Binocular tube and stereoscopic optical observation device

Abstract

A binocular tube (69) for a stereoscopic optical observation device is provided. The binocular tube (69) is equipped with - an eyepiece opening (71) having a first eyepiece (66A) and a second eyepiece (66B); - a tilting mechanism (80) for tilting the eyepiece view (71) about a tilting axis; - a pupillary distance adjustment device (79, 83) for adjusting the pupillary distance between the first eyepiece (66A) and the second eyepiece (66B) of the eyepiece view (71); and - at least one manually operable actuating element (73A, 73B) coupled or connectable to the pupillary distance adjustment device (79, 83), which enables adjustment of the pupillary distance by means of an actuating action. In addition, the binocular tube (69) is equipped with a switching device (82, 97) with which it is possible to switch from a coupling of the manually operable actuating element (73A, 73B) with the pupillary distance adjustment device (79, 83) to a coupling of the manual actuating element (73A, 73B) with the tilting mechanism (80, 87) of the eyepiece (71), so that the actuating action (73A, 73B) enables adjustment of the tilt of the eyepiece (71) instead of adjusting the pupillary distance.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a binocular tube. The invention also relates to a stereoscopic optical observation device comprising a binocular tube.

[0002] Binocular tubes are used particularly in stereoscopic optical observation devices such as surgical microscopes or other stereomicroscopes. To provide a stereoscopic image of an object to a person viewing it with the aid of a stereoscopic optical observation device, such devices have a left and a right optical path. Binocular tubes are used to allow the left optical path to be viewed with the left eye and the right optical path with the right eye. These tubes have an eyepiece with a left eyepiece for the left optical path and a right eyepiece for the right optical path.

[0003] To accommodate different interpupillary distances of different users, adjusting the interpupillary distance (IPD), i.e., the distance between the left and right eyepieces, is standard practice for binocular tubes. This adjustment is often achieved via spindle drives that vary the distance between the eyepiece lens systems. Examples of stereoscopic optical observation devices that allow for interpupillary distance adjustment are shown in DE 10 2005 043 646 B4 and DE 10 2009 037 921 B4. The interpupillary distance is typically adjusted using a knob located on the binocular tube.

[0004] From DE 10 2011 114 583 A1, a digital stereo microscopy system is known in which stereoscopic partial images are displayed in different sections of a display. The sections of the display are viewed using two eyepieces, the distance between which can be changed. A control unit is also provided, which allows the distance between the sections of the display in which the stereoscopic partial images are displayed to be changed.

[0005] In a stereoscopic optical observation device, it is ergonomically advantageous for the user if the eyepieces can be positioned as freely as possible. Particularly in surgical microscopes, a high degree of freedom in the positioning of the eyepieces is desirable to enable the surgeon to assume an ergonomically optimal working position. For example, if the eyepiece needs to be repositioned or readjusted during an operation, precise and intuitive adjustability of the binocular tube is required. Therefore, to allow for adaptation to the user's ergonomic preferences, the binocular tube described in DE 10 2009 037 921 B4 offers extensive adjustment of the binocular tube, including the height and viewing angle of the eyepieces.The desired position is set by manipulating different parts of the binocular tube to tilt the parts relative to each other around individual axes.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 33 34 690 A1 describes a microscope with a binocular tube that can be adjusted in its inclination.

[0007] Overall, a number of controls are available for adjusting the pupillary distance and the position of the eyepiece. If, as with a surgical microscope, high sterility requirements are also present, the sterility of the controls must be ensured. This is typically achieved by attaching sterile caps to the controls, which increases the preparation required for using a surgical microscope.

[0008] From DE 27 35 040 A1, a course control device for ships with two setpoint scales is known. The course control device has a rotary control that is axially displaceable and, depending on its displacement position, is connected to one or both setpoint scales in order to adjust either one or both setpoint scales by means of the rotary control.

[0009] Compared to DE 10 2009 037 921 B4, an object of the invention is to provide a binocular tube and a stereoscopic optical observation device in which the number of operating elements available for adjusting the pupillary distance and for adjusting the position of the eyepiece viewing is reduced.

