Measuring instrument with multifunctional button

Abstract

The invention discloses a measuring instrument with a multifunctional button, which comprises the multifunctional button, a switching circuit connected with the multifunctional button, a main control board connected with the switching circuit, a motor connected with the main control board and a lifting mechanism connected with the motor, the switching circuit is triggered and outputs a first control signal, and the main control board receives the first control signal to control the motor to rotate at a first rotating speed so as to control the lifting mechanism to lift at the first speed; in response to the fact that the multifunctional button is located at the initial position and rotated, the switching circuit is triggered and outputs a second control signal, and the main control board receives the second control signal to control the motor to rotate at a second rotating speed so as to control the lifting mechanism to ascend and descend at the second speed. Therefore, coarse adjustment and fine adjustment of the imaging focus of the to-be-measured sample on the measuring instrument and dimming through the illumination light source can be realized.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the patent application filed on July 26, 2022, with application number 2022108860320, entitled "Measuring Instrument, Multifunctional Button for Measuring Instrument and Method of Using the Same". Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to the field of intelligent manufacturing equipment industry, and specifically to a measuring instrument with multi-functional buttons. Background Technology

[0003] As a measuring instrument, the microscope is commonly used to measure the microscopic three-dimensional morphology of an object's surface. In practical use, the focal point of the image of the object in the objective lens is usually adjusted by raising and lowering the microscope tube, so as to observe the object's microscopic morphology.

[0004] Most microscopes have two adjustment knobs on the body: a coarse adjustment knob for coarsely adjusting the distance between the objective lens and the object, and a fine adjustment knob for finely adjusting the distance between the objective lens and the object. Because the two knobs are located in different positions, when using the microscope for observation, users usually first turn the coarse adjustment knob to coarsely adjust the distance between the objective lens and the object. When the objective lens is closer to the object, they then turn the fine adjustment knob to finely adjust the distance between the objective lens and the object.

[0005] Additionally, Chinese patent CN208902263U, entitled "A Spectrophotometer with a Multifunctional Button," discloses a multifunctional button. However, this multifunctional button needs to be used in conjunction with the function keys on the spectrophotometer's display panel to set and adjust different modes. Since the aforementioned knobs, buttons, or function keys are usually located in different positions, this causes great inconvenience to users' manual adjustments. Moreover, when new functions such as dimming are introduced into the measuring instrument, dimming buttons need to be set up separately. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This disclosure is made in view of the above-mentioned state of the prior art, and its purpose is to provide a measuring instrument that can achieve coarse and fine adjustment of the imaging focus of the sample under test and dimming by means of an illumination source using a single multi-function button, a multi-function button for the measuring instrument, and a method of using the same.

[0007] To this end, the first aspect of this disclosure provides a multi-function button for a measuring instrument, the measuring instrument including a main control board and a switching circuit connected to the main control board, the multi-function button including a conversion mechanism, a steering sleeve, a fixing member, and a rotary encoder; the fixing member is disposed around the steering sleeve and fixed to the housing of the measuring instrument, the conversion mechanism is disposed in the steering sleeve in a rotatable and movable manner; one end of the rotary encoder is fixedly connected to the conversion mechanism by inserting it into the shaft hole of the conversion mechanism, and the other end of the rotary encoder is connected to the switching circuit, wherein by changing at least one of the rotation direction, displacement distance, and displacement number of the conversion mechanism, the rotary encoder is controlled to trigger the switching circuit and output control signals of different magnitudes and directions to the main control board.

[0008] In the first aspect of this disclosure, by controlling the rotation direction of the conversion mechanism and its displacement and number of displacements within the fixed component, the rotary encoder can be controlled to trigger the switching circuit and output control signals of different magnitudes and directions to the main control board. In this case, different control signals emitted under different button operation modes can trigger different functions of the measuring instrument.

[0009] Furthermore, in the multi-function button according to the first aspect of this disclosure, optionally, the displacement distance of the conversion mechanism relative to the fixing member is 0.5-1.5 mm. This allows for convenient control of the displacement of the conversion mechanism relative to the fixing member.

[0010] Additionally, the multi-function button according to the first aspect of this disclosure may optionally include a screw screwed to the conversion mechanism and an outer cap engaged with the screw. Moving the outer cap causes the conversion mechanism to displace relative to the fixing member. In this case, the outer cap can be easily fixedly connected to the conversion mechanism, and the conversion mechanism can be rotated by rotating the outer cap.

