IP Library Granted Patent US 6,844,964
Granted Patent B2
US 6,844,964 · App. 10/056,048 · Granted Jan 18, 2005

Microscope and stereo microscope

Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Switzerland) AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,844,964
App. No.
10/056,048
Granted
Jan 18, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention concerns a microscope having a basic body on or in which are arranged at least one microscope objective, at least one eyepiece, and at least one beam splitter that is provided in the beam path between the microscope objective and the eyepiece and that reflects a portion of the light out of the beam path to the eyepiece or reflects images into the beam path going to the eyepiece.

Claims (38)

1. A microscope comprising:

a basic body comprising at least one microscope objective and at least one eyepiece;

a beam path defined by the at least one microscope objective and the at least one eyepiece;

at least one beam splitter insertable into the beam path between the at least one microscope objective and the at least one eyepiece, wherein the at least one beam splitter is configured to allow a choice between reflecting a portion of light out of the beam path and reflecting images into the beam path going to the at least one eyepiece;

a carrier on which the at least one beam splitter is mounted; and

a recess in the basic body into which the carrier together with the at least one beam splitter are insertable and removable.

2. The microscope as defined in claim 1 , wherein the carrier is fitted into the recess with sufficiently small tolerances such that after insertion, the at least one beam splitter is aligned relative to the beam path without the need for further alignment.

3. The microscope as defined in claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises on its end facing away from the at least one beam splitter a coupling onto which various microscope accessories can be mounted.

4. The microscope as defined in claim 1 , wherein the microscope is a surgical microscope.

5. The microscope as defined in claim 1 , wherein the microscope further comprises a plane-parallel plate, the plane-parallel plate being held on a carrier and having an optical path length corresponding to that of the at least one beam splitter, and wherein the microscope is configured so that the plane-parallel plate is insertable into the beam path when no beam splitter is inserted into the beam path of the microscope.

6. The microscope as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one beam splitter has an optical property of being at least one of intensity-specific, wavelength-specific and polarization state-specific.

7. The microscope as defined in claim 6 , wherein the at least one beam splitter is configured as a splitter prism.

8. The microscope as defined in claim 1 , wherein at least one further optical component is mounted on the carrier and the further optical component comprises at least one of filters and compensation elements.

9. The microscope as defined in claim 1 , wherein the carrier is configured to transmit to a control unit information about a microscope accessory optically connected to the beam path.

10. The microscope as defined in claim 9 , wherein the microscope is configured to perform an adaptation of the microscope on the basis of the information.

11. The microscope as defined in claim 1 , wherein the microscope is a stereo microscope comprising:

a first beam path and a second beam path defined by the at least one microscope objective and the at least one eyepiece;

a first beam splitter and a second beam splitter insertable in the first and second beam paths, respectively, wherein the beam splitters each reflects a portion of the light out of the beam path or reflects images into the beam path going to the at least one eyepiece;

a first carrier and a second carrier on which the first and second beam splitters, respectively, are mounted; and

a first and second recess in the basic body which releasably take up the first and second carriers in the first and the second beam paths.

12. The stereo microscope as defined in claim 11 , wherein the first carrier comprises on its end facing away from the first beam splitter a first coupling onto which various microscope accessories can be mounted.

13. The stereo microscope as defined in claim 12 , wherein the second carrier comprises on its end facing away from the second beam splitter a second coupling onto which various microscope accessories can be mounted, wherein a first microscope accessory is mounted on the first coupling and a second microscope accessory, different from the first microscope accessory, is mounted on the second coupling.

14. A microscope comprising:

a basic body comprising at least one microscope objective and at least one eyepiece;

a beam path defined by the at least one microscope objective and the at least one eyepiece;

at least one beam splitter being provided in the beam path between the at least one microscope objective and the at least one eyepiece, wherein the at least one beam splitter reflects a portion of light out of the beam path or reflects images into the beam path going to the at least one eyepiece;

a carrier on which the at least one beam splitter is mounted; and

a recess in the basic body into which the carrier together with the at least one beam splitter are insertable and removable,

wherein the carrier comprises on its end facing away from the at least one beam splitter a coupling onto which various microscope accessories can be mounted,

wherein the carrier is insertable into the recess of the microscope rotated 180 degrees about an axis perpendicular to the beam path, so that the at least one beam splitter is adapted for use, in one configuration, for reflecting in and, in another configuration, for reflecting out.

15. A stereo microscope comprising:

a basic body comprising at least one microscope objective and at least one binocular eyepiece;

a first beam path and a second beam path defined by the at least one microscope objective and the at least one eyepiece;

a first beam splitter and a second beam splitter being provided in the first and second beam paths, respectively, wherein the beam splitters each reflects a portion of the light out of the beam path or reflects images into the beam path going to the at least one eyepiece;

a first carrier and a second carrier on which the first and second beam splitters, respectively, are mounted; and

a first and second recess in the basic body which releasably take up the first and second carriers in the first and the second beam paths,

wherein the first carrier comprises on its end facing away from the first beam splitter a first coupling onto which various microscope accessories can be mounted,

wherein the first carrier is insertable into the first recess of the microscope rotated 180 degrees about an axis perpendicular to the first beam path, so that the first beam splitter is adapted for use, in one configuration, for reflecting in and, in another configuration, for reflecting out.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2010
From: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG
To: LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 023882/0171 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 21, 2004
From: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS AG
To: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SWITZERLAND) AG
Reel/Frame 014889/0016 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2002
From: MUENTENER, JUERG
To: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS AG
Reel/Frame 012699/0883 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 101 03 641 · Jan 27, 2001 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20020101653A1 · Aug 1, 2002