IP Library Granted Patent US 7,961,385
Granted Patent B2
US 7,961,385 · App. 12/256,856 · Granted Jun 14, 2011

Light microscope

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,961,385
App. No.
12/256,856
Granted
Jun 14, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An assistant microscope add-on device for a surgical microscope ( 1 ) comprises an objective ( 22 ) inclined relative to an object plane ( 10 ) with an object field ( 10 ′), wherein the objective defines an objective plane ( 22 ′) and an objective axis ( 16 ′) perpendicular thereto forming an angle α larger than 0° to the surface normal of the object plane ( 10 ). A tube ( 23 ) and an eyepiece ( 24 ) having an eyepiece lens ( 27 ) defining an eyepiece plane ( 27 ′) and an eyepiece axis ( 35 ) perpendicular thereto. Due to the oblique viewing angle, an intermediate image plane ( 26 ) to be imaged by the eyepiece ( 24 ) is inclined relative to the objective plane ( 22 ′). The resulting aberration is eliminated by the eyepiece axis ( 35 ) and the objective axis ( 16 ′) forming an angle β of larger than 0°, wherein the angle β is so chosen that the eyepiece axis ( 35 ) is substantially perpendicular to the intermediate image plane ( 26 ). Consequently, the object field ( 10 ′) is imaged free of distortion and sharply across the entire image area.

Claims (20)

1. A light microscope ( 21 ) comprising:

an objective ( 22 ) inclined relative to an object plane ( 10 ) including an object field ( 10 ′), wherein the objective ( 22 ) defines an objective plane ( 22 ′) and an objective axis ( 16 ′) perpendicular to the objective plane, the objective axis ( 16 ′) intersecting the surface normal of the object plane ( 10 ) in the object field to form an angle α greater than 0° with the surface normal of the object plane;

a tube ( 23 ); and

at least one eyepiece ( 24 ) supported by the tube ( 23 ), each eyepiece ( 24 ) having at least one eyepiece lens ( 27 ) defining an eyepiece plane ( 27 ′) and an eyepiece axis ( 35 ) perpendicular to the eyepiece plane ( 27 ′), wherein an intermediate image plane ( 26 ) to be imaged by the eyepiece ( 24 ) is inclined at a relative angle to the objective plane ( 22 ′) and the intermediate image plane ( 26 ) is obliquely intersected by an observation beam path leading thereto;

wherein the eyepiece axis ( 35 ) forms an angle β with the objective axis ( 16 ′) that is larger than 0°, wherein the angle β is so chosen that the eyepiece axis ( 35 ) is substantially perpendicular to the intermediate image plane ( 26 ).

2. The light microscope as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light microscope is an assistant microscope intended as an add-on device for a surgical microscope.

3. The light microscope as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light microscope ( 21 ) is a stereo microscope including a binocular tube and two eyepieces.

4. The light microscope as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the light microscope ( 21 ) is a surgical microscope.

5. The light microscope as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a tube lens ( 20 ), wherein light coming from one point in a focal plane of the objective ( 22 ) is merged by the objective into a virtually parallel beam bundle and merged by the tube lens into a point in a focal plane of the tube lens.

6. The light microscope as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that for the angle β at least approximately the following relation applies: β=arctan((f/w)*tan(α)), wherein f is the focal distance of the tube lens and w the focal distance of the objective.

7. The light microscope as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the tube lens plane ( 20 ′) is inclined relative to the objective plane ( 22 ′).

8. The light microscope as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a zooming system ( 33 ) arranged downstream from the objective ( 22 ).

9. The light microscope as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tube ( 23 ) includes at least one cylindrical sleeve ( 36 ) for retaining the at least one eyepiece ( 24 ), wherein a sleeve axis ( 36 ′) of the cylindrical sleeve ( 36 ) and the objective axis ( 16 ′) form the angle β.

10. The light microscope as claimed in claim 1 , wherein tube ( 23 ) is formed and a length (L) of the eyepiece ( 24 ) is chosen such that despite the eyepiece axis ( 35 ) being inclined relative to the objective axis ( 16 ′), the object field ( 10 ′) is imaged by the eyepiece ( 24 ) substantially vignette-free.

11. The light microscope as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light microscope is an assistant microscope further comprising a mounting fixture ( 17 ) by which the assistant microscope can be attached at a constant angle of inclination relative to a main microscope ( 1 ).

12. The light microscope as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the mounting fixture ( 17 ) is rotatable or pivotable around a viewing axis ( 15 ) of the main microscope ( 1 ).

13. A microscope system comprising:

a main microscope ( 1 ) including an objective ( 2 ) having an objective plane ( 2 ′) and an objective axis ( 15 ′), the objective plane ( 2 ′) being aligned parallel to an object plane ( 10 ) and the objective axis ( 15 ′) being aligned perpendicular to the object plane ( 10 ); a tube ( 3 ); and at least one eyepiece ( 4 ) supported by the tube ( 3 ), each eyepiece having at least one eyepiece lens ( 7 ); and

an assistant microscope ( 21 ) including an assistant objective ( 22 ) inclined relative to the object plane ( 10 ), wherein the assistant objective ( 22 ) defines an assistant objective plane ( 22 ′) and an assistant objective axis ( 16 ′) perpendicular to the assistant objective plane, the assistant objective axis ( 16 ′) intersecting the surface normal of the object plane ( 10 ) in the object field to form an angle α greater than 0° with the surface normal of the object plane; an assistant tube ( 23 ); and at least one assistant eyepiece ( 24 ) supported by the assistant tube ( 23 ), each assistant eyepiece ( 24 ) having at least one assistant eyepiece lens ( 27 ) defining an assistant eyepiece plane ( 27 ′) and an assistant eyepiece axis ( 35 ) perpendicular to the assistant eyepiece plane ( 27 ′), wherein an intermediate image plane ( 26 ) to be imaged by the assistant eyepiece ( 24 ) is inclined at a relative angle to the assistant objective plane ( 22 ′) and the intermediate image plane ( 26 ) is obliquely intersected by an observation beam path leading thereto; wherein the assistant eyepiece axis ( 35 ) forms an angle β with the assistant objective axis ( 16 ′) that is larger than 0°, wherein the angle β is so chosen that the assistant eyepiece axis ( 35 ) is substantially perpendicular to the intermediate image plane ( 26 );

wherein the angle α is a constant angle.

Assignments (4)
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 Mar 27, 2009
From: FURBECK, DAVID
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022462/0513 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2008
From: SANDER, ULRICH
To: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG
Reel/Frame 021791/0365 →