Microscope Changing Device Magazine Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microscopes often have changing devices with either too many or too few optical element holders, which can obstruct the view or fail to meet the requirements of various microscopy techniques and fluorescence excitations, limiting their versatility.
Innovation Solution
A universal changing device that allows for the swiveling of a single optical element and accommodates magazines with different numbers of optical elements, enabling flexible alignment in the microscope beam path, using a combination of linear guides and turrets with adjustable stops and adapters for various types of magazines and optical elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a changing device with many optical element holders is used, then the versatility for different microscopy techniques is improved, but the device becomes oversized and obstructs the view of the specimen
Solution Approach 1:
The changing device is divided into multiple magazines, each magazine holding a specific number of optical elements (e.g., 2-3 elements per magazine). This segmentation allows the system to provide versatility through multiple magazines while keeping each individual magazine compact and non-obstructive to the specimen view.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of expanding the changing device horizontally with a single large magazine that blocks the view, the system adds magazines in a vertical or modular dimension. Multiple compact magazines can be stacked or arranged in space, providing extensive optical element capacity without increasing the horizontal footprint that would obstruct the specimen.
2Area of stationary object
If a changing device with few optical element holders is used, then the device size is reduced and does not obstruct the view, but the requirements for different contrast methods and fluorescence excitations are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The changing device is designed with universal magazines that can accommodate various types of optical elements (filters, dichroic mirrors, beamsplitters) needed for different contrast methods and fluorescence excitations. Each magazine, though compact, is designed to hold the essential elements for multiple microscopy techniques, making the small device universally applicable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic selection and exchange of different magazine types based on the specific observation task. Users can quickly swap between magazines optimized for different applications (e.g., a magazine with 2-3 elements for simple applications, or a larger magazine for complex multi-technique work), adapting the device capability to match the required versatility without always deploying the full-sized configuration.
3Device complexity
If a fixed configuration of optical element holders is used, then the device structure is simplified, but the ability to adapt to specific observation tasks is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The changing device employs dynamically interchangeable magazines that can be quickly exchanged based on the observation task. Each magazine has a standardized simple structure for ease of manufacture, but the system as a whole is highly adaptable because users can swap between different magazine configurations (different numbers and types of optical elements) depending on the specific microscopy application requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a microscope having a changing device with which optical elements of different optical properties are placed in the microscope beam path (M) subject to each lighting and/or observation issue to be solved by the microscope. According to the invention, the changing device of microscopes of this type is equipped with a means for accommodating an individual optical element and orientation thereof to the microscope beam path (M) in a functionally appropriate manner, and for accommodating magazines of various designs, in which optical elements are stored in various quantities, as well as for orienting at least one of these respective elements to the microscope beam path (M) in a functionally appropriate manner.