[0011] Furthermore, in the multi-function button according to the first aspect of this disclosure, optionally, the outer cap, the screw, the conversion mechanism, the steering sleeve, and the fixing member are coaxially arranged with the central axis of the conversion mechanism as the axis. This allows for the formation of symmetry in the multi-function button structure.

[0012] Furthermore, in the multi-function button according to the first aspect of this disclosure, the steering sleeve may optionally be a beaded sleeve. This allows the beaded sleeve to move axially and rotate radially between the conversion mechanism and the fixing member.

[0013] Additionally, in the multi-functional button according to the first aspect of this disclosure, optionally, damping grooves for adding damping oil are uniformly provided around the outer surface of the fixing member, and the fixing member has a hollow structure. This allows the outer cap to rotate on the surface of the fixing member.

[0014] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a measuring instrument comprising the multi-function button as described above, a switch circuit, a main control board, a motor, a dimming control component, a lifting mechanism, and a lighting source. One end of the switch circuit is connected to the other end of the rotary encoder, and the other end of the switch circuit is connected to the input terminal of the main control board. A first output terminal of the main control board is connected to the input terminal of the motor, and the output terminal of the motor is connected to the lifting mechanism. A second output terminal of the main control board is connected to the input terminal of the dimming control component, and the output terminal of the dimming control component is connected to the lighting source.

[0015] In the second aspect of this disclosure, the main control board can receive and identify control signals of different sizes and directions triggered by the multi-function button, and then trigger the motor or dimming control component to work according to the different control signals, thereby enabling the motor or dimming control component to control the corresponding lifting mechanism or lighting source to work. Thus, different actions of the multi-function button can correspondingly trigger different functions of the measuring instrument.

[0016] Additionally, the measuring instrument according to the second aspect of this disclosure may optionally include a stage mounted on a base, a body connected to the base, a lifting mechanism disposed within the body, and an objective lens connected to the lifting mechanism. The illumination source is disposed on the body for illuminating the sample to be tested on the stage. Thus, the lifting mechanism can control the movement of the objective lens relative to the stage, and the illumination source can illuminate the sample to be tested on the stage.

[0017] The third aspect of this disclosure provides a method for using a multi-functional button, comprising the following steps: clicking and rotating a conversion mechanism to control a rotary encoder to trigger a switching circuit and output a first control signal to a main control board; the main control board receiving and recognizing the first control signal to control a motor to rotate at a first speed, thereby driving a lifting mechanism to rise and fall; or, when the conversion mechanism is in its initial position, rotating the conversion mechanism to control the rotary encoder to trigger a switching circuit and output a second control signal to the main control board; the main control board receiving and recognizing the second control signal to control the motor to rotate at a second speed, thereby driving the lifting mechanism to rise and fall; or double-clicking and rotating the conversion mechanism to control the rotary encoder to trigger a switching circuit and output a third control signal to the main control board; the main control board receiving and recognizing the third control signal and outputting the third control signal to a dimming control component.

[0018] In a third aspect of this disclosure, by clicking and rotating the conversion mechanism, or by rotating the conversion mechanism when the conversion mechanism is in its initial position, the lifting mechanism can be controlled to rise and fall at a first speed and a second speed by control signals (a first control signal and a second control signal) of different sizes and directions emitted by the rotary encoder and the switching circuit. By double-clicking and rotating the conversion mechanism, the brightness of the lighting source can be controlled by a third control signal emitted by the rotary encoder and the switching circuit.

[0019] Furthermore, in the method of using the multi-function button according to the third aspect of this disclosure, optionally, the first rotation pulse signal includes a first clockwise pulse signal and a first counterclockwise pulse signal, the second rotation pulse signal includes a second clockwise pulse signal and a second counterclockwise pulse signal, and the third rotation pulse signal includes a third clockwise pulse signal and a third counterclockwise pulse signal; the first clockwise pulse signal controls the motor to rotate forward at the first speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism to rise at the first speed, and the first counterclockwise pulse signal controls the motor to rotate backward at the first speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism to descend at the first speed; the second clockwise pulse signal controls the motor to rotate forward at the second speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism to rise at the second speed, and the second counterclockwise pulse signal controls the motor to rotate backward at the second speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism to descend at the second speed; the third clockwise pulse signal controls the dimming signal output by the dimming control component to increase, thereby controlling the lighting source to brighten, and the third counterclockwise pulse signal controls the dimming signal output by the dimming control component to decrease, thereby controlling the lighting source to dim. Thus, the lifting speed of the lifting mechanism and the brightness of the lighting source can be conveniently controlled.

