Abstract: The invention relates to a laser scanning microscope (LSM), consisting of at least one light source, from which an illumination beam path in the direction of a sample originates, at least one detection beam path for passing sample light, preferably fluorescence light, onto a detector arrangement, it main colour separator for separating the illumination and detection beam paths, a microlens array for generating a light source grid composed of at least two light sources, a scanner for generating a relative movement between the illumination light and the sample in at least one direction, and a microscope objective, wherein the lens array is arranged in at common part of illumination and detection beam paths.

Abstract: The present invention provides a slit-scan multi-wavelength confocal lens module, utilizing at least two lenses having chromatic aberration for splitting a broadband light into continuously linear spectral lights having different focal length respectively. The present invention utilizes the confocal lens module employing slit-scan confocal principle and chromatic dispersion techniques and the confocal microscopy with optical sectioning ability and high resolution in spectral dispersion to establish a confocal microscopy method and system with long DOF and high resolution, capable of modulating a broadband light to produce the axial chromatic dispersion and focus on different depths toward an object's surface for obtaining the reflected light spectrum from the surface.

Abstract: The embodiments of this invention use a multi-point scanning geometry. This design maintains the high frame rate of the slit-scan system and still allows both grayscale and multi-spectral imaging. In a confocal configuration, the multi-point scanning system's confocal performance is close to that of a single point scan system and is expected to yield improved depth imaging when compared to a slit-scan system, faster imaging than a point scan system, and the capability for multi-spectral imaging not readily achievable in a Nipkow disk based confocal system.

Abstract: An optical member and a microscope that allow acquiring brighter and sharper images when fluorescent observation is performed while stimulating a sample with light. Illumination light from a laser unit is split into stimulation light and excitation light by a dichroic mirror. In other words, half of the illumination light is transmitted through the dichroic mirror and becomes the stimulation light, and half of the illumination light is reflected by the dichroic mirror and becomes the excitation light. Half of the excitation light is reflected by a dichroic mirror and is irradiated onto a sample, and half of the stimulation light transmits through the dichroic mirror and is irradiated onto the sample. Fluorescence generated from the sample is totally reflected by the dichroic mirror and the dichroic mirror, and is received by a photodetector.

Abstract: A dome illumination for a microscope and a microscope are disclosed. At least one objective lens carries a dome at a free end, wherein the free end of the objective lens is facing a surface of the object. At least one light source is arranged such that an illumination is provided to the dome when the objective lens is positioned in an optical axis or working position of the microscope.

Abstract: An endoscope light source unit comprising: a first light source section emitting a first illumination light composed of white light; a second light source section emitting a second illumination light orthogonally to a direction in which the first illumination light travels; a light combining member transmitting the first illumination light through a transmission section and, at the same time, reflecting the second illumination light by means of a reflection section to form a combined light so that a beam of the second illumination light may be located in a central part of a beam of the first illumination light; a shaping lens for modifying the beam of the second illumination light emitted; and a condenser lens for converging the combined light.

Abstract: A method for the optical detection of an illuminated specimen, wherein the illuminating light impinges in a spatially structured manner in at least one plane on the specimen and several images of the specimen are acquired by a detector in different positions of the structure on the specimen. An optical sectional image and/or an image with enhanced resolution is then calculated. The method includes generating a diffraction pattern in the direction of the specimen in or near the pupil of the objective lens or in a plane conjugate to the pupil. A phase plate with regions of varying phase delays is dedicated to the diffraction pattern in or near the pupil of the objective lens or in a plane conjugate to said pupil, and different phase angles of the illuminating light are set.

Abstract: An incident-light fluorescent illumination device includes: a light source emitting illumination light; a collector lens receiving the illumination light from the light source; a fly-eye lens optical system receiving the illumination light from the collector lens; an objective emitting the illumination light to a sample surface; and a relay optical system arranged between the fly-eye lens optical system and the objective. The fly-eye lens optical system includes a first fly-eye lens surface and a second fly-eye lens surface each having a plurality of lens elements. The incident-light fluorescent illumination device satisfies the conditional expression of 0.3?D0/Lob?0.75 where: D0 indicates the distance between a conjugate position with the second fly-eye lens surface through the relay optical system and a pupil position of the objective, and Lob indicates a parfocalizing distance of the objective.

