Optical arrangement having a magnetic holding device

• US 5,933,287 A
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
• Original Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
• Inventors: Muller, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACK, RICKY LEVERN
• Application Number:
  US09/114,034
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 359/819, 359/703, 359/704
• US Class Current: 359/819
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/001 Eyepieces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement with optical elements, in which a first housing portion with optical elements is releasably held to a second housing portion with optical elements. A magnetic holding device is installed between the first housing portion and the second housing portion to releasably hold the first housing portion to the second housing portion.

Claims

1. An optical instrument, comprising:

an instrument body (4) with optical elements (12),

an instrument portion (3) with optical elements (2), said instrument portion (3) being operationally detachable from said instrument body (4), and

a magnetic holding device (5) between said instrument body (4) and said instrument portion (3) that releasably holds said instrument portion (3) to said instrument body (4).

2. The optical arrangement according to claim 1, in which said magnetic holding device (5) comprises a magnet (6) and a soft iron material (8) that faces said magnet (6).

3. The optical arrangement according to claim 1, in which said magnetic holding device (5) comprises two magnets with attracting poles facing each other.

4. The optical arrangement according to claim 1, in which said magnetic holding device (5) comprises at least one magnet ring.

5. The optical arrangement according to claim 1, in which said magnetic holding device (5) comprises at least three magnet segments spaced from each other on a ring.

6. The optical arrangement according to claim 5, in which said magnet segments are equally spaced from each other.

7. The optical arrangement according to claim 1, in which said magnetic holding device (5) exerts a variable holding force.

8. The optical instrument according to claim 1, in which said instrument portion (3) comprises an eyepiece.

9. The optical instrument according to claim 1, in which said optical instrument comprises a microscope.