LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

Lighting arrangement for a diagnostic or surgical microscope has a light source, and the lighting arrangement defining an illuminating beam path. An illumination optics is arranged between the light source and an objective of the microscope which defines an imaging beam path, and in the beam path of the light source at least one deflection element is arranged for coupling in of the illuminating beam path into the imaging beam path. The illumination optics has at least one pancratic system. The lighting arrangement has, in the manner of a Köhler illumination, a collector lens arrangement which is arranged downstream of the light source in the beam direction of the light source, a field diaphragm arranged downstream of the collector lens arrangement, and an auxiliary lens arrangement arranged downstream of the field diaphragm, and the auxiliary lens arrangement has at least one pancratic system.

Claims

1. A lighting arrangement for a diagnostic or surgical microscope, the lighting arrangement comprising: a) a light source, wherein the lighting arrangement defines an illuminating beam path; b) an illumination optics, the illumination optics is or can be arranged between the light source, and an objective of the microscope, which defines an imaging beam path; c) in the beam path of the light source at least one deflection element is provided for coupling in of the illuminating beam path into the imaging beam path; d) the illumination optics has at least one pancratic system; e) the lighting arrangement has, in the manner of a Köhler illumination, a collect lens arrangement which is arranged downstream of the light source in the beam direction of the light source, a field diaphragm arranged downstream of the collector lens arrangement, and an auxiliary lens arrangement arranged downstream of the field diaphragm; and f) the auxiliary lens arrangement has at least one pancratic system.

2. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein: a) the light source has at least one light-emitting diode.

3. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein: a) the lighting arrangement has an optical device for reducing reflections of the illumination light on the objective of the microscope.

4. The lighting arrangement according to claim 3, wherein: a) the optical device for reducing reflections is or can be arranged in the beam direction of the light source between the illumination optics and the objective of the microscope.

5. The lighting arrangement according claim 3, wherein: a) the optical device for reducing reflections has at least one pinhole diaphragm.

6. The lighting arrangement according to claim 5, wherein: a) the pinhole diaphragm has at least one opening for the illumination main beam path of the lighting arrangement.

7. The lighting arrangement according to claim. 1, wherein: a) the deflection element is a prism or a mirror.

8. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein: a) the field diaphragm is formed as an iris diaphragm.

9. A microscope including the lighting arrangement according to claim 1.

10. A lighting arrangement for a diagnostic or surgical microscope, the lighting arrangement comprising: a) a light source, wherein the lighting arrangement defines an illuminating beam path; b) an illumination optics, the illumination optics is or can be arranged between the light source, and an objective of the microscope, which defines an imaging beam path; c) in the beam path of the light source at least one prism or mirror is provided for coupling in of the illuminating beam path into the imaging beam path; d) the illumination optics has at least one pancratic system; e) the lighting arrangement has, in the manner of a Köhler illumination, a collector lens arrangement which is arranged downstream of the light source in the beam direction of the light source, a field diaphragm arranged downstream of the collector lens arrangement, and an auxiliary lens arrangement arranged downstream of the field diaphragm; and f) the auxiliary lens arrangement has at least one pancratic system.

11. The lighting arrangement according to claim 10, wherein: a) the light source has at least one light-emitting diode.

12. The lighting arrangement according to claim 10, wherein: a) the lighting arrangement has an optical device for reducing reflections of the illumination light on the objective of the microscope.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In the drawings:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows, highly schematically, an exemplary embodiment of a microscope according to the invention provided with an embodiment of a lighting arrangement according to the invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows, highly schematically, the lighting arrangement used in the microscope according to FIG. 1 at a first focal length of the pancratic system; and

[0035] FIG. 3 shows, in the same way as FIG. 2, the lighting arrangement with a second focal length of the pancratic system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] In FIG. 1, a highly schematic exemplary embodiment of a microscope according to the invention is provided with an exemplary embodiment of a lighting arrangement 4 according to the invention. Depending upon the construction of the microscope 2, the lighting arrangement 4 can be structurally integrated therein or can be formed as a separate assembly which can be connected to the microscope 2.

[0037] The microscope 2 may be in particular a diagnostic or surgical microscope.

[0038] The microscope 2 has an objective 6 (front objective), of which the optical axis defines an observation beam path 8 of the microscope 2 symbolized in FIG. 1 by a dash-dot line. From an object 10 to be observed, the observation beam path. 8 leads via a magnification changer 12 and a deflecting prism 14 to an eyepiece 16 of the microscope 2.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment the lighting arrangement 4 according to the invention has a light source 18 in the form of a light-emitting diode.

