IP Library Granted Patent US 8,379,305
Granted Patent B2
US 8,379,305 · App. 12/629,288 · Granted Feb 19, 2013

Observation unit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,379,305
App. No.
12/629,288
Granted
Feb 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The observation unit according to the present invention comprises an observation device observing a sample, a placing table on which the sample is placed, a drive device moving the placing table to an observation position where the sample is observed by the observation device, and a casing sealing a first space extending in a vertical direction. The first space and the placing table are arranged so as to be displaced from each other in a horizontal direction, and the drive device is arranged in the first space.

Claims (26)

1. An observation unit comprising:

an observation device observing a sample,

a placing table on which the sample is placed,

a drive device moving the placing table to an observation position where the sample is observed by the observation device, and

a casing sealing a first space extending in a vertical direction, wherein

the first space and a second space are defined in the casing,

the first space is located on the rear surface side of the casing,

the second space and the placing table are located on the front surface side of the casing,

the drive device is arranged in the first space,

the observation device comprises an optical system and an imaging system,

the imaging system is arranged in the first space while the optical system is arranged in the second space arranged below the placing table and sealed by the casing,

a shielding member preventing heat transfer from the first space to the placing table and the second space, is interposed between the first space and the placing table, and between the first space and the second space, and

a light transmission part transmitting light from the observation position downward to the optical system of the observation device is formed on an upper surface wall of the casing, the upper surface wall forming a to part of the second space.

2. The observation unit according to claim 1 , wherein

a heat insulating layer is formed between the top surface wall of the casing forming the top part of the second space and the placing table.

3. The observation unit according to claim 2 , wherein

at least a part of the heat insulating layer is formed by a heat insulating member, and

the light transmission part penetrates the heat insulating member to be exposed on a surface of the heat insulating member.

4. The observation unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the placing table is capable of reciprocating between the observation position and a separated position which is separated from a position above the second space, and

reciprocating movement of the placing table is executed by the drive device.

5. The observation unit according to claim 1 , wherein

drive force of the drive device is transmitted to the placing table by a transmission member,

the placing table can be attached to and detached from the transmission member,

the transmission member is provided with a detection part while the placing table is provided with a to-be-detected part which is to be detected by the detection part, and

the to-be-detected part is arranged so that a center of the sample placed on the placing table matches a predetermined position when the to-be-detected part is detected by the detection part.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 29, 2018
From: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
To: PHC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046459/0861 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2015
From: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035210/0403 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2014
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 032297/0668 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2009
From: HOUJOU, MIKIO; MURAKAMI, SEIJI; ASAI, YASUHIRO; YAMANAKA, YOSHITARO; INOUE, TAKAHIRO
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 023593/0240 →