Illuminating device for a stereo microscope

• US 5,748,367 A
• Filed: 10/18/1995
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
• Original Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
• Inventors: Summerer, Gunther, Gartner, Hartmut, Lucke, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US08/544,794
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 359/385, 359/387, 359/388, 359/390, 359/389, 359/771, 359/772, 359/773, 359/774, 359/694, 359/696, 359/686, 359/747, 359/684, 359/381, 359/382, 359/383, 359/375, 359/376
• US Class Current: 359/385
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/22 Stereoscopic arrangements

Abstract

An illuminating device for a stereo microscope having an objective with variable imaging focal intercept includes first coupling mechanism, which effects a coupling between the imaging focal intercept of the objective and the likewise adjustable focal intercept of the illuminating optical system, separate from the observation optics, in such a manner that the illuminating focal intercept is in agreement with the imaging focal intercept of the objective. Moreover, adjusting mechanism is provided for the defined adjustment of the diameter of the illuminated field. In particular, the illuminating device is suitable for a surgical microscope.

Claims

1. Illuminating device for a stereo microscope having imaging optics including an objective with variable imaging focal intercepts, comprising:

an optical system separate from said imaging optics for illuminating an object, said optical system providing an illuminating focal intercept variation,

said optical system being coupled to said imaging optics such that said illuminating focal intercept is in agreement with said imaging focal intercept of said objective.

2. An illuminating device according to claim 1, further comprising a fiber optic light guide, and at least one illuminated field diaphragm arranged in front of said fiber optic light guide on its exit side, wherein said optical system is arranged in front of said fiber optic light guide on its exit side and has at least one displaceable optical element that is displaceable along an optical axis for adjustment of said illuminating focal intercept.

3. Illuminating device according to claim 2, wherein said optical system includes a first and a second lens group which effect an imaging of said illuminated field diaphragm to infinity, followed by a third and fourth lens group, which effect focusing of said illuminated field diaphragm in an object plane, said third lens group comprising said displaceable optical element.

4. An illuminating device according to claim 2, further comprising a deflecting element following said optical system in a beam propagation direction, said deflecting element being arranged to deflect an illuminating beam path beneath said objective in a direction of an object plane and to deflect said illuminating beam path at different angles relative to an optical axis of imaging beam paths.

5. An illuminating device according to claim 2, further comprising means for varying relative distance between said fiber optic light guide and said illuminated field diaphragm.

6. An illuminating device according to claim 1 in combination with a stereo microscope.

7. Illuminating device for a stereo microscope having imaging optics including an objective with variable imaging focal intercepts, comprising:

an optical system separate from said imaging optics for illuminating an object, said optical system providing an illuminating focal intercept variation,

said optical system being coupled to said imaging optics such that said illuminating focal intercept is in agreement with said imaging focal intercept of said objective,

a fiber optic light guide,

at least one illuminated field diaphragm arranged in front of said fiber optic light guide on its exit side,

said optical system being arranged in front of said fiber optic light guide on its exit side and having at least one displaceable optical element that is displaceable along an optical axis for adjustment of said illuminating focal intercept,

said optical system including a first and a second lens group which effect an imaging of said illuminated field diaphragm to infinity, followed by a third and fourth lens group, which effect focusing of said illuminated field diaphragm in an object plane, said third lens group comprising said displaceable optical element,

said objective comprising displaceable objective elements, and

a drive unit for said displaceable objective elements,

said first coupling means including a worm and a worm wheel connected thereto, said worm wheel being arranged to be driven by said drive unit to convert rotary motion into an axial motion of said worm wheel, said third lens group of said optical system being connected to said worm wheel.

8. Illuminating device for a stereo microscope having imaging optics including an objective with variable imaging focal intercepts comprising:

an optical system separate from said imaging optics for illuminating an object, said optical system providing an illuminating focal intercept variation,

said optical system being coupled to said imaging optics such that said illuminating focal intercept is in agreement with said imaging focal intercept of said objective,

a fiber optic light guide,

at least one illuminated field diaphragm arranged in front of said fiber optic light guide on its exit side,

said optical system being arranged in front of said fiber optic light guide on its exit side and having at least one displaceable optical element that is displaceable along an optical axis for adjustment of said illuminating focal intercept, and

a deflecting element following said optical system in a beam propagation direction,

said deflecting element being arranged to deflect an illuminating beam path beneath said objective in a direction of an object plane and to deflect said illuminating beam path at different angles relative to an optical axis of imaging beam paths,

wherein variable angular position of said deflecting element is coupled to said variable imaging focal intercepts of said objective such that there always exists a defined spatial relationship between a visual field and an illuminated field in said object plane.

9. An illuminating device according to claim 8, further comprising adjusting means for defined adjustment of an illuminated field diameter in said object plane.

10. An illuminating device according to claim 9, wherein said adjusting means includes an iris diaphragm comprising said at least one illuminated field diaphragm with a variable diaphragm opening.

11. An illuminating device according to claim 10, in which said fiber optic light guide is coupled to said illuminated field diaphragm and to said opening of said illuminated field diaphragm such that position of said fiber optic light guide relative to said illuminated field diaphragm and to said diaphragm opening of said illuminated field diaphragm is varied in a defined mutual dependence.

12. An illuminating device according to claim 11, comprising a rotary knob, a control cam connected to said rotary knob, and a sleeve to which said iris diaphragm and said first and second lens groups are connected, and wherein rotary motion of said rotary knob effects a defined axial movement of said sleeve while said fiber optic light guide remains in a defined position, and wherein with axial movement of said sleeve a variation of diameter of said iris diaphragm takes place by keeping constant radial position of said adjusting pin.

13. An illuminating device according to claim 9, further comprising a magnification changing device for a stereo microscope, said illuminated field diameter being coupled to said magnification changing device such that a defined displacement of said illuminated field diameter is effected in dependence on magnification that is set for said magnification changing device.