Microscope Optical Units with Varying Filter Diameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microscopes with multiple optical units between the objective and tube lens face issues with vignetting of off-axis light, leading to degradation of peripheral light quantity and limited observation fields, especially when using conventional filter blocks with different effective diameters.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates optical units with filter blocks of varying effective diameters, where the unit closest to the tube lens has a larger optical filter diameter than the unit closest to the objective, along with a switch mechanism allowing for interchangeable filter blocks, to suppress vignetting and ensure compatibility and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional filter blocks with uniform effective diameters are used in all optical units, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but vignetting occurs in off-axis light and peripheral light quantity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different effective diameters to optical filters based on their specific positions and functions within the optical system. The first optical filter in the light stimulus optical unit has a different effective diameter than the second optical filter in the observation optical unit, optimizing each filter's performance for its specific role while preventing vignetting in off-axis light paths.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple optical units with different filter block configurations are provided, then vignetting is suppressed and observation field is expanded, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing filter blocks that can serve multiple optical units through interchangeable mounting mechanisms. The filter blocks are configured with standardized interfaces allowing them to be shared across different optical units (light stimulus, observation, AF), reducing the need for completely separate filter configurations for each unit while maintaining optimal performance.
3Illumination intensity
If optical filters with larger effective diameters are used throughout the system, then peripheral light quantity is improved and vignetting is reduced, but the cost of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the effective diameter of each optical filter based on its specific position and function in the optical system. Rather than uniformly increasing all filter diameters, the patent carefully selects appropriate diameters for each filter (first and second optical filters) to achieve adequate peripheral light quantity while controlling system cost through targeted rather than universal upgrades.
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 effectively reduces vignetting, enhances peripheral light quantity, and secures a larger observation field while maintaining compatibility and cost efficiency by using filter blocks with different effective diameters, ensuring optimal performance with various microscope functions.
Implementation Method 1
Microscopes with multiple optical units between the objective and tube lens face issues with vignetting of off-axis light, leading to degradation of peripheral light quantity
Implementation Method 2
Among the plurality of optical units, the optical unit closest to the objective includes a first filter block provided with an optical filter having a first effective diameter
Data Source
AI summary
In a microscope having a plurality of optical units each including a filter block between an objective and a tube lens, the optical unit closest to the objective among the plurality of optical units includes a first filter block provided with an optical filter having a first effective diameter. The optical unit closest to the tube lens among the plurality of optical units includes a second filter block provided with an optical filter having a second effective diameter larger than the first effective diameter.