[0040] The lighting arrangement 4 also has an illumination optics 20 with a collector lens arrangement 22 arranged downstream of the light source 18 in the beam direction, the optical axis of which defines a beam path 24 likewise symbolized in FIG. 1 by a dash-dot line. A field diaphragm 36 is arranged downstream of the collector lens arrangement 22 in the beam direction of the illuminating light, and an auxiliary lens arrangement 25 acting as a condenser is preferably arranged downstream of the field diaphragm 36 in the beam direction of the illumination light.

[0041] According to the invention, the auxiliary lens arrangement 25 of the illumination optics 20 has a pancratic system 26 (zoom lens) comprising a variator 28 and a compensator 30, wherein the pancratic system 26 is arranged downstream of the collector lens arrangement 22 in the beam direction of the light source 18.

[0042] For blending in of the illuminating beam path 24 into the observation beam path 8 of the microscope 2 deflection element or deflector 32 is provided which is arranged downstream of the pancratic system 26 and is formed by a prism in this exemplary embodiment. However, the deflection element or deflector 32 can also be formed by a mirror.

[0043] The basic structure and the basic mode of operation of a pancratic system are generally known to the person skilled in the art and therefore are not explained in greater detail here.

[0044] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the deflection means 32 deflects the illuminating beam path 24 by 45° so that the illuminating beam path 24 is blended into the observation beam path 8.

[0045] An optical device 34 for reducing reflections of the illumination light on the objective 6 is arranged in the beam direction between the deflection means 32 and the objective 6 of the microscope 2. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, this device 34 is formed by an optical pinhole diaphragm. In addition to an opening with a circular boundary for the main beam path of the illuminating light, the optical pinhole diaphragm may, for example, have openings for the off-axis beam path of the illuminating light. The last-mentioned openings can have a circular basic shape, wherein it has proved advantageous if, in a deviation from the circular basic shape, they are slightly asymmetrical.

[0046] A field diaphragm 36, which may be formed in particular as an iris diaphragm, is arranged in the beam path of the light source 18 in the beam direction between the collector lens arrangement 22 and the auxiliary lens arrangement including the pancratic system 26. The collector lens arrangement 22 forms with the field diaphragm 36 and the auxiliary lens arrangement a Köhler illumination, in which the collector lens arrangement 22 images the light source into the plane of the aperture diaphragm 36. The structure of a Köhler illumination is generally known to the person skilled in the art and therefore is not explained in greater detail here.

[0047] In order to simplify the illustration, in the drawings the different optics (objective 6, eyepiece 16, collector lens arrangement 22) or parts thereof (variator 28, compensator 30) are symbolized in each case by an individual lens in the form of a convergent lens. It will be understood by the person skilled in the art that, instead of the individual convergent lens to be understood symbolically, a plurality of lenses as well as a combination and different lenses can form the respective optical assembly.

[0048] The mode of operation of the lighting arrangement according to the invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 2 and 3, which in each case show the lighting arrangement 4 by itself.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows the pancratic system 26 of the illumination optics 20 in a focal length setting which corresponds to the shortest focal length of the pancratic system 26. In this focal length setting the observation field of the microscope 2 is homogeneously illuminated according to the illumination intensity of the light source 18.

[0050] In order to increase the illumination intensity in the central region of the observation field, the pancratic system 26 is adjusted for lengthening of the focal length. FIG. 3 shows the focal length setting of the pancratic system 26 which corresponds to the longest focal length. If the pancratic system 26 has, for example, a zoom factor of 2, the focal length in the focal length setting illustrated in FIG. 3 is twice as long as in the focal length setting illustrated in FIG. 2. Furthermore, since the illumination is homogeneous in the part of the observation field which is then illuminated, the geometric illumination intensity is increased by a factor of 4 by the adjustment of the focal length.

[0051] Thus the lighting arrangement according to the invention makes it possible, if required, to substantially increase the illumination intensity in the observation field. Thus light-emitting diodes can also be used as the light source, of which the illumination intensity is lower than the maximum illumination intensity required in the observation field would necessitate for the purpose of sufficient illumination. Thus the invention enables the use of relatively cost-effective light sources and simultaneous maintenance of a homogeneous illumination and guarantees sufficient illumination intensity in the observation field.

[0052] Suitable adjusting mechanisms for actuating the zoom function of the pancratic system 26 are generally known to the person skilled in the art and therefore are not explained in greater detail here.

[0053] In lighting arrangements without a pancratic system, which are known in the prior art and are designed in the manner of a Köhler illumination, an auxiliary lens arrangement is arranged downstream of the collector lens arrangement 22. Starting from such prior art, the pancratic system 26 used according to the invention is part of the auxiliary lens arrangement or forms the auxiliary lens arrangement.

[0054] The lighting arrangement according to the invention is particularly suitable for diagnostic or surgical microscopes. However, it can also be used in any other microscopes.

[0055] While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations of the invention and following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention.