U.S. patent application number 11/586033 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-26 for microscope and lamphouse.
Invention is credited to Masahiro Aoki, Atsuhiro Tsuchiya, Akihiko Yoshikawa.
Application Number | 20070091939 11/586033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37603128 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070091939 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoshikawa; Akihiko ; et
al. |
April 26, 2007 |
Microscope and lamphouse
Abstract
A microscope includes an illuminating unit that includes an
excitation light source emitting an excitation light, and a
phosphor receiving the excitation light and emitting illumination
light in a specific wavelength range. The illuminating unit
illuminates a specimen with the illumination light. The microscope
also includes an observation unit for observing the specimen
illuminated by the illuminating unit.
Inventors: |
Yoshikawa; Akihiko; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Tsuchiya; Atsuhiro; (Tokyo, JP) ; Aoki;
Masahiro; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRISHAUF, HOLTZ, GOODMAN & CHICK, PC
220 Fifth Avenue
16TH Floor
NEW YORK
NY
10001-7708
US
|
Family ID: |
37603128 |
Appl. No.: |
11/586033 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
372/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 21/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
372/002 |
International
Class: |
H01S 3/00 20060101
H01S003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 26, 2005 |
JP |
2005-311559 |
Sep 14, 2006 |
JP |
2006-249839 |
Claims
1. A microscope, comprising: an illuminating unit that includes an
excitation light source emitting an excitation light, and a
phosphor receiving the excitation light and emitting illumination
light in a specific wavelength range, the illuminating unit
illuminating a specimen with the illumination light; and an
observation unit for observing the specimen illuminated by the
illuminating unit.
2. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating
unit includes a collector lens that collects the illumination
light, and the phosphor is located in a focal position of the
collector lens.
3. The microscope according to claim 2, wherein the excitation
light source is a laser diode light source, and the phosphor is
held by the excitation light source.
4. The microscope according to claim 3, wherein the illuminating
unit includes a light-source supporting adapter that supports the
laser diode light source, and a lamp supporting member to which the
light-source supporting adapter is mounted, the light-source
supporting adapter being replaceable at least with a halogen lamp,
wherein the light-source supporting adapter positions the phosphor
to the focal position of the collector lens when mounted to the
lamp supporting member.
5. The microscope according to claim 2, wherein the excitation
light source is a laser diode light source, and the illuminating
unit includes an optical fiber that brings the excitation light
emitted from the laser diode light source to the phosphor, the
optical fiber having one end optically connected to the laser diode
light source and another end holding the phosphor.
6. The microscope according to claim 5, wherein the illuminating
unit includes a fiber supporting adapter that supports the optical
fiber, and a lamp supporting member to which the fiber supporting
adapter is mounted, the fiber supporting member being replaceable
at least with a halogen lamp, wherein the fiber supporting adapter
positions the phosphor to the focal position-of the collector lens
when mounted to the lamp supporting member.
7. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating
unit images a conjugate image of the phosphor, and the phosphor has
a size that the conjugate image of the phosphor is imaged with a
predetermined size by the illuminating unit.
8. The microscope according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined
size of the conjugate image is the same as an image size of a
filament of a halogen lamp imaged by the illuminating unit.
9. The microscope according to claim 2, wherein the phosphor is
replaceable, and the illuminating unit images a conjugate image of
the phosphor at a magnification based on a size of the phosphor so
that the conjugate image has a predetermined size.
10. The microscope according to claim 9, wherein the illuminating
unit changes a focal distance of the collector lens according to
the size of the phosphor so that the conjugate image has the
predetermined size.
11. The microscope according to claim 9, wherein the illuminating
unit includes a zoom lens, and changes a focal distance of the zoom
lens according to the size of the phosphor so that the conjugate
image has the predetermined size.
12. The microscope according to claim 9, wherein the illuminating
unit includes a zoom lens, and a light source that is replaceable
at least with the phosphor, the illuminating unit changing a focal
distance of the zoom lens according to a size of an emitting
element of the light source and the size of the phosphor so that
the conjugate image has the predetermined size.
13. The microscope according to claim 12, wherein the illuminating
unit includes a filter that is placed to or removed from an
illumination optical path in the illuminating unit, and changes a
spectral characteristics of the illumination light illuminating the
specimen.
14. The microscope according to claim 13, wherein the filter
includes at least one of a heat-absorbing filter, a color
conversion filter, and a infrared cut filter.
15. The microscope according to claim 1, further comprising a
microscope body that includes at least a portion of the
illuminating unit and an internal power source supplying power to
the excitation light source.
16. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the phosphor emits
white illumination light.
17. The microscope according to claim 16, wherein the excitation
light source emits the excitation light in an ultraviolet
wavelength range.
18. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating
unit includes an excitation-light cut filter that shields the
excitation light after passing through the phosphor.
