observe while maintaining the state in which the hair is held down with the other hand. Therefore, it is possible to change the magnification without interrupting the observation of the hair,
By reducing the out-of-focus, focusing becomes extremely easy, and the cuticle can be easily observed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an observation stand having an annular support portion to which the protruding portion of the probe is removably fitted from one side, and a sticking portion having a center hole at a tip end thereof. The hair support is further provided with a follicle holder detachably fitted to the annular support portion from the other side, and the hair is attached to the attaching portion so that the hair root is aligned with the center hole, and the follicle holder is fitted to the annular support portion. Then, the hair root is positioned substantially at the in-focus position of the lens barrel.

According to the above configuration, when observing the hair root, the hair root holder to which the probe and the hair are stuck is merely fitted into the observation stand, so that the state is almost in focus. Easy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the focus adjustment section has one end pivotally connected to the CCD support section and the other end rotatably and slidably supported by the probe housing. It is characterized in that the movement of the adjustment section is converted into a smooth movement of the CCD support section in the optical axis direction.

According to the above configuration, focusing can be performed smoothly only by applying a force by putting a finger on the operating lever provided in the focus adjusting section, which is convenient.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on one embodiment shown in the drawings. 1 is a perspective view of a probe, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a lens barrel switching member incorporated in a probe housing, and FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view of the probe housing. FIG. 4 is a main part plan view showing a CCD support plate guide member fixed above the lens barrel switching member, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship between the D support plate guide member and the CCD support plate. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a focusing operation member for moving the CCD support plate up and down for focusing. FIG. 7 is a side view when the probe lid is removed from the probe housing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the probe 1 has a probe housing 2 and a probe cover 3 which is detachably fitted to the probe housing 2 from above. A projection 4 having a portion 4a is integrally formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, four upright bosses 5 are integrally formed on the inner bottom portion of the probe housing 2, and a lens barrel switching portion 6 is guided by the boss 5 on the inner bottom portion. It is mounted so as to be slidable in the direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2). A low-magnification lens barrel 7 having a magnification of about 200 times and a high-magnification lens barrel 8 having a magnification of about 800 times are fixed to the bottom of the lens-barrel switching unit 6 in a line in the front-rear direction. Operation knobs 9 which are guided by guide holes 2a formed in the upper edge of the probe housing 2 and whose ends slightly protrude outside the probe housing 2 are integrally formed on the left and right sides of the lens barrel switching unit 6. Is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the low-magnification lens barrel 7 and the high-magnification lens barrel 8 are hung down in the projection 4, and the inner bottom of the projection 4 passes through the opening 4a from both sides of the tip of the lens barrel 7 or 8. A pair of light emitting diodes 10 are provided for irradiating illumination light on an object to be observed, for example, a hair or hairline. By moving the lens barrel switching unit 6 back and forth by putting a finger on the operation knob 9, the lens barrel aligned with the opening 4a is switched from the low magnification lens barrel 7 to the high magnification lens barrel 8 and vice versa. Switching of the magnification is performed.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a guide member 12 for guiding a CCD support plate having four upright guide rods 11 is provided on the boss 5 above the lens barrel switching section 6. Four bosses 5 with screws 13 to be screwed
Fixed on top. An opening 12a through which the image forming light from the lens barrel 7 or 8 passes is formed at the center of the CCD support plate guide member 12.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The four holes 14a formed at the four corners of the four are fitted into the guide rods 11, respectively, so that the CCD support plate 14 can slide up and down. In the center of the lower surface of the CCD support plate 14, a CCD 15 for receiving the image forming light passing through the opening 12a, the CCD 15 and the light emitting diode 1
0 is fixed to the driving circuit 16 for driving the CCD.
By moving the support plate 14 up and down, the distance between the CCD 15 and the lens barrel 7 or 8 is changed, whereby focusing is performed. As described above, CC
The D support portion is basically a CCD support plate guide member 12.
And a CCD support plate 14.