[0020] According to this disclosure, a measuring instrument is provided that can achieve coarse and fine adjustment of the imaging focus of the sample under test and dimming by means of an illumination source using a single multi-function button, as well as a multi-function button for the measuring instrument and a method for using the button. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Embodiments of this disclosure will now be explained in further detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the overall structure of the multi-function button according to the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view showing a multi-function button according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the beaded sleeve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a functional block diagram of a microscope according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the overall structure of the microscope according to the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the control module of a microscope according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of using a multi-function button according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0028] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating another example of how to use a multi-function button according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0029] Symbol explanation: 1…Multi-function button, 2…Main control board, 3…Motor, 4…Dimming control component, 5…Lifting mechanism, 6…Light source, 7…Switch circuit, 8…Base, 9…Body, 10…Objective lens, 11…Stage, 110…Outer rotating cap, 120…Conversion mechanism, 130…Density bead sleeve, 140…Rotary encoder, 150…Fixed component, 151…Damping groove, 160…Screw. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and repeated descriptions are omitted. Furthermore, the drawings are merely schematic diagrams, and the proportions of the components or the shapes of the components may differ from actual figures.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the overall structure of the multi-function button according to the embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view showing a multi-function button according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The multi-function button 10 involved in this embodiment (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as button 10) can be a multi-function button installed on the measuring instrument, which can be installed on the base or body of the measuring instrument. The multi-function button 10 may include a conversion mechanism 120, a steering sleeve, a rotary encoder 140, and a fixing member 150.

[0033] In some examples, the measuring instrument may be, for example, a microscope, a visual acuity tester, a spectrophotometer, or other measuring instruments. In this embodiment, the measuring instrument may be, for example... Figure 4The microscope shown is a confocal microscope, and the following explanation uses a microscope as an example.

[0034] Specifically, the fixing member 150 can be arranged around the steering sleeve and fixed to the housing (base or body) of the measuring instrument, and the conversion mechanism 120 can be rotatably and movablely arranged inside the steering sleeve. One end of the rotary encoder 140 can be fixedly connected to the conversion mechanism 120 by inserting it into the shaft hole of the conversion mechanism 120, and the other end of the rotary encoder 140 can be connected to the switching circuit 7. The rotary encoder 140 can be controlled to trigger the switching circuit 7 and output control signals of different magnitudes and directions to the main control board 2 by changing at least one of the rotation direction, displacement distance, and displacement number of the conversion mechanism 120.

[0035] In this disclosure, by controlling the rotation direction of the conversion mechanism 120 and its displacement and number of displacements in the fixture 150, the rotary encoder 140 can be controlled to trigger the switching circuit 7 and output control signals of different magnitudes and directions to the main control board 2. In this case, different functions of the microscope can be triggered by different control signals emitted by the button 1 under different operating modes.

[0036] In some examples, the button 1 may also include a screw 160 screwed to the conversion mechanism 120 and an outer cap 110 snapped into the screw 160. Moving the outer cap 110 can cause the conversion mechanism 120 to shift relative to the fixing member 150. At this time, the screw 160 can be screwed tightly into the conversion mechanism 120. In this configuration, the outer cap 110 can be easily fixedly connected to the conversion mechanism 120. The fixing member 150 increases the rotational torque of the outer cap 110, thus facilitating rotation, and also provides support and guidance for the rotation of the outer cap 110.

[0037] In some examples, the outer cap 110 can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise on the surface of the fixture 150. By rotating the outer cap 110 in both directions (clockwise and counterclockwise), the increment or decrement of the corresponding function can be adjusted. For example, the lifting or lowering of the lifting mechanism or the brightness of the lighting source can be adjusted by rotating the outer cap in both directions.

[0038] In some examples, the displacement distance of the conversion mechanism 120 relative to the fixed member 150 can be 0.5-1.5mm. The outer rotating cap 110 can be moved (pressed) to cause the conversion mechanism 120 to move relative to the fixed member 150. Thus, the displacement of the conversion mechanism 120 relative to the fixed member 150 can be easily controlled, thereby controlling the rotary encoder 140 to trigger the switching circuit 7 to output control signals of different magnitudes and directions.

[0039] In some examples, more preferably, the displacement distance of the conversion mechanism 120 relative to the fixed member 150 can be 1 mm.

[0040] In some examples, the outer cap 110 can be clicked to cause the conversion mechanism 120 to move inward by 1 mm, thereby controlling the rotary encoder 140 to trigger the switch circuit 7 to output a first control signal; then, the outer cap 110 can be reset (i.e., moved outward by 1 mm) to trigger the switch circuit 7 to output a second control signal.

