Microscope Illumination Cover with Wavelength-Selective Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
In microscopy, the use of laser radiation for illumination and imaging poses challenges in preventing ambient light interference and ensuring laser safety, leading to restrictions in apparatus usability, particularly in high-resolution microscopes where live-cell imaging requires temperature-controlled, energy-intensive systems.
Innovation Solution
An illumination apparatus with a cover that features a layer impenetrable to laser radiation over a specific angle range while allowing transmission of ambient light, enabling angle-dependent or polarization-dependent coatings to control radiation entry and exit, ensuring laser safety and allowing for transmitted light illumination without opening the sample space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shield or cover is provided to prevent ambient light from entering the sample space and laser radiation from exiting, then laser safety and suppression of ambient light interference are improved, but transmitted light illumination cannot be used and the system becomes larger and more energy-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different optical properties at different locations on the cover. The cover includes a first region with a wavelength-selective layer that blocks laser radiation, and a second region without this layer that allows transmitted light illumination. This spatial differentiation enables the cover to simultaneously prevent laser leakage in one area while permitting useful illumination in another area, resolving the contradiction between safety and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is segmented into functionally distinct regions: a first region for laser safety with wavelength-selective blocking, and a second region for transmitted light illumination without the blocking layer. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally, enabling the system to maintain laser safety while preserving illumination flexibility without requiring a complete enclosure.
2Reliability
If the sample space is enclosed in a temperature-controlled incubator to enable live-cell imaging, then sample viability is improved, but the system size and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by providing temperature control only in the first region of the cover where the wavelength-selective layer is located, rather than enclosing the entire sample space in a full incubator. This partial temperature control is sufficient to maintain sample viability for live-cell imaging while significantly reducing the energy consumption and system size compared to a complete enclosure.
3Reliability
If a wavelength-selective layer is applied over the entire cover to block laser radiation, then laser safety is improved, but transmitted light illumination and ambient light entry are prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing the wavelength-selective layer only in the first region of the cover, leaving the second region without this layer. This localized application ensures that laser safety is maintained in the region where laser radiation is present, while transmitted light illumination can proceed unimpeded in the second region, thus resolving the contradiction between laser safety and illumination availability.
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 reduces ambient light interference and prevents laser radiation from exiting the sample space, enhancing usability and safety while maintaining the ability for desirable illumination and imaging, thereby improving the functionality of microscopes without the need for large, energy-intensive systems.
Implementation Method 1
The cover (8) has a wavelength-selective layer (9) which is arranged to block radiation of a first wavelength (14), in particular to block laser radiation of a first wavelength (14)
Implementation Method 2
the optical axis of the illumination objective is directed through the sample space onto the cover (8) such that, after its passage through the sample space, the laser radiation of the laser light source is incident on the cover (8) at an illumination angle in an angle range of greater than zero and smaller than 90°
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an illumination apparatus for a microscope, a microscope and a method for operating the illumination apparatus. The illumination apparatus has a sample space for holding a sample that is to be illuminated, and at least one laser light source. An objective for the directional emission of laser radiation of a first wavelength along a first optical axis that is directed into the sample space, and with a cover of the sample space by which the sample space is delimited at least on one of its sides. The cover further has a layer that is either impenetrable for the laser radiation over a blocking angle range of the illumination angle and is transmissive for radiation of a second wavelength over a transmitted light angle range, or has a controllable layer that, in a first control state, is transparent for radiation of the second wavelength and, in a second control state, is impenetrable for the laser radiation of the first wavelength.