Microscope with at least one optical beam path

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024302639-A1
Application number	US-202418419776-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 23, 2024
Priority date	Mar 9, 2023
Publication date	Sep 12, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A microscope with at least one optical beam path having a plurality of optical elements, of which at least two per beam path are adjustable along the beam path and relative to one another in order to effect a change in an optical magnification of an image generated by means of the optical beam path; an operating device for selecting the magnification; and a gearbox for generating and transmitting a positioning displacement of the adjustable optical elements along the optical beam path which is associated with a magnification selected on the operating device and effected by means of a drive.
A drive is assigned to each of the adjustable optical elements of an optical beam path or corresponding adjustable optical elements of the beam paths, so that the adjustable optical elements of an optical beam path can be displaced independently of one another.

First claim

1 . A microscope with at least one optical beam path, comprising
a plurality of optical elements, of which at least two per beam path are adjustable along the beam path and relative to one another in order to effect a change in an optical magnification of an image generated by means of the optical beam path; an operating device for selecting the magnification; a gearbox for generating and transmitting a respective travel of the adjustable optical elements along the optical beam path, which positioning displacement is associated with a magnification selected on the operating device and effected by means of a drive;
wherein
a drive is assigned to each of the adjustable optical elements of an optical beam path or to respectively corresponding adjustable optical elements of the beam paths, so that the adjustable optical elements of an optical beam path can be displaced independently of one another; and
the drives are piezo motor drives.

2 . The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein magnifications are dynamically adjustable within a technically predetermined magnification range.

3 . The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the piezo motor drives are each operated with stator frequencies in the ultrasonic range.

4 . The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the dynamic positioning accuracy of one positioning movement per drive is less than 10 μm.

5 . The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one guide arranged parallel along a section of the optical beam path is provided for each optical beam path; and the optical elements which can be adjusted and moved along the optical beam path are attached to the guide.

6 . The microscope according to claim 5 , wherein the adjustable optical elements are each arranged together with the drive on a carriage which can be moved along the guide.

7 . The microscope according to claim 5 , wherein the adjustable optical elements are each arranged together with a friction rail movable by the action of the drive on a carriage which can be moved along the guide.

8 . The microscope according to claim 5 , wherein the drives are each provided with a coupling element, by means of which a positioning force of the drive is transmitted or can be transmitted to the respective adjustable optical element; wherein a force action on the adjustable optical element on the part of the coupling element takes place in the direction of the course of the optical beam path.

9 . The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein
a control device for generating control commands and for actuating the drives by means of the control commands, wherein the control commands are generated on the basis of a control function, and wherein the control function encodes relative positions of the adjustable optical elements as a function of their current position and the selected magnification.

10 . The microscope according to claim 9 , wherein a command memory is provided, in which a plurality of selectable control functions is stored or can be stored, wherein a respectively selected control function can be retrieved and executed by means of the control device.

11 . The microscope according to claim 9 , wherein the retrievable control functions comprise different relationships between the positioning movements of the adjustable optical elements and a respective realized adjustment displacement and/or an adjustment speed of the operating device.

12 . The microscope according to claim 9 , wherein the retrievable control functions realize different coded fixed magnifications.

13 . The microscope according to claim 9 , wherein the control functions are modifiable by a user.

14 . The microscope according to claim 9 , wherein each of the drives is provided with a displacement measuring system, by means of which a current position of the elements of the drive is measured and made available to the control device for evaluation.

15 . The microscope according to claim 1 , wherein a transmission of input commands of a user at the operating device to the control device takes place using the force feedback technology method.

Assignees

• Zeiss Carl Microscopy Gmbh

Inventors

• Kaufhold Tobias-Michael
• Knoblich Johannes
• Wolleschensky Ralf
• Lepschi Jana

Classifications

• G02B21/025 Primary

  with variable magnification (variable magnification G02B15/00) · CPC title