Next, the focus adjustment unit will be described. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a rectangular frame-shaped focus adjustment member 17 constituting the focus adjustment unit has a front shaft portion 17 a formed on a pair of pivot support projections 18 formed on the CCD support plate 14.
The rear shaft 17b is rotatably and slidably supported by a pair of supporting projections 19 formed on the inner bottom surface of the probe housing 2, and the center of the front shaft 17a. An operation lever 20 extending upward and forward and having an end slightly protruding outside the probe lid 3 is fixedly mounted. When the focus adjustment member 17 is moved up and down by putting a finger on the operation lever 20, the rear shaft portion 17b rotates and slides, and the front shaft portion 1 is rotated.
By pivoting 7a, the CCD support plate 14 is smoothly slid up and down along the guide rod 11. That is, the movement of the focus adjusting member 17 is converted into a smooth movement of the CCD support plate 14 in the direction of the optical axis, thereby performing focusing. A flexible light-blocking curtain 21 is hung between the front end of the CCD support plate 14 and the front end of the probe housing 2.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10, an example will be described in which the root of the hair is observed. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the probe is mounted on an observation stand,
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where the follicle holder is mounted on the observation stand, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a main part when the follicle holder is mounted on the observation stand.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the projection 4 of the probe 1 is detachably fitted to the observation stand 22 having a substantially rectangular shape from above, and the follicle holder 23 is detachably attached from below. An annular support 24 to be fitted is provided. A cable connection terminal 25 is provided at the base of the observation stand 22. A power cable 26 and a video cable 27 connected to a monitor television (not shown) are provided there.
And a power supply / video cable 28 connected to the drive circuit 16 in the probe 1 are detachably connected.

Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the follicle holder 23 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is adapted to be attached to and detached from the hole 24a of the annular support portion 24 of the observation stand 22 by insertion and extraction. That is, the holder body 29 of the follicle holder 23 is formed with an annular click groove 29a which can be engaged with a spring-biased click ball 30 mounted in the hole 24a, and fits into the hole 24a of the holder body 29. Click coupling and release are performed by insertion and extraction. A center hole 3 is provided at the tip of the holder body 29.
An adhesive layer 31 having 1a is provided so that the hair 32 can be attached to the adhesive layer 31 so that the hair root 32a faces the center hole 31a when observing the hair root. When the follicle holder 23 is inserted into the hole 24a of the annular support portion 24,
The dimensions of the follicle holder 23 are set such that the follicle 32a is located substantially at the in-focus position. The bottom of the center hole 31a can be colored in a color that makes the hair roots 32a stand out. Further, a knob 33 is formed integrally with the rear end of the holder book 29.

The embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above. Next, a method of using the above embodiment will be described. First, the power cable 26 is connected to an outlet (not shown), and the video cable 27 is connected to a monitor television (not shown).
And the power / video cable 28 to the cable connection terminal 2
Connect to 5.

Here, when observing the hair or the hairline, the hair is held down with one hand, the probe 1 is gripped with the other palm, and the opening 4a of the projection 4 is placed in the object to be observed, ie, the hair or hairline. While pointing, the index finger is applied to the operation lever 20 and the thumb is applied to the operation knob 9. At this time, the illumination light from the light emitting diode 10 is applied to the object to be observed, and the reflected light from the light passes through the opening 4a, the lens barrel 7 or 8, and the opening 12a to form an image on the CCD 15, and the signal from the CCD 15 is output. The image signal is converted into an image signal by the drive circuit 16 and sent to a monitor television (not shown) to display an image of the object on the screen. And operation lever 2
While focusing by operating up and down on 0, observe the enlarged image of the hair and hairline reflected on the television screen.

When observing the hairline, the operation knob 9 is slid forward to select the low-magnification lens barrel 7.
Then, when observing the cuticle of the hair, the operation knob 9 is slid rearward to switch to the high-magnification lens barrel 8 and the magnification is changed. In the case of cuticle observation, if the line connecting the pair of light emitting diodes 10 is made parallel to the hair, the illumination light is radiated in parallel to the hair and the cuticle is clearly displayed.

Further, when observing the hair roots, as shown in FIG.
Then, as shown in FIG. 10, a hair root holder 23 having a hair root adhered to the adhesive layer 31 is fitted to the annular support 24 from the opposite side. In this case, the operation knob 9 is slid forward to select the low magnification lens barrel 7.

