IP Library Granted Patent US 7,379,239
Granted Patent B2
US 7,379,239 · App. 11/378,601 · Granted May 27, 2008

Zero-degree assistant's device for a microscope

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,379,239
App. No.
11/378,601
Granted
May 27, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A zero-degree assistant's device for a microscope has a tube carrier ( 2 ) for the principal observer's tube, an interface ( 5 ) for the microscope body, an assistant's module ( 6 ), pivotable about an axis ( 4 ), having an interface ( 7 ) for an assistant's tube, and having a retaining device ( 8, 12 ) for releasing and immobilizing the assistant's module ( 6 ), the tube carrier ( 2 ) for the principal observer's tube being mounted tiltably about a rotation axis ( 10 ) in such a way that tilting of the tube carrier ( 2 ) for the principal observer's tube into a tilted position makes possible unrestricted pivoting of the assistant's module ( 6 ).

Claims (19)

1. A zero-degree assistant's device for a microscope, the device comprising:

a microscope body interface ( 5 ) for mounting the zero-degree assistant's device on a microscope body;

a tube carrier ( 2 ) for a principal observer's tube, the tube carrier ( 2 ) being mounted on the microscope body interface ( 5 ) for rotation about a tilt axis ( 10 ) relative to the microscope body interface ( 5 ) between a working position and an adjustment position; and

an assistant's module ( 6 ) including an interface ( 7 ) for an assistant's tube, the assistant's module being pivotable about a pivot axis ( 4 ) relative to the microscope body interface ( 5 ) through at least 180 degrees when the tube carrier ( 2 ) is tilted about the tilt axis ( 10 ) to the adjustment position.

2. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 1 , further comprising a retaining device ( 8 ) fixedly connected to the tube carrier ( 2 ) and having a retaining screw ( 9 . 1 ) thereon for selectively engaging the microscope body interface ( 5 ).

3. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 2 , wherein tilting of the tube carrier ( 2 ) is enabled by disengaging the retaining screw ( 9 . 1 ) from the microscope body interface ( 5 ).

4. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 2 , wherein the assistant's module ( 6 ) is pivotable about the pivot axis ( 4 ) through 180 degrees, and the assistant's module ( 6 ) can be immobilized by the retaining device ( 8 ) and retaining screw ( 9 . 1 ) at a zero-degree position and at a 180-degree position.

5. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism ( 12 ) that disengages the assistant's module ( 6 ) for pivoting only upon tilting of the tube carrier ( 2 ) beyond a predetermined tilt angle, and otherwise locks the assistant's module ( 6 ) against pivoting.

6. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism ( 12 ) locks the assistant's module ( 6 ) to the microscope body interface ( 5 ).

7. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 5 , wherein the assistant's module ( 6 ) is pivotable about the pivot axis ( 4 ) through 180 degrees, and the assistant's module ( 6 ) can be immobilized by the locking mechanism ( 12 ) at a zero-degree position and at a 180-degree position.

8. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 1 , wherein the assistant's module ( 6 ) is arranged beneath the tube carrier ( 2 ); and the tube carrier ( 2 ) is tiltable in an upward direction to the adjustment position.

9. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 1 , wherein the tube carrier ( 2 ) can be tilted about the tilt axis ( 10 ) through an angle that is selected from the group of angles of consisting of 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 degrees.

10. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 1 , further comprising an accessory interface ( 20 ) for mounting documentation accessories, wherein the accessory interface ( 20 ) is located outside a pivot range of the assistant's module ( 6 ).

11. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a documentation part ( 27 ) connected to the microscope body interface ( 5 ), the documentation part ( 27 ) including an accessory interface ( 20 ) for a documentation accessory,

wherein the assistant's module ( 6 ) further includes a pair of optical beam paths ( 21 , 22 ), and at least a portion of the pair of optical beam paths is coupled out from the assistant's module ( 6 ) and conveyed to the accessory interface ( 20 ).

12. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 11 , wherein the interface ( 7 ) for the assistant's tube is configured for receiving a binocular tube, and the assistant's module ( 6 ) includes a pair of beam splitters ( 23 ) one in each optical path ( 21 , 22 ) for coupling out the pair of optical paths ( 21 , 22 ).

13. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 12 , wherein the assistant's module ( 6 ) further includes additional optical elements ( 24 , 25 ) after each beam splitter ( 23 ) for conveying an outcoupled beam path, and the documentation part ( 27 ) includes a front-end interface optical system ( 26 ) with which an outcoupled beam path is alignable for conveying the outcoupled beam path to the accessory interface ( 20 ).

14. The zero-degree assistant's device according to claim 11 , wherein the accessory interface ( 20 ) is located outside a pivot range of the assistant's module ( 6 ).

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2010
From: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG
To: LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 024128/0669 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2010
From: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG
To: LEICA INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 023741/0870 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2006
From: STROBEL, PETER; SUHNER, HEINZ; KNUENZ, LOTHAR
To: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG
Reel/Frame 017421/0370 →