Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung

Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, Heidenheim/brenz

Reinhard Jorgens

Bernd Faltermeier

Franz Trautwein

In a microscope with a laser illumination, the laser beam is coupled in over the reflected light illumination beam path from the rear side of the microscope stand. The reflected light illumination reflectors are received in a slide with several switching positions. In one switching position, the slide is fitted with a fully reflecting mirror. The position of the fully reflecting mirror is monitored by sensors. The sensors are coupled to a shutter, such that the laser beam is only released when the fully reflecting mirror is inserted. The microscope is constructed as a laser scanning microscope of the inverted type. Sensors are also provided on a pivotable arm that supports a housing. The housing holds a transmitted light condensor and folding mirror above the object stage, and protects against inadvertently looking into the laser light. The signals from both sensors are connected together in the sense of a logic AND circuit, The laser beam path is closed by the shutter (and the laser is released) only when both sensors signal a safe state.

Laser microscope

Fast and versatile autofocusing for microscopes is achieved by the interaction of two known systems: a first, active autofocusing system (12) which projects at least one light dot on the object and develops a focusing signal dependent upon the character of a reflection of the dot; and a second, passive autofocusing system which creates a video signal representative of an image of the object and then uses the image contrast of that video signal as a focusing criterion. Provided for both systems is a joint control unit (45) to which the signals (g), (f) of both focusing systems are transmitted and which, successively, activates first the active and then the passive autofocusing system. The process can be used to focus on both covered and uncovered objects illuminated by transmitted as well as reflected light. Quick, automatic focusing is accomplished in that the active focusing system rapidly focuses first on either the cover glass surface or the object surface and then control is switched to the passive autofocusing system which only needs to travel a very short distance to achieve accurate final focus of a preselected plane of the object.

Process and apparatus for the automatic focusing of microscopes

An automatic focusing microscope switchable between light-field and dark-field positions, so designed that the automatic focusing is operative in the dark-field condition or mode as well as in the light-field condition. In a first embodiment, auxiliary illumination of special wavelength (infrared or ultraviolet) used for the automatic focusing is reflected into the illumination-light ray path or beam, and in the dark-field mode the central portion of this beam is intercepted by a filter member which is opaque in the visible spectral region but transmits in the spectral region of the auxiliary illumination used for the automatic focusing function.

Automatic focusing device for reflected light microscopes

The operating means for manual focusing of a microscope having a motorized-focus drive is embodied in a separate control console that is flexibly connected to and positionable alongside the microscope; the operating means includes a finger wheel or knob which is coupled with an electrical bit-signal generator (encoder). Digital output signals of the encoder are fed to control electronics for the focus-drive motor, and the electronic control system may either be contained within the control console, or it may be packaged, along with further electronic control means for additional functions, in a separate housing provided for the purpose. The indicated arrangement makes possible manually operated focus adjustment which, although admittedly indirect in its action via the motor of the focus drive, is nevertheless very sensitive; in addition, the availability of digital output signals from the encoder enables further simplification in the operation of the microscope, particularly when specimens are successively transferred and from the microscope stage, and when a multiple-lens turret of the microscope is controlled from the console, with electronic coordination of focus, turret-indexing and specimen-transfer automation.

Growing community of inventors

Oberkochen, Germany

Reinhard Jorgens