IP Library Patent Application 17748637
Patent Application
App. No. 17/748,637

OBSERVATION DEVICE

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
17/748,637
Abstract

An observation device includes: a macro observation system; and a micro observation system. The macro observation system and the micro observation system are arranged so as to satisfy a first condition. The first condition is that a distance from a macro optical axis to a micro optical axis is equal to or less than a square root of a sum of squares of a first distance and a second distance. The first distance is a distance between the macro optical axis and a central axis of an outer diameter of the nosepiece. The second distance is a distance in a first direction between the central axis of the outer diameter and a side surface of the nosepiece. The first direction is a direction orthogonal to the macro optical axis and orthogonal to a line segment connecting the macro optical axis and the central axis of the outer diameter.

Claims (85)

1 . An observation device comprising:

a macro observation system that captures an image of a sample at a reduced magnification; and

a micro observation system that includes a nosepiece to which a plurality of objective lenses is mountable, and captures an image of the sample at an equal magnification or an increased magnification, wherein

the macro observation system and the micro observation system are arranged so as to satisfy a first condition,

the first condition is that a distance from a macro optical axis that is an optical axis of the macro observation system to a micro optical axis that is an optical axis of the micro observation system is equal to or less than a square root of a sum of squares of a first distance and a second distance,

the first distance is a distance between the macro optical axis and a central axis of an outer diameter of the nosepiece,

the second distance is a distance in a first direction between the central axis of the outer diameter and a side surface of the nosepiece, and

the first direction is a direction orthogonal to the macro optical axis and orthogonal to a line segment connecting the macro optical axis and the central axis of the outer diameter.

2 . The observation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the macro observation system and the micro observation system are arranged so as to satisfy a second condition,

the second condition is that an acute angle formed by a first plane and a second plane is 40 degrees or less,

the first plane is a plane including the macro optical axis and the central axis of the outer diameter, and

the second plane is a plane parallel to a front surface of the observation device and parallel to the macro optical axis.

3 . The observation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the macro observation system and the micro observation system are arranged so as to satisfy a third condition,

the third condition is that the micro optical axis is arranged in a first region, and

the first region is one of two regions defined by two tangent planes drawn from the central axis of the outer diameter of the nosepiece toward a side surface of a first cylinder and corresponds to an obtuse angle formed by the two tangent planes, and

the first cylinder is a cylinder having a diameter that is a maximum outer diameter of the macro observation system and a cylindrical axis that is the macro optical axis.

4 . The observation device according to claim 2 , wherein

the macro observation system and the micro observation system are arranged so as to satisfy a third condition,

the third condition is that the micro optical axis is arranged in a first region, and

the first region is one of two regions defined by two tangent planes drawn from the central axis of the outer diameter of the nosepiece toward a side surface of a first cylinder and corresponds to an obtuse angle formed by the two tangent planes, and

the first cylinder is a cylinder having a diameter that is a maximum outer diameter of the macro observation system and a cylindrical axis that is the macro optical axis.

5 . The observation device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a moving stage that moves the sample; and

an epi-illumination system that illuminates a region intersecting the micro optical axis, wherein

the epi-illumination system is arranged so as to satisfy a fourth condition,

the fourth condition is that an angle formed by an extending direction of the epi-illumination system and a second plane is within a central angle range of an arc formed by projecting a region overlapping the first region and a third region on a projection plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the macro observation system and an angle within the central angle range is represented by an angle with respect to the second plane,

the second plane is parallel to a front surface of the observation device and parallel to the macro optical axis,

a second region is a minimum rectangular region including all of the macro observation system, the micro observation system, and a movable range of the moving stage, and

the third region is a region occupied by a cylinder having a radius that is a maximum distance in a direction of a short side of the movable range of the moving stage between the central axis of the outer diameter and a contour line defining the second region, and a cylindrical axis that is the central axis of the outer diameter.