[0010] This problem is solved by a binocular tube according to claim 1 or by a stereoscopic optical observation device according to claim 10. The dependent claims contain advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0011] A binocular tube according to the invention comprises an eyepiece opening with a first eyepiece and a second eyepiece. The binocular tube can be purely optical, i.e., a left and a right aerial image are viewed using purely optical means via the binocular tube. Alternatively, the binocular tube can be a digital tube that displays right and left digital images captured by cameras via displays.

[0012] Furthermore, the binocular tube includes a tilting mechanism for adjusting the eyepiece viewing angle. This tilting typically occurs around a tilting axis parallel to an imaginary line connecting the first and second eyepieces of the eyepiece. This connecting line could be, for example, the line connecting the centers of the eye-side lenses, the line connecting the centers of the exit pupils of the eyepieces, the lines connecting the entrance pupils of the eyepieces, etc.

[0013] Furthermore, the binocular tube comprises an interpupillary distance adjustment device for adjusting the interpupillary distance between the first and second eyepieces of the eyepiece view, and at least one manually operated actuating element coupled or connectable to the interpupillary distance adjustment device, which enables the interpupillary distance to be adjusted by means of an actuating action. In other words, the manually operated actuating element is designed such that actuating the actuating element results in an adjustment of the interpupillary distance. In particular, the manually operated actuating element can be designed to be movable such that a movement of the actuating element results in an adjustment of the interpupillary distance. The movement of the actuating element is effected by the actuating action. The manually operated actuating element can, for example, be a rotary knob.The movement of the actuating element is then a rotary movement, and the actuating action is a turning of the knob. However, actuating elements that can be moved along a sliding path are also possible. The actuating action is then a sliding of the actuating element. An example of a sliding actuating element is a slide potentiometer. The coupling between the manually operated actuating element and the pupillary distance adjustment device can be mechanical or electrical.

[0014] According to the invention, the binocular tube also includes a switching device that allows switching from coupling the manually operated actuating element with the pupillary distance adjustment device to coupling the manual actuating element with the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece, so that the actuating action allows adjustment of the tilt of the eyepiece instead of adjusting the pupillary distance. If the actuating element is, for example, a rotary knob, turning the rotary knob thus allows adjustment of the tilt of the eyepiece when the manual actuating element is coupled with the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece.

[0015] The number of controls for adjusting the interpupillary distance and the tilt of the eyepiece has been reduced. If the control is a rotary knob, the tilt of the eyepiece can be adjusted intuitively with a turning motion.

[0016] The coupling of the manual actuating element with the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece view can be achieved mechanically via a gearbox arranged between the actuating element and the tilting mechanism.

[0017] Of all the axes of rotation around which the binocular tube can typically be adjusted, the tilting axis for adjusting the eyepiece is closest to the eyepiece itself. Due to the resulting poor leverage, the force required for tilting is the highest compared to the other adjustment options. The gear mechanism allows for force conversion, enabling the operator to achieve tilting with reduced effort when operating the control.

[0018] Instead of a mechanical coupling, it is also possible for the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece to include a drive motor for motorized tilting of the eyepiece, and for the coupling of the manual actuating element to the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece to be electronic, such that the drive motor can be controlled by the actuating element. For this purpose, the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece can include a drive motor controller for controlling the drive motor. The coupling of the manual actuating element to the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece can then be achieved via a position sensor connected to the drive motor controller, which detects the position or a change in position of the actuating element and outputs a position signal representing the detected position or change in position to the drive motor controller.The drive motor control then activates the drive motor based on the position signal to achieve a position of the eyepiece tilting mechanism corresponding to the position or change in position. If a rotary knob is used as the control element, the position sensor is a rotary position sensor that detects the rotational position of the knob or a change in its rotational position and outputs a signal representing the rotational position or change in rotational position to the drive motor control. Through the drive motor of the tilting mechanism and the electronic coupling of the control element with the tilting mechanism, the force required by an operator to operate the control element can be completely decoupled from the force required to tilt the eyepiece.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally to the drive motor of the tilting mechanism, the pupillary distance adjustment device can include an adjustment motor for motorized adjustment of the pupillary distance. In this case, the manual actuating element is coupled electronically to the pupillary distance adjustment device such that the adjustment motor can be controlled by the actuating element. If both the tilting mechanism and the pupillary distance adjustment device are equipped with a motor, the switching device does not require complex mechanical structures, thus making it simple and low-maintenance.

[0020] If the pupillary distance adjustment device includes a motor for motorized adjustment of the pupillary distance, an additional control terminal may be provided for controlling the pupillary distance adjustment motor and / or the drive motor of the tilting mechanism. Alternatively, or in addition to the control terminal, a voice input device may be provided for controlling the pupillary distance adjustment motor and / or the drive motor of the tilting mechanism via voice commands. The additional control terminal and / or voice input device allows for the consideration of different user preferences. Furthermore, it provides a redundant system for adjusting the pupillary distance or tilting the eyepiece.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment of the binocular tube, a display is provided to show the set pupillary distance. This can be a scale located on the binocular tube and mechanically coupled to the pupillary distance adjustment mechanism if the pupillary distance adjustment is purely mechanical. If a motor is used for adjusting the pupillary distance, a display can be provided on the binocular tube to show the currently set pupillary distance. If both a motor and an operating terminal are present, it is also possible to display the pupillary distance on the operating terminal in addition to, or as an alternative to, the display on the binocular tube.

[0022] Switching between coupling with the interpupillary distance adjustment device and coupling with the tilting mechanism can be achieved, for example, by a switching element integrated into the control element. This switching element could be a push button or slide switch, the position of which either couples the device with the interpupillary distance adjustment device or the tilting mechanism. In the case of a rotary knob, the switching element could be a switch that is actuated by pushing or pulling the knob. In the case of a mechanical coupling, pushing or pulling the knob could also directly disengage the interpupillary distance adjustment device and engage the tilting mechanism, or vice versa. Electronic switching is also possible, for example, by means of a switching button located on the binocular eyepiece or binocular tube, the activation of which initiates the switch.The toggle switch can also be integrated into the control element, whereby the location on the control element where the toggle switch is integrated into the control element should be chosen in such a way that accidental activation of the toggle switch can be reliably avoided.

[0023] According to the invention, a stereoscopic optical observation device with optical elements for generating a stereoscopic intermediate image, i.e., an intermediate image with a left and a right stereoscopic partial image, and a binocular tube according to the invention for viewing the stereoscopic intermediate image, i.e., for viewing the left stereoscopic partial image using one eyepiece and the right stereoscopic partial image using the other eyepiece, are also provided. The binocular tube can be purely optical, i.e., the left and the right stereoscopic partial images are aerial photographs that are viewed directly using the binocular tube.Alternatively, the binocular tube can be a digital tube that uses two displays to show a left stereoscopic image (captured by one camera) and a right stereoscopic image (captured by another camera). The stereoscopic optical observation device can be, for example, a stereomicroscope, and in particular, a surgical microscope.

[0024] The advantages to be achieved with the stereoscopic optical observation device according to the invention arise directly from the use of the binocular tube according to the invention. With regard to these advantages, reference is therefore made to the advantages described in relation to the binocular tube according to the invention.

[0025] Further features, properties and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Fig. Figure 1 shows an example of the construction of an operating microscope. Fig. Figure 2 shows an example of the construction of a digital operating microscope. Fig. Figure 3 shows a digital binocular tube and the adjustment of the pupillary distance of the eyepiece view. Fig. 4 shows the tilting of the eyepiece view of the digital binocular tube. Fig. 3. Fig. Figure 5 schematically shows the coupling of a rotary knob with a pupillary distance adjustment device of the digital eyepiece viewer. Fig. Figure 6 schematically shows the coupling of a rotary knob with a tilting mechanism for tilting the digital eyepiece view. Fig. Figure 7 schematically shows a coupling of a rotary knob with a motor of a pupillary distance adjustment device of the digital eyepiece viewer. Fig. Figure 8 schematically shows the coupling of a rotary knob with a motor of a tilting mechanism for tilting the digital eyepiece view. Fig. Figure 9 schematically shows a variant in which pupil distance adjustment and tilting are manually driven, in a first state. Fig. Figure 10 schematically shows a variant in which pupil distance adjustment and tilting are manually driven, in a second state.

[0026] The following refers to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The basic structure of a stereoscopic optical observation device is explained using the example of an operating microscope.