[0041] In some examples, the strength of the first control signal can be greater than the strength of the second control signal. In other examples, the strength of the second control signal can also be set to be greater than the strength of the first control signal.

[0042] In some examples, the outer cap 110 can be double-clicked to cause the conversion mechanism 120 to move inward by 1 mm, thereby triggering the switch circuit 7 to output a third control signal.

[0043] In some examples, the strength of the third control signal may be less than the strength of the first control signal and the strength of the second control signal.

[0044] In some examples, the first control signal, the second control signal, and the third control signal can also be set to different signal modes.

[0045] In some examples, the control signal may include a level signal triggered by the action (movement and number of movements) of the switching mechanism 120 and a rotation pulse signal triggered by the rotation of the switching mechanism 120.

[0046] In some examples, the movement of the rotary encoder 140 can trigger the switching circuit 7 to output level signals of different magnitudes.

[0047] In some examples, damping grooves 151 for adding damping oil can be evenly provided on the outer surface of the fastener 150, and the fastener 150 can be configured as a hollow structure. This allows the outer cap 110 to rotate easily on the surface of the fastener 150, and the hollow structure of the fastener 150 can reduce its weight without affecting its support and guiding functions, thereby improving the user's operating feel.

[0048] In some examples, the damping groove 151 can be configured as an annular groove surrounding the fastener 150. In some examples, the number of annular grooves can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.

[0049] In some examples, the outer cap 110, screw 160, conversion mechanism 120, steering sleeve, and fastener 150 can be configured as rotationally axisymmetric structures.

[0050] In some examples, the outer cap 110, screw 160, conversion mechanism 120, steering sleeve, and fixing member 150 can be coaxially arranged with the central axis of the outer cap 110 as the axis. This creates symmetry in the structure of the multi-function button 1, enhancing its aesthetics and operability.

[0051] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the beaded sleeve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] Reference Figure 3 In some examples, the steering sleeve can be a beaded sleeve 130.

[0053] In some examples, the ball bushing 1 can be evenly provided with a number of balls. The conversion mechanism 120 and the fixing member 150 can achieve an interference fit between the conversion mechanism 120, the fixing member 150, and the ball bushing 1 by pre-pressing the balls attached to the ball bushing 1. The ball bushing 1 can move axially and rotate radially between the conversion mechanism 120 and the fixing member 150 through the balls provided on it. Thus, the ball bushing 1 can be used to easily achieve high-precision operation or movement of the outer cap 110 and the conversion mechanism 120.

[0054] In some examples, rotating the conversion mechanism 120 can drive the rotary encoder 140 to rotate, and moving the conversion mechanism 120 can drive the rotary encoder 140 to move. This allows for easy triggering of the rotary encoder 140 to output a control signal, which may include a level signal and a rotation pulse signal.

[0055] In some examples, a return spring and a locking element can be provided at one end of the rotary encoder 140 and the contact surface of the conversion mechanism 120. When the conversion mechanism 120 is displaced inward, it can be engaged by the locking element and then rotated. To reset, the outer rotary cap 110 can be pressed again to allow the conversion mechanism 120 to easily reset under the action of the return spring.

[0056] In other examples, the reset method can also be manual drag reset.

[0057] Figure 4 This is a functional block diagram of a microscope according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the overall structure of the microscope according to the embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the control module of a microscope according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5This disclosure also provides a microscope, which may include the multi-function button 1 as described above, as well as a switch circuit 7, a main control board 2, a motor 3, a dimming control component 4, a lifting mechanism 5, and an illumination source 6. One end of the switch circuit 7 is connected to the other end of the rotary encoder 140, and the other end of the switch circuit 7 is connected to the input end of the main control board 2. The first output end of the main control board 2 is connected to the input end of the motor 3, and the output end of the motor 3 can be connected to the lifting mechanism 5. The second output end of the main control board 2 can be connected to the input end of the dimming control component 6, and the output end of the dimming control component 6 can be connected to the illumination source 6.

[0059] In this disclosure, the main control board 2 can receive and identify control signals of different sizes and directions triggered by the multi-function button 1, and then trigger the motor 3 or the dimming control component 4 to work according to the different control signals, thereby enabling the motor 3 or the dimming control component 4 to control the corresponding control lifting mechanism 5 or the lighting source 6 to work.

