Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CAMERA ATTAC~ ~NT SYSTEM AND
ILLUMINATING SY ~M FOR MICROSCOPE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
- This invention relates generally to microscopes, and
more specifically to a camera attachment system and an
illuminating system for microscopes.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known in the prior art to provide attachment
systems for permitting the taking of photographs through a
microscope. Representative systems are disclosed in U.S.
Patent Nos. 2,845,842, issued to Leitz et al., and 2,004,807,
issued to Fassin.
In the Leitz et al. system the camera is secured to
the upstanding neck of a microscope housing through a light-
proof extension that is rotatably inserted in the upstanding
neck. In the described embodiment the camera is not secured to
the ocular unit of the microscope, and the housing and the
camera are not adjustable relative to each other.
In the Fassin device a camera and microscope eyepiece
are physically attached together as a single unit, to permit
either element to be connected to a microscope tube through a
solid connector. This connection does, not permit relative
linear movement between the camera and the microscope tube.
Although illuminating systems employing light guides
are well known in the prior art, there is a definite need for a
simple, economical and easy to use system for illuminating a
specimen to be viewed under high magnification through a
microscope. The systems disclosed in the prior art are
believed to suffer from one or more of the following
deficiencies:
(1) They employ complex and costly arrangements for
collecting radiant energy to be transmitted
through the light guide.
t2) They require special light sources for
generating radiant energy to be transmitted
through the light guide to a viewing area.
- (3) They employ costly fiber-optic bundles which are
shielded about the periphery to prevent the
egress and ingress of light through said
periphery.
(4) They do not provide for the collection and
transmission of light in a simple, cost
effective manner.
U.S. Patent No. 4,796,985, issued to Onanian,
discloses the use of a curved, optical wave guide made of a
clear plastic material. The wave guide is specially designed
to have an enlarged light-receiving end, to which a collecting
lens is secured. The opposite end is bevelled to be snapped-
fit directly into a passageway in a specimen-supporting stage
of the microscope. The arrangement for securing the wave guide
to the specimen-supporting stage does not provide for enhancing
the light collecting ability of the wave guide.
U.S. Patent No. 4,017,150, issued Imai, discloses a
wide angle illuminating optical system for use with endoscopes.
In this system a light guide, in the form of an optical fiber
~undle, is provided with a positive lens system at the exit end
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thereof for establishing wide angle illumination.
U.S. Patent No. 4,411,490, issued to Daniel,
discloses a solar energy system for transmitting solar energy
from a collection site to a desired utilization site. The
system employs a light pipe which comprises a bundle of optical
fibers, with both ends of the fibers being cut and polished to
form flat, optically transmissiv~e surfaces. In the embodiments
illustrated in Figs. 15-17, light is transmitted along the
length of the bundle from one end surface to the other, to
power lighting elements.
U.S. Patent No. 4,505,555, issued to Piller et al.,
discloses an illuminating device for microscopes, wherein light
is transmitted from a light source adjacent one end of a fiber
cable, through the cable, to a mirror (or lens system) for
illuminating a specimen on the microscope stand. This system
relies upon the use of a separate light source for generating
the light which is directed through the fiber cable.
U.S. Patent No. 4,580,195, issued to Mori, discloses
a system wherein light is focused into a receiving edge surface
of a conductor rod, and a drive system is provided for rotating
the rod to disburse the light over a wide range of space.
U.S. Patent No. 3,669,524, issued to Shio, discloses
a relatively complex system including a light source and lens
arrangement for focusing the light into one end of a light
guide made up of optical glass fi~ers.
