Microscope

• US 7,957,058 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nara Institute of Science and Technology, National University Corporation, Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Kawahito, Takashi, Sugiura, Tadao, Yasaka, Katsuhiko, Matsui, Kumiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thong
• Application Number:
  US11/993,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20100142038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 359368-390, 359738-740
• US Class Current: 359/385
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/082 for incident illumination only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3066 involving the reflection of light at a particular angle of incidence, e.g. Brewster's angle

Abstract

A microscope for introducing light from a light source via an objective lens to a sample so that a user observes the sample via the objective lens includes: a minute opening arranged in an optical path between the light source and the objective lens and on a focal plane of the image side of the objective lens or at a position conjugate with its conjugate plane; position adjusting means for adjusting the position of the minute opening so that the light from the light source via the minute opening is incident to the sample at the Brewster'"'"'s angle; an polarizing element arranged in the optical path between the light source and the objective lens for extracting rectilinear polarized light from the light from the light source and applying the rectilinear polarized light to the sample.

Claims

1. A microscope that illuminates a sample with light from a light source through an objective lens and makes it possible to observe the sample through the objective lens, the microscope comprising:

a minute, arc-shaped aperture that is disposed in an optical path between the light source and the objective lens in the vicinity of an image side focal plane of the objective lens or a conjugate plane thereof, and makes the light from the light source incident on the sample with substantially Brewster angle; and

a polarizer that is disposed in the optical path between the light source and the objective lens and provides linearly polarized light from light from the light source,

wherein the minute, arc-shaped aperture satisfies the following conditional expressions;

δ

r≦

0.06×

f

φ

≦

20°

where δ

r denotes a radial width of the minute, arc-shaped aperture, f denotes a focal length of the objective lens, and φ

denotes a central angle of the minute, arc-shaped aperture.

2. The microscope according to claim 1, further comprising:

an aperture stop for an episcopic illumination, having a larger aperture than the minute, arc-shaped aperture; and

a switching member that switches from the minute, arc-shaped aperture to the aperture stop to be disposed into the optical path.

3. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein a rotating diffuser is disposed in the optical path between the light source and the objective lens.

4. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the minute, arc-shaped aperture and the polarizer are rotatably disposed around the optical axis at high speed.

5. A microscope that illuminates a sample with light from a light source through an objective lens and makes it possible to observe the sample through the objective lens, the microscope comprising:

a plurality of minute, arc-shaped apertures disposed along a circle centered on the optical axis; and

a plurality of polarizers disposed corresponding to the plurality of the the minute, arc-shaped apertures respectively;

wherein each of the minute, arc-shaped apertures satisfies the following conditional expressions;

δ

r≦

0.06×

f

φ

≦

20°

where δ

r denotes a radial width of the minute, arc-shaped aperture, f denotes a focal length of the objective lens, and φ

denotes a central angle of the minute, arc-shaped aperture; and

each polarizer is parallel, perpendicular, or 45degrees with respect to a line connecting substantially the center of each corresponding minute aperture and the optical axis.

6. The microscope according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of minute, arc-shaped apertures is independently movable in a radial direction thereof.

7. The microscope according to claim 5, wherein, the plurality of minute, arc-shaped apertures and the polarizers are rotatably disposed around the optical axis at high speed.

8. The microscope according to claim 5, wherein a rotating diffuser is disposed in the optical path between the light source and the objective lens.