19. The microscope according to claim 18, wherein the
excitation-light cut filter is provided together with the
phosphor.
20. A lamphouse, comprising: an excitation light source that emits
an excitation light; and a phosphor that receives the excitation
light and emits illumination light in a specific wavelength range,
the lamphouse being detachably mounted to a microscope body.
21. The lamphouse according to claim 20, further comprising a
collector lens that collects the illumination light, wherein the
phosphor is located in a focal position of the collector lens.
22. The lamphouse according to claim 21, wherein the excitation
light source is a laser diode light source, and the phosphor is
held by the excitation light source.
23. The lamphouse according to claim 21, further comprising an
optical fiber that brings the excitation light emitted from the
laser diode light source to the phosphor, wherein the excitation
light source is a laser diode light source, and the optical fiber
has one end optically connected to the laser diode light source and
another end holding the phosphor.
24. The lamphouse according to claim 20, wherein the phosphor is
located in a focal position of a collector lens when the lamphouse
is mounted to a mounting port of the microscope body, the collector
lens being located inside the microscope body and collecting the
illumination light.
25. The lamphouse according to claim 24, wherein the excitation
light source is a laser diode light source, and the phosphor is
held by the excitation light source.
26. The lamphouse according to claim 24, further comprising an
optical fiber that brings the excitation light emitted from the
laser diode light source to the phosphor, wherein the excitation
light source is a laser diode light source, and the optical fiber
has one end optically connected to the laser diode light source and
another end holding the phosphor.
27. The lamphouse according to claim 24, further comprising: a
light-source supporting adapter that supports a laser diode light
source being the excitation light source and the phosphor held by
the laser diode light source together; and a lamp supporting member
to which the light-source supporting adapter is mounted, the
light-source supporting adapter being replaceable at least with a
halogen lamp, wherein the light-source supporting adapter positions
the phosphor to the focal position of the collector lens when the
lamphouse is mounted to a mounting port of the microscope body and
the light-source supporting adapter is mounted to the lamp
supporting member.
28. The lamphouse according to claim 24, further comprising an
optical fiber that has one end optically connected to the
excitation light source and another end holding the phosphor, and
brings the excitation light emitted from the excitation light
source to the phosphor; a fiber supporting adapter that supports
the optical fiber; and a lamp supporting member to which the fiber
supporting adapter is mounted, the fiber supporting member being
replaceable at least with a halogen lamp, wherein the fiber
supporting adapter positions the phosphor to the focal position of
the collector lens when the lamphouse is mounted to a mounting port
of the microscope body and the fiber supporting adapter is mounted
to the lamp supporting member.
29. The lamphouse according to claim 20, wherein the phosphor has a
size that a conjugate image of the phosphor is imaged at a
predetermined size by an illumination lens system included in the
microscope body, when the lamphouse is mounted to a mounting port
of the microscope body.
30. The lamphouse according to claim 29, wherein the predetermined
size of the conjugate image is the same as an image size of a
filament of a halogen lamp imaged by the illuminating lens
system.
31. The lamphouse according to claim 21, further comprising an
external frame that houses the excitation light source, the
phosphor, and the collector lens, and is detachably mounted to a
mounting port of the microscope body.
32. The lamphouse according to claim 24, further comprising an
external frame that houses the excitation light source and the
phosphor, and is detachably mounted to a mounting port of the
microscope body.
33. The lamphouse according to claim 20, wherein the excitation
light source is powered by an internal power source included in the
microscope body when the lamphouse is mounted to a mounting port of
the microscope body.
34. The lamphouse according to claim 20, wherein the phosphor emits
white illumination light.
35. The lamphouse according to claim 34, wherein the excitation
light source emits the excitation light in an ultraviolet
wavelength range.
36. The lamphouse according to claim 20, further comprising an
excitation-light cut filter that shields the excitation light after
passing through the phosphor.
37. The lamphouse according to claim 36, wherein the
excitation-light cut filter is provided together with the phosphor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-311559, filed
Oct. 26, 2005; and Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-249839,
filed Sep. 14, 2006, the entire contents of both of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a microscope.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-205195
(KOKAI) discloses a technique that generates illumination light by
exiting a phosphor with a laser diode. This technique, in which the
laser diode and the phosphor are connected by an optical fiber, is
applied to endoscopes.
[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-215461
(KOKAI) discloses a configuration that includes a white LED light
source used as a light source for an illumination optical system of
a microscope.
[0007] Illumination by halogen lamp is known. The halogen lamp has
wavelength characteristics depending on the intensity of the
emitting light. In contrast, the illumination by the phosphor or
the LED light source has light-intensity-independent wavelength
characteristics. However the light emitted from the white LED light
source is a little dark, and thus is not suitable for an
illumination light source for microscopes. The illumination by the
phosphor is used for endoscopes but makes it for microscopes
difficult to use with general arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A microscope according to one aspect of the present
invention includes an illuminating unit that includes an excitation
light source emitting an excitation light, and a phosphor receiving
the excitation light and emitting illumination light in a specific
wavelength range, the illuminating unit illuminating a specimen
with the illumination light; and an observation unit for observing
the specimen illuminated by the illuminating unit.
