DIGITAL MICROSCOPE AND MICROSCOPIC SET

Abstract

The invention concerns a digital microscope for capturing images of a sample with an extended depth of field. The microscope comprises a stand (01) with an opening (16) for receiving an optical unit (07). The microscope further comprises an optical unit (07) with an objective (08), an image sensor, and a microelectromechanical optical system on an optical path from the objective (08) to the image sensor. The microelectromechanical optical system is configured for extending a depth of field at the optical path. According to the invention, the imaging unit (07) comprises a mounting unit (13) comprising a first portion (14) for removable mounting the mounting unit (13) into the opening (16) of the stand (01), a second portion (18) for removable mounting an illumination unit (17) onto the mounting unit (13), and a third portion (21) for removable mounting an additional lens (19) onto the mounting unit (13) into an optical axis (22) of the objective (08). Furthermore, the invention concerns a microscopic set.

Claims

1. A digital microscope for capturing images of a sample to be microscopically examined with an extended depth of field; comprising: a stand with an opening for receiving an optical unit; and an optical unit comprising: an objective for gathering light from the sample to be microscopically examined; an image sensor for converting an image transferred from the objective to the image sensor into an electrical signal; a microelectromechanical optical system on an optical path from the objective to the image sensor, wherein microelectromechanical optical system is configured for extending a depth of field at the optical path; and a mounting unit comprising a first portion for removable mounting the mounting unit into the opening of the stand, a second portion for removable mounting an illumination unit onto the mounting unit, and a third portion for removable mounting an additional lens onto the mounting unit into an optical axis of the objective.

2. The digital microscope according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the stand shows a circular cross section, wherein the first portion of the mounting unit shows a circular cross section that fits into the circular cross section of the opening of the stand.

3. The digital microscope according to claim 2, wherein the first portion of the mounting unit is of cylindrical shape; wherein the second portion of the mounting unit is of cylindrical shape; wherein the first portion and the second portion of the mounting unit are arranged coaxially; and wherein a diameter of the first portion of the mounting unit is larger than a diameter of the second portion of the mounting unit.

4. The digital microscope according to claim 3, wherein the diameter of the first portion of the mounting unit is configured according to the 76 mm standard, wherein the diameter of the second portion of the mounting unit is configured according to the 66 mm standard.

5. The digital microscope according to claim 1, wherein the third portion of the mounting unit is formed as a part of a bayonet mount for receiving a counterpart of the bayonet mount that is formed at the additional lens.

6. The digital microscope according to claim 5, wherein the counterpart of the bayonet mount is formed by at least two wings at a circumference of the additional lens.

7. The digital microscope according to claim 1, wherein the third portion of the mounting unit comprises first electrical contacts for contacting second electrical contacts of the additional lens, wherein the second electrical contacts of the additional lens are electrically connected to an identification circuit of the additional lens.

8. The digital microscope according to claim 1, wherein the optical unit is configured for an operation in a fixed combination of the microelectromechanical optical system, the objective and a housing that covers at least the microelectromechanical optical system and the image sensor.

9. The digital microscope according to claim 1, wherein the microelectromechanical optical system comprises an array of moveable micromirrors, wherein each of the movable micromirrors shows one degree of freedom rotation and one degree of freedom translation.

10. The digital microscope according to claim 1, wherein the illumination unit is formed as a ring-light illumination; wherein the illumination unit is of circular ring shape; wherein the illumination unit comprises a plurality of lighting elements that are arranged on circles on the circular ring shape; and wherein the circles of the lighting elements (41) are separately powerable.

11. The digital microscope according to claim 10, wherein the circles of the lighting elements are subdivided into at least four sectors, wherein the sectors of the lighting elements are separately powerable.

12. A microscopic set comprising a microscope according claim 1, and at least two additional lenses each mountable onto the third portion of the mounting unit, wherein the additional lenses show different optical magnifications.

13. The microscopic set according to claim 12, wherein a common optical magnification of the objective and the additional lens showing the biggest optical magnification is bigger than a fivefold common optical magnification of the objective and the additional lens showing the smallest optical magnification.

14. The microscopic set according to claim 11, wherein a common optical magnification of the objective and the additional lens showing the smallest optical magnification is smaller than 0.5; wherein a common optical magnification of the objective and the additional lens (19) showing the biggest optical magnification is bigger than 2.

15. The microscopic set according to claim 11, further comprising at least two different illumination units each mountable onto the second portion of the mounting unit.

16. The microscopic set according to claim 12, wherein a common optical magnification of the objective and the additional lens showing the smallest optical magnification is smaller than 0.5; wherein a common optical magnification of the objective and the additional lens showing the biggest optical magnification is bigger than 2.

17. The microscopic set according to claim 12, further comprising at least two different illumination units each mountable onto the second portion of the mounting unit.

18. The microscopic set according to claim 13, further comprising at least two different illumination units each mountable onto the second portion of the mounting unit.

