Electronic illumination control
First Claim
1. An illumination apparatus for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed comprisinga light source,condenser lens means for directing light from the light source in a cone of light toward the object station,an electrically controlled light transmission unit in the path of light from the light source through the condenser lens means,said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a layer of electro-optic material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light, and transparent electrode means disposed on opposite sides of the layer of electro-optic material for defining a plurality of different patterns for exciting the electro-optic material, andelectrical control means for selectively applying voltages to the electrode means of the light transmission unit to selectively excite the different patterns and the corresponding portions of the layer of electro-optic material to alter light conditions in selected portions of the cone of light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light transmission unit, such as a liquid crystal cell, operated by an electronic control circuit is interposed in the illumination system of a viewing system for providing a plurality of selectable illumination or viewing conditions, such as transmissive illumination, incident illumination, oblique illuminations, differentially shaded illumination, dark field illumination, bright field illumination, phase contrast illumination, differential polarization illumination, and/or color illumination.
110 Citations
78 Claims
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1. An illumination apparatus for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed comprising
a light source, condenser lens means for directing light from the light source in a cone of light toward the object station, an electrically controlled light transmission unit in the path of light from the light source through the condenser lens means, said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a layer of electro-optic material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light, and transparent electrode means disposed on opposite sides of the layer of electro-optic material for defining a plurality of different patterns for exciting the electro-optic material, and electrical control means for selectively applying voltages to the electrode means of the light transmission unit to selectively excite the different patterns and the corresponding portions of the layer of electro-optic material to alter light conditions in selected portions of the cone of light.
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12. An illumination apparatus as for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed comprising
a light source, condenser lens means for directing light from the light source toward the object station, an electrically controlled light transmission unit interposed in the path of light from the light source through the condenser lens means, said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a layer of electro-optic material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light, and transparent electrode means disposed on opposite sides of the layer of electro-optic material for defining a plurality of different patterns for exciting the electro-optic material, and electrical control means for selectively operating the electrode means of the light transmission unit to selectively excite the different patterns and the corresponding portions of the layer of electro-optic material, said electrically controlled light transmission unit including means responsive to the electrical control means for producing a different polarization characteristic in one selected pattern of the light transmitted through the electrically controlled light transmission unit relative to a second selected pattern of light transmitted through the electrically controlled light transmission unit.
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15. An illumination apparatus for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed comprising
a light source, condenser lens means for directing light from the light source toward the object station, an electrically controlled light transmission unit interposed in the path of light from the light source through the condenser lens means, said electrically controlled light transmission unit including at least two superimposed cells each including a layer of liquid crystal material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light, and transparent electrode means disposed on opposite sides of the layer of liquid crystal material for defining a plurality of different patterns for exciting the liquid crystal material, said liquid crystal material being such that the polarization of light passing therethrough is rotated only when the liquid crystal material is energized, electrical control means for selectively operating the electrode means of the light transmission unit to selectively excite the different patterns and the corresponding portions of the layers of liquid crystal material, a polarizer positioned to polarize light from the light source on an entrance side of the electrically controlled light transmission unit, a second polarizer positioned to polarize light on an exit side of the electrically controlled light transmission unit, said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a third cell superimposed on an exit side of the second polarizer and the first and second cells, said third cell having a layer of liquid crystal material and electrodes connected to the electrical control means for energizing the liquid crystal layer to change the polarization of light passing through the electrically controlled light transmission unit when the liquid crystal material is energized.
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17. An illumination apparatus for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed, comprising
a light source, a condenser lens means for directing light from the light source toward the object station, an electrically controlled light transmission unit interposed in the path of light from the light source through the condenser lens means, electrical control means for selectively operating the light transmission unit, a polarizer position to polarize light from the light source on an entrance side of the electrically controlled light transmission unit, said electrically controlled light transmission unit including cell means responsive to the electrical control means for rotating the polarization of at least a portion of the light transmitted through the electrically controlled light transmission unit, a second polarizer positioned to polarize light on an exit side of the cell means, said cell means including at least three superimposed cells each including a layer of liquid crystal material and respective electrode patterns connected to the electrical control means for energizing selected portions of the liquid crystal layers, said liquid crystal material being such that the polarization of light passing therethrough is different when the liquid crystal material is energized compared to when the liquid crystal material is unenergized, said electrode patterns of the first and second cells including respective complementary arcuate electrodes for forming annular patterns, and the electrode pattern of the third cell including a radial array of electrodes.