[0009] A lamphouse according to another aspect of the present
invention includes an excitation light source that emits an
excitation light; and a phosphor that receives the excitation light
and emits illumination light in a specific wavelength range. The
lamphouse is detachably mounted to a microscope body.
[0010] The above and other objects, features, advantages and
technical and industrial significance of this invention will be
better understood by reading the following detailed description of
presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a microscope according to a
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a structure of an excitation light source
included in the microscope shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a lamphouse;
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a partial configuration of a microscope
according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 shows a structure of an end portion of an optical
fiber included in the microscope shown in FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a microscope according to a
third embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 shows a partial configuration of a microscope
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 shows a partial configuration of a microscope
according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 9 shows a partial configuration of a microscope
according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 10 shows a configuration of main components of a
microscope according to a seventh embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0021] FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a white light source
included in the microscope shown in FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described
below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a microscope and a lamphouse
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, a microscope 10 includes a stage 12
that holds a specimen 27, a microscope body 11 that holds the stage
12, an illumination optical system 13 for illuminating the specimen
27, and an observation optical system 14 for observing the specimen
27.
[0025] The illumination optical system 13, being an illuminator,
includes an excitation light source 21, a phosphor 22, a collector
lens 23, a mirror 24, a window lens 25, and a condenser 26.
Specifically, the illumination optical system 13 forms a
transmitting illumination optical system to establish Kohler
illumination. The observation optical system 14, being an
observation unit, includes an objective lens 28, an imaging lens
29, a prism 30, an eyepiece 31, an image capturing lens 21, and a
camera 33.
[0026] The excitation light source 21, the phosphor 22, and the
collector lens 23 are housed in an exterior frame 34. The exterior
frame 34 is detachably mounted to a mounting portion 11a of the
microscope body 11 through a connecting unit 35. The excitation
light source 21 is supported by a light source supporting member 36
that is mounted to the exterior frame 34. The excitation light
source 21 is also powered by a power supply through a cable 37. The
phosphor 22 is located in a focal position of the collector lens 23
with respect to the excitation light source 21, as shown in FIG. 2
for example.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the excitation light source 21 includes
a light-emitting source 21a that emits excitation light in a
predetermined wavelength range, a condensing lens 21b that
condenses the excitation light emitted from the light-emitting
source 21a on the phosphor 22, and a light source casing 21c in
which the light-emitting source 21a and the condensing lens 21b are
held together. The phosphor 22 is held in a transparent holding
member 51 attached to the light source casing 21c. The transparent
holding member 51 is removable from the light source casing 21c;
the phosphor 22 is removable from the transparent holding member
51. In other words, the phosphor 22 can be replaced with another
phosphor capable of emitting light with, for example, different
wavelength characteristics (spectral characteristics) to illuminate
the specimen 27.
[0028] The excitation light source 21 emits excitation light; the
phosphor 22 receives the excitation light emitted from the
excitation light source 21, thereby emitting illumination light in
a specific wavelength range, for example, while illumination light.
The excitation light source 21 consists of, for example, a laser
diode (LD) light source. Specifically, the excitation light source
21 may be a light source module that includes a laser diode used as
the light-emitting source 21a shown in FIG. 2 and an optical system
such as a condensing lens. Alternatively, the LD light source may
consist only of a single laser diode, where the phosphor 22 is
directly attached to the light-emitting surface of the laser diode.
The excitation light source 21 is not limited to the LD light
source, and may consist of, for example, an LED in place of the
laser diode.
[0029] The phosphor 22 consists of a fluorescent compound. The
phosphor 22 preferably has the same size as the filament of a
halogen lamp. In other words, the phosphor 22 preferably has a size
that a conjugate image of the phosphor 22 is imaged to have a
desired size by the collector lens 23 and the window lens 25 in the
illumination optical system 13. An example of the desired size is a
size of a filament image of the halogen lamp imaged by the
collector lens 23 and the window lens 25.
[0030] The focal distance of the phosphor 22 is preferably set
based on the size of the phosphor 22. Replacement of the collector
lens 23 allows changing the focal distance of the collector lens
23. Hence, to establish Kohler illumination, it is possible to set
the conjugate image of the phosphor 22, which is projected on the
focal surface of the condenser 26, to a desired size regardless of
the size of the phosphor 22.
[0031] Working of the microscope 10 according to the first
embodiment will be described below. The excitation light source 21
emits excitation light to the phosphor 22. The phosphor 22 receives
the excitation light emitted from the excitation light source 21
and thus emits illumination light in a specific wavelength range.
