Leica Microsystems Inc.

David J Cash

Thomas E Ryan

Vincent Vaccarelli

Keshav D Sharma

Kyle R Bleyle

Michael J Byrne

Robert C Atkinson

An apparatus for automatically turning off a source of illumination in a microscope, comprising a switch operatively arranged to control the illumination source, and means for sensing inactivity of the switch and for turning off the illumination source after a predetermined time period of inactivity. The invention also includes a method for automatically turning off a source of illumination in a microscope, comprising the steps of monitoring activity of a switch operatively arranged to control the illumination source, and, turning off the illumination source after a predetermined time period of inactivity.

Method and apparatus for automatically shutting off a microscope

An apparatus for gradually supplying power to a source of illumination in a microscope, including a power transistor operatively arranged to provide a varying applied voltage to the source of illumination, and, means for biasing the power transistor with a pulse width modulated signal to incrementally increase the applied voltage to the source of illumination in a plurality of discrete steps. The invention also includes a method for gradually supplying power to a source of illumination in a microscope by biasing a power transistor with a pulse width modulated signal to incrementally increase the applied voltage to the source of illumination in a plurality of discrete steps.

Method and apparatus for supplying power to a source of illumination in a microscope

A transmitted light refractometer comprises an optical system having a movable mirror for redirecting light transmitted through a light-refracting sample to a beam splitter for dividing the light between first and second detection paths. The first detection path leads to an eyepiece whereby an operator may view an illumination boundary shadowline brought into the field of view of the eyepiece by adjusting the position of the movable mirror. The second detection path leads to a light-sensitive detector, preferably a linear scanned array, for generating signal information indicative of the location of the shadowline on the detector. An optical position sensor associated with the movable mirror includes a position detector providing signal information indicative of the position of the movable mirror. During a reading, the shadowline is brought into the field of view of the eyepiece, and the shadowline signal information and the mirror position signal information are processed to calculate index of refraction of the sample.

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Kenmore, NY, United States of America

David J Cash