U.S. Patent No. 4,725,727, issued to Harder et al.,
discloses a wave guide including a transparent body covered
with an opaque material for transmitting light from a special
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light source (e.g., a laser) through the length of the body to
a specimen to be illuminated.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of this invention to provide a
simple and reliable camera attachment system for microscopes.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a
camera attachment system which provides a simple and economical
arrangement for changing the magnification of a specimen at the
camera film plane.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a
camera attachment system which permits relative movement
between an optical tube of a microscope and a camera, to adjust
the magnification of the specimen at the camera film plane,
while eliminating the leakage of light between the tube and
camera.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a
camera attachment system which permits a camera to be mounted
to optical tubes of different transverse dimensions and/or
configurations.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a
camera attachment system which permits a camera to be mounted
in different positions relative to a microscope.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a
camera attachment system for a microscope which provides wide
latitude in varying the magnification of the specimen to be
photographed.
20S16~14
It is another general object of this invention to
provide a simple and reliable illuminating system for micro-
scopes.
It is a further object of this invention to provide
an illuminating system for microscopes which relies upon
ambient light in a room to effectiveiy illuminate the stage of
the microscope.
It is a further objection of this invention to
provide an illuminating system for microscopes which does not
require precise alignment of any independent light source
relative to the microscope.
It is a further object of this invention to provide
an illuminating system for microscopes which provides uniform
illumination of a specimen to be viewed through a microscope.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects of this invention are
provided by an attachment system for attaching a camera to a
microscope of the type having a stand, a stage attached to the
stand for supporting a specimen to be photographed, an elongate
optical tube carried by the stand and movable relative to the
stand, said optical tube having an objective lens at a
downstream end thereof adjacent the specimen and an eyepiece at
an upstream thereof.
The attachment system is characterized by a mounting
means for securing the camera to the stand of the microscope,
with the camera upstream of the eyepiece of the optical tube
and with the lens opening of the camera in axial alignment with
205~6~
the elongate optical tube. An adapter for providing a light
shield between the lens opening of the camera and the optical
tube includes an upstream end with means for securing the
adapter about the lens opening of the camera to prevent the
undesired ingress of ambient light, and a downstream end for
closely surrounding the outer periphery of the optical tube to
prevent the undesired ingress of ambient light while permitting
relative movement between the optical tube and adapter in a
direction along the elongate axis of the optical tube.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the means
for closely surrounding the outer periphery of the optical tube
includes a peripheral wall defining an opening for surrounding
the outer periphery of the optical tube, and adjustment means
for adjusting the size of the opening.
In accordance with another feature of this invention
an illuminating system is provided for illuminating a specimen
supported on the stage of the microscope. The illuminating
system includes a curved, transparent, light-transmissive rod
having a light-receiving edge surface, a light-receiving
peripheral side surface and a light-emitting edge surface. A
securement means is provided for securing the rod to the
microscope with the light-emitting edge surface aligned with a
passage extending through the stage of the microscope on which
the specimen to be viewed is supported.
In the preferred embodiment of this invention the
light-emitting surface of the rod is a rough, diffusing
surface, and most preferably, the light-receiving edge surface
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and the light-receiving peripheral side surface are smooth,
polished surfaces.
In the most preferred embodiment of this invention
the securement means includes a transparent plastics member
secured adjacent a lower surface of the stage, said plastics
member having a pa~sage therethrough in axial alignment with
the passage through the stage,~and the light-transmissive rod
has a section adjacent its light-emitting edge, which is
disposed in the passage through the plastics member and is
secured there within.
In the most preferred embodiment of this invention
the securement means is a transparent plastics member having a
forward edge surfa~e of a greater linear dimension than a
rearward edge surface. The forward edge surface and the
rearward edge surface are interconnected by side edge surfaces,
and the axis of the passage through the plastics member is
located closer to the rearward edge surface than the forward
edge surface, substantially midway between the side edge
surfaces. Most preferably the transparent plastics member is
trapezoidal in plan view.
