Carl-zeiss-stiftung

Manfred Meyer

Walter Geis

Klaus Weber

Willi Keydell

Friederich K Mollring

The invention is an inverted microscope with a housing having multiple integrated ray paths leading from the specimen being examined to (a) the viewer/operator and (b) one or more auxiliary ports used for image recording and/or measurement by accessories such as cameras and video recorders. The microscope lens is positioned below the specimen stage; and, positioned below the lens, is a simple reflector which deflects the combined rays from the lens diagonally upward toward the viewer at exactly the same angle at which the viewer looks into the microscope's binocular eyepieces. The position of this simple reflector is the lowest point in the unit's paths of rays, thereby significantly lowering the lens turret and, therefore, the specimen stage to a relatively low, ergonomically-appropriate position. The optical arrangement is simple and compact, minimizing the number of deflections in the path of the viewing rays. Further, light from the microscope lens is deflected along the second path to the auxiliary port and the recording camera by an optical element which is positioned above the reflector in the diagonally-upward path of rays, thereby providing ample room at the auxiliary port to permit use of a recording camera having an automatic-rewind housing. The invention also includes removable and interchangeable tubes which include viewing binoculars and/or an additional auxiliary image port positioned along a vertical path of rays and/or a further additional auxiliary image port positioned along a horizontal path of rays.

Inverted microscope with integrated ray paths

The invention is an inverted microscope with a housing having multiple integrated ray paths leading from the specimen being examined to (a) the viewer/operator and (b) one or more auxiliary ports used for image recording and/or measurement by accessories such as cameras and video recorders. The microscope lens is positioned below the specimen stage; and, positioned below the lens is a simple reflector which deflects the combined rays from the lens diagonally upward toward the viewer at exactly the same angle at which the viewer looks into the microscope's binocular eyepieces. The position of this simple reflector is the lowest point in the unit's paths of rays, thereby significantly lowering the lens turret and, therefore, the specimen stage to a relatively low, ergonomically-appropriate position. The optical arrangement is simple and compact, minimizing the number of deflections in the path of the viewing rays. Further, light from the microscope lens is deflected along the second path to the auxiliary port and the recording camera by an optical element which is positioned above the reflector in the diagonally-upward path of rays, thereby providing ample room at the auxiliary port to permit use of a recording camera having an automatic-rewind housing. The invention also includes removable and interchangeable tubes which include viewing binoculars and/or an additional auxiliary image port positioned along a vertical path of rays and/or a further additional auxiliary image port positioned along a horizontal path of rays.

The invention contemplates an optical microscope of inverted design and having versatility for application to solve and serve virtually all microscopy problems and needs. The microscope features a particular U-shaped housing with upstanding legs and with integrated optical elements contained within and carried by said housing. A rugged specimen table is removably secured to both legs, and is presented for viewing a specimen on said table via either reflected light or via transillumination, the light source in both cases being so mounted to the exterior of the housing as to be thermally isolated from the housing and from the lens system, the latter being vertically adjustable in the space between the housing legs and beneath the specimen table. Various further features are described.

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Heidenheim, Germany

Manfred Meyer