Abstract: A reflected dark field structure includes a bottom plate, a support tube, a light unit, a diffuser structure, and a reflector unit that provides reflected dark field illumination, such that a gem held by the support tube and surrounded by the diffuser structure is illuminated and viewable through an aperture in the reflector unit. A method for imaging and analyzing a gem includes placing the gem onto a support tube where it is illuminated with dark field and reflected dark field illumination, and viewing the gem via an aperture located on a top reflector unit, which provides a top cover for the gem. Furthermore, a method and apparatus for obtaining images of a gem includes a dark field stage, a reflector unit, and an image-acquiring device, such that a gem placed in the dark field stage is illuminated, and such that the reflector unit covers the dark field stage and provides reflected dark field illumination, and such that the image-acquiring device is directed towards an aperture in the reflector unit.

Abstract: A digital microscope system, having one or several objectives, a tube lens system, a digital image recording device, a stand, a holder for a specimen and an illuminating apparatus, and optionally at least one magnification changer. One or several objectives, the tube lens system, the digital image recording device and the illuminating apparatus are integrated into a compact optical assembly, and the optical assembly is joinable to the stand in several versions that differ with regard to the spatial position and orientation of the optical assembly relative to the stand and to the specimen. The spatial position and orientation of the optical assembly relative to the stand and to the specimen may correspond, in a first version of the joining, to an upright microscope configuration and, in a second version of the joining, to an inverted microscope configuration.

Abstract: A microscope apparatus is disclosed. The microscope apparatus comprises a microscope module and an image capture device. The microscope module comprises a housing, a lens element, a sampling assembly, and a light guide element. The lens element is mounted on the housing. The sampling assembly is accommodated in the housing. The light guide element is mounted in the sampling assembly. The sampling assembly is configured to sample a specimen and comprises a cover body and a base body received in the cover body. The cover body has a first top plate and a first anchoring structure connected to the top plate. The base body has a second opt plate and a second anchoring structure connected to the second top plate. The second top plate faces the first top plate to define a holding space for the specimen.

Abstract: A fluorescence microscope includes a nearly monochromatic light source, a Brewster angle wedge, and an optical system for irradiating a sample with a light beam from the light source and directing fluorescence light from said sample onto the Brewster angle wedge. Collection optics are provided for focusing a hyper-spectral, wide angle and dark field image of the sample from the Brewster angle wedge onto recording optics.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for controllable alignment of any of a plurality of electro-optical components mounted to a circuit board with an optical axis. In one embodiment, the invention provides an improved illumination system for microscopy. The system incorporates a circuit board 31 providing structure and directly mounting a plurality of light emitting sources. The mounted light sources are rotatably alignable with a plurality of optical axes. The system further includes selectable conditioning of the sources.

Abstract: An inverted microscope includes: a microscope main body; a stage that is supported by the microscope main body; and an observation optical system that allows observing a sample placed on the stage from underneath, the microscope main body, in which an optical device can be attached between an objective lens and a tube lens which constitute the observation optical system including a plurality of stage supporting parts that support the stage; and a beam part that connects, in a manner of locating between the tube lens and the objective lens, at least a pair of stage supporting parts at front and back sides together among the plurality of stage supporting parts.

Abstract: An apparatus for a low numerical aperture exclusion imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include an electromagnetic illumination source for illuminating a portion of a specimen; and for collecting an image created by the electromagnetic radiation an objective lens optically coupled to the electromagnetic illuminated portion of the specimen. The apparatus also includes an optical blocking plate disposed between the objective lens and a focusing lens. The optical blocking plate is positioned to substantially block undesired electromagnetic radiation from image sources distally aligned in the same optical axis as the specimen. This invention enhances narrow depth of field characteristics in imaging and also enhances discreet imaging in a narrow focus field by eliminating some or most of the light which contributes to wide depth of field focus which is useful for optical sectioning ranging from microscopy to photography.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for homothetic projection of a pattern onto the surface of a sample (21) comprising a photosensitive zone. The device comprises means allowing a pattern to be projected onto the surface of the sample, and an optical system (12) allowing the size of the pattern projected onto the surface of the sample to be continuously controlled. The invention also relates to a photolithography method using such a projection device, and to a method and a kit for converting an optical microscope into such a projection device.

Abstract: A light microscope having a specimen plane, in which a specimen to be examined is positioned, having a light source to emit illuminating light, having optical imaging means to convey the illuminating light into the specimen plane, having a first scanning means, with which an optical path of the illuminating light and the specimen can be moved relative to each other to produce an illumination scanning movement of the illuminating light relative to the specimen, having a detector means to detect specimen light coming from the specimen and having electronic means to produce an image of the specimen based on the specimen light detected by the detector means at different specimen regions. A second scanning means is present, with which it can be adjusted which specimen region can be imaged on a determined detector element.

