Illuminated optical enlargement device

• US 6,384,988 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lifatec GmbH Faseroptik und Optoelektronik
• Original Assignee: Lifatec GmbH Faseroptik und Optoelektronik
• Inventors: Müller, Peter, Hempfling, Rüdiger, Glaum, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Seyrafi, Saeed
• Application Number:
  US09/634,349
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 359/798, 359/799, 359/800, 359/801, 359/802, 359/803, 359/804, 359/805, 359/806, 359/807, 359/808, 359/809, 362/33
• US Class Current: 359/798
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/02 with means for illuminating object viewed

Abstract

An illuminated optical magnifying device with an optical focusing unit that can produce a magnified image of an object to be observed and with an illumination device whose light is at least partially applicable for illuminating the object to be observed, whereby the illumination device is composed of at least one luminous diode, which is arranged in the magnifying device in such a way that its light can emerge from the magnifying device essentially straight toward the direction of the object to be observed.

Claims

1. Illuminated optical magnifying device comprising:

an optical focusing unit that can produce a magnified image of an object; and

an illumination device including at least one luminous diode, which is arranged in the magnifying device in such a way that its light can emerge from the magnifying device essentially straight toward the direction of the object to be observed.

2. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

at least one luminous diode is designed so that it can emit white light, in particular with a color temperature of around 6500 K.

3. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the optical focusing unit has an essentially circular contour or cross-section whereby the illumination device contains a plurality of luminous diodes, which are arranged in equal angular intervals around the optical focusing unit.

4. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the focusing unit includes at least one convex lens that can be used for producing an image of the object (2) to be observed.

5. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the focusing unit includes at least one achromatice lens that can be used for producing an image of the object to be observed.

6. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the focusing unit includes at least one convex lens and at least one achromatic lens that can be used for producing an image of the object to be observed.

7. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the focusing unit used for producing an image of the object to be observed is provided with at least one reflection-reducing coating.

8. The magnifying device as in claim 7, wherein:

at least one coating is realized as a multiple coating so that the residual reflection from the focusing unit in the visible spectral range is limited to less than 1%, preferably less than 0.5%.

9. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the magnifying device further includes a handle in which a current supply for at least one luminous diode 4 is located, wherein said diode 4 is preferably connected to said current supply by way of a switch disposed on the handle.

10. The magnifying device as in claim 9, wherein:

the current supply is a battery.

11. The magnifying device as in claim 9, wherein:

the current supply is a rechargeable battery.

12. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the focusing unit is surrounded by a ring-shaped mounting in which the luminous diodes are placed, whereby the ring-shaped mounting is preferably connected with the handle.

13. The magnifying device as in claim 12, wherein:

the ring-shaped mounting further includes at least one opening that is to be directed toward the object to be viewed which allows light from the luminous diode to exit.

14. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the magnifying device includes a housing that has a distinct positioning surface on its end to be directed toward the object to be observed.

15. The magnifying device as in claim 14, wherein:

the focusing unit is disposed within in the housing so as to be movable either toward or away from the direction of the positioning surface.

16. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the focal length of the focusing unit and the beam angle of at least one luminous diode are matched to each other in such a way that, at an optimal separation of the object to be observed from the focusing unit as given by the focal length of the focusing unit, the object is optimally illuminated by the light of at least one of the luminous diodes.

17. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the magnifying device is realized as a reading lens.

18. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the magnifying device is realized as a dermatoscope.

19. The magnifying device as in claim 1, wherein:

the magnifying device is realized as a large-surface viewing device, in particular as a watchmaker'"'"'s lens.