6 . The observation device according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a moving stage that moves the sample; and

an epi-illumination system that illuminates a region intersecting the micro optical axis, wherein

the epi-illumination system is arranged so as to satisfy a fourth condition,

the fourth condition is that an angle formed by an extending direction of the epi-illumination system and a second plane is within a central angle range of an arc formed by projecting a region overlapping the first region and a third region on a projection plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the macro observation system, and an angle within the central angle range is represented by an angle with respect to the second plane,

the second plane is parallel to a front surface of the observation device and parallel to the macro optical axis,

a second region is a minimum rectangular region including all of the macro observation system, the micro observation system, and a movable range of the moving stage, and

the third region is a region occupied by a cylinder having a radius that is a maximum distance in a direction of a short side of the movable range of the moving stage between the central axis of the outer diameter and a contour line defining the second region, and a cylindrical axis that is the central axis of the outer diameter.

7 . The observation device according to claim 1 , wherein

a diagonal length of a photographing range of the macro observation system is 80 mm or more,

an angle of an object-side most off-axis chief ray of the macro observation system is within ±5 degrees, and

a depth of field of the macro observation system is ±2.5 mm or more.

8 . The observation device according to claim 2 , wherein

a diagonal length of a photographing range of the macro observation system is 80 mm or more,

an angle of an object-side most off-axis chief ray of the macro observation system is within ±5 degrees, and

a depth of field of the macro observation system is ±2.5 mm or more.

9 . The observation device according to claim 3 , wherein

a diagonal length of a photographing range of the macro observation system is 80 mm or more,

an angle of an object-side most off-axis chief ray of the macro observation system is within ±5 degrees, and

a depth of field of the macro observation system is ±2.5 mm or more.

10 . The observation device according to claim 4 , wherein

a diagonal length of a photographing range of the macro observation system is 80 mm or more,

an angle of an object-side most off-axis chief ray of the macro observation system is within ±5 degrees, and

a depth of field of the macro observation system is ±2.5 mm or more.

11 . The observation device according to claim 5 , wherein

a diagonal length of a photographing range of the macro observation system is 80 mm or more,

an angle of an object-side most off-axis chief ray of the macro observation system is within ±5 degrees, and

a depth of field of the macro observation system is ±2.5 mm or more.

12 . The observation device according to claim 6 , wherein

a diagonal length of a photographing range of the macro observation system is 80 mm or more,

an angle of an object-side most off-axis chief ray of the macro observation system is within ±5 degrees, and

a depth of field of the macro observation system is ±2.5 mm or more.

13 . The observation device according to claim 1 , wherein

the nosepiece is a revolving nosepiece.

14 . The observation device according to claim 2 , wherein

the nosepiece is a revolving nosepiece.

15 . The observation device according to claim 3 , wherein

the nosepiece is a revolving nosepiece.

16 . The observation device according to claim 4 , wherein

the nosepiece is a revolving nosepiece.

17 . The observation device according to claim 5 , wherein

the nosepiece is a revolving nosepiece.

18 . The observation device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a moving stage that moves the sample, wherein

the macro observation system is disposed on one of an upper side of the moving stage or a lower side of the moving stage, and

the micro observation system is disposed on the one side of the moving stage on which the macro observation system is disposed.

19 . The observation device according to claim 5 , wherein

the macro observation system is disposed on one of an upper side of the moving stage or a lower side of the moving stage,

the micro observation system is disposed on the one side of the moving stage on which the macro observation system is disposed, and

the epi-illumination system is disposed on the one side of the moving stage on which the macro observation system is disposed.

20 . The observation device according to claim 6 , wherein

the macro observation system is disposed on one of an upper side of the moving stage or a lower side of the moving stage,

the micro observation system is disposed on the one side of the moving stage on which the macro observation system is disposed, and

the epi-illumination system is disposed on the one side of the moving stage on which the macro observation system is disposed.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2022
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: EVIDENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061008/0214 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2022
From: KAZAMA, YOSHIHIRO
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060384/0449 →