Abstract: A microscope system includes a culture unit for holding and cultivating a specimen while maintaining constant temperature and humidity; a stage for holding the culture unit; a first light-converging optical system for converging illumination light emitted from a light source on the specimen; a second light-converging optical system for converging transmitted light that has passed through the specimen; a transmitted-light pinhole provided at a position optically conjugate to the light-converging position of illumination light on the specimen to cut off part of transmitted light converged by the second light-converging optical system; a transmitted-light detector that detects transmitted light that has passed through the transmitted-light pinhole; a moving system for moving the first and second light-converging optical systems, the transmitted-light pinhole, and the transmitted-light detector and the stage relative to each other; a housing that encloses these components and cuts off external light; and a contro

Abstract: Microscopy techniques in which a rear pupil of an optical system is segmented and the segments are individually controlled with a wavefront modulating device to control the direction and phase of individual beamlets of an excitation or emission beam in the optical system, thereby providing an adaptive optics correction to sample and system induced aberrations.

Abstract: A fluorescence observation system, a method for performing a fluorescence observation, and a set of filters that can be used in such system and method are provided.

Abstract: The illumination optical system illuminates an object plane on which a sample is placed in a microscope. The illumination optical system includes three light source areas arranged apart from one another in a pupil plane of the illumination optical system and being coherent with one another. Distances from centers of the three light source areas to a center of a pupil of the illumination optical system are different from one another. A condition of p = 1 - 12 2 - 2 - 11 2 1 - 13 2 - 1 - 11 2 is satisfied where l1, l2 and l3 represent non-negative real numbers and ?1, ?2 and ?3 represent polar angles to express, in a polar coordinate system, positions (l1,?1), (l2,?2) and (l3,?3) of the three light source areas in the pupil plane having a diameter of NA/n in which NA represents a numerical aperture of the illumination optical system and n represents a refractive index of a medium.

Abstract: Where a multimode fiber is used for light delivery in a microscope system and a transverse distribution of light exiting a distal end of the fiber is substantially uniform, the distal end is imaged onto a plane of a sample to be probed by the microscope system, or at a conjugate plane. Alternatively, the distal end is imaged onto a plane sufficiently close to the sample plane or the conjugate plane such that a radiant intensity of light at the sample plane or the conjugate plane is substantially uniform. In the case of a multi-focal confocal microscope system, the distal end of the multimode fiber is imaged onto a plane of a segmented focusing array. Alternatively the distal end is imaged onto a plane sufficiently close to the segmented focusing array plane such that a radiant intensity of the light at the segmented focusing array plane is substantially uniform.

Abstract: A reflected dark field structure includes a bottom plate, a support tube, a light unit, a diffuser structure, and a reflector unit that provides reflected dark field illumination, such that a gem held by the support tube and surrounded by the diffuser structure is illuminated and viewable through an aperture in the reflector unit. A method for imaging and analyzing a gem includes placing the gem onto a support tube where it is illuminated with dark field and reflected dark field illumination, and viewing the gem via an aperture located on a top reflector unit, which provides a top cover for the gem. Furthermore, a method and apparatus for obtaining images of a gem includes a dark field stage, a reflector unit, and an image-acquiring device, such that a gem placed in the dark field stage is illuminated, and such that the reflector unit covers the dark field stage and provides reflected dark field illumination, and such that the image-acquiring device is directed towards an aperture in the reflector unit.

Abstract: Spherical aberration is the primary cause of lose of signal while imaging deeper into a sample. Spherical aberration is corrected in the imaging path of a non-descanned detection system (such as a multi-photon microscope). This corrects the illumination spot for artifacts caused by imaging deep into a sample. One exemplary advantage to this instrument is that it allows deeper and brighter imaging.

