Rotatable specimen mount for optical fiber microscopes

• US 4,505,556 A
• Filed: 01/24/1983
• Issued: 03/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cambridge Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Esmay, Edward N., Bridson, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/460,525
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 350/532, 350/529, 350/530, 350/531, 350/521, 269/71, 269/77, 269/78, 269/82, 269/903
• US Class Current: 359/394
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/30 Testing of optical devices, constituted by fibre optics or optical waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0008 Microscopes having a simple construction, e.g. portable microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/06 Means for illuminating specimens
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 269/903 Work holder for electrical circuit assemblages or wiring systems

Abstract

A specimen mount for a microscope holds a fiber optic cable so that the end of the cable may be examined. The mount is rotatable to angularly displace the cable end being examined.

Claims

1. Apparatus for rotatably holding a fiber optic cable relative to the optical axis of a microscope to permit examination of the end of said cable, comprising:

a support mounted to said microscope;

first means rotatably mounted by a low friction bearing assembly received within an aperture formed in said support;

second means for releasably securing said cable to said first means, said second means positioning said cable end relative to said optical axis; and

third means mounted to said support and said first means for providing tension therebetween, said first means being rotatable to, and holdable in, any one of a plurality of angular positions with respect to said optical axis, whereby said cable end being examined may be viewed in a plurality of orientations relative to said optical axis without being moved relative to said second means.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second means comprises a clamp.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said clamp is actuated by a thumbscrew.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid third means comprises a spring member, and means for exerting pressure on said spring member against said support.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said spring member is a bow washer.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said means for exerting pressure against said support is a thumb wheel.