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19. A viewing apparatus comprising
a stage having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed, a single objective positioned to receive and pass light from the object station, left and right eyepieces, a light source, condenser lens means for directing light from the light source toward the object station, means for splitting and directing light passing through the objective from the object station to the eyepieces, means for limiting light passing through the left and right eyepieces to light of first and second polarities, respectively, which are mutually perpendicular, electrically controlled light transmission means interposed in the path of light from the light source through the condenser lens means for selectively transmitting light of the first and second polarities, and electrical control means including oscillator means for operating the electrically controlled light transmission means to alternately pass light of the first and second polarities to the object station.
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26. A viewing system comprising
a stage having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed, illumination means for illuminating the object station, an objective positioned to receive and pass light from the object station, an electrically controlled light transmission unit interposed in the path of light passing through the objective from the object station, said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a layer of electro-optic material extending transverse to the path of light in a diffraction plane of the viewing system, and transparent electrode means for defining a plurality of different patterns for exciting the electro-optic material, and electrical control means for selectively operating the electrode means of the electrically controlled light transmission unit to selectively excite the different patterns and the corresponding portions of the layer of electro-optic material to alter light conditions of light passing through the excited portions of electro-optic material.
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38. A viewing system comprising
a stage having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed, illumination means for illuminating the object station, an objective positioned to receive and pass light from the object station, an electrically controlled light transmission unit interposed in the path of light after passing through the objective from the object station, and electrical control means for selectively operating the electrically controlled light transmission unit, said electrically controlled light transmission unit including: -
a phase adjusting unit positioned to receive light passing through the objective from the object station, said phase adjusting unit including adjustable birefringent delay means for selectively delaying light of one of the first and second polarities relative to light of the other of the first and second polarities, a pair of electrically controlled pattern selecting and polarization rotating means on respective opposite sides of the adjustable birefringent delay means each for selectively rotating the polarity perpendicular thereto, and polarizer means for passing light of a first polarity and for blocking light of a second polarity perpendicular to the first polarity on an exit side of the series arrangement of the pair of rotating means and the phase adjusting unit. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A viewing system comprising
a stage having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed, an objective positioned to receive and pass light from the object station, a light source; -
condenser lens means for directing light from the light source toward the object station, condenser light transmission means interposed in the path of light from the light source through the condenser lens means, said condenser light transmission means including electrically controlled pattern selecting means for selectively passing a plurality of light patterns, and polarizer means for passing light of a first polarity and for blocking light of a second polarity perpendicular to the first polarity, a phase adjusting unit positioned to receive light passing through the objective from the object station, said phase adjusting unit including adjustable birefringent delay means for selectively delaying light of one of the first and second polarities relative to light of the other of the first and second polarities, and a pair of electrically controlled pattern selecting and polarization rotating means on respective opposite sides of the adjustable birefringent delay means each for selectively rotating the polarity of selected portions of light patterns to a polarity perpendicular thereto, and electrical control means for operating the electrically controlled pattern selecting means of the condenser light transmission means and for operating the pair of electrically controlled pattern selecting and polarization rotating means of the phase adjusting unit. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50)
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47. An illumination apparatus for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed comprising
a light source, means for directing light from the light source toward the object station, an electrically controlled light transmission unit interposed in the path of light from the light source through the light directing means, said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a layer of electro-optic material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light, and transparent electrode means disposed on opposite sides of the layer of electro-optic material for defining a plurality of different patterns for exciting the electro-optic material, electrical control means for selectively applying voltages to the electrode means of the light transmission unit to selectively excite the different patterns and the corresponding portions of the layer of electro-optic material, a polarizer positioned to polarize light from the light source on an entrance side of the electrically controlled light transmission unit, said electro-optic material being such that the polarization of the light transmitted therethrough is rotated by an angle which varies with varying magnitudes of voltage applied thereacross, and said electrical control means including means for selectively changing the magnitude of voltage applied to the electrode means to selectively change the angle of rotation of light passing through excited portions of the electro-optic material.
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51. An illumination apparatus for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed comprising
a light source; -
a condenser lens means for directing light from the light source toward the object station; an electrically controlled light transmission unit interposed in the path of light from the light source through the condenser lens means; said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a pattern cell and a polarization cell wherein each cell includes a layer of electro-optic material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light, and transparent electrode means disposed on opposite sides of the layer of electro-optic material, said electrode means of said pattern cell defining a plurality of different patterns for exciting the electro-optic material thereof; electrical control means for selectively operating the electrode means of the cells of the light transmission unit to selectively excite the different patterns and the corresponding portions of the layer of electro-optic material of pattern cell and to selectively excite the layer of electro-optic material of the polarization cell; a polarizer positioned to polarize light from the light source on an entrance side of the electrically controlled light transmission unit; said electro-optic material of said cells being such that the polarization of the light transmitted through one of the excited or the non-excited portions thereof is rotated; said electrically controlled transmission unit including a second polarizer positioned between the pattern cell and the polarization cell; and the polarization orientation of the second polarizer being such as to block light from one of the excited or the non-excited portions of the electro-optic material of the pattern cell and to pass light from the other portions thereof.