[0060] In some examples, when button 1 is in its initial state, rotating the outer cap 110 controls the rotary encoder 140 to trigger the switch circuit 7 to output a second control signal. The main control board 2 receives and identifies this second control signal to control the motor 3 to rotate at a second speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism 5 to rise or fall. The lifting mechanism 5 can be controlled to rise or fall by rotating the outer cap 110 in both directions.

[0061] In some examples, clicking the outer cap 110 can control the rotary encoder 140 to trigger the switch circuit 7 to output a first control signal. The main control board 2 receives and recognizes this first control signal to control the motor 3 to rotate at a first speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism 5 to lift at the first speed. Similarly, rotating the outer cap 110 in both directions can control the lifting mechanism 5 to rise or fall.

[0062] In some examples, double-clicking the outer cap 110 can control the rotary encoder 140 to trigger the switching circuit 7 to output a third control signal. The main control board 2 receives and identifies this third control signal to control the dimming control component 4 to output a corresponding dimming control signal, thereby controlling the brightness of the lighting source 6. The lighting source 6 can be brightened or dimmed by rotating the outer cap 110 in both directions.

[0063] In some examples, the control signal may include a level signal and a rotation pulse signal. That is, the first control signal may include a first level signal and a first rotation pulse signal, the second control signal may include a second level signal and a second rotation pulse signal, and the third control signal may include a third level signal and a third rotation pulse signal.

[0064] In some examples, the first level signal may be different from the second level signal. In some examples, the first level signal may be the level signal output by the switching circuit 7 triggered by the rotary encoder 140 moving once, and the second level signal may be the level signal output by the switching circuit 7 triggered after the rotary encoder 140 is reset.

[0065] In some examples, the level signal output by the switch circuit 7 triggered by the rotary encoder 140 moving once can be a low level signal, and the level signal output by the switch circuit 7 after the rotary encoder 140 is reset can be a high level signal.

[0066] In some examples, the main control board 2 can identify a first level signal and a first rotation pulse signal, and then output a first drive signal to drive the motor 3 to rotate rapidly; the main control board 2 can identify a second level signal and a second rotation pulse signal, and then output a first drive signal to drive the motor 3 to rotate slowly. In this case, the motor 3 can be controlled to rotate rapidly by the first level signal and the first rotation pulse signal, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism 5 to rise and fall rapidly; the motor 3 can be controlled to rotate slowly by the second level signal and the second rotation pulse signal, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism 5 to rise and fall slowly.

[0067] In some examples, the third level signal may be different from the first level signal and the second level signal. In some examples, the main control board 2 can identify two level signal changes output by the switch circuit 7 triggered by the movement of the rotary encoder 140 within a predetermined time interval as the second level signal, and the main control board 2 can identify level signal changes within a time interval greater than the predetermined time interval as the first level signal.

[0068] In some examples, after the main control board 2 recognizes the third level signal and the third rotation pulse signal, it can output a third drive signal to drive the dimming control component 4 to control the brightness of the lighting source 6.

[0069] In some examples, the switching circuit 7 can be a switching circuit composed of a transistor or a MOSFET. In other examples, the switching circuit 7 can also be a switching circuit composed of a thyristor.

[0070] Therefore, different actions of the multi-function button 1 can trigger different functions of the microscope accordingly.

[0071] In some examples, the microscope may further include a stage 11 mounted on a base, a body 9 connected to the base 8, a lifting mechanism 5 disposed within the body 9, and an objective lens connected to the lifting mechanism 5. An illumination source 6 may be mounted on the body 9 to illuminate the sample to be tested on the stage 11. The multi-function button 1 may be fixed to the microscope base 8. Thus, the lifting mechanism 5 can control the movement of the objective lens 10 relative to the stage 11, and the illumination source 6 can conveniently illuminate the sample to be tested on the stage 11.

[0072] In this case, the distance between the objective lens 10 and the sample to be tested on the stage 11 can be coarsely adjusted by the first control signal, and the distance between the objective lens 10 and the sample to be tested on the stage 11 can be finely adjusted by the second control signal.

