Leica Microsystems Ag

Vui Fah Loh

Peter Soppelsa

The invention describes a focusing drive for optical instruments that has, in addition to a pinion ( ) and toothed rack arrangement ( ), slide rods ( ) as guidance means for continuously changing the relative position of optical assemblies with respect to one another. The toothed rack ( ) has a plurality of support elements ( ) that are arranged&mdash;for example in angled fashion&mdash;on either side of its longitudinal extent. The support elements ( ) are designed so that they have a shallow S-shape in cross section. In addition, they are dimensioned in such a way that they touch the contact surface of the one housing module ( ) only with their planar end regions ( ). The result is a resilient or flexing motion upon actuation of the pinion ( ), thus achieving smooth and zero-backlash adjustment.

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Singapore, Singapore

Vui Fah Loh