Microscope Scale Projection in Illumination Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microscopes with scales in the intermediate image plane face issues such as predetermined scale size, requirement for individual eyepiece optics, and incorrect measurements due to object movement out of focus, especially in dynamic applications like surgical microscopy.
Innovation Solution
A microscope design with a scale integrated into the illumination optics that can be projected onto the object, ensuring the scale is enlarged with magnification changes and remains visible only within the focus range, allowing for accurate size determination without conversion across magnifications and shared across all optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the scale is arranged in the intermediate image plane, then the scale is sharp and high-contrast for reading, but the scale size is predetermined and requires conversion for different magnifications
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the scale in the intermediate image plane (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by placing the scale in the object plane. This allows the scale to be imaged together with the object through the objective lens, enabling the scale to automatically adapt to different magnifications without requiring conversion, while maintaining sharpness and contrast for reading.
2Ease of operation
If the scale is arranged in the intermediate image plane, then the scale is visible through eyepiece optics, but each individual eyepiece optic requires its own scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the scale with the object plane, so that a single scale serves all observation paths simultaneously. The scale is imaged together with the object through the objective lens and can be viewed through any eyepiece optic or captured by a camera, eliminating the need for separate scales for each eyepiece and reducing device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the scale is located in the intermediate image plane, then the scale remains sharp and recognizable, but incorrect measurements occur when the object moves out of focus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the focus state of the scale as visual feedback to indicate whether the object is in focus. Since the scale and object are imaged together through the same optical path, when the object moves out of focus, the scale also becomes blurred, providing immediate visual feedback to the observer that the measurement conditions are no longer valid, thereby preventing incorrect measurements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the scale is arranged in the illumination optics and projected onto the object, then the scale is enlarged with magnification changes, but the scale must be visible only within the focus range
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of projecting the scale onto the object from the illumination optics (which would require complex arrangements to maintain focus dependence), the patent inverts the approach by placing the scale directly in the object plane. This simple arrangement naturally ensures that the scale is enlarged proportionally with magnification changes while remaining visible only when the object is in focus, as both are imaged through the same 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 reduces erroneous measurements by ensuring the scale blurs quickly when the object is out of focus, providing a reliable focus indicator and allowing for accurate size determination across varying magnifications without the need for multiple scales or conversions.
Implementation Method 1
illumination optics for illuminating an object to be observed, which has at least one light source, a collector optics and a deflection means
Implementation Method 2
scale which can be projected onto an object to be observed by illumination with light emitted by the light source via the common objective optics
Implementation Method 3
observation optics, which has at least one eyepiece optics... the scale is enlarged with a change in the selected magnification of the microscope
Implementation Method 4
the scale becomes part of the imaged by the observation optics image... the scale is perceived by the human observer through the eyepiece optics or the ocular optics in the same way as by a microscope camera
Data Source
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AI summary
The microscope (100) has an observation optical system that comprises an eyepiece (101) with an illumination optical system. The illumination optical system comprises a light source (110) i.e. LED, a collector optics (111), deflection units (114, 115) and a common objective optics (103) for observation optics and illumination optics. The illumination optics comprises a scale (113) i.e. reticle, that allows light from the light source to be projected to an object i.e. tumor, to be observed by the common objective optics.