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52. An illumination apparatus for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed comprising
a light source, a condenser lens means for directing light from the light source toward the object station, an electrically controlled light transmission unit interposed in the path of light from the light source through the condenser lens means, said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a layer of electro-optic material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light, and transparent electrode means disposed on opposite sides of the layer of electro-optic material for defining a plurality of different patterns, including at least one ring-like pattern and at least one sector-like pattern, for exciting the electro-optic material, and electrical control means for selectively operating the electrode means of the light transmission unit to selectively excite the different patterns and the corresponding portions of the layer of electro-optic material.
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54. A viewing system comprising
a stage having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed, illumination means for illuminating the object station, an objective positioned to receive and pass light from the object station, an electrically controlled light transmission means interposed in the path of light passing through the objective from the object station, said electrically controlled light transmission means including an electro-optic material and electrode means for defining at least two different patterns in the electro-optic material, electrical control means for selectvely operating the electrode means of the electrically controlled light transmission means to simultaneously excite at least two different patterns and the corresponding portions of the electro-optic material, and adjustable birefringent delay means for selectively delaying light in one of the at least two different patterns.
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60. A viewing system comprising
a stage having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed; -
illumination means for illuminating the object station; an objective positioned to receive and pass light from the object station; an electrically controlled light transmission unit interposed in the path of light passing through the objective from the object station; said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a layer of electro-optic material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light in an image plane of the viewing system, and transparent electrode means for defining a plurality of different patterns for exciting the electro-optic material; and electrical control means for selectively operating the electrode means of the electrically controlled light transmission unit to selectively excite the different patterns and the corresponding portions of the layer of electro-optic material to alter light conditions of the light through the excited portions of electro-optic material. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. An illumination apparatus for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed comprising
a light source, condenser lens means for directing light from the light source toward the object station, an electrically controlled light transmission unit interposed in the path of light from the light source through the condenser lens means, said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a layer of electro-optic material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light, and transparent electrode means disposed on opposite sides of the layer of electro-optic material for defining a plurality of different patterns for exciting the electro-optic material, electrical control means for selectively operating the electrode means of the light transmission unit to selectively excite the different patterns and the corresponding portions of the layer of electro-optic material, and said electrical control means including oscillator means for periodically exciting selected different electrode patterns.
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69. An illumination apparatus for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed comprising
a light source; -
utilization means; means for directing light from the light source toward the object station; an objective for directing light from the object station to the utilization means; an electrically controlled light transmission unit in the path of light between the light source and the utilization means; said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a layer of electro-optic material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light, transparent electrode means disposed on opposite sides of the layer of electro-optic material for exciting the electro-optic material, and spectrum selecting means responsive to corresponding electro-optic material excitation conditions for passing respective selected spectral portions of the light and blocking non-selected spectral portions; and electrical control means for selectively operating the electrode means of the light transmission unit to selectively excite the layer of electro-optic material to pass only the selected spectral portions of light. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72)
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73. An illumination apparatus for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed comprising:
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a light source; utilization means; means for directing light from the light source toward the object station; an objective for directing light from the object station to the utilization means; an electrically controlled light transmission unit in the path of light between the light source and the utilization means; said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a layer of electro-optic material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light, transparent electrode means disposed on opposite sides of the layer of electro-optic material for exciting the electro-optic material, and phase changing means responsive to corresponding electro-optic material excitation conditions for changing the phase of selected portions of the light relative to the phase of non-selected portions of the light; and electrical control means for selectively operating the electrode means of the light transmission unit to selectively excite the layer of electro-optic material. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75)
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76. An illumination apparatus for a viewing system having an object station for receiving an object to be viewed comprising
a light source; -
utilization means; means for directing light from the light source toward the object station; an objective for directing light from the object station to the utilization means; an electrically controlled light transmission unit in the path of light between the light source and the utilization means; said electrically controlled light transmission unit including a layer of electro-optic material extending in a plane transverse to the path of light, transparent electrode means disposed on opposite sides of the layer of electro-optic material for exciting the electro-optic material, and polarity selecting means responsive to corresponding electro-optic material excitation conditions for passing respective selected polarities of the light; and electrical control means for selectively operating the electrode means of the light transmission unit to selectively excite the layer of electro-optic material. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78)
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Specification