Abstract: A module for engagement with a conventional microscope to provide selective plane illumination microscopy is disclosed. The module is coupled to the translational base of the microscope and defines a mounting having a mount body in which an excitation objective having a first longitudinal axis is engaged to one portion of the mount body and a detection objective having a second longitudinal axis is engaged to another portion of the mount body such that the first longitudinal axis is in perpendicular geometric relation with the second longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A microscope has a light source for generating a light beam having a wavelength, ?, and beam-forming optics configured for receiving the light beam and generating a Bessel-like beam that is directed into a sample. The beam-forming optics include an excitation objective having an axis oriented in a first direction. Imaging optics are configured for receiving light from a position within the sample that is illuminated by the Bessel-like beam and for imaging the received light on a detector. The imaging optics include a detection objective having an axis oriented in a second direction that is non-parallel to the first direction. A detector is configured for detecting signal light received by the imaging optics, and an aperture mask is positioned.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for using modular microscopes is disclosed. Connecting the housings of the individual microscope modules provide the structural framework of the modular microscope. Furthermore, the modular microscope can include specialized software, the distribution and use of which can be controlled using security keys or identifiers stored on one or more of the microscope modules. The security keys and identifiers can be based on calibration data associated with the physical, electrical, or optical properties of one of more of the modules. The illumination modules disclosed provide for selectable wavelengths and controllable levels of output illumination for both bright field and dark field illumination.

Abstract: Method for enhancing the resolution of a microscope during the detection of an illuminated specimen and a microscope for carrying out the method, wherein in a first position, an illumination pattern is generated on the specimen, the resolution of which is preferably within the range of the attainable optical resolution of the microscope or higher, wherein a relative movement, preferably perpendicular to the direction of illumination, from a first into at least one second position of the illumination pattern on the specimen is generated at least once between the detection and the illumination pattern with a step width smaller than the resolution limit of the microscope and detection and storage of the detection signals take place both in the first and in the second position.

Abstract: In an episcopic multiplexed confocal scanning microscope system, a spatial filter is placed at a conjugate plane to a back aperture plane at a back aperture of an objective lens. The spatial filter is used to combine excitation light and emission light from a multiplexed confocal microscope module.

Abstract: A multiple wavelength total internal reflection fluoresence (TIRF) microscopy system has an objective. A dispersion unit of the system comprises a high-dispersion optical element. The dispersion unit receives illumination light having at least a first wavelength ?1 and a second wavelength ?2, where ?1??2, and splits the illumination light into a first monochromatic beam having the first wavelength ?1 and a second monochromatic beam having the second wavelength ?2. The monochromatic beams are focused onto a back focal plane of the objective, near an outer edge of the objective, at different radial distances from an optical axis of the objective. The dispersion unit is rotatable in order to adjust angles of incidence of the monochromatic beams onto an interface between a substrate and a sample to be imaged, wherein the angles of incidence are greater than the critical angle of the interface.

Abstract: A microscope capable of forming a beam spot in a desired shape on a focal plane is provided. The microscope is provided with a modulation optical element (38) having a plurality of regions for spatial modulation of illumination light and an adjustment element (37) for adjusting an optical property of the illumination light modulated by the modulation optical element.

Abstract: An optical microscope system for reconstructing an image of an object includes a means for creating a light beam profile, an optics for directing the light beam profile to the object, a moving means for implementing a scanning of the object with the light beam profile, a rotating means for enabling rotating the light beam profile and the object, and for changing the direction of scanning, and a detector for measuring the intensity of light passing through or reflected by the object. The image may be tomographically reconstructed using this intensity data associated with various directions as a plurality of projections.

Abstract: Optical microscopy of biological specimens, particularly live cells, is difficult as they generally lack sufficient contrast to be studied successfully as typically the internal structures of the cell are colourless and transparent. Commonly, contrast is increased by staining the different structures with selective dyes, but this involves killing and fixing the sample. Staining may also introduce artifacts, apparent structural details caused by the processing of the specimen and are thus not a legitimate feature of the specimen. Further, microscopy of different elements of these biological specimens typically requires multiple microscopy techniques on multiple specimens. According to embodiments of the invention simultaneous imaging techniques are applied to a biological specimen such as fluorescent imaging and dark field imaging by designing an experimental evaluation system and associated illumination system addressing the conflicting demands of these approaches.

Abstract: A microscope and methods for obtaining a phase image of a substantially transparent specimen. Light collected from a specimen illuminated by a temporally incoherent source is diffracted into a first order and either the zeroth or first order is low-pass filtered in a Fourier transform plane before the orders are recombined at a focal plane detector. By low pass filtering the first order diffracted beam into a plurality of wavelengths, a spectrally- and spatially-resolved quantitative phase image of the specimen is obtained.