[0073] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of using a multi-function button according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method of using a multi-function button according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0074] Reference Figure 7 This disclosure also provides a method for using the multi-function button 1, which can be based on the above-described method for using the microscope and the multi-function button thereon. This method may include the following steps: Step S100: Click and rotate the conversion mechanism 120 to control the rotary encoder 140 to trigger the switch circuit 7 to output the first control signal to the main control board 2; In step S200, the main control board 2 receives and identifies the first control signal to control the motor 3 to rotate at the first speed, thereby driving the lifting mechanism 120 to lift and lower, thereby adjusting the distance between the objective lens 10 and the stage 11. In step S300, when the conversion mechanism 120 is in the initial position, the conversion mechanism 120 is rotated to control the rotary encoder 140 to trigger the switching circuit 7 to output a second control signal to the main control board 2. In step S400, the main control board 2 receives and identifies the second control signal to control the motor 3 to rotate at the second speed, thereby driving the lifting mechanism 5 to rise and fall, thereby adjusting the distance between the objective lens 10 and the stage 11. Step S500: Double-click and rotate the conversion mechanism 120 to control the rotary encoder 140 to trigger the switch circuit 7 to output a third control signal to the main control board 2; In step S600, the main control board 2 receives and identifies the third control signal and outputs the third control signal to the dimming control component 4 to adjust the brightness of the lighting source 6.

[0075] In this disclosure, by clicking and rotating the conversion mechanism 120, or by rotating the conversion mechanism 120 when it is in its initial position, the distance between the objective lens and the sample on the stage can be controlled by control signals (first control signal and second control signal) of different sizes and directions output by the rotary encoder 140 and the switch circuit 7. By double-clicking and rotating the conversion mechanism 120, the brightness of the illumination source 6 can be controlled by the third control signal output by the rotary encoder 140 and the switch circuit 7.

[0076] In some examples, the first control signal may include a first level signal and a first rotation pulse signal, the second control signal may include a second level signal and a second rotation pulse signal, and the third control signal may include a third level signal and a third rotation pulse signal.

[0077] In some examples, the rotary encoder 140 can be triggered to rotate to output a first rotary pulse signal, a second rotary pulse signal, or a third rotary pulse signal; the rotary encoder 140 can be triggered to move to output a first level signal, a second level signal, or a third level signal.

[0078] Reference Figure 8 In some examples, step S100 may include: step S110, clicking the outer cap 110 to control the rotary encoder 140 to move and trigger the switch circuit 7 to output a first level signal; and step S120, rotating the outer cap 110 to control the rotary encoder 140 to rotate and output a first rotation pulse signal.

[0079] In some examples, step S200 may include: step S210, where the main control board 2 receives and identifies the first level signal and the first rotation pulse signal, and outputs the first drive signal; and step S220, where the motor 3 receives the first drive signal and controls the lifting mechanism 5 to lift at the first speed.

[0080] In some examples, step S300 may include: step S310, resetting the outer cap 110 to control the rotary encoder 140 to move and trigger the switching circuit 7 to output a second level signal; and step S320, rotating the outer cap 110 to control the rotary encoder 140 to rotate and output a second rotation pulse signal.

[0081] In some examples, step S400 may include: step S410, where the main control board 2 receives and identifies the second level signal and the second rotation pulse signal, and outputs the second drive signal; and step S420, where the motor 3 receives the second drive signal and controls the lifting mechanism 5 to lift at the second speed.

[0082] In some examples, step S500 may include: step S510, double-clicking the outer cap 110 to control the rotary encoder 140 to move twice and trigger the switching circuit 7 to output a third level signal; and step S520, rotating the outer cap 110 to control the rotary encoder 140 to rotate and output a third rotation pulse signal.

[0083] In some examples, step S600 may include: step S610, where the main control board 2 receives and identifies the third level signal and the third rotation pulse signal, and outputs the third drive signal; and step S420, where the dimming control component 4 receives the third drive signal and controls the brightness of the lighting source 6.

[0084] In some examples, the first level signal may be different from the second level signal. In some examples, the first level signal may be the level signal output by the switching circuit 7 triggered by the rotary encoder 140 moving once, and the second level signal may be the level signal output by the switching circuit 7 triggered after the rotary encoder 140 is reset.

[0085] In some examples, the level signal output by the switch circuit 7 triggered by the rotary encoder 140 moving once can be a low level signal, and the level signal output by the switch circuit 7 after the rotary encoder 140 is reset can be a high level signal.

[0086] In some examples, the main control board 2 can identify a first level signal and a first rotation pulse signal, and then output a first drive signal to drive the motor 3 to rotate rapidly; the main control board 2 can identify a second level signal and a second rotation pulse signal, and then output a first drive signal to drive the motor 3 to rotate slowly. In this case, the motor 3 can be controlled to rotate rapidly by the first level signal and the first rotation pulse signal, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism 5 to rise and fall rapidly; the motor 3 can be controlled to rotate slowly by the second level signal and the second rotation pulse signal, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism 5 to rise and fall slowly.

