Microscope that displays superimposed data

• US 5,557,453 A
• Filed: 11/17/1995
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leica Mikroskopie und Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: Leica Mikroskopie und Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Gaul, Norbert, Schalz, Karl-Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US08/560,513
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 359/372, 359/374-377, 359/630, 359/636, 359/903, 359/391, 359/368, 359/425-428, 345/9, 345/31
• US Class Current: 359/376
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/00 Microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/364 Projection microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/10 reflecting into the field of view additional indications, e.g. from collimator
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/34 illuminated

Abstract

A microscope includes a mount 18 secured to an eyepiece tube 10 to superimpose image data upon the microscope image. The image data is projected and reflected into the intermediate image plane using a receiving unit 27 to hold the image data on a slide 29 and an optical part 12. The receiving unit 27 includes a magnetic wall surface 31 and is freely movable and arbitrarily positionable together with slide 29 on a slide surface 32. Permanent magnets 33 are provided behind the slide surface 32 within the mount 18 to keep receiving unit 27 in place.

Claims

1. A microscope, comprising:

an eyepiece tube;

a mount attachable to said eyepiece tube to superimpose additional image data upon a microscope image by projecting and reflecting-in said additional image data into an intermediate image plane in said eyepiece tube;

a receiving unit located within said mount to hold said additional image data;

a slide surface, located within said mount parallel to an object plane formed by said additional image data, to permit free and continuous movement of said receiving unit, along two perpendicular axes lying in the object plane, while said receiving unit is holding said additional image data in the object plane when force is applied to said receiving unit; and

an assembly to maintain said receiving unit in any desired position in the object plane, at a user'"'"'s option, when said forced is no longer being applied.

2. A microscope as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an optical part disposed between said eyepiece tube and said mount.

3. A microscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein said additional image data is located on a mounted slide which is clamped in said receiving unit by a spring.

4. A microscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein a low-friction plastic material is used as said slide surface.

5. A microscope, comprising:

an eyepiece tube;

a mount attachable to said eyepiece tube to superimpose additional image data upon a microscope image by projecting and reflecting-in said additional image data into an intermediate image plane in said eyepiece tube;

a receiving unit located within said mount to hold said additional image data;

a slide surface, located within said mount parallel to an object plane formed by said additional image data, to permit free and continuous movement of said receiving unit while said receiving unit is holding said additional image date in the object plane when force is applied to said receiving unit; and

an assembly to maintain said receiving unit in any desired position in the object plane, at a user'"'"'s option, when said force is no longer being applied;

wherein said receiving unit includes a surface of magnetic material and wherein at least one permanent magnet is inserted into said slide surface at a spacing from said surface of magnetic material.

6. A microscope as claimed in claim 5, wherein said spacing of said at least one permanent magnet from said surface of magnetic material is variable.