Abstract: An illumination device includes at least four semiconductor radiation sources (18) for emitting optical radiation in respectively different emission wavelength ranges. At least one color splitter (22.1, 22.2, 22.3), which is reflective for optical radiation of the respective semiconductor radiation source (18), is assigned to each of at least three of the semiconductor radiation sources (18). The semiconductor radiation sources (18) and the color splitters (22.1, 22.2, 22.3) are arranged such that the optical radiation, which is emitted in each case from each of the semiconductor radiation sources (18), is coupled into a common illumination beam path section (24). In each case, one collimating unit (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4), which collimates the optical radiation emitted by the respective semiconductor radiation source (18), is arranged in the beam path sections from the semiconductor radiation sources (18) to the color splitters (22.1, 22.2, 22.3).

Abstract: Where a multimode fiber is used for light delivery in a microscope system and a transverse distribution of light exiting a distal end of the fiber is substantially uniform, the distal end is imaged onto a plane of a sample to be probed by the microscope system, or at a conjugate plane. Alternatively, the distal end is imaged onto a plane sufficiently close to the sample plane or the conjugate plane such that a radiant intensity of light at the sample plane or the conjugate plane is substantially uniform. In the case of a multi-focal confocal microscope system, the distal end of the multimode fiber is imaged onto a plane of a segmented focusing array. Alternatively the distal end is imaged onto a plane sufficiently close to the segmented focusing array plane such that a radiant intensity of the light at the segmented focusing array plane is substantially uniform.

Abstract: A widefield microscope illumination system and a method for illumination, the system having a microscope objective with an optical objective axis, an illumination light source sending widefield illumination light along illumination beam paths having corresponding illumination axes along which the illumination light penetrates into the microscope objective through illumination light entry sites located within a predetermined illumination light entry area, a spatially resolving light detector detecting detected light sent from an illuminated sample through the microscope objective along a detected light beam path, and an automatic illumination light beam path manipulation device, controlled by a control system, which is arranged in front of the microscope objective in relation to the direction of the illumination light beam path, and by which illumination light beam path manipulation device the illumination axes are automatically movable at time intervals to a plurality of illumination light entry sites.

Abstract: A laser scanning microscope having a laser light source for fluorescence excitation, in particular a short pulse light source for multiphoton excitation; a scanning mirror array for scanning illumination of a specimen and a scanning optics for the generation of a diffraction-limited reference image plane as a first intermediate image plane; an optical system, preferably with a high numerical aperture, for the preferably demagnified imaging of the reference plane in a second intermediate image; an axially slideable mirror in the second intermediate image plane; a beam splitter array between the reference image plane and said optical system; and a tube lens and a first microscope objective for aberration-free imaging of the reference image plane in a specimen.

Abstract: A laser scanning reflection or fluorescent microscope is provided with focusing-detecting unit having a laser beam focusing objective, an image detector that detects light reflected from the sample or back fluoresced light emitted by the sample, and a drive that simultaneously displaces the objective and the image detector.

Abstract: A laser microscope includes an objective lens that radiates a laser beam onto a specimen; a stimulation optical system having an LCOS-SLM located at a position optically conjugate with the pupil position of the objective lens and which modulates the phase of the laser beam; and an observation optical system having a galvanometer mirror that scans the laser beam across the specimen, as observation illuminating light, and a PMT that detects the observation light coming from the specimen and collected by the objective lens. A control unit forms a three-dimensional image of the specimen and sets, in that image, stimulation sites in the specimen to be irradiated with a laser beam serving as a stimulation beam by the stimulation optical system at a plurality of different positions in the optical axis direction. The LCOS-SLM modulates the laser beam such that the stimulation sites are irradiated with the laser beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluorescence observation device, a domed base and a fluorescence microscope. The fluorescence observation device includes a dome, a multi-angle light-emitting unit and a controller unit. The dome includes a transparent thermal insulation layer and a heat sink layer. The multi-angle light-emitting unit includes multiple directional narrow light field electro-luminescence devices thermally connected to the heat sink layer and adapted to emit light at different angles to pass through the transparent thermal insulation layer. The narrow light field electro-luminescence devices are selectively activated to emit light by the controller unit, so that the illumination angle of the multi-angle light-emitting unit can be adjusted. The fluorescence observation device can be combined with a base to constitute the domed base. Alternatively, narrow light field electro-luminescence devices are mounted on the base.

Abstract: A microscope and imaging method in which a layer of the sample is illuminated by a thin strip of light and the sample is viewed perpendicular to the plane of the strip of light. The depth of the strip of light thus essentially determines the depth of focus of the system. To record the image, the object is displaced through the strip of light, which remains fixed in relation to the detector, and fluorescent and/or diffused light is captured by a planar detector. Objects that absorb or diffuse a large amount of light are viewed from several spatial directions. The three-dimensional images, which are captured from each direction can be combined retrospectively to form one image, in which the data is weighted according to its resolution. The resolution of the combined image is then dominated by the lateral resolution of the individual images.