In accordance with the most preferred embodiment of
this invention the transparent plastics member forming the
securement means is mounted to the stage with its forward edge
surface generally in the same plane as the forward edge surface
of the microscope stage, to thereby enhance the light
collecting ability of the illuminating system.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of
this invention will be readily appreciated as the same become
better understood by reference to the following detailed
description with considered in connection with the accompanying
drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the microscope
assembly of this invention:
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line
2-2 of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along
line 3-3 of Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a preferred
illuminating system in accordance with this invention;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly
in section, showing the manner in which the illuminating system
of Fig. 4 is connected to a microscope stage; and
Fig. 6 is a plan view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. S;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring now in greater detail to the various
figures of the drawings wherein like reference characters refer
to like parts, a microscope assembly embodying the present
inventions is generally shown at 10 in Fig. 1. The assembly 10
basically comprises a light-transmitting adapter 12 positioned
between a camera 14 and an optical tube 16 of a microscope 18,
and an illuminating system 19 including a generally curved
SUBSTITI~E SHEF~
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light-transmitting rod 20 for directing light to a stage 22 of
the microscope, on which a specimen (not shown) to be viewed is
positioned.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the microscope 18
includes a support or stand 30 comprised of a lower, horizontal
leg section 32, an upstanding vertical arm 34 and an inturned
upper leg section 36. The upp~r leg section 36 is secured at
its free end to a resilient, cylindrical sleeve 38 for slidable
supporting the optical tube 16 therein. It should be
understood that sufficient frictional engagement is maintained
between the engaging surfaces of the resilient sleeve 38 and
the optical tube 16 to retain the optical tube in its various
adjusted positions. The stage 22 of the microscope is bonded
or frictionally secured into a slot or groove 40 provided in
the vertical arm 34, to complete the construction of the
microscope 18.
The microscope 18 described thus far is a existing
piece of equipment which has been invented by applicant, and
which is sold under the trademark MAGISCOPE.
Referring specifically to Fig. 2, the microscope
assembly 10 includes a unique camera support 50. This support
50 includes a vertically oriented suppor~ member 52, which is a
generally flat, rectangular member, bolted to a rear or
outwardly facing surface of the vertical arm 34 by suitable
threaded fastening means 53. A passageway 54 extends through
the support member 52 adjacent an upper marginal end thereof
and slidably (and preferably also rotatably) receives a
cylindrical supporting rod 56 of a camera-attaching bracket
PCT7ll~ 90/01794
PTO 16 ~/,AY ~S9
assembly 58 therein. This bracket assembly 58 includes a
generally flat, rectangular bracket 60 which is welded or
otherwise secured to one end of the supporting rod 56. The
bracket 60 includes spaced-apart passages 62, 64 therein to
permit the camera 14 to be attached in different positions
relative to the microscope 18. Specifically, a conventional,
threaded camera-attaching bolt 66 is inserted through either
passage 62, 64, as desired, for threaded attachment within a
conventional threaded aperture 68 located in the base of the
camera housing.
As is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the camera 14 is
mounted in a horizontal orientation with the lens opening
facing downwardly and in axial alignment with the axis of the
optical tube 16. In use, the camera lens is omitted, and the
lens system is provided by the eyepiece 69 and objectivè lens
associated with the upstream and downstream ends,
respectively, of the optical tube 16. It should be noted that
both the eyepiece 69 and lens 70 can be removed from the
optical tube for replacement with different power eyepieces and
lens, respectively.
As can be seen best in Fig. 2, a locking screw 72
extends through a threaded passageway in an upper wall of the
vertically oriented support member 52, and intercepts the
passage 54 to thereby lock the camera-attaching bracket
assembly 58 in its desired orientation relative to the optical
tube 16 of the microscope. It should be understood that the
threaded passageway also could be provided in a flat side
surface of the support member 52, as opposed to the upper
S~ 1111JTE SHEET
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surface, since the specific location of the threaded passageway
is purely a matter of design choice.
The camera support 50 described above is an extremely
simple and reliable system ~or supporting a camera 14 in a
desired orientation and position relative to the optical tube
16 of the microscope 18.
Referring specifically. to Figs. 2 and 3, the unique
light-transmi-tting adapter 12 of this invention is generally in
the shape of a truncated cone; ~including a flexible body
portion 80. The body portion can be made of any suitable,
flexible material which is opaque to ambient light, and which
will permit the desired adjustment thereof about the optical
tube 16, as will be described in detail hereinafter. Suitable
materials include, but are not limited to, leather, vinyl, or
other flexible plastics.
As can be seen best in Fig. 2, the upstream end of
adapter 12 includes a threaded member 82 attached by a suitable
bonding agent to the upper end of the body portion 80, for use
in attaching the adapter to the camera 14 throu~h a
conventional adapter 84 secured within the threaded lens
opening of the camera.
In accordance with a unique feature of this invention
the lower end 86 of the adapter 12 encircles the peripheral
wall of the optical tube 16 to permit the optical tube to slide
vertically within the adapter. Thus, in accordance with this
invention the distance between the image-emitting eyepiece 69
at the upstream end of the optical tube 16 and the film plane
in the camera are adjustable relative to each other. This
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permits a significant magnification change to occur at the film
plane.
In all prior art microscope-camera set-ups known to
applicant the distance between the image-emitting eyepiece and
the camera film plane are fixed, thereby limiting magnification
changes to be affected in the optical tube itself (i.e., such
as in zoom-type stereo microscope), or by the changing of
objective lenses at the downstream end of the optical system.
The arrangement for adjusting magnification employed in the
present invention is far simpler and less costly than prior art
systems; thereby rendering the microscope assembly 10 of this
invention well suited for classroom use by young,
unsophisticated users.
Referring specifically to Figs. 2 and 3, a further
unique feature of this invention resides in the fact that the
passage at the downstream end of the adapted 12, for receiving
the optical tube 16 therein, is adjustable, to accommodate
optical tubes of different sizes and/or configurations, and
also to permit the desired frictional engagement between the
adapter 12 and optical tube 16 to be maintained for permitting
relative movement between the optical tube and adapter, while
preventing undesired quantities of ambie~t light from entering
the adapter, and thereby interfering with the photographic
process. Specifically, the lower end 86 of the adapter is
split at the bottom thereof, and includes an adjustment tab 90
for tightening the lower end 86 about the peripheral wall of
the optical tube 16. In the preferred embodiment of the
invention the adjustment tab 90 is formed as a unitary part of
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the body portion 80, and complimentary fasteners 92 and 94 are
included on the free end of the tab 90 and the main body
portion 80, respectively, to permit the lower end 86 to be
maintained in a desired, adjusted position. In a preferred
embodiment of the invention the complimentary fasteners 92 and
94 are conventional Velcro fasteners employing the well known
hook and loop arrangement.
Another unique feature of this invention resides in
illuminating systems for directing light to the specimen to be
viewed through the microscope 18. It should be understood that
the illuminating systems can be employed either with or without
the camera arrangements described above, it being understood
that the illuminating systems of this invention permit high
quality viewing of specimens at magnifications up to, and
possibly exceeding 400X.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the illuminating system
19 of this invention, which has been improved in a manner to be
described hereinafter, includes a rod light-transmitting rod 20
in the form of a clear, curved, acrylic tube 100 attached at
one end 102 thereof within a central passage 104 of a clear,
flat, acrylic plate 106, by a suitable solvent binder, such as
methylene chloride. It should be understood that other binders
may be usable in this invention, the important requirement
being that the binder be compatible with the materials to be
bonded together and be clear to permit light transmissions
therethrough.
Edge surface 108 of the tube 100, adjacent the tube
end 102, is matted or roughened, to thereby diffuse, i.e., even
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out, the light projected therethrough. In accordance with one
embodiment of this invention the edge surface 108 is lightly
sanded to effect the matting thereof.