[0027] The in Fig. The surgical microscope 2 shown in Figure 1 comprises as essential components an objective 5 directed towards an object field 3, which can be designed, in particular, as an achromatic or apochromatic objective. In the present embodiment, the objective 5 consists of two cemented partial lenses forming an achromatic objective. The object field 3 is arranged in the focal plane of the objective 5 so that it is imaged to infinity by the objective 5. In other words, a divergent beam of light 7 emanating from the object field 3 is transformed into a parallel beam of light 9 as it passes through the objective 5.

[0028] On the observer side of the objective lens 5, a magnification changer 11 is arranged, which can be configured either as a zoom system for stepless changes of the magnification factor, as in the illustrated embodiment, or as a so-called Galilean changer for stepless changes of the magnification factor. In a zoom system, which is, for example, constructed from a lens combination with three lenses (as in the Fig. In the illustration shown (two positive lenses and one negative lens), the two object-side lenses can be moved to vary the magnification factor. In fact, the zoom system can also have more than three lenses, e.g., four or more, in which case the outer lenses can be fixed. In contrast, a Galilean changer has several fixed lens combinations representing different magnification factors, which can be interchanged in the beam path. Both a zoom system and a Galilean changer convert an object-side parallel beam of light into an observer-side parallel beam of light with a different beam diameter. In the present embodiment, the magnification changer 11 is already part of the binocular beam path of the operating microscope 1, i.e.,It has a separate lens combination for each stereoscopic partial beam path 9A, 9B of the operating microscope 1. In the present embodiment, the setting of a magnification factor by means of the magnification changer 11 is carried out via a motor-driven actuator, which together with the magnification changer 11 is part of a magnification changer unit for setting the magnification factor.

[0029] On the observer side, an interface arrangement 13A, 13B is connected to the magnification changer 11, allowing external devices to be connected to the operating microscope 2. In this embodiment, this arrangement comprises beam splitter prisms 15A, 15B. However, other types of beam splitters can also be used, such as partially reflective mirrors. In this embodiment, the interfaces 13A, 13B serve to couple a beam from the beam path of the operating microscope 2 (beam splitter prism 15B) or to couple a beam into the beam path of the operating microscope 2 (beam splitter prism 15A).

[0030] In the present embodiment, the beam splitter prism 15A in the partial beam path 9A serves to reflect information or data for a viewer into the partial beam path 9A of the operating microscope 2 via the beam splitter prism 15A, using a display 37, e.g., a digital mirror device (DMD) or an LCD display, and associated optics 39. In the other partial beam path 9B, a camera adapter 19 with an attached camera 21 is arranged at the interface 13B. The camera 21 is equipped with an electronic image sensor 23, e.g., a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor. An electronic, and in particular a digital, image of the object field 3 can be captured by means of the camera 21. A hyperspectral sensor can also be used as the image sensor, in which not only three spectral channels (e.g., red, green, and blue) but a plurality of spectral channels are present.

[0031] On the observer side, a binocular tube 27 is connected to the interface 13. In this example, it is designed as a purely optical tube. This tube has two objective lenses 29A and 29B, which focus the respective parallel beams of light 9A and 9B onto an intermediate image plane 31, thus imaging the object field 3 as an aerial image onto the respective intermediate image planes 31A and 31B. The aerial images located in the intermediate image planes 31A and 31B are then imaged to infinity by eyepiece lenses 35A and 35B, allowing the observer to view the aerial images with relaxed eyes. Furthermore, the distance between the two partial beams of light 9A and 9B is increased within the binocular tube by means of a mirror system or prisms 33A and 33B to adjust it to the interpupillary distance of the observer. The mirror system or the prisms 33A, 33B also provide image erection.

[0032] The operating microscope 2 is also equipped with an illumination device that illuminates the object field 3 in this example with broadband illumination light. For this purpose, the illumination device in this example comprises a white light source 41, such as a halogen incandescent lamp or a gas discharge lamp. The light emitted from the white light source 41 is directed towards the object field 3 via a deflecting mirror 43 or a deflecting prism to illuminate it. The illumination device also includes illumination optics 45, which ensure uniform illumination of the entire observed object field 3.

