Beam splitter device having at least two beamsplitting surfaces with different reflection-to-transmission ratios

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10823949-B2
Application number	US-201615766807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2016
Priority date	Oct 14, 2015
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A beam splitter device ( 1 ) for a microscope ( 2 ), and for a microscope imaging method, supports at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4, 14 ). The two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4, 14 ) have different reflection-to-transmission ratios. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) has an optical path ( 3, 3 a, 3 b ). A first one of the two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4, 14 ) is configured to be moved from a first operation position ( 15 ), in which the first beamsplitting surface ( 4 ) is located in the optical path, to a second operation position ( 16 ), in which a second ( 14 ) of the beamsplitting surfaces ( 4, 14 ) is located in the optical path. With this configuration, it is possible to change the available light in the branches ( 3 a, 3 b ) of the optical path ( 3 ) after the beamsplitting surface ( 4, 14 ). This is useful if one of the branches ( 3 a, 3 b ) is directed to an exit port ( 8 ) configured to receive a camera. By directing more light to the camera exit port ( 8 ), the image quality of the camera is improved.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beam splitter device ( 1 ) for a microscope ( 2 ), the beam splitter device ( 1 ) comprising:
at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ), each of the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) being configured to provide a different reflection-to-transmission ratio; and
an optical path ( 3 , 3 a , 3 b );
wherein at least one of the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) is movable from a first operation position ( 15 ), in which a first ( 4 ) of the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) is located in the optical path ( 3 ), to a second operation position ( 16 ), in which a second ( 14 ) of the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) is located in the optical path ( 3 );
wherein in the second operation position ( 16 ), the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) are rotated about an axis of rotation ( 17 ) with respect to the first operation position ( 15 ), and the axis of rotation ( 17 ) is orthogonal to all portions of the optical path ( 3 , 3 a , 3 b ).

2. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein, in the first operation position ( 15 ), the first beamsplitting surface ( 4 ) is located at a position in the optical path ( 3 ) where, in the second operation position ( 16 ), the second beamsplitting surface ( 14 ) is located.

3. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein, in the first operation position ( 15 ), the optical path ( 3 ) is split into at least two branches ( 3 a , 3 b ) and wherein in the second operation position ( 16 ), only one branch ( 3 b ) of the optical path ( 3 ) is maintained.

4. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) are located on a single, moveable optical element ( 18 ).

5. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) are located on different optical elements ( 18 , 19 ).

6. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a magazine ( 23 ) on which the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) are attached, the magazine ( 23 ) being supported movably by a frame ( 24 ) and being connected to a manipulator which is accessible from outside the beam splitter device ( 1 ) and which, upon operation, switches the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) at least one of from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position.

7. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a relay lens system ( 13 ) in at least one branch ( 3 b ) of the optical path.

8. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein at least one lens of the relay lens system ( 13 ) is movable for focusing in the beam splitter device ( 1 ).

9. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising an afocal zoom lens ( 13 ) in at least one branch ( 3 b ) of the optical path ( 3 ).

10. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) according to claim 9 , wherein at least one lens of the afocal zoom lens ( 13 ) is movable for focusing in the beam splitter device ( 1 ).

11. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein one branch ( 3 b ) of the optical path ( 3 ) is directed towards an exit port ( 8 ) which is configured to receive a camera.

12. The beam splitter device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein one ( 14 ) of the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) has a reflection-to-transmission ratio of 100:0.

13. A microscope comprising a beam splitter device ( 1 ), the beam splitter device ( 1 ) comprising:
at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ), each of the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) being configured to provide a different reflection-to-transmission ratio; and
an optical path ( 3 , 3 a , 3 b );
wherein at least one of the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) is movable from a first operation position ( 15 ), in which a first ( 4 ) of the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) is located in the optical path ( 3 ), to a second operation position ( 16 ), in which a second ( 14 ) of the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) is located in the optical path ( 3 );
wherein in the second operation position ( 16 ), the at least two beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) are rotated about an axis of rotation ( 17 ) with respect to the first operation position ( 15 ), and the axis of rotation ( 17 ) is orthogonal to all portions of the optical path ( 3 , 3 a , 3 b ).

14. A microscope imaging method comprising the steps of:
directing light ( 6 ) from an observed object (O) along an optical path ( 3 , 3 a , 3 b ) to at least two exit ports ( 7 , 8 ) by way of a first beamsplitting surface ( 4 ) in the optical path ( 3 , 3 a , 3 b ) such that a first light ( 10 ) is available at a first exit port ( 7 ) of the at least two exit ports ( 7 , 8 ) and a second light ( 11 ) is available at a second exit port ( 8 ) of the at least two exit ports ( 7 , 8 ); and
changing the first light ( 10 ) available ( 10 , 11 ) at the first exit port ( 7 ) and the second light ( 11 ) available at the second exit port ( 8 ) by switching a second beamsplitting surface ( 14 ) into the optical path ( 3 , 3 a , 3 b ) instead of the first beamsplitting surface ( 4 ), the first and second beamsplitting surfaces ( 4 , 14 ) having different reflection-to-transmission ratios;
wherein the changing step comprises rotating the first beamsplitting surface ( 4 ) and the second beamsplitting surface ( 14 ) about an axis of rotation ( 17 ), wherein the axis of rotation ( 17 ) is orthogonal to all portions of the optical path ( 3 , 3 a , 3 b ).

Assignees

• Leica Instr Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Kuster Manfred
• Dreyer Heinrich Wilhelm
• Suhner Heinz
• Tobler Luca
• Hocke Marc
• Wolf Patrick
• Koerber Ralf

Classifications

• G02B21/18 Primary

  Arrangements with more than one light path, e.g. for comparing two specimens · CPC title

• G02B21/36

  arranged for photographic purposes or projection purposes (G02B21/18 takes precedence){or digital imaging or video purposes including associated control and data processing arrangements (image data processing per se G06T)} · CPC title

• G02B27/14

  operating by reflection only · CPC title

• G02B27/144

  using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity (G02B27/147 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B27/1073

  characterized by manufacturing or alignment methods · CPC title