IP Library Granted Patent US 9,201,233
Granted Patent B2
US 9,201,233 · App. 14/065,044 · Granted Dec 1, 2015

Microscope and darkfield objective

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 9,201,233
App. No.
14/065,044
Granted
Dec 1, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A microscope includes a microscope main body and a darkfield objective. The microscope main body includes a light source unit and a main body side fitting unit for fitting an objective, and the darkfield objective includes an optical system for capturing light from a sample surface and a fitting unit that fits in the main body side fitting unit. A darkfield illumination optical path through which light from the light source unit passes is formed in the darkfield objective. When the darkfield objective is attached to the microscope main body, the darkfield objective has incident end of the darkfield illumination optical path outside the fitting unit, where an optical axis of the optical system is central.

Claims (32)

1. A microscope comprising:

a microscope main body including a first light source unit, a second light source unit, and a main body side fitting unit for fitting a first darkfield objective and a second darkfield objective;

wherein:

the first darkfield objective, in which a first darkfield illumination optical path through which light from the first light source unit passes is provided, includes a first optical system for capturing light from a sample surface and a first fitting unit that fits in the main body side fitting unit;

the second darkfield objective, in which a second darkfield illumination optical path through which light from the second light source unit passes is provided, includes a second optical system for capturing light from the sample surface and a second fitting unit that fits in the main body side fitting unit;

when the first darkfield objective is attached to the microscope main body, an incident end of the first darkfield illumination optical path is located at a position that is more distant than a position of the first fitting unit from an optical axis of the first optical system; and

when the second darkfield objective is attached to the microscope main body, an incident end of the second darkfield illumination optical path is located at a position that is closer than a position of the second fitting unit to an optical axis of the second optical system.

2. A microscope comprising:

a microscope main body including a first light source unit, a second light source unit, and a main body side fitting unit for fitting a first darkfield objective and a second darkfield objective;

wherein:

the first darkfield objective, in which a first darkfield illumination optical path through which light from the first light source unit passes is provided, includes a first optical system for capturing light from a sample surface and a first fitting unit that fits in the main body side fitting unit;

the second darkfield objective, in which a second darkfield illumination optical path through which light from the first light source unit passes and a third darkfield illumination optical path through which light from the second light source unit passes are provided, includes a second optical system for capturing light from the sample surface and a second fitting unit that fits in the main body side fitting unit;

when the first darkfield objective is attached to the microscope main body, an incident end of the first darkfield illumination optical path is located at a position that is more distant than a position of the first fitting unit from an optical axis of the first optical system; and

when the second darkfield objective is attached to the microscope main body, an incident end of the first second darkfield illumination optical path and an incident end of the third darkfield illumination optical path are each located at a position that is more distant than a position of the second fitting unit from an optical axis of the second optical system.

3. A microscope comprising:

a microscope main body including a first light source unit, a second light source unit, and a main body side fitting unit for fitting a first darkfield objective and a second darkfield objective;

wherein:

the first darkfield objective, in which a first darkfield illumination optical path through which light from the first light source unit passes is provided, includes a first optical system for capturing light from a sample surface and a first fitting unit that fits in the main body side fitting unit;

the second darkfield objective, in which a second darkfield illumination optical path through which light from the second light source unit passes is provided, includes a second optical system for capturing light from the sample surface and a second fitting unit that fits in the main body side fitting unit;

when the first darkfield objective is attached to the microscope main body, an incident end of the first darkfield illumination optical path is located at a position that is more distant than a position of the first fitting unit from an optical axis of the first optical system; and

when the second darkfield objective is attached to the microscope main body, an incident end of the second darkfield illumination optical path is located at a position that is more distant than a position of the second fitting unit from an optical axis of the second optical system.

4. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the first light source unit comprises LED light sources that are arranged in a ring shape.

5. The microscope according to claim 4 , wherein the first light source unit comprises LED light sources that are doubly arranged in a ring shape.

6. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the first light source unit comprises a fiber light source.

7. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein:

the microscope main body includes a revolving nosepiece to which a plurality of objectives to be switched and used are set, and

the revolving nosepiece includes a plurality of the main body side fitting units.

8. The microscope according to claim 7 , wherein darkfield objectives with different parfocal lengths are set to the revolving nosepiece.

9. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the first light source unit emits light with a wavelength in an ultraviolet range.

10. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the first light source unit emits light with a wavelength ranging from 400 nm to 480 nm.

11. The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein a wavelength of light emitted from the first light source unit is different from a wavelength of light emitted from the second light source unit.

12. The microscope according to claim 2 , wherein a wavelength of light emitted from the first light source unit is different from a wavelength of light emitted from the second light source unit.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: EVIDENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062492/0267 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 27, 2016
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039344/0502 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2013
From: YAMAMOTO, HIROFUMI
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031492/0558 →