[0033] It should be noted that the in Fig. The illumination beam path shown in Figure 1 is highly schematic and does not necessarily represent the actual path of the illumination beam. In principle, the illumination beam path can be designed as so-called oblique illumination, which corresponds to the schematic representation in Figure 1. Fig. 1 comes closest. In such oblique illumination, the beam path runs at a relatively large angle (approx. 6° or more) to the optical axis of the lens 5 and can, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the illumination beam can run entirely outside the lens. Alternatively, the oblique illumination beam can also pass through an edge region of the lens 5. Another possible arrangement of the illumination beam is the so-called 0° illumination, in which the illumination beam passes through the lens 5 and is coupled into the lens 5 between the two partial beam paths 9A and 9B, along the optical axis of the lens 5 in the direction of the object field 3. Finally, the illumination beam can also be implemented as a so-called coaxial illumination, in which a first and a second partial illumination beam path are present.The illumination beam paths are coupled into the operating microscope via one or more beam splitters parallel to the optical axes of the observation beam paths 9A, 9B, so that the illumination is coaxial to the two observation beam paths.

[0034] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a digital operating microscope 48. In this operating microscope, the main objective 5, the magnification changer 11 (which is merely an option in the digital operating microscope and therefore not mandatory), and the illumination system 41, 43, 45 do not differ from those in Fig. 1. Operating microscope 2 with optical view. The difference lies in the fact that the one in Fig. The operating microscope 48 shown does not include an optical binocular tube. Instead of the tube objectives 29A, 29B, Fig. 1 comprises the operating microscope 48 made of Fig. Two focusing lenses 49A, 49B are used to image the binocular observation beam paths 9A, 9B onto digital image sensors 61A, 61B. The digital image sensors 61A, 61B can be, for example, CCD or CMOS sensors. The images captured by the image sensors 61A, 61B are digitally transmitted to digital displays 63A, 63B, which can be LED displays, LCD displays, or displays based on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). As in the present example, eyepiece lenses 65A, 65B can be assigned to the displays 63A, 63B, which focus the images displayed on the displays 63A, 63B to infinity, allowing the viewer to observe them with relaxed eyes. The displays 63A, 63B and the eyepiece lenses 65A, 65B are part of a digital binocular tube 69 in the present example.

[0035] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the binocular tube shown, the pupillary distance of the eyepiece can be adjusted to suit the user's interpupillary distance. The eyepiece can also be tilted to adjust its inclination to the user's ergonomic preferences. An example of adjusting the pupillary distance D of the eyepiece 71 of a digital binocular tube 69 is shown in Fig. 3 shown. Fig. Figure 4 shows the tilting of the eyepiece view 71 of the binocular tube 69.

[0036] The one in the Fig. 3 and Fig. The binocular tube 69 shown in Figure 4 comprises a housing 75 in which the displays 63A and 63B, which show stereoscopic partial images of the object field 3, are arranged. Furthermore, eyepieces 66A and 66B are arranged in the housing 75, with which the stereoscopic partial images shown on the displays 63A and 63B can be viewed. The interpupillary distance D of the 66A and 66B can be adjusted by means of controls, which in this example are designed as rotary knobs 73A and 73B. Turning the rotary knobs 73A and 73B in one direction increases the interpupillary distance D, while turning them in the opposite direction decreases it. The rotary knobs 73A and 73B also allow the binocular tube 69, and thus the eyepiece viewing area 71, to be tilted, as shown in Figure 4. Fig. Figure 4 shows that, in order to enable the tilting of the eyepiece 71 with the same rotational movements on the rotary knobs 73A, 73B as when adjusting the pupillary distance, a switching device is provided with the aid of which the rotary knobs 73A, 73B can be assigned either to a pupillary distance adjustment device for setting the pupillary distance D or to a tilting mechanism for tilting the eyepiece 71.

[0037] The Fig. 5 and Fig. Figure 6 shows a highly schematic representation of the pupillary distance adjustment device 79 and the tilting mechanism 80 of the binocular tube 69. In addition to the pupillary distance adjustment device 79 and the tilting mechanism 80, a gearbox 81 is provided, comprising a first gearbox part 81-1 for driving the pupillary distance adjustment device 79 and a second gearbox part 81-2 for driving the tilting mechanism 80 by means of the rotary movement of the knobs 73A, 73B. A switching device 82, which in this embodiment is designed as a clutch, allows the knobs 73A, 73B to be coupled either to the first gearbox part 81-1 associated with the pupillary distance adjustment device 79 or to the second gearbox part 81-2 associated with the tilting mechanism 80. In this example, which gear part the rotary knobs 73A, 73B are coupled to depends on whether the rotary knobs 73A, 73B are engaged, as shown in Fig. 5 is shown schematically, or expressed in full, as shown in Fig. 6 is shown schematically.