Although the present invention has been described mainly with respect to the case of observing the cuticle and hair root of hair, the present invention is not limited to the case of observing the hair described above. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to observation, observation of animals and plants, other objects, and various articles.

[0027]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the video microscope according to the present invention, the magnification can be changed and the focus can be adjusted with only one hand, so that, for example, when the object to be observed is hair, The state where the hair is held down with the other hand can be maintained. Therefore, it is possible to change the magnification without interrupting the observation of the hair, and it is extremely easy to focus by reducing the out-of-focus, so that the cuticle can be easily observed. Also,
When observing the hair root, the hair root can be almost in focus only by fitting the hair root holder on which the probe and the hair are stuck to the observation stand, so that the observation of the hair root is extremely easy. Furthermore, since the center hole is provided in the adhesive layer of the hair root holder, the positioning of the hair root is easy, the shape of the hair root is not distorted, and the hair root can be made to stand out by selecting the color of the bottom of the center hole. There are other advantages as well.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a probe of one embodiment of a video microscope according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a lens barrel switching member incorporated in a probe housing.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view of a probe housing.

FIG. 4 is a main part plan view showing a CCD support plate guide member fixed above a lens barrel switching member.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a relationship between a CCD support plate guide member and the CCD support plate.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a focus adjustment member that moves a CCD support plate up and down for focusing.

FIG. 7 is a side view when a probe lid is removed from a probe housing.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where the probe is mounted on an observation stand.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where the hair root holder is mounted on an observation stand.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a main part when the hair root holder is mounted on an observation stand.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 probe 2 probe housing 3 probe lid 4 projecting part 4 a opening 5 boss 6 lens barrel switching member 7 low magnification lens barrel 8 high magnification lens barrel 9 operation knob 10 light emitting diode 11 guide rod 12 CCD support plate guide member 13 screw 14 CCD support Plate 15 CCD 16 Drive circuit 17 Focus adjusting member 18 Projection for pivot support 19 Projection for support 20 Operating lever 21 Light shielding curtain 22 Observation stand 23 Follicle holder 24 Ring support 25 Cable connection terminal 26 Power cable 27 Video cable 28 Video Power cable 29 Holder body 30 Click ball 31 Adhesive layer 32 Hair 33 Knob

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H052 AA14 AB05 AB25 AC04 AC09 AC33 AD06 AD15 AD32 AD37 AF14 5C022 AA01 AB15 AB23 AB36 AB44 AB66 AC26 AC33 AC34 AC42 AC54 AC69 AC77 AC78 CA00

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A video microscope including a probe for enlarging an image of an object to be observed and converting it into an image signal, and a monitor television for displaying an image signal from the probe as an image, wherein the probe is A probe housing having a hollow, protruding portion having an opening at the tip, and a plurality of lens barrels having different magnifications fixedly arranged side by side at the bottom, and slid in the direction in which the plurality of lens barrels are arranged in the probe housing. A lens-barrel switching unit that is mounted so as to be able to switch the lens-barrel by sliding and selectively aligning one of the plurality of lens-barrels with the opening; and a lens-barrel switching unit. An operation knob having an end protruding out of the probe housing; and C receiving imaging light from a lens barrel aligned with the opening.
A CCD supporter supporting a CD and slidably mounted in the probe housing in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel; being connected to the CCD supporter; A focus adjustment unit that performs focusing by sliding in the optical axis direction of the cylinder, and an operation lever that is provided in the focus adjustment unit and has an end protruding outside the probe housing is provided. A video microscope. 2. An observation stand having an annular support portion to which the protruding portion of the probe is detachably fitted from one side, and a sticking portion having a center hole at a distal end portion is provided, and the other end is provided on the annular support portion. Further comprising a follicle holder which is removably fitted from above, wherein the hair is stuck to the adhering portion so that the follicle coincides with the center hole, and the follicle holder is fitted to the annular support portion. 2. The video microscope according to claim 1, wherein a hair root is located at a substantially focused position of the lens barrel. 3. The focus adjustment section has one end provided with the CCD.
The probe is pivotally attached to the support, and the other end is rotatably and slidably supported by the probe housing. The movement of the focus adjustment unit is converted into a smooth movement of the CCD support in the optical axis direction. The video microscope according to claim 1, wherein the video microscope is adapted to: