IP Library Granted Patent US 10,302,928
Granted Patent B2
US 10,302,928 · App. 15/189,354 · Granted May 28, 2019

Sample observation device

Inventor: Yoshimasa Suzuki (Kawasaki, JP)
Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
G02B21/14G02B21/24G02B21/26G02B21/365H04N5/2254
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 10,302,928
App. No.
15/189,354
Granted
May 28, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sample observation device includes an illumination optical system and an observation optical system. The illumination optical system includes a light source, a condenser lens, and an aperture member. The observation optical system includes an objective lens and an imaging lens. The aperture member has a light-shielding part or a darkening part, and a transmission part. The transmission part is disposed asymmetrically with respect to an optical axis of the illumination optical system. An image of an inner edge of the transmission part is formed inside of an outer edge of a pupil of the objective lens. An image of an outer edge of the transmission part is formed outside of the outer edge of the pupil of the objective lens.

Claims (79)

1. A sample observation device comprising:

an illumination optical system; and

an observation optical system, wherein

the illumination optical system includes a light source, a condenser lens, and an aperture member,

the observation optical system includes an objective lens and an imaging lens,

the aperture member has a light-shielding part or a darkening part, and a transmission part,

the transmission part is disposed asymmetrically with respect to an optical axis of the illumination optical system,

an image of an inner edge of the transmission part is formed inside of an outer edge of a pupil of the objective lens,

an image of an outer edge of the transmission part is formed outside of the outer edge of the pupil of the objective lens, and

the transmission part is a transmission part that has a bow shape defined by a straight line on a side closer to the optical axis and an arc on a side away from the optical axis.

2. The sample observation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the following conditional expression is satisfied:

L 0 ×β<R ob <L 1 ×β

where

L 0 is a length from the optical axis of the illumination optical system to a predetermined position,

L 1 is a length from the optical axis of the illumination optical system to the outer edge of the transmission part, the length being on a line connecting the optical axis of the illumination optical system with the predetermined position,

the predetermined position is a position in which the length from the optical axis of the illumination optical system is made minimum, from among positions on the inner edge of the transmission part,

R ob is a radius of the pupil of the objective lens, and

β is a value obtained by dividing a focal length of the objective lens by a focal length of the condenser lens.

3. The sample observation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0≤( L 0 ×β)/ R ob <1,

where

L 0 is a length from the optical axis of the illumination optical system to a predetermined position,

the predetermined position is a position, in which the length from the optical axis of the illumination optical system is made minimum, from among positions on the inner edge of the transmission part,

R ob is a radius of the pupil of the objective lens, and

β is a value obtained by dividing a focal length of the objective lens by a focal length of the condenser lens.

4. The sample observation device according to claim 3 , wherein

the following conditional expression is satisfied:

1<( L 1 ×β)/ R ob ≤2,

where

L 1 is a length from the optical axis of the illumination optical system to the outer edge of the transmission part, the length being on a line connecting the optical axis of the illumination optical system with a predetermined position,

the predetermined position is a position, in which the length from the optical axis of the illumination optical system is made minimum, from among positions on the inner edge of the transmission part,

R ob is a radius of the pupil of the objective lens, and

β is a value obtained by dividing a focal length of the objective lens by a focal length of the condenser lens.

5. The sample observation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0.2<( R ob −L 0 ×β)/( L 1 ×β−R ob )<10,

where

L 0 is a length from the optical axis of the illumination optical system to a predetermined position,

L 1 is a length from the optical axis of the illumination optical system to the outer edge of the transmission part, the length being on a line connecting the optical axis of the illumination optical system with the predetermined position,

the predetermined position is a position, in which the length from the optical axis of the illumination optical system is made minimum, from among positions on the inner edge of the transmission part,

R ob is a radius of the pupil of the objective lens, and

β is a value obtained by dividing a focal length of the objective lens by a focal length of the condenser lens.

6. The sample observation device according to claim 1 , wherein an area of an image of the light-shielding part or the darkening part at a pupil position of the objective lens is not less than 50% of an area of the pupil of the objective lens.

7. The sample observation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the following conditional expression is satisfied:

0.1< S in /S all <1,

where

S all is an area of an image of the transmission part, and

S in is an area of a part of the image of the transmission part, the part being positioned inside of the outer edge of the pupil of the objective lens.

8. The sample observation device according to claim 1 , wherein a line indicating a boundary between the light-shielding part or the darkening part and the transmission part is a straight line.

9. The sample observation device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a plurality of light sources,

the plurality of light sources being disposed in the transmission part.

10. The sample observation device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

another aperture member different from the aperture member; and

a moving mechanism for moving the aperture member and the other aperture member.

11. The sample observation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the observation optical system includes an aperture member, and

the aperture member is disposed at a pupil position of the objective lens or a position conjugate with the pupil position of the objective lens.

12. The sample observation device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is a monochromatic light source, or the illumination optical system includes a wavelength selecting unit.

13. The sample observation device according to claim 1 , further comprising an image processing device.

14. A sample observation device comprising:

a light source;

an optical system; and

a holding member for holding an object, wherein

the optical system includes a first optical system and a second optical system,

the first optical system and the second optical system are disposed to be opposed to each other with the holding member interposed therebetween,

the first optical system includes an aperture member,

the optical system is configured to form an image of a transmission part of the aperture member at a pupil position of the second optical system,

the transmission part is disposed asymmetrically with respect to an optical axis of the first optical system,

an image of an inner edge of the transmission part is formed inside of an outer edge of a pupil of the second optical system,

an image of an outer edge of the transmission part is formed outside of the outer edge of the pupil of the second optical system,

the transmission part is a transmission part that has a bow shape defined by a straight line on a side closer to the optical axis and an arc on a side away from the optical axis,

an image of the transmission part is decentered with respect to the pupil of the second optical system by refraction caused by an object,

a quantity of light passing through the pupil of the second optical system differs between in one direction and in another direction opposite to the one direction by the decentering,

the decentering in the one direction increases the quantity of light passing through the pupil of the second optical system, and

the decentering in the other direction reduces the quantity of light passing through the pupil of the second optical system.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: EVIDENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062492/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2016
From: SUZUKI, YOSHIMASA
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038984/0757 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-271742 · Dec 27, 2013 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2014077277 · Oct 7, 2014
Related Publication 20160306155A1 · Oct 20, 2016