The illumination light emitted from the phosphor 22 is collected by
the collector lens 23 to go into the microscope body 11, and then
reflected upward by the mirror 24. The illumination light reflected
upward illuminates the specimen 27 through the window lens 25 and
the condenser 26.
[0032] The image of the phosphor 22 is projected to infinity by the
collector lens 23 and imaged in the focal position of the condenser
26 by the window lens 25, so that the illumination optical system
13 establishes Kohler illumination. The image of the phosphor 22 is
then projected to infinity by the condenser 26, turns to parallel
light in the surface of the specimen 27. The parallel light
illuminates the specimen 27 and focuses in a back focal point 28'
of the objective lens 28.
[0033] The image of the specimen 27 illuminated with the
illumination light is magnified and projected to infinity by the
objective lens 28, and the imaging lens 29 focuses the image. The
focused light image is divided into two light paths: one light path
extending to the eyepiece 31 through the prism 30, another light
path extending to an image capturing lens 32 that focuses the image
on the camera 33.
[0034] In the field of microscopy, illumination by a halogen lamp
is widely known. The halogen lamp illumination, however, changes
its wavelength characteristics depending on the light intensity.
According to the first embodiment, by contrast, the wavelength
characteristics of the illumination light does not depend on the
light intensity because the illumination light is emitted from the
phosphor 22 that is illuminated with excitation light to have a
specific wavelength range. As a result, it is possible to provide
illumination with no change in wavelength characteristics and with
excellent color reproductivity.
[0035] According to the microscope 10 according to the first
embodiment, the phosphor 22 absorbs the excitation light to emit
the illumination light, and thus heat generation is reduced
compared with the halogen lamp that directly emits illumination
light. Specifically, the microscope 10 prevents out-of-focus on the
specimen 27 which is caused by thermal deformation of the
microscope body 11 due to the halogen lamp heat for example.
[0036] The illumination by the halogen lamp causes uneven light
distribution due to inter-filament gaps even if Kohler illumination
is established. This uneven light distribution is eliminated by
using frost. In the microscope 10 according to the first
embodiment, the phosphor 22 contains fluorescent material which is
uniformly distributed thereover so as to have a plate shape with
the same size as the filament, thereby providing illumination with
even light distribution without using frost.
[0037] In the microscope 10 according to the first embodiment, the
phosphor 22 having the same size as a filament of a halogen lamp is
placed at the focal position of the collector lens 23 to employ an
illumination optical system that is designed for the halogen lamp.
Further, when the phosphor 22 having a size different from the
filament of the halogen lamp is used, the focal distance of the
collector lens 23 is changed according to the size of the phosphor
22 to employ components, other than a collector lens, of an
illumination optical system that is designed for the halogen lamp.
Consequently, a lamphouse 15 according to the first embodiment and
a halogen lamphouse 15' as shown in FIG. 3 are replaceable;
specifically, each of them is attached/detached to/from the
microscope body 11.
[0038] Each of the lamphouse 15 and the halogen lamphouse 15'
includes the exterior frame 34 and the connecting unit 35. In the
exterior frame 34 of the halogen lamphouse 15', a collector lens
23', a halogen lamp 52, a lamp supporting adapter 53, and a lamp
supporting member 43 are housed as shown in FIG. 3. A filament 52a
of the halogen lamp 52 is located in the focal position of the
collector lens 23'. The halogen lamp 52 is powered by the power
supply through the cable 37 and the lamp supporting member 43.
[0039] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a lamphouse 16 of a
microscope according to a second embodiment of the present
invention. In FIG. 4, the components denoted by the same reference
numeral as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 represent the same components, and
are not described again in detail.
[0040] The phosphor 22 and the collector lens 23 in the lamphouse
16 are housed in the exterior frame 34. The exterior frame 34 is
detachably mounted to the mounting portion 11a of the microscope
body 11 through the connecting unit 35. The phosphor 22 is located
in the focal point of the collector lens 23 to establish Kohler
illumination as well as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 1).
[0041] The excitation light source 21 for exciting the phosphor 22
is located outside the exterior frame 34. The phosphor 22 and the
excitation light source 21 are optically connected to each other
through an optical fiber 38. The phosphor 22 is located inside the
exterior frame 34 and supported by the optical fiber 38.
Specifically, one end of the optical fiber 38 is optically
connected to the excitation light source 21 and another end
(emitting end) holds the phosphor 22. The optical fiber 38, whose
central portion (core) of has a refractive index higher than that
of the surrounding portion (cladding), brings the excitation light
to the phosphor 22. The optical fiber 38 is also supported by the
fiber supporting member 39. The excitation light source 21 is
powered by the power supply through the cable 37.
