Assistant Microscope Unit on Rotating Lens Barrel Guide Rail

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional operation microscopes cannot accommodate multiple microscope units for assistants due to their design, which limits their mobility and convenience, especially when multiple units are needed.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a guide rail in the lens barrel that extends in a circumferential direction around the objective lens, allowing the microscope unit for an assistant to be movable between a usage position and a non-usage position, enabling easy attachment and detachment without disturbing the operator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the microscope unit is rotatably attached in the circumferential direction of the lens barrel with an annular section, then the microscope unit can be positioned at different locations, but only one microscope unit can be provided

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of microscope units
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is divided into multiple independent mounting positions around the lens barrel. Each position can independently accommodate a microscope unit, allowing multiple units to be provided simultaneously without interfering with each other's positioning flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If multiple microscope units are fastened to the right and left of the lens barrel, then more than one microscope unit can be provided, but the microscope unit may disturb the operator

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of microscope unitsVSAvoidoperator convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The microscope units are mounted on a rotatable support structure that allows them to be dynamically repositioned between a usage position (where they assist the operator) and a non-usage position (where they are rotated away to avoid disturbing the operator). This dynamic positioning enables multiple units to coexist without compromising operator convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the microscope unit is removed from the lens barrel before operation, then the microscope unit will not disturb the operator, but the microscope unit cannot be easily positioned when needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator convenienceVSAvoidmounting convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable support structure enables the microscope unit to be easily mounted and removed while maintaining operator convenience. The unit can be rotated to the usage position when needed and to the non-usage position when not needed, eliminating the need for complete removal and simplifying the mounting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP1975670B1Operation microscope
Publication Date: 2011.11.30 TOPCON CORPORATION
  • EP1975670B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP1975670B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP1975670B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

An operation microscope includes a microscope body having an illumination optical system which illuminates a subject, a lens barrel, and a main observation optical system which observes the subject, a microscope unit for an assistant attached to the microscope body, and a guide rail which is disposed in the lens barrel of the microscope body, and extends in a circumferential direction about a center of an optical axis of an objective lens of the microscope body. The microscope unit for an assistant is disposed in the guide rail to be movable between a usage position and a non-usage position in a circumferential direction of the lens barrel.