Abstract: The invention enables construction of a microscope that has one or more advantageous characteristics as compared to previous microscopes. The microscope can be small and lightweight and, in particular, sufficiently small and light weight to be portable (e.g., smaller and far lighter than probe station microscopes used for microscopic liquid crystal analysis of a semiconductor device). The microscope can include a small and lightweight bellows that provides zoom capability. The microscope and/or a tripod that is used with the microscope can be implemented to provide objective lens position control capability (with any number of translational and/or rotational degrees of freedom). The microscope can include apparatus for ejecting a hot gas from the microscope to heat a specimen being observed with the microscope.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling temperature in a workpiece chuck are described. A fluid circulation system circulates a temperature control fluid, such as an engineered HFE fluid, through te workpiece chuck. A fluid recovery system coupled to the fluid circulation system recovers a portion of the temperature control fluid from the fluid circulation system by circulating a gas through the fluid circulation system including fluid tubes and fluid passages in the chuck. The gas, which can be air, carries a portion of residual or excess fluid through the fluid circulation system as it is circulated. The residual fluid is carried back to a reservoir such that it can continue to be used to control temperature of the chuck. Where gas and temperature control fluid vapors are displaced from the reservoir, they are routed through a suction line heat exchanger which condenses the vapor. The gas and condensed fluid are separated in a fluid separator.

Abstract: A system for and method of controlling the temperature of a flat workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer are disclosed. The workpiece is mounted on a workpiece chuck which is mounted over a base between the chuck and a host machine such as a wafer prober used to test integrated circuits on a wafer. The chuck includes an upper portion on which the workpiece is mounted. The temperature of the upper portion of the chuck is controlled to control the temperature of the workpiece. The temperature of the base is controlled to reduce the amount of heat flow between the chuck and the host machine. A power and control system includes a switching power supply which provides power to system components including heaters in the chuck used to heat the workpiece. A series of filters removes electrical noise generated by the switching power supply such that low-noise operation is realized.

Abstract: By mounting a projection lens to a first supporting member for fixing spatial light modulators, polarization beam splitters and a cross dichroic prism, and providing a second supporting member having a thermal expansion coefficient larger than that of the first supporting member between the projection lens and the first supporting member, afluctuation of distance between the spatial light modulators and the projection lens due to heat generated by a light source lamp of a projection type display apparatus and temperature change in use environment can be canceled so that an optimum projected image having nothing to do with being out of focus can always be obtained.

Abstract: A Vibration damping device for a microscope comprises a housing. In the housing a foam rubber defining a cavity is formed which encloses a weight. The foam rubber has a plurality of interconnected pores. The housing is of the vibration damping device has in one embodiment a rectangular shape.

Abstract: A single cell isolation apparatus is provided having a base plate with at least one micromachined well therein, a micromachined membrane, and a housing for holding the other components of the apparatus. The apparatus also may include a gel deposited above the base plate, a second membrane intermediate the base plate and the gel, and a filter above the gel, with the micromachined membrane being above the filter. Each micromachined well associated with the apparatus has a tapered sidewall, with the upper diameter corresponding to the average size of the type of cell attempting to be isolated through the use of the apparatus, and a lower diameter which is less than the upper diameter. The gel component of the apparatus is a nitrocellulose gel. The filter is permeable to cellular products, and preferably is fabricated from paper. The second membrane provides fluid for the gel necessary for maintaining the gel's physical properties.

Abstract: An enhanced scanning probe microscope is provided with means for controlling the atmosphere surrounding the probe tip and the sample or surface to be scanned. Additional enhancements include a tip holder which can be tuned to reflect the laser light of the apparatus on the photodiode, a brace to stabilize the optical microscope relative to the sample and a mirror placed to allow visualization of the sample and tip from the side. Also provided is an enhanced method of nanolithography using an enhanced scanning probe microscope in which it is possible to control the atmosphere surrounding the probe tip and the substrate to be patterned or etched.

Abstract: A microscope with an objective turret (2) carrying an objective (1) and with a specimen holder (4) serving to receive a specimen (3), in order to assure an undesired transport of heat between the specimen (3) and the objective (1), is characterized by the fact that all objectives (1) carried by the objective turret (2) are simultaneously adjusted for temperature by means of the objective turret (2).

Abstract: A system for and method of controlling the temperature of a flat workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer are disclosed. The workpiece is mounted on a workpiece chuck which is mounted over a base between the chuck and a host machine such as a wafer prober used to test integrated circuits on a wafer. The chuck includes an upper portion on which the workpiece is mounted. The temperature of the upper portion of the chuck is controlled to control the temperature of the workpiece. The temperature of the base is controlled to reduce the amount of heat flow between the chuck and the host machine. A power and control system includes a switching power supply which provides power to system components including heaters in the chuck used to heat the workpiece. A series of filters removes electrical noise generated by the switching power supply such that low-noise operation is realized.

Abstract: A microscope slide stainer includes a waste bin with an open top, and supporting notches arranged on the top edges of opposite sides. A slide supporting rack is supported in a horizontal position across the top of the bin in the supporting notches. The rack includes a pair of rails extending along a horizontal base. Brackets arranged on top of the rails define a plurality of spaced-apart slide holding positions. A hot plate is positioned between the rails and spaced above the horizontal base. A control box is attached to the hot plate for temperature control. Pins extending from opposite sides of the hot plate ride in direction-changing slots in the rails to enable the hot plate to be moved between a raised position engaged against the bottom of the slides, and a lowered position disengaged from the slides. Grooves are arranged on top surface of the hot plate to prevent the wet slides from sticking to it. A cover is removably positioned over the rack to define a heating and humidity chamber.

Abstract: A system for controlling an international mobile telecommunications - 2000 (IMT-2000) base station includes: a base transceiver station (BTS) for providing asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells; an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch for performing a switching of the ATM cells; and a BTS interface subsystem (BIS) for interfacing the base transceiver station (BTS) with the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch, wherein the BTS interface subsystem (BIS) includes a plurality of assembly symbol subsystems (ASSs) for receiving the ATM cells transmitted from the base transceiver station (BTS) and performing a type conversion of the ATM cells to output a type converted ATM cells to the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch.

Abstract: A temperature control unit provides means for observing samples under microscopy at greatly elevated and greatly reduced temperatures. The temperature control unit is constructed to insulate a sample from ambient temperatures while providing a highly heat conductive substrate for the sample that provides for rapid heat transfer to/from the sample. A dry gas provided a positive pressure around the sample, as compared to atmospheric pressure to help prevent atmospheric contract with the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus using electrophoresis