[0042] FIG. 5 shows a structure that holds the phosphor 22 in the
emitting end of the optical fiber 38. As shown in FIG. 5, the
optical fiber 38 includes a holding member 38b surrounding a
optical fiber line 28a at the emitting end portion. The phosphor 22
is held in a transparent holding member 54. The transparent holding
member 54 is removable from the holding member 38b, i.e., the
optical fiber 38; the phosphor 22 is removable from the transparent
holding member 54. In other words, the phosphor 22 can be replaced
with another phosphor capable of emitting light with, for example,
different wavelength characteristics (spectral characteristics) to
illuminate the specimen 27.
[0043] The works of the microscope 10 according to the second
embodiment will be described below. The phosphor 22 absorbs the
excitation light emitted from the excitation light source 21
through the optical fiber 38 to emit illumination light in a
specific wavelength range. The illumination light emitted from the
phosphor 22 turns to parallel light in the surface of the specimen
27 and illuminates the specimen 27 as well as in the first
embodiment.
[0044] In the microscope 10 according to the second embodiment,
since the excitation light source 21 is located outside the
exterior frame 34, heat generated by the excitation light source 21
is not directly transmitted to the phosphor 22. As a result, it is
possible to make the increased temperature of the microscope body
11 less than in the first embodiment.
[0045] FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a microscope according to a
third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the
components denoted by the same reference numeral as those in FIGS.
1 to 5 represent the same components, and are not described again
in detail.
[0046] The collector lens 23, which collects the illumination light
emitted from the phosphor 22, is located inside the microscope body
11. The excitation light source 21 and phosphor 22 are housed in an
exterior frame 40. The exterior frame 40 is the same as a
conventional exterior frame for a halogen lamphouse. Accordingly,
the exterior frame 40 can be replaced with the current exterior
frame, and attached to and detached from the microscope body
11.
[0047] The exterior frame 40 (conventional exterior frame for a
halogen lamphouse) houses a connecting member 41 that connects the
exterior frame 40 to the microscope body 11, and the lamp
supporting member 43 that supports a halogen lamp and feeds power
from a power supply through the cable 37 to the halogen lamp. The
exterior frame 40 is positioned by inserting the connecting member
41 having a projection into a connecting port 42 of the microscope
body 11, and thus attached to the microscope body 11.
[0048] In the microscope 10 according to the third embodiment, a
light-source supporting adapter 44 that supports the excitation
light source 21, which illuminates and holds the phosphor 22, is
mounted to the lamp supporting member 43 of the current halogen
lamphouse. When the excitation light source 21 is connected to the
light-source supporting adapter 44 that is made from insulating
material, the phosphor 22 is located in the focal position of the
collector lens 23. In the microscope 10 according to the third
embodiment, the lamp supporting member 43 and the light-source
supporting adapter 44 are served as an illuminating unit together
with the illumination optical system 13. The illumination optical
system 13 also includes a zoom lens 55 in addition to the
components of the illumination optical system 13 according to the
first and second embodiments.
[0049] The current halogen lamphouse is a lamphouse that includes a
halogen lamp a filament image of which is focused on a focal plane
of the condenser 26 through the collector lens 23, the zoom lens
55, and the window lens 25 in the illumination optical system 13.
The current halogen lamphouse has, for example, a configuration
that includes the connecting member 41 shown in FIG. 6 instead of
the connecting unit 35 in the halogen lamphouse 15' shown in FIG.
3.
[0050] A lamphouse 17 according to the third embodiment includes
the exterior frame 40 and other components mounted inside and
outside the exterior frame 40. The phosphor 22 in the lamphouse 17
preferably has a size that a conjugate of the phosphor 22 is imaged
to have a desired size by the collector lens 23, the zoom lens 55,
and the window lens 25 when the lamphouse 17 is mounted to the
mounting portion 11a. In other words, the size of the phosphor 22
is preferably the same as the filament of the halogen lamp in the
current lamphouse.
[0051] If the phosphor 22 is not the same size as the filament of
the halogen lamp, the focal distance of the zoom lens 55 is changed
according to the size of the phosphor 22 so that the conjugate
image of the phosphor 22 that is focused on the focal plane of the
condenser 26 has a desired size, i.e., the same size as the
filament image of the halogen lamp. Accordingly, the lamphouse 17
or the current halogen lamphouse is replaceable, and can be
attached to and detached from the microscope body 11.
[0052] The zoom lens 55 in the illumination optical system 13 is
configured to use a plurality of lenses. The focal distance of the
whole zoom lens 55 can be changed by shifting all or some lenses of
the zoom lens 55 in a direction of the optical axis. In the
microscope according to the third embodiment, the conjugated image
of the phosphor 22 can become a desired size by replacing the
collector lens 23 with another one, as well as in the first and
second embodiments.
[0053] The works of the microscope 10 according to the third
embodiment will be described below. The phosphor 22 is located in
the focal position of the collector lens 23, and the illumination
light emitted from the phosphor 22 turns to parallel light in the
surface of the specimen 27 and illuminates the specimen 27, as well
as in the first and second embodiments.