[0087] In some examples, the third level signal may be different from the first level signal and the second level signal. In some examples, the main control board 2 can identify two level signal changes output by the switch circuit 7 triggered by the movement of the rotary encoder 140 within a predetermined time interval as the second level signal, and the main control board 2 can identify level signal changes within a time interval greater than the predetermined time interval as the first level signal.

[0088] In some examples, after the main control board 2 recognizes the third level signal and the third rotation pulse signal, it can output a third drive signal to drive the dimming control component 4 to control the brightness of the lighting source.

[0089] In some examples, the rotation pulse signal may include clockwise rotation signals and counterclockwise rotation signals. Specifically, the first rotation pulse signal may include a first clockwise pulse signal and a first counterclockwise pulse signal, the second rotation pulse signal may include a second clockwise pulse signal and a second counterclockwise pulse signal, and the third rotation pulse signal may include a third clockwise pulse signal and a third counterclockwise pulse signal.

[0090] A first clockwise pulse signal controls motor 3 to rotate forward at a first speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism 5 to rise at the first speed; a first counterclockwise pulse signal controls motor 3 to rotate backward at the first speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism 5 to descend at the first speed. A second clockwise pulse signal controls motor 3 to rotate forward at a second speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism 5 to rise at the second speed; a second counterclockwise pulse signal controls motor 3 to rotate backward at the second speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism 5 to descend at the second speed. A third clockwise pulse signal controls the dimming signal output by the dimming control component 4 to increase, thereby brightening the illumination source; a third counterclockwise pulse signal controls the dimming signal output by the dimming control component 4 to decrease, thereby dimming the illumination source. In this configuration, the lifting speed of the lifting mechanism 5 and the brightness of the illumination source 6 can be easily controlled, while coarse and fine adjustments to the imaging focus in the objective lens 10 can be achieved.

[0091] In some examples, rotating the outer cap 110 can immediately control the rotary encoder 140 to output a rotational pulse signal to the main control board 2. After receiving and recognizing the rotational pulse signal, the main control board 2 can convert this pulse signal into a drive signal to continuously drive the actuator (motor 3 or dimming control component 4) to operate. That is, by giving the outer cap 110 a rotational action, the operation of the actuator can be continuously controlled.

[0092] In some examples, the main control board 2 can be equipped with one of the following processors: MCU, MPU, FPGA, DSP, etc.

[0093] In some examples, the outer cap 110 can drive the conversion mechanism 120 to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. When adjusting the distance between the objective lens 10 and the sample to be tested on the stage 11, the outer cap 110 can be rotated clockwise to lower the lifting mechanism 5, and the outer cap 110 can be rotated counterclockwise to raise the lifting mechanism 5. When adjusting the brightness of the illumination source 6, the outer cap 110 can be rotated clockwise to brighten the illumination source, and rotated counterclockwise to dim the illumination source. Thus, by rotating the outer cap 110 clockwise or counterclockwise, the lifting mechanism 5 or the brightness of the illumination source 6 can be easily controlled.

[0094] In some examples, a return spring and a locking element can be provided at one end of the rotary encoder 140 and the contact surface of the conversion mechanism 120. When the conversion mechanism moves inward, it can be engaged by the locking element and then rotated. To reset, the outer rotary cap 110 can be pressed again to allow the conversion mechanism 120 to easily reset under the action of the return spring.

[0095] In other examples, the reset method can also be manual drag reset.

[0096] In this embodiment, the steps S100-S200, S300-S400, and S500-S600 can be independent of each other and there is no necessary sequential relationship between them.

[0097] In some examples, after operating steps S100-S200, the outer cap 110 and the conversion mechanism 120 can be reset by dragging or pressing the outer cap 110 before steps S300-S400 are performed.

[0098] In some examples, after operating steps S100-S200, the outer cap 110 and the conversion mechanism 120 can be reset by dragging or pressing before steps S500-S600 are performed.

[0099] In other examples, steps S100 to S600 can be performed sequentially. Thus, the objective lens 10 can be coarsely adjusted to quickly approach the sample to be tested on the stage 11, and then finely adjusted to slowly approach the objective lens 10 to approach the sample to be tested on the stage 11. When the distance between the objective lens 10 and the sample to be tested on the stage 11 is appropriate after fine adjustment, the brightness of the illumination source 6 can be adjusted to facilitate observation of the sample to be tested on the stage 11.

[0100] In step S500, the preset time interval for double-clicking can be set to be less than 1 second, thereby enabling fast dimming response.

[0101] According to this disclosure, a microscope is provided that can achieve coarse and fine adjustment of the imaging focus of the sample under test and dimming of the illumination source by relying on a single multi-function button, a multi-function button 1 for the microscope and a method of using the same.

[0102] While the present disclosure has been specifically described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments, it is to be understood that the above description does not limit the present disclosure in any way. Those skilled in the art can make modifications and variations to the present disclosure as needed without departing from its essential spirit and scope, and all such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A measuring instrument with a multi-functional button, characterized in that, The device includes a multi-function button, a switch circuit connected to the multi-function button, a main control board connected to the switch circuit, a motor connected to the main control board, and a lifting mechanism connected to the motor. In response to the multi-function button being clicked and rotated, the switch circuit is triggered and outputs a first control signal. The main control board receives the first control signal and controls the motor to rotate at a first speed to control the lifting mechanism to move up and down at a first speed. In response to the multi-function button being in its initial position and rotated, the switch circuit is triggered and outputs a second control signal. The main control board receives the second control signal and controls the motor to rotate at a second speed to control the lifting mechanism to move up and down at a second speed.

2. The measuring instrument with a multi-functional button as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first control signal includes a first level signal and a first rotation pulse signal. The main control board identifies the first level signal and the first rotation pulse signal, and then outputs a first drive signal to drive the motor to rotate at the first speed. The first level signal is the level signal output by the switch circuit triggered by the movement of the multi-function button once. The second control signal includes a second level signal and a second rotation pulse signal. The main control board identifies the second level signal and the second rotation pulse signal, and then outputs a second drive signal to drive the motor to rotate at the second speed. The second level signal is the level signal output by the switch circuit triggered after the multi-function button is reset.

3. The measuring instrument with a multi-functional button as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first rotation pulse signal includes a first clockwise pulse signal and a first counterclockwise pulse signal. The first level signal and the first clockwise pulse signal control the motor to rotate forward at the first speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism to rise at the first speed. The first level signal and the first counterclockwise pulse signal control the motor to rotate in reverse at the first speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism to descend at the first speed. The second rotation pulse signal includes a second clockwise pulse signal and a second counterclockwise pulse signal. The second level signal and the second clockwise pulse signal control the motor to rotate forward at the second speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism to rise at the second speed. The second level signal and the second counterclockwise pulse signal control the motor to rotate in reverse at the second speed, thereby controlling the lifting mechanism to descend at the second speed.

4. The measuring instrument with a multi-functional button as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The main control board will identify the level signal change detected within a time interval greater than a predetermined time interval as the first level signal, and identify the two level signal changes detected within the predetermined time interval as the second level signal.

5. The measuring instrument with a multi-functional button as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a dimming control component connected to the main control board and a lighting source connected to the dimming control component. In response to the multi-function button being double-clicked and rotated, the switching circuit is triggered and controls the main control board to control the dimming control component.

6. The measuring instrument with a multi-function button as described in claim 5, characterized in that, In response to the multi-function button being double-clicked and rotated, the switching circuit is triggered and outputs a third control signal to the main control board. The main control board receives and recognizes the third control signal and outputs the third control signal to the dimming control component to control the brightness of the lighting source.

7. The measuring instrument with a multi-function button as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The third control signal includes a third level signal and a third rotation pulse signal. The main control board receives and identifies the third level signal and the third rotation pulse signal, and outputs a third drive signal. The dimming control component receives the third drive signal and controls the brightness of the lighting source.

8. The measuring instrument with a multi-function button as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The multi-function button includes a conversion mechanism, a steering sleeve, a fixing member, and a rotary encoder. The fixing member is arranged around the steering sleeve and fixed to the housing of the measuring instrument. The conversion mechanism is rotatably and movable inside the steering sleeve. By changing at least one of the rotation direction, displacement distance, and displacement number of the conversion mechanism, the rotary encoder is controlled to trigger the switching circuit and output control signals of different magnitudes and directions to the main control board.

9. The measuring instrument with a multi-function button as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The multi-function button also includes an outer rotating cap connected to the conversion mechanism. Moving the outer rotating cap causes the conversion mechanism to shift relative to the fixed component.

10. The measuring instrument with a multi-function button as described in claim 9, characterized in that, A reset spring and a locking member are provided at one end of the rotary encoder and the contact surface of the conversion mechanism. When the conversion mechanism moves inward, it engages with the rotary encoder through the locking member; the conversion mechanism resets under the action of the reset spring.

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