Immersion Microscope Objective Aberration Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional immersion microscope objectives with high numerical aperture struggle to correct axial and off-axis aberrations, particularly over a wide field of view, leading to inadequate performance in fluorescence observations and structure analysis.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a first lens group with a meniscus lens component and a cemented planoconvex lens, along with a second lens group, satisfying specific conditional expressions to correct Petzval sum, chromatic, and spherical aberrations, while preventing bubble trapping and ensuring high refractive index management for effective fluorescence observation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high numerical aperture is used to achieve high resolution, then resolution is improved, but aberration performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The objective is divided into multiple lens groups (first lens group with cemented lens, second lens group with meniscus lens component) that work together to correct different types of aberrations. Each group is optimized for specific aberration correction while maintaining high NA
Solution Approach 2:
Different lens components are designed with specific local characteristics: the cemented lens uses a planoconvex lens with specific curvature, the meniscus lens component has optimized surface curvature ratios. Each local element is optimized for its specific function in aberration correction
2Area of stationary object
If wide field of view is achieved, then observation area is improved, but off-axis aberration correction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into multiple lens groups where the first group handles on-axis aberrations and the second group with the meniscus lens component specifically addresses off-axis aberrations like coma and astigmatism across the wide field of view
Solution Approach 2:
The meniscus lens component uses optimized curved surfaces with specific radius ratios to correct off-axis aberrations. The curved surfaces are designed to compensate for the field curvature and coma that occur across wide fields of view
3Reliability
If high refractive index materials are used to correct chromatic aberration, then chromatic aberration correction is improved, but bubble trapping increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refractive indices of the lens materials are carefully selected and optimized (first lens group: 1.5-1.7, second lens group: 1.6-1.8) to balance chromatic aberration correction with bubble trapping prevention. The specific refractive index ranges allow effective aberration correction while maintaining adequate optical transmission and reducing bubble adhesion
Solution Approach 2:
The objective uses composite lens designs combining different glass materials with complementary refractive indices and dispersion characteristics. The cemented lens combines a planoconvex lens with a meniscus lens of different material properties to achieve both chromatic correction and reduced bubble trapping
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively corrects chromatic and off-axis aberrations, enhancing the microscope's ability to achieve high-resolution fluorescence observations and structure analysis across a wide field of view with improved brightness and edge-portion resolution.
Implementation Method 1
a meniscus lens component that is the closest to an image among the components of the first lens group, the meniscus lens component having a convex surface facing an object
Implementation Method 2
The first cemented lens includes a planoconvex lens that includes a plane surface facing the object
Implementation Method 3
a meniscus lens that has a negative refractive power and includes a concave surface facing the object
Data Source
AI summary
An immersion microscope objective includes: a first lens group that includes a meniscus lens component that is closest to an image among the components of the first lens group, the meniscus lens component having a convex surface facing an object; and a second lens group that includes at least one lens component. The first lens group includes a first cemented lens that is closest to the object. The first cemented lens consists of a planoconvex lens that includes a plane surface facing the object and a meniscus lens that has a negative refractive power. The objective satisfies the following conditional expressions:2.4≤f1/fob (1)1.8≤n12≤1.85 (2)where f1 indicates a focal length that the first cemented lens has for an e line, fob indicates a focal length that the objective has for the e line, and n12 indicates a refractive index that the meniscus lens has for the e line.