[0054] In the microscope 10 according to the third embodiment, the
halogen lamp in the current halogen lamphouse can be replaced with
a structure that includes the phosphor 22, the excitation light
source 21, and the light-source supporting adapter 44. Accordingly,
the microscope 10 can use the current conventional halogen
lamphouse. The whole lamphouse may be replaced with another
lamphouse. As a result, the halogen lamp in the microscope 10 is
compatible with the current conventional halogen lamp.
[0055] In the third embodiment, a positioning mechanism that
includes a connecting member 41 having a projection and the
connecting port 42 of the microscope body 11 but is not limited
thereto. Other positioning mechanism may be used.
[0056] FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a lamphouse 18 that is
included in a microscope according to a fourth embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 7, the components denoted by the same
reference numeral as those in FIGS. 1 to 6 represent the same
components, and are not described again in detail.
[0057] In the lamphouse 18, a fiber supporting adapter 45 that
supports the optical fiber 38 is mounted on the lamp supporting
member 43. The optical fiber 38 brings the excitation light emitted
from the excitation light source 21 to the phosphor 22. When the
optical fiber 38 is connected to the fiber supporting adapter 45
that is made from insulating material, the phosphor 22 is located
in the focal position of the collector lens 23. The excitation
light source 21 is powered by a power supply through the cable
37.
[0058] The works of the microscope 10 according to the fourth
embodiment will be described below. The phosphor 22 is located in
the focal position of the collector lens 23, and the illumination
light emitted from the phosphor 22 turns to parallel light in the
surface of the specimen 27 and illuminates the specimen 27, as well
as in the first embodiment.
[0059] In the microscope 10 according to the fourth embodiment, the
halogen lamp in the current halogen lamphouse can be replaced with
a structure that includes the phosphor 22, the excitation light
source 21, and the fiber supporting adapter 45. Accordingly, the
microscope 10 can use the current conventional halogen lamphouse.
The whole lamphouse may be replaced with another lamphouse. As a
result, the halogen lamp in the microscope 10 is compatible with
the current conventional halogen lamp.
[0060] FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a lamphouse 19 that is
included in a microscope according to a fifth embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 8, the components denoted by the same
reference numeral as those in FIGS. 1 to 7 represent the same
components, and are not described again in detail.
[0061] The lamp supporting member 43 includes an entry 46 into
which an electrode of the halogen lamp is inserted. The halogen
lamp is positioned when the electrode is inserted into the entry
46. The entry 46 is electrically connected to an internal power
source 48 inside the microscope body 11. The phosphor 22 is held by
the excitation light source 21. The excitation light source 21
includes an electrode 47 for receiving power. The excitation light
source 21 is also positioned and secured with the electrode 47
inserted into the entry 46. When the excitation light source 21 is
inserted into the entry 46, the phosphor 22 is located in the focal
position of the collector lens 23.
[0062] The entry 46 of the lamp supporting member 43 is
electrically connected to the internal power source 48 of the
microscope body 11 by a cable 49, and thus the excitation light
source 21 is powered by the internal power source 48. A transformer
50 that transforms power supplied from the internal power source 48
to power suitable for the excitation light source 21 is located on
the cable 49.
[0063] The internal power source 48, the cable 49, and the
transformer 50 are used after automatically switched from the
external power supply for the halogen lamp by a switch (not
shown).
[0064] The works of the microscope 10 according to the fifth
embodiment will be described below. The illumination light emitted
from the phosphor 22 turns to parallel light in the surface of the
specimen 27 and illuminates the specimen 27, as well as in the
first embodiment.
[0065] In the microscope 10 according to the fifth embodiment, to
employ the phosphor 22 as an illumination light source, the current
conventional halogen lamphouse can be used by supplying power to
the excitation light source 21 from the internal power source 48 of
the microscope body 11.
[0066] FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a lamphouse 18 that is
included in a microscope according to a sixth embodiment of the
present invention. In FIG. 9, the components denoted by the same
reference numeral as those in FIGS. 1 to 8 represent the same
components, and are not described again in detail.
[0067] The fiber supporting adapter 45 that supports the optical
fiber 38 is mounted on the lamp supporting member 43. The optical
fiber 38 brings the excitation light emitted from the excitation
light source 21 to the phosphor 22. The phosphor 22 is secured to
the end portion of the optical fiber 38. When the optical fiber 38
is connected to the fiber supporting adapter 45 that is made from
insulating material, the phosphor 22 is located in the focal
position of the collector lens 23.
[0068] The excitation light source 21 is electrically connected to
the internal power source 48 of the microscope body 11 by the cable
49, and thus the excitation light source 21 is powered by the
internal power source 48. The transformer 50 that transforms power
supplied from the internal power source 48 to power suitable for
the excitation light source 21 is located on the cable 49.
[0069] In the microscope 10 according to the sixth embodiment, to
employ the phosphor 22 as an illumination light source, the current
conventional halogen lamphouse can be used by supplying power to
the excitation light source 21 from the internal power source 48 of
the microscope body 11.
[0070] The microscopes according to the embodiments as describe
above use a transmitting illumination optical system. The
transmitting illumination optical system may be replaced with an
incident-light illumination optical system. Specifically, a
phosphor that receives excitation light and thus emits an
illumination light in a specific wavelength range, and an
excitation light source that illuminates the phosphor with the
excitation light may be replaced with the light source for the
incident-light illumination optical system.
[0071] The illumination optical system may establish critical
illumination instead of Kohler illumination. Specifically, a
phosphor that receives excitation light and thus emits an
illumination light in a specific wavelength range, and an
excitation light source that illuminates the phosphor with the
excitation light may be replaced with the light source for the
critical illumination optical system.
[0072] The excitation light source 21 may be configured to emit
excitation light in the ultraviolet wavelength range; the phosphor
22 may be configured to receive the excitation light in the
ultraviolet wavelength range and thus to emit white illumination
light. In this configuration, even if the excitation light in the
ultraviolet wavelength range after passing through the phosphor 22
is added to the white illumination light in the visible range,
color balance in the visible range, i.e., wavelength
characteristics (spectral characteristics) is not disrupted.
Accordingly, white balance is adjusted using a fixed reference.
[0073] The illumination light emitted from the phosphor has a
specific spectrum intensity distribution (spectral characteristics)
regardless of the intensity of the illumination light.
Consequently, once the white balance of the camera is set in
accordance with intensity distribution of the phosphor, resetting
the white balance with every light adjustment is not required.
[0074] An excitation-light cut filer 22 that shield the excitation
light which is emitted from the excitation light source 21 and then
passes through the phosphor 22 may be located between the phosphor
22 and the speciment 27 to prevent a mixture of the excitation
light after passing through the phosphor 22 and the illumination
light from illuminating the specimen 27. Accordingly, when the
excitation light is a high power or high energy light such as
ultraviolet light, damages to and discoloration of the specimen 27
are reduced. When the excitation light is visible light and the
illumination light emitted from the phosphor 22 is white light, the
illumination light on the specimen 27 is maintained with a spectrum
intensity distribution unique to the phosphor 22. The
excitation-light cut filter is preferably provided together with
the phosphor 22. For example, the transparent holding member 51
shown in FIG. 2 and the transparent holding member 54 shown FIG. 5
are formed from filter material so that at least a portion through
which the illumination light passes functions as the
excitation-light cut filter.
[0075] A microscope according to the seventh embodiment of the
present invention will be described below. FIG. 10 shows a
configuration of main components of the microscope 60 according to
the seventh embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
10, the microscope 60 includes an illumination system 62 for
illuminating a specimen 61, and an observation system for observing
the specimen 61 illuminated by the illumination system 62. The
specimen 61 is held by, for example, a stage mechanism (not shown).
In FIG. 10, the components denoted by the same reference numeral as
those of the first to sixth embodiments represent the same
components, and are not described again in detail.
[0076] The observation system 63 includes an observation optical
system and allows observation using a captured observation image of
the specimen 61 illuminated by the illumination system 62. The
observation optical system includes an objective lens 64, an
imaging lens 65, an infrared cut filter 66, and an imaging device
67. The objective lens 64 includes a plurality of objective lenses
each having different numerical aperture (NA) and magnification.
One of the objective lenses is selectively placed in an observation
optical path by a selection mechanism (not shown). The infrared cut
filter 66 is placed in or removed from the observation optical path
by a filter driving unit 68. For example, when a light source that
causes high temperature heat or a light source that emits light
with an undesired infrared component is selected and placed, the
light source is inserted in the observation optical path;
otherwise, the light source is removed from the observation optical
path. The imaging device 67 includes, for example, a charge-coupled
device (CCD) or a CMOS image sensor, captures an observation image,
and outputs the generated image data to other unit such as a
display unit or a storage unit.
[0077] The illumination system 62 includes an incident-light
illumination optical system to establish Kohler illumination for
the specimen 61. The incident-light illumination optical system
includes a light source unit 70 that has replaceable light sources,
a collector lens 71, a filter unit 72 that changes the spectral
characteristics of the illumination light illuminating the specimen
61, a zoom lens 73 that images a light source image 75 in
cooperation with the collector lens 71, a half mirror 74 that
brings the illumination light into the observation optical path,
and the objective lens 64.