Abstract: The invention provides lenses at low cost, which form an illumination optical system for endoscopes that has high efficiency and achieves improved light distribution. The illumination optical system for endoscopes is used in opposition to a light beam exit end 1 of a transmission means F for light emitted from a light source, and comprises, as viewed from the light beam exit end 1, a lens group 10 having positive power and an optical member 20 subsequent thereto which has a spherical surface 20a that functions as a lens, has a radius of curvature R, and satisfies the following condition: 1.48?S/?R2?4??(1) where R is the radius of curvature of the spherical surface, in mm, and S is a surface area of the spherical surface, in mm2.

Abstract: A line confocal microscope system, comprising an illumination system with a source of collimated light and a line forming optics arranged to provide a line shaped illumination area to be scanned over a sample, an image receiving system, and two or more objective lenses that are interchangeable in the optical path to provide different magnification, wherein the objective lenses have different aperture diameters, and the illumination system comprises a beam shape transformer arranged in between the source of collimated light and the line forming optics to selectively transform the cross-sectional shape of the collimated beam of light transmitted to the line forming optics to a predetermined shape in response to the back aperture diameter of the objective lens that is arranged in the optical path.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for illuminating a surface to be observed microscopically using a retractable beamsplitter. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of coaxial illumination when the beamsplitter is positioned in the operator's line of sight. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of non-coaxial illumination without reducing the amount of illumination that reaches the operator when the beamsplitter is retracted from the operator's line of sight. As a result a single system can be used effectively to provide various types of illumination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a microscope in which excitation light is focused on, or beamed to, different points of a specimen, in which an intensity of the excitation light is point-specifically varied and in which an intensity of the light reflected by said specimen in at least one spectral range is measured point-specifically and quantitatively. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the intensity and/or a spectral composition of the excitation light beamed to a specific point of said specimen is automatically adjusted by a regulating device on the basis of information previously gained from measured data of said specimen concerning an estimated or actual intensity of the light reflected in the spectral range by said point such that an integral of the intensity of the light reflected in the spectral range by this point during a pixel dwell time is within a predefined value interval. The invention also relates to a microscope.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for a confocal fluorescence detection system has an input channel defined by a body of the microfluidic device, a sample concentration section defined by the body of the microfluidic device and in fluid connection with the input channel, a mixing section defined by the body of the microfluidic device and in fluid connection with the concentration section, and a detection region that is at least partially transparent to illumination light of the confocal fluorescence detection system and at least partially transparent to fluorescent light when emitted from a sample under observation as the sample flows through the detection region.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provide for an optical microscope apparatus including a light source, a base unit, a rotary monochromatic dispersion unit, a condenser, a stage, an objective, a tubular assembly and an ocular assembly. In a preferred embodiment, light travels from the light source sequentially through each of these seven components, producing an image of the contents of a slide on the stage to a user looking through the ocular assembly. In the base unit, in place of a standard mirror which would direct the light vertically up into the scope along the z-axis, a right angle piece of single crystal Calcite, known as Iceland Spar is used, which has a birefringent affect upon the light as it passes up through the scope.

Abstract: A slit 9 having a predetermined length is formed in a mirror 8 and an illumination light L of illumination part 10 irradiates an observation area E in a manner of zero-angle illumination to an optical axis K. The illumination part is movable to form an oblique path of the illumination light L which passes through the slit 9. A shadow appears due to the oblique path of the illumination light L and it facilitates a stereoscopic observation.

Abstract: An objective changer having incident-light illumination for light microscopes, including: at least two microscope objectives for examining a specimen, a movable carrier, on which the microscope objectives are mounted, an immovable carrier, which is adapted for mounting on a base body of the microscope, wherein the movable carrier is adapted for defined positioning thereof relatively to the immovable carrier, and at least one illuminating means for illuminating the specimen. The objective changer includes at least one transfer interface for transferring energy for illuminating the specimen is provided on the immovable carrier, at least one energy connector, which is rigidly connected to the movable carrier, is provided for receiving energy to illuminate the specimen, the energy connector is connected to an illuminating means, and by positioning the movable carrier relatively to the immovable carrier, a line engagement can be established between the transfer interface and an energy connector.