[0038] If the rotary knobs 73A, 73B are as in Fig. In the engaged state shown in Figure 5, the eyepieces are connected to a shaft of the first gear unit 81-1, i.e., the gear unit for the pupil distance adjustment device 79. This shaft can, for example, have helical guide grooves into which the pins of the eyepieces 66A and 66B engage. The eyepieces 66A and 66B are guided linearly, with their linear position determined by the position of the pins. The position of the pins is linearly displaced by means of the helical guide grooves when the shaft of the first gear unit 81-1 is rotated, thus allowing the pupil distance to be adjusted. A corresponding gear unit is described, for example, in DE 10 2009 037 921 B4, to which reference is made for details of the gear unit.

[0039] If, however, the rotary knobs 73A and 73B are located in the Fig. In the disengaged state shown in Figure 6, they are connected to a shaft of the second gear unit 81-2, which is associated with the tilting mechanism 80. In this case, the tilt of the binocular tube 69, and thus of the eyepiece 71, can be adjusted by turning the rotary knobs 73A and 73B. The gear ratio of the second gear unit 81-2 can differ from that of the first gear unit 81-1. This allows a user to adjust both the interpupillary distance and the tilt of the eyepiece 71 with reasonable effort, even if, for example, a higher torque is required for tilting than for adjusting the interpupillary distance.

[0040] In the with reference to the Fig. 5 and Fig. In the described embodiment 6, both the pupillary distance and the tilting of the eyepiece 71 are achieved mechanically by turning the knobs 73A and 73B. However, it is also possible to achieve the pupillary distance and / or the tilting of the eyepiece 71 by means of a motor. In this case, the knobs 73A and 73B are used to set a control signal for the respective motor.

[0041] One version, in which both the adjustment of the pupillary distance and the tilting are motor-driven, is available in the Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 is shown schematically. In these figures, only the rotary knob 73A and its connection to the motor controls are shown. The other rotary knob 73B and its connection to the motor controls are identical in design. It should be noted that the binocular tube 69 does not necessarily have to have two rotary knobs 73A, 73B; one rotary knob is generally sufficient. However, the presence of two rotary knobs 73A, 73B offers advantages. For example, in the case of purely mechanical adjustment of the interpupillary distance or purely mechanical tilting, the necessary force can be distributed between both hands of a user. Furthermore, a binocular tube 69 with a left and a right rotary knob 73A, 73B is particularly user-friendly, as it is equally easy to handle for left- and right-handed users.

[0042] The in the Fig. 7 and Fig. The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 8 features an adjustment motor 83 with an adjustment motor control 85, which serves for the motor-driven adjustment of the pupillary distance and thus as a pupillary distance adjustment device. It also features a drive motor 87 with a drive motor control 89, which serves for the motor-driven adjustment of the tilt of the eyepiece 71 and thus as a tilting mechanism. In this embodiment, an angle encoder 91A is associated with the rotary knob 73A, which functions as a position sensor and detects the rotational position of the rotary knob 73A. The detected rotational position of the rotary knob 73A is output by the angle encoder 91A to the adjustment motor control 85 either via a first signal line 93 when the rotary knob 73A is turned as shown in Figure 8. Fig. 7 is shown indented. If, on the other hand, the rotary knob 73A is disengaged, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the rotary position of the rotary knob 73A detected by the angle encoder 91A is output to the drive motor control 89 via a second signal line 95. Based on the received rotary position, the respective control unit then determines a control signal for the corresponding motor in order to adjust the pupillary distance or tilt represented by the rotary position of the rotary knob 73A.

[0043] To detect whether the rotary knob 73A is engaged or disengaged, a detector 97 is used in the present example. This detector detects whether the rotary knob 73A is in the engaged or disengaged position. This detector 97 can, for example, be designed as a proximity sensor that detects the proximity of the rotary knob 73A in its engaged state. This detection can be carried out, for example, using magnetic or optical means. In a particularly simple embodiment, the detector 97 can be designed as a light barrier whose signal is interrupted when the rotary knob 73A is in the engaged state. The detector 97 serves in the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 shown embodiment of the invention together with the retractable design of the rotary knob 73A as a switching device, with which it is possible to switch from a signal coupling of the rotary knob 73A with the adjustment motor control 85 of the adjustment motor 83 for the pupillary distance to a signal coupling of the rotary knob 73A with the drive control 89 of the drive motor 87 for the tilting.

[0044] To display the set pupillary distance, the binocular tube 69 has a display 99 that shows the set pupillary distance in centimeters. In the illustrated embodiments, this display 99 is located between the two eyepieces 66A and 66B in the housing 75 of the binocular tube 69. However, it can also be located elsewhere, for example, on the top of the housing 75.

[0045] One design variant, in which both the adjustment of the pupillary distance and the tilting of the eyepiece are performed manually and purely mechanically, is found in the Fig. 9 and Fig. Figure 10 shows the rotary knobs 73A and 73B, which are connected to claw couplings 102A and 102B that can couple to a central shaft 104. Fig. Figure 9 shows the jaw couplings 102A, 102B in the state decoupled from the central shaft 104. Fig. 10 in the coupled state with the central shaft 104. In this exemplary embodiment, the central shaft 104 also has the previously mentioned helical guide grooves 106, into which pins, with which the eyepieces are linearly guided, can engage. Gears 108A, 108B are also arranged on the jaw couplings 102A, 102B, which in the Fig. 9 shown condition with gears 110A, 110B of the gearbox of the tilting mechanism meshing.

[0046] If the rotary knobs 73A, 73B are as in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the jaw couplings 102A and 102B are decoupled from the central shaft 104. In this state, the gears 108A and 108B engage with the gears 110A and 110B of the tilting mechanism's gearbox, allowing them to mesh. Turning the knobs 73A and 73B then drives the tilting mechanism's gearbox via the gears 108A and 108B, thus enabling adjustment of the eyepiece's tilt angle. Since the claw couplings 102A, 102B are decoupled from the central shaft 104 in the disengaged state of the rotary knobs 73A, 73B, the shaft does not rotate when the rotary knobs 73A, 73B are turned, so that the pupil distance does not change when the rotary knobs 73A, 73B are turned.

[0047] If, on the other hand, the buttons are indented towards the central shaft 104, as is the case in Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the claw couplings 102A, 102B couple with the central shaft 104, so that turning the rotary knobs 73A, 73B results in a rotation of the central shaft 104. In this state, the gears 108A, 108B are not engaged with the gears 110A, 110B of the tilting mechanism's gearbox, so that turning the rotary knobs 73A, 73B via the coupling with the central shaft 104 only results in a change in the interpupillary distance, but not in a tilting of the eyepiece.

[0048] The present invention has been described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments for illustrative purposes. However, a person skilled in the art understands that they may deviate from the described embodiments within the scope of the invention. For example, it is possible to display the pupillary distance on an operating terminal, in addition to or instead of the display on the display 99 on the binocular tube 69, if one is available. Furthermore, if the pupillary distance is adjusted by a motor, this terminal can also allow the pupillary distance and / or the tilt of the binocular tube 69 to be adjusted via the operating terminal. Another possibility for adjusting the pupillary distance and / or the tilt, if it is adjustable by a motor, is the use of a voice input module into which the pupillary distance to be set and / or, for example, the desired angle of the pupillary distance, can be entered.The tilt angle to be set can be entered via voice command. It is also possible to use a combination of the options in the [configuration / settings]. Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 illustrated motor-driven exemplary design variant and the one in the Fig. 9 and Fig. to provide the manually driven exemplary design variant shown in 10. In this combination, for example, the one described in the Fig. 9 and Fig.The central shaft shown in Figure 10 is coupled to the rotary knobs via claw couplings, so that the pupillary distance adjustment is manually driven. However, instead of the gears arranged on the claw couplings, this variant would have angle encoders that detect the rotational position of the rotary knobs and output this information to a drive motor controller for adjusting the tilting mechanism. Alternatively, it is also possible to combine the exemplary embodiments in such a way that the pupillary distance adjustment is motorized and the tilt adjustment is manual. The present invention is therefore not to be limited by the exemplary embodiments, but only by the appended claims. Reference symbol list 2 Operating microscopes 3 Object field 5 lens 7A,B divergent beam 9A,B stereoscopic partial beam path 11 magnification changers 13A,B Interface arrangement 15A,B Beam splitter prism 19 camera adapters 21 camera 23 Image sensor 27 Binocular tube 29A,B Tube objective 31A,B Intermediate image plane 33A,B Prism 35A,B Eyepiece lens 37 Display 39 Optics 41 White light source 43 Deflection mirrors 45 Lighting optics 48 Operating Microscope 49A,B Focusing lens 61A,B image sensor 63A,B Display 65A,B Eyepiece lens 66A,B eyepiece 67A,B cable 69 Binocular tube 71 Eyepiece view 73A,B Rotary knob 75 cases 79 Pupillary distance adjustment device 80 Tilting mechanism 81 gearboxes 81-1 first gearbox part 81-2 second gearbox part 82 Switching device 83 Setting motor 85 Setting motor control 87 Drive motor 89 Drive motor control 91A Angle encoder 93 Signal line 95 Signal line 97 Detector 99 Display 102A,B claw coupling 104 wave 106 guide grooves 108A,B gear 110A,B gear D Pupillary distance