[0078] The light source unit 70 includes a plurality of light
sources each having different spectral characteristics of the light
emitted as the illumination light. One of the light sources is
selected and placed by a light-source switching unit 76 with
respect to the collector lens 71. Specifically, the emitting
element of the selected light source is placed in the focal plane
of the collector lens 71. The light source unit 70 includes, for
example, a mercury lamp 81, a halogen lamp 82, a color-mixture type
white light source unit 83, a fluorescent light source unit 84 as
shown in FIG. 4, and a florescent light source unit 85 as shown in
FIG. 1.
[0079] The color-mixture type white light source unit 83 includes
light-emitting elements 86a, 86b, and 86c that each have a
different wavelength range, and a three-arm light guide 87 as shown
in FIG. 11. The light-emitting elements 86a, 86b, and 86c are
optically connected to arm ends 87a, 87b, and 87c of the three-arm
light guide 87, respectively. Light emitted from the light-emitting
elements 86a, 86b, and 86c are introduced into the three-arm light
guide 87 through the arm ends 87a, 87b, and 87c, respectively. The
light introduced from the arm ends 87a, 87b, and 87c is mixed by a
combiner 87d and output from an exit 87e.
[0080] Accordingly, the color-mixture type white light source unit
83 emits light with a spectral distribution that is a mixture of
the spectrum intensity distributions of the emitting elements 86a,
86b, and 86c as illumination light. Each of the emitting elements
86a, 86b, and 86c are on-off controlled according to instructions
by the light-source switching unit 76. The color-mixture type white
light source unit 83, thus, can emit illumination light-with a
desired spectral distribution mixed using the spectrum intensity
distributions of the emitting elements 86a, 86b, and 86c. The
color-mixture type white light source unit 83 uses three light
sources but not limited thereto, and may use less or more than
three light sources. Each of the light sources may use various
light sources such as an LED, a laser diode (LD), and a phosphor
for laser excitation.
[0081] The filter unit 72 includes a heat-absorbing filter 72a and
a color conversion filter 72b. Each of the heat-absorbing filter
72a and the color conversion filter 72b is placed in or removed
from an illumination optical path by the filter switching unit 77,
depending on the light source selected by the light source unit 70.
For example, when a high-temperature light source such as the
mercury lamp 81 or the halogen lamp 82 is selected and placed, the
heat-absorbing filter 72a is inserted in the illumination optical
path; otherwise, the heat-absorbing filter 72a is removed from the
illumination optical path. The color conversion filter 72b
preferably includes a plurality of filters each having different
color conversion characteristics; each of the filters is placed in
or removed from the illumination optical path by the filter
switching unit 77. The filter unit 72 may include other replaceable
filter, for example, an infrared cut filter.
[0082] The zoom lens 73 includes a concave lens 73a and a convex
lens 73b. Each of the concave lens 73a and the convex lens 73b is
shifted in the illumination optical path by a zoom driving unit 78
in accordance with the light source selected in the light source
unit 70 and the objective lens 64 located in the observation
optical path. The zoom lens 73 extends the composite focal distance
by placing the concave lens 73a and the convex lens 73b close to
each other and reduces the composite focal distance by placing the
concave lens 73a and the convex lens 73b away from each other.
Accordingly, the zoom lens 73 zooms in the light source image 75 by
reducing the distance between the Lenses and zooms out the light
source by extending the distance.
[0083] In other words, the zoom lens 73 can maintain the light
source image 75 at the best size based on the size of the emitting
element of the light source selected in the light source unit 70
and the size of the pupil of the objective lens 64 selected in the
observation optical system 62. The best size of the light source
image is, for example, a size that the light source image 75
circumscribes the pupil on the pupil plane of the objective lens
64. If the light source image 75 is rectangular with respect to the
pupil which is generally round, the best size is a size that at
least two sides of the rectangular image circumscribes the pupil.
This optimization of the size of the light source image 75 with
respect to the pupil of the objective lens 64 allows very effective
and efficient utilization of the light emitted from the selected
light source in the light source unit 70.
[0084] Each of the concave lens 73a and the convex lens 73b is
shown as a single lens in FIG. 10 but may be a group of lenses. The
zoom lens 73 may include more than two lens groups including a
group of concave lenses and a group of convex lenses.
[0085] The microscope 60 as described above allows the user to
switch or change the optical components by manually operating the
light source switching unit 76, the filter switching units 68 and
77, and the zoom driving unit 78. Alternatively, the microscope 60
can automatically control switching or changing of the optical
components by using a control unit 69 that electrically connected
to the light source switching unit 76, the filter switching units
68 and 77, and the zoom driving unit 78. The control unit 79
includes a table in which desired combinations of the components
and parameters are recorded, and refers to the table to
automatically change the setting of the components based on
switching information on the light sources in the light source unit
70 and switching information on the objective lens 64. The table
has, for example, combinations of the light sources in the light
source unit 70, the lenses in the objective lens 64, the filters in
the filter unit 72, the infrared cut filter 66, and zoom positions
of lenses in the zoom lens 73.
[0086] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its
broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and
representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly,
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *