Microscope Adapter Unit with Afocal Lens Groups
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for microscopes to accommodate various observation methods and higher illumination performance has led to larger microscope adapter units, resulting in longer distances between light sources and microscope bodies, which causes light loss and vignetting, limiting the flexibility and efficiency of illumination systems.
Innovation Solution
A microscope adapter unit with an afocal optical system comprising multiple lenses that converts illumination light into roughly parallel fluxes, allowing for adjustable distances between lenses to minimize light loss and accommodate additional optical devices, while maintaining efficient illumination performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the number of optical devices or optical units is increased to meet demand for optimal illumination, then illumination performance is improved, but the unit length of the microscope adapter unit becomes larger and longer
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple functional units: a light source unit, a microscope adapter unit with afocal optical system, and a microscope main body. The adapter unit is further segmented into first and second lens groups that work together to convert illumination light into roughly parallel luminous fluxes. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The microscope adapter unit acts as an intermediary between the light source unit and the microscope main body. It includes an afocal optical system with first and second lens groups that serve as optical intermediaries to convert the light from the light source into roughly parallel luminous fluxes, enabling the transmission of illumination light over longer distances without significant loss.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between light source unit and microscope main body is increased to accommodate additional optical devices, then adaptability is improved, but light loss and vignetting occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters by introducing an afocal optical system that converts illumination light into roughly parallel luminous fluxes. This parameter change allows the light to travel longer distances without diverging too much, thereby reducing light loss and vignetting while maintaining adaptability for various observation methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces simple mechanical light transmission with an optical system that uses lens groups to control and direct light. The first lens group converts illumination light into roughly parallel luminous fluxes, and the second lens group receives these fluxes, creating an afocal system that maintains light intensity over extended distances.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the unit length is increased to accommodate more optical devices, then versatility is improved, but vignetting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic optical system where the first and second lens groups can be positioned at different distances from each other, allowing for adjustable optical paths. This dynamic configuration enables the system to accommodate various optical devices while maintaining roughly parallel luminous fluxes that minimize vignetting.
Solution Approach 2:
The afocal optical system with first and second lens groups serves as an intermediary that bridges the light source unit and the microscope main body. It converts illumination light into roughly parallel luminous fluxes that can travel through longer distances without significant vignetting, thereby enabling versatility without compromising light transmission quality.
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 reduces light loss and vignetting, enabling flexible and high-performance illumination by generating roughly parallel luminous fluxes that can be efficiently directed to the microscope main body, supporting the use of various optical devices and units without compromising illumination quality.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens group including at least one lens that converts the illumination light into roughly parallel luminous fluxes
Implementation Method 2
a second lens group including at least one lens that receives the roughly parallel luminous fluxes
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope adapter unit disposed on an optical path of illumination light between a light source unit including a light source and a sample surface includes a first lens group having at least one lens and a second lens group having at least one lens. The first lens group converts the illumination light into roughly parallel luminous fluxes, and makes the illumination light enter the second lens group.