Retractable beam splitter for microscope
View Patent ↗Systems and methods are provided for illuminating a surface to be observed microscopically using a retractable beamsplitter. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of coaxial illumination when the beamsplitter is positioned in the operator's line of sight. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of non-coaxial illumination without reducing the amount of illumination that reaches the operator when the beamsplitter is retracted from the operator's line of sight. As a result a single system can be used effectively to provide various types of illumination.
1. A microscope illumination system comprising:
an objective lens through which light reflected from a subject surface travels;
a stereoscopic illumination system configured to deliver a plurality of collimated light beams such that:
the collimated light beams reach a line of sight at a location between the objective lens and the subject surface; and
the collimated light beams at least partially overlap at the subject surface; and
a beamsplitter configured to move to a first position to allow the collimated light beams to reach the subject surface and move to a second position to prevent the collimated light beams from reaching the subject surface.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an oblique illumination system configured to deliver an oblique light beam at an angle oblique to the collimated light beams.
3. The system of claim 1 :
further comprising an oblique illumination system configured to deliver an oblique light beam at an angle oblique to the collimated light beams; and
wherein the oblique light beam reaches the line of sight at a location between the objective lens and the subject surface.
4. The system of claim 1 :
further comprising an oblique illumination system configured to deliver an oblique light beam at an angle oblique to the collimated light beams; and
wherein the oblique light beam overlaps the collimated light beams at the subject surface.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an oblique illumination system configured to deliver an oblique light beam at an angle oblique to the collimated light beams; and
ancillary optics configured to control the illumination ratio of the oblique light beam and the collimated light beams.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the beamsplitter is configured to move by rotating.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light absorber configured to receive a portion of the collimated light beams that pass through the beamsplitter.
8. A microscope illumination system comprising:
a stereoscopic illumination system configured to deliver a plurality of collimated light beams that at least partially overlap at a subject surface;
an oblique illumination system configured to deliver an oblique light beam at an angle oblique to the collimated light beams; and
a beamsplitter configured to move to a first position to allow the collimated light beams to reach the subject surface and move to a second position to prevent the collimated light beams from reaching the subject surface.
9. The system of claim 8 :
further comprising an objective lens through which light reflected from the subject surface travels; and
wherein the collimated light beams reach a line of sight at a location between the objective lens and the subject surface.
10. The system of claim 8 :
further comprising an objective lens through which light reflected from the subject surface travels; and
wherein the oblique light beam reaches a line of sight at a location between the objective lens and the subject surface.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the oblique light beam overlaps the collimated light beams at the subject surface.
12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
ancillary optics configured to control the illumination ratio of the oblique light beam and the collimated light beams.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the beamsplitter is configured to move by rotating.
14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a light absorber configured to receive a portion of the collimated light beams that pass through the beamsplitter.