Immersion Microscope Objective with Variable Air Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing immersion microscope objectives fail to provide effective correction for longitudinal chromatic aberration and are not adaptable to various immersion mediums, particularly oil, limiting their application in microscopy.
Innovation Solution
The immersion microscope objective features a system with changeable air spaces A1 and A2, allowing adaptation to different immersion mediums and correction of imaging errors using a correction ring, which adjusts the optical system to maintain image quality across various mediums and cover glass thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed air space configuration is used in the microscope objective, then the structure is simple, but the objective cannot be adapted to various immersion mediums (water, glycerine, oil) and different cover glass thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the air spaces A1 and A2 variable rather than fixed. The adjustment mechanism allows these air spaces to be dynamically changed to adapt to different immersion mediums (water, glycerine, oil) and cover glass thicknesses. This resolves the contradiction by enabling versatility through controlled structural change rather than requiring multiple fixed configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by adjusting the physical dimensions of air spaces A1 and A2 to optimize performance for different immersion mediums. By changing these geometric parameters, the objective achieves adaptability across various mediums while maintaining a single unified structure, avoiding the need for multiple interchangeable components.
2Measurement precision
If standard correction methods are used for longitudinal chromatic aberration, then the correction is limited to specific wavelengths, but the patent achieves complete correction across a wide spectrum (450-1000 nm)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing an optical correction system that simultaneously corrects longitudinal chromatic aberration across the entire visible spectrum (450-1000 nm) rather than optimizing for specific wavelength bands. The variable air space configuration enables a single system to perform multiple correction functions across different wavelengths and immersion mediums, achieving broad-spectrum apochromatic correction without requiring separate correction mechanisms for different spectral regions.
3Reliability
If the objective is optimized for specific immersion mediums, then image quality is maximized for those mediums, but the objective cannot be used with other mediums without refocusing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing dynamic adjustment of air spaces A1 and A2 that allows the objective to maintain optimal image quality across different immersion mediums. The adjustment mechanism enables real-time optimization of the optical path for each medium (water, glycerine, oil), ensuring reliable image quality while achieving versatility across mediums that would otherwise require separate objectives.
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 solution enables improved image contrast and complete correction of longitudinal chromatic aberration across a wide spectrum, allowing the objective to function effectively with water, glycerine, and oil as immersion mediums without the need for refocusing, while also correcting spherical aberrations.
Implementation Method 1
an immersion microscope objective (0.8/0.160 Water 160°) having three different variations with respective numerical apertures of 1.15 is shown by way of example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,590. This objective comprises three lens groups.
Implementation Method 2
Water, glycerine and oil can be used as immersion mediums whereby the immersion microscope objective is especially suitable for live cell imaging methods. Here, it is necessary that the indices of refraction of the liquids on both sides of the cover glass approximate each other.
Data Source
AI summary
An immersion microscope objective includes a system of several optical lenses or lens groups between which air spaces are provided and an adjusting device for adapting the immersion microscope objective to different immersion mediums for correcting imaging errors when utilizing the immersion microscope objective in connection with a cover glass, which closes off a specimen holder, and/or for correcting longitudinal chromatic aberrations. The adjusting device is configured to change two air spaces and especially the air spaces (A1, A2) are linearly changeable.