Claims

[1] Binocular tube (69) with - an eyepiece opening (71) having a first eyepiece (66A) and a second eyepiece (66B); - a tilting mechanism (80) for tilting the eyepiece view (71) about a tilting axis; - a pupillary distance adjustment device (79, 83) for adjusting the pupillary distance between the first eyepiece (66A) and the second eyepiece (66B) of the eyepiece view (71); and - at least one actuating element (73A, 73B) coupled or connectable to the pupil distance adjustment device (79, 83) and manually operable, which enables the pupil distance to be adjusted by means of an actuating action; characterized bya switching device (82, 97) with which it is possible to switch from a coupling of the manually operated actuating element (73A, 73B) with the pupil distance adjustment device (79, 83) to a coupling of the manual actuating element (73A, 73B) with the tilting mechanism (80, 87) of the eyepiece view (71), so that the actuating action (73A, 73B) enables the adjustment of the tilt of the eyepiece view (71) instead of the adjustment of the pupil distance. [2] Binocular tube (69) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the manually operated actuating element is a rotary knob (73A, 73B) and the actuating action is a turning of the rotary knob (73A, 73B). [3] Binocular tube (69) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by, that the coupling of the manual actuating element (73A, 73B) with the tilting mechanism (80) of the eyepiece view (71) is mechanically achieved via a gear (81) arranged between the actuating element (73A, 73B) and the tilting mechanism (80). [4] Binocular tube (69) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by , that the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece view (71) includes a drive motor (87) for motor-driven tilting of the eyepiece view (71) and the coupling of the manual actuating element (73A) with the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece view (71) is electronically such that the drive motor (87) can be controlled by means of the actuating element (73A, 73B). [5] Binocular tube (69) according to claim 4, characterized by, that the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece view (71) includes a drive motor control (89) for controlling the drive motor (87) and the coupling of the manual actuating element (73A) with the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece view (71) is effected via a position sensor (91) connected to the drive motor control (89), which detects the position or a change in position of the actuating element (73A) and outputs a position signal representing the detected position or a change in position to the drive motor control (89), which controls the drive motor on the basis of the detected position signal in order to bring about a position of the tilting mechanism of the eyepiece view (71) corresponding to the position or change in position. [6] Binocular tube (69) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, that the pupil distance adjustment device includes an adjustment motor (83) for motor-driven adjustment of the pupil distance and the coupling of the manual actuating element (73A) with the pupil distance adjustment device is electronically such that the adjustment motor (83) can be controlled by means of the actuating element (73A). [7] Binocular tube (69) according to claim 6, characterized by , that an additional operating terminal is available, via which the adjusting motor (83) of the pupil distance adjustment device and / or the drive motor (87) of the tilting mechanism can be controlled. [8] Binocular tube (69) according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized by , that in addition a voice input device is provided, via which the adjusting motor (83) of the pupil distance adjustment device and / or the drive motor (87) of the tilting mechanism can be controlled by means of voice commands. [9] Binocular tube (69) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that an indicator (99) is available to display the set pupillary distance. [10] Stereoscopic optical observation device (2) with optical elements for generating a stereoscopic intermediate image and with a binocular tube (69) according to one of claims 1 to 9 for viewing the stereoscopic intermediate image.

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