Microscope Optical Layout With Smaller Beam Splitter and Epi-Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical devices used in microscopes and vision measuring devices face challenges in reducing size and weight due to the increase in size and weight of the beam splitter and coaxial epi-illumination optical system when the exit pupil is disposed inside the objective lens, leading to larger diameters and more complex aberration correction requirements.
Innovation Solution
The optical device incorporates a first lens group with positive refractive power between the objective lens and beam splitter, which refracts principal rays towards the optical axis, reducing the size of the beam splitter and second lens group, and uses a compact coaxial epi-illumination system with a small light source and illumination lens group to minimize system size and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the exit pupil is disposed inside the objective lens, then the optical system can achieve compact design, but the beam splitter and coaxial epi-illumination optical system increase in size and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the exit pupil from inside the objective lens to the rear side of the first lens group, changing the spatial dimension of the optical path. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the beam splitter to be positioned more favorably, reducing its required size and weight while maintaining the compact overall optical device design.
2Volume of moving object
If the exit pupil is disposed inside the objective lens, then the optical system can achieve compact design, but the beam splitter diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a first lens group with positive refractive power as an intermediary between the objective lens and the beam splitter. This intermediary lens group converges the principal rays before they reach the beam splitter, allowing the beam splitter to have a smaller diameter while still capturing the necessary light cone for the desired field of view.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the beam splitter size increases, then the optical system can handle larger light cones, but the overall system complexity and aberration correction requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first lens group performs preliminary convergence of the light cone before the light reaches the beam splitter. This preliminary action reduces the beam splitter size while maintaining the ability to handle large light cones, and also reduces the angular spread of light entering subsequent optical elements, thereby reducing aberration correction requirements.
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 achieves a significant reduction in the overall size and weight of the optical device while improving aberration correction and maintaining uniform illumination, even with small-sized imaging devices, by minimizing the diameter of the beam splitter and reducing the number of lenses required for aberration correction.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens group disposed in an optical path between the objective lens and the beam splitter and having a positive refractive power
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device comprises: an image forming lens disposed in an optical path between an objective lens and an imaging device, the image forming lens forming an image of light incident via the objective lens on an imaging surface of the imaging device; a beam splitter disposed in an optical path between the objective lens and the image forming lens; a first lens group disposed in an optical path between the objective lens and the beam splitter and having a positive refractive power; and a coaxial epi-illumination optical system configured to be able to illuminate an imaging target via the beam splitter, the first lens group, and the objective lens, the coaxial epi-illumination optical system being arranged in an optical path different from the optical path in which the image forming lens is arranged.