a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in an inverted micrsocope.
b) Description of the Related Art
The beam path of an inverted microscope is shown schematically in
A halogen lamp HAL at the microscope stand MS illuminates an object located on the specimen stage PT via a condenser KO. Located below the specimen stage is an objective turret OR, shown without the objective lenses which are inserted therein, and a reflector RF which is part of a reflector turret, not shown, and which can be switched on to reflect in a fluorescence excitation beam path FS of a light source LF. The imaging beam path AS is deflected in the direction of the eyepiece OK (not shown) of the observer by a deflecting mirror US. Further, a recording beam path AS is provided for photographic recordings.
The primary object of the invention is the improvement of the optically effective switching time of a mechanical shutter used with an inverted microscope.
Accordingly, in accordance with the invention, a microscope, particularly an inverted microscope, comprising an incident illumination beam path for fluorescence excitation by a fluorescent light source, a shutter for generating fluorescence excitation, which shutter opens the light path temporarily, wherein, in order to reduce the switching time, the shutter is arranged inside the illumination optics in an area of a smaller illumination bundle diameter.
In the drawings:
In a reverse view with respect to
The light from light source LF, not shown, is imaged to infinity in parallel by means of a collector lens, not shown, and is imaged in the plane of the aperture diaphragm by L1.
A plane conjugate to the field diaphragm is imaged in the plane of the field diaphragm by L1, L2 and is imaged in the exit pupil of the objective by L3 and the objective in OP.
A shutter SH for interrupting the light path is arranged in the beam path between L1 and L3, preferably in the vicinity of the aperture diaphragm but at a slight distance from the latter in an area of a smaller light bundle diameter within the illumination optics.
Since the optically effective switching time, i.e., the time during which the light bundle is released, of a preferably mechanical shutter, for example, an iris diaphragm or blinker switch, is directly proportional to the light bundle diameter to be interrupted, there is a significant reduction of the optically effective switching time, i.e., the opening time, due to the arrangement of the shutter directly inside the illumination optics compared to a shutter arranged outside, e.g., in front of the lens L1 or after the lens L3. Therefore, depending on the switching speed of the mechanical shutter, a switching time of 1 to 10 msec, for example, can be achieved.
This is very important when observing fluorescence and for recording in order to reduce the loading of the specimen.
While the foregoing description and drawings represent the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10050-823.5 | Oct 2000 | DE | national |
This application claims priority of PCT Application Serial No. PCT/EP01/11380, filed Oct. 2, 2001 and German Application No. 100 50 823.5, filed Oct. 6, 2000, the complete disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP01/11380 | 10/2/2001 | WO |