19. The microscopic set according to claim 14, further comprising at least two different illumination units each mountable onto the second portion of the mounting unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0072] Additional advantages, details and refinements of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, making reference to the drawing. There are shown:

[0073] FIG. 1: a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a digital microscope according to the invention;

[0074] FIG. 2: a further schematic representation of the digital microscope shown in FIG. 1;

[0075] FIG. 3: an optically schematic representation of the digital microscope shown in FIGS. 2; and

[0076] FIG. 4: a detailed view of a ring-light illumination unit shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0077] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a digital microscope according to the invention. The microscope comprises a stand 01 with a base plate 02, a pillar 03 and an arm 04. The arm 04 can be lifted by rotating a knob 06.

[0078] The microscope further comprises an optical unit 07 that is held by the stand 01. The optical unit 07 comprise an objective 08, an image sensor 09 (shown in FIG. 3) within a housing 11, a microelectromechanical optical system 12 (shown in FIG. 3) within the housing 11, and a mounting unit 13. The mounting unit 13 performs three functions. A first function is to allow a removable mounting of the optical unit 07 onto the stand 01. For this, the mounting unit 13 comprises a first portion 14 of cylindrical shape. This first portion 14 of cylindrical shape fits into a circular opening 16 in the arm 04. This first portion 14 of cylindrical shape shows an exemplary diameter of 76 mm.

[0079] A second function is to allow a removable mounting of a ring-light illumination unit 17 (shown in FIG. 2) onto the optical unit 07. For this, the mounting unit 13 comprises a second portion 18 of cylindrical shape. This second portion 18 of cylindrical shape shows an exemplary diameter of 66 mm. An extension tube (not shown) of the second portion 18 can be used for changing an illumination working distance or for varying the illumination working distance or for a free space between the objective 08 and a sample 34 (shown in FIG. 3). The extension tube maintains the diameter for easy adapting the mounting unit 13 or provides an appropriate diameter.

[0080] A third function is to allow a removable mounting of an additional lens 19 (shown in FIG. 2) onto the optical unit 07. For this, the mounting unit 13 comprises a third portion 21. This third portion 21 forms a part of a bayonet mount.

[0081] The ring-light illumination unit 17 can alternatively be mounted on the additional lens 19 (shown in FIG. 2) or to an extension tube (not shown).

[0082] The mounting unit 13 is hollow and surrounds the objective 08. After the additional lens 19 (shown in FIG. 2) is mounted onto the optical unit 07 the additional lens 19 (shown in FIG. 2) lies with the objective 08 in an optical axis 22 of the microscope.

[0083] FIG. 2 shows a further schematic representation of the digital microscope shown in FIG. 1. In this representation, the ring-light illumination unit 17 and the additional lens 19 are removable mounted onto the mounting unit 13.

[0084] FIG. 3 shows an optically schematic representation of the digital microscope shown in FIG. 2. The image sensor 09 and the microelectromechanical optical system 12 are located jointly with a first λ/4 waveplate 26, a coaxial illumination unit 27, a second mirror 28, a first mirror 29, an illumination beam splitter 31, and a detection beam splitter 32 in the housing 11 (shown in FIG. 2).

[0085] Light 33 of the coaxial illumination unit 27 is directed via the second mirror 28 to the illumination beam splitter 31 in order to direct it through the objective 08, a second λ/4 waveplate 36, and the removably mounted additional lens 19 to a sample 34.

[0086] Light 37 reflected by the sample 34 is directed through the removably mounted additional lens 19, the second λ/4 waveplate 36, the objective 08, the illumination beam splitter 31, the detection beam splitter 32, and the first λ/4 waveplate 26 to the microelectromechanical optical system 12.

[0087] Light 38 reflected by the microelectromechanical optical system 12 is directed through the first λ/4 waveplate 26, the detection beam splitter 32, and the first mirror 29 to the image sensor 09.

[0088] The removably mounted ring-light illumination unit 17 also illuminates the sample 34. Hence, the sample 34 can be illuminated by the fixed coaxial illumination unit 27 and/or the removably mounted ring-light illumination unit 17.

[0089] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the ring-light illumination unit 17 shown in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3. This view is a cross section that is perpendicular to the optical axis 22 (shown in FIG. 2). The ring-light illumination unit 17 comprises a plurality of LEDs 41. These LEDs 41 are arranged at three concentric circles 42. Each of the circles 42 is subdivided into eight sectors 43. Each of the sectors 43 in each of the circles 42 is individually powerable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0090] 01 stand
02 base plate
03 pillar
04 arm
05
06 knob
07 optical unit
08 objective
09 image sensor
10
11 housing
12 microelectromechanical optical system
13 mounting unit
14 first portion
15
16 opening
17 ring-light illumination unit
18 second portion
19 additional lens
20
21 third portion
22 optical axis
23
24
25
26 first λ/4 waveplate
27 coaxial illumination unit
28 second mirror
29 first mirror
30
31 illumination beam splitter
32 detection beam splitter
33 light
34 sample
35
36 second λ/4 waveplate
37 reflected light
38 reflected light
39
40

41 LED

[0091] 42 circle
43 sector