Microscope Lens Barrel Deflecting Optical System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microscope lens barrels face challenges in maintaining a low eyepoint while accommodating epi-illumination systems, leading to increased height and bulkiness, as well as high manufacturing costs due to complex rotating mechanisms and multiple optical elements.
Innovation Solution
A microscope lens barrel design featuring a deflecting optical system with a triangular deflecting prism and a plane mirror, which deflects observation light at a variable depression angle without the need for additional relay lenses, reducing the light path length and eyepoint height, and simplifying the configuration to lower manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If light is returned downward by a prism below the collecting lens, then the binocular unit can be arranged at a low position with low eyepoint, but the mirror and its rotating mechanism must be arranged below the collecting lens, causing vertical interference with the microscope body and intermediate lens barrels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement from vertical stacking (prism below collecting lens) to a configuration where the deflecting optical system is positioned at the end of the light path. The light travels horizontally through the binocular unit before being redirected downward by the prism, eliminating vertical interference with intermediate components.
2Length of stationary object
If a relay lens is added to guide light from the collecting lens to the binocular unit, then the light path can be extended, but the number of optical elements increases, making the system bulkier and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the relay lens from the optical system by reconfiguring the light path. The deflecting optical system is positioned to receive light directly from the objective lens and guide it through the binocular unit, eliminating the need for intermediate relay lenses while maintaining proper light path length.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical elements and rotating mechanisms are added to achieve flexible depression angle adjustment, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the deflecting optical system to serve multiple functions: it guides light from the objective lens, enables depression angle adjustment, and interfaces with the binocular unit. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate relay lenses and complex rotating mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
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
The design achieves a compact and cost-effective solution by guiding observation light to the binocular unit with a standard imaging lens, maintaining a low eyepoint and reducing the complexity and weight of the rotating mechanism, thus enhancing user comfort and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a triangular deflecting prism which reflects observation light emitted from an objective lens at a predetermined ratio
Implementation Method 2
a first total reflection surface which extends along an optical axis of the objective lens and reflects light from the objective lens in a first direction at substantially 90 degrees
Implementation Method 3
a plane mirror which reflects the observation light in a second direction variable with respect to a horizontal direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
Provided is a microscope lens barrel including a collecting lens (13) and a deflecting optical system. The collecting lens emits observation light toward the deflecting optical system. The deflecting optical system includes a first reflecting plane (14a, 24a, 41a, 54a, 64a), a second reflecting plane (14b, 24b, 42a, 54b, 64b), a third reflecting plane (14c, 14c', 14c", 25b, 43a, 54c, 75b), and a fourth reflecting plane (15a, 75c), and deflects the observation light emitted from the collecting lens. The first reflecting plane transmits the observation light incident from one direction and reflects the observation light incident at an angle from another direction. The second reflecting plane reflects the observation light transmitted through the first reflecting plane and makes the reflected observation light incident on the first reflecting plane at an angle. The third reflecting plane reflects the observation light reflected by the first reflecting plane in a direction of the second reflecting plane. The fourth reflecting plane reflects the observation light reflected by the third reflecting plane in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the collecting lens in a direction from the optical axis of the collecting lens toward the third reflecting plane.