As can be seen best in Fig. 2, the stage 22 of the
microscope, in accordance with this invention, is provided with
a central aperture 110 therethrough, and the matted edge
surface 108 of the acrylic tube~100 is in axial alignment with
said central aperture when said tube is secured to the stage
22. In this latter regard threaded screws 112 extend through
openings in the flat acrylic plate 106 and are threadedly
received within complimentary threaded passages (not shown) in
the stage 22, to thereby mount the optical tube 100 to the
microscope. Moreover, due to the fact that the acrylic plate
106 is a clear member it also functions to receive ambient
light therethrough and direct at least part of the ambient
light into the acrylic tube 100 and out of the matted edge
surface 108 thereof.
As can be seen best in Fig. 2, a light-receiving end
114 of the tube 100, opposite the tube end 102, is inclined
upwardly at an angle greater than 45~, and preferably
approximately 50~ from the horizontal plane, as is illustrated
by the angle alpha (~). Moreover, an edge surface 116 at the
light-receiving end 114 is positioned below an upper, specimen-
supporting surface 117 of the stage 22, so that the tube 100
will not interfere with, or provide an impediment to, the size
of the specimen supported on thee microscope stage.
The edge surface 116 at the light-receiving end 114
is highly polished for receiving ambient light rays
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_ 15
therethrough, such as outside light rays or the light rays
generally emitted from conventional lighting fixtures (e.g.,
incandescent, florescent, etc.~ employed in classrooms and
laboratories. The peripheral side surface 118 of the acrylic
tube 100 also is a highly polished surface for receiving
ambient light rays therethrough. This arrangement eliminates
the need for making the tube 100 adjustable, since it does not
need to be manipulated to line up with any external light
source.
Once the light rays enter the acrylic tube 100 they
are directed axially through the tube and out the matted edge
surface 108 thereof to light the stage on which a specimen to
be viewed (and/or photographed) is retained. In this regard it
should noted that the specimen is retained directly over the
central aperture 110 in the stage 22 to receive transmitted
light from the tube 100.
It should be understood that the light-transmitting
rod 20 functions to transmit ambient light, in a highly
concentrated form, through various specimens to be viewed, and
provides sufficient light power to permit high magnification
(e.g., 400X, and possibly greater) of such specimens for
various purposes. In a classroom or lab~ratory environment the
light-transmitting system of this invention permits blood cells
to be viewed at 400X magnification. Prior to this invention
such high magnifications were achieved only with much more
complex and/or expensive systems.
Referring to Figs. 4-6, the most preferred embodiment
of an illuminating system embodying the present invention is
16
generally shown at 200. This system includes the same
generally curved, light-transmitting rod 20 (i.e., acrylic tube
100) as in the illuminating system 19. Moreover, the rod 20 of
the illuminating system 200 is secured within a passage 204 of
a clear, flat acrylic plate 206, in the same manner as the rod
20 is secured wi~thin the central passage 104 of the acrylic
plate 106 in the illuminating system 19. In addition, the
light-receiving end 114 and the edge surface 116 of the tube
100 have the same orientation relative to the stage 22, in both
the illuminating systems 19 and 200.
The difference between the illuminating system 19 and
the illuminating system 200 resides in the configuration of the
clear, flat acrylic pl~te 206, the relative position of passage
204 in the plate ~nd the orientation of the plate 206 relative
to the microscope stage 22. All of these latter features
enhance the light collecting ability of the illuminating system
200 relative to the illuminating system 19. As shown in Figs.
4 and 5, the tube end 102 of the tube 20 is recessed within the
passage 204. The preferred distances of the recess B in Fig. 5
is between appro~imately 0.031 inch and 0.061 inch. This
recess distance is important because if the roughened or matted
end 108 is too close to the aperture 110, it will be partially
in focus at the focusing plane on the stage 22 and this will
produce uneven, partially diffused illumination of a specimen
on the stage. On the other hand, if the tube 20 is recessed
too much, a significant loss of light intensity will result,
and illumination of a specimen on the stage will again be
affected.
2~16~
Referring specifically to Figs. 4-6 the clear, flat,
acrylic plate 206 is generally trapezoidal in plan view;
including a forward polished edge surface 210, a rearward
polished edge surface 212 and elongate polished side edge
surfaces 214 interconnecting the forward and rearward edge
surfaces. As can be seen best in Figs. 4 and 6, the forward
edge surface has a greater linear dimension than the rearward
edge surface. Referring specifically to Fig. 4 it should be
noted that the passage 204 extending through the plate 206 is
located closer to the rearward edge surface 212 than to the
forward edge surface 210. In accordance with a representative
embodiment of this invention, the linear dimension between the
forward and rearward edge surfaces is 2 inches, and the axis of
the passage 204 is located 1.125 inches rearwardly from the
forward edge surface 210.
Referring to Figs. 4 through 6, the acrylic plate 206
includes a pair of mounting openings 216 on opposite sides of
the passage 204, to permit the plate 206 to be secured adjacent
the underside of stage 22 with threaded screws (not shown), in
the same manner as the illuminating system 19. However, in the
illuminating system 200 the acrylic plate 106 is dimensioned
relative to the microscope stage 22 so that when the plate 206
is secured to the stage 22, with the axis of the passage 204
aligned with the axis of aperture 110 in the stage, the forward
polished edge surface 210 of the plate is generally in the same
plane as forward edge surface 220 of the stage 22.
The geometric configuration of the acrylic plate 206
and its orientation relative to the stage 22 maximizes the
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light collecting ability of the illuminating system 200. In
particular, by locating the forward polished edge surface 210
of the plate 206 in the plane of the forward edge surface 220
of the stage 22 the plate 206 will receive a higher angle of
light from above the stage, as compared to the recessed
orientation of the front edge of the plate 106 shown in Fig. 2.
The trapezoidal configuration of the plate 206 functions to
concentrate ambient light at the acrylic tube 100,
~redominately by internal reflection from the angled, polished
side edges 214
Due the increased efficiency of the plate 206 as a
light source, the illuminating system 200 has essentially two
sources of light; the plate 206 and the tube 100. In the event
the rod snaps or breaks in shipment, or do to rough handling
during use, enough light is transmitted through the plate 206
in the broken end of the rod secured to said plate to provide
some illumination, which, in fact, may be suitable for some
applications.
The illuminating system 200 is particularly well
suited for use as part of a field microscope, for effectively
collecting reflected surface light, such as light reflected
from water or even regular terrain. Much of this light arrives
at the microscope from low angles, for effective reception by
the illuminating system 200.
The light-receiving end 114 of the tube 100 is shown
in the figures to be formed at an angle which is roughly
perpendicular or 90~ to the longitudinal axis of the tube 100.
While 90~ is the preferred angle, it is believed that the
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optimum angle is between 60~ to 90~ with respect to the
longitudinal axis.
In summary, the light-transmitting system of this
invention permits high magnification viewing of objects without
employing expensive and dangerous (especially when used by
young people) electric incandescent light sources, complex
mirror arrangements of the type which need to be adjusted to
align precisely with the light source, or expensive, shielded
fiber optic systems of the type identified as prior art herein.
The preset invention employs a simple, stationary,
clear acrylic tube of a unique construction and arrangement
with an acrylic securement plate to transmit light through
specimens to be viewed, and does not require precise alignment
of the tube with the light generating source (e.g., florescent
lights) in the room in which the microscope is being employed.
In fact, applicant has discovered that the light power
transmitted through the illuminating system of this invention
permits high magnification viewing (e.g., 400X) of specimens
through the microscope 18 without the need to align or "point"
the edge surface 116 directly at the source of ambient light.
Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so
fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying
current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under
various conditions of service.
