Inverted Microscope Light Blocking Unit for Ambient Light Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluorescence microscopes face challenges in blocking ambient light effectively without compromising operability, as existing methods often require covering the entire specimen or turning off light sources, which hinders observation and specimen manipulation.
Innovation Solution
An inverted microscope with a light blocking device featuring a movable, plate-shaped light blocking unit that can be positioned between the stage and the transmitting illumination optical system, blocking direct light entering the objective lens at angles within the aperture angle, allowing for selective blocking of ambient light without obstructing the specimen or light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a lid covering the entire specimen is used to block ambient light, then ambient light blocking is improved, but operability and specimen observation are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The light blocking function is segmented from the stage lid into a separate, movable light blocking unit. This unit can be independently positioned and adjusted to block light only in the necessary area (above the objective lens aperture) without covering the entire specimen, thus maintaining both ambient light blocking effectiveness and specimen accessibility for observation and manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly blocking light over the entire specimen area with a lid, the light blocking unit is designed to block light only in the specific local region where it is needed (directly above the objective lens aperture). This localized approach blocks ambient light effectively while leaving the rest of the specimen area accessible for observation and manipulation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the light blocking unit is positioned close to the stage to block all direct light, then ambient light blocking is improved, but transmission illumination is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The light blocking unit is designed with movable positioning capability along the optical axis and laterally. This dynamic positioning allows the unit to be adjusted to different distances from the stage depending on the observation mode: positioned closer when fluorescence observation requires maximum light blocking, and retracted or positioned laterally when transmission illumination is needed, thus avoiding obstruction of the transmission light path.
Solution Approach 2:
The light blocking unit can be positioned not only in the vertical dimension (distance from stage) but also laterally offset from the optical axis. This multi-dimensional positioning freedom allows the unit to block direct light effectively in fluorescence mode while being moved out of the transmission illumination path when that mode is active, resolving the contradiction between light blocking and transmission illumination.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If light sources are turned off to block ambient light, then ambient light blocking is improved, but observation capability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The light blocking function is extracted from the illumination control system and implemented as a separate physical light blocking unit. This allows ambient light blocking to be achieved mechanically rather than by turning off light sources, thus maintaining the illumination capability while physically blocking external ambient light from reaching the specimen and objective lens.
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 solution effectively blocks ambient light without reducing operability, enabling seamless switching between fluorescence and transmitting illumination observations without turning off light sources, maintaining clear visual and imaging capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
configured to be located at a light blocking position separated from the stage so as to block all direct light entering the objective lens at an angle not larger than an aperture angle of the objective lens
Implementation Method 2
an objective lens arranged below the stage and configured to collect the epi-illumination light on the specimen
Implementation Method 3
When the specimen is irradiated with the excitation light, a substance forming the specimen is excited to emit fluorescence having a longer wavelength than that of the excitation light
Data Source
AI summary
An inverted microscope includes: an epifluorescence illumination optical system configured to irradiate a specimen on a stage with epi-illumination light from below the stage; a transmitting illumination optical system configured to irradiate the specimen on the stage with transmitting illumination light from above the stage; an objective lens arranged below the stage and configured to collect the epi-illumination light on the specimen; and a light blocking unit configured to be arranged between the stage and the transmitting illumination optical system so as to be located on or deviated from an observation optical axis of the inverted microscope, and configured to be located at a light blocking position separated from the stage so as to block all direct light entering the objective lens at an angle not larger than an aperture angle of the objective lens.