Microscope Plate Body Recessed Beam Path Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern light microscopy requires increased mechanical stability and vibration damping due to complex illumination and imaging beam paths, which is not adequately addressed by conventional microscope supports that fail to prevent internal vibrations and reduce rigidity with additional functional assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A microscope device with a plate-like body that integrates the microscope objective and optical elements, featuring a recessed central beam path for stability and rigidity, along with beam deflection elements for flexible beam path management, and a cast base body for vibration damping, allowing for compact and rigid integration of various functional units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional microscope support is placed onto a vibration-damped bench, then vibrations from the environment are prevented from coupling into the microscope, but vibrations generated within the microscope itself (e.g., from movable stage movements) are not damped and the overall rigidity is reduced due to additional functional assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the vibration-damping function directly into the microscope support structure itself, rather than relying on external benches. The support structure integrates vibration-damping elements (such as viscoelastic materials or constrained layer damping) within its construction, creating a unified system that simultaneously provides structural support and vibration damping for both environmental and internally-generated vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vibration-damping materials as intermediary elements between structural components of the microscope support. These damping materials act as mediators that absorb and dissipate vibration energy from movable components (such as stages or scanners) before it can propagate through the support structure, while still maintaining the necessary mechanical rigidity for optical stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional functional assemblies (laser scanning heads, micro-dissection devices, TIRF coupling devices) are fixed to the microscope support, then the microscope gains enhanced functionality, but the rigidity of the total system is reduced and susceptibility to vibrations is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the microscope system into modular functional assemblies that can be independently mounted on the support structure. Each functional unit (laser scanning head, micro-dissection device, TIRF coupling device) is designed as a separate module with its own vibration isolation mounting, allowing high functionality while preventing vibration coupling between modules and maintaining overall system rigidity through distributed vibration management.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the microscope support structure is designed for high rigidity and stability, then mechanical stability is improved, but the system becomes less adaptable to accommodate diverse functional units and beam path configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the microscope support structure with universal mounting interfaces and standardized vibration-damping attachment points that can accommodate multiple types of functional assemblies. The support structure incorporates multi-functional features such as adjustable mounting positions, various connection types, and integrated vibration damping that works across different functional units, providing both high mechanical stability and adaptability to diverse configurations.
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 achieves high stability, rigidity, and vibration damping, enabling the integration of diverse optical elements and functional units in a compact form, minimizing the impact of vibrations from fast movements and ensuring mechanical stability beyond conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
the necessary stability and rigidity is realized together with an improved vibration damping
Implementation Method 2
Beam deflection elements may be provided at the top face and/or the lower face and/or within the recess in order to provide for a connection between the different portions of the beam path and between the different planes of the beam path
Data Source
AI summary
A microscope device comprising a microscope objective and a plate-like body limited by a flat top face and a flat lower face essentially parallel thereto, with the microscope objective being connected to the plate-like body, and with a portion of a beam path of the microscope device extending above and/or below the plate-like body, wherein another portion of the beam path of the microscope device extends, essentially parallel to the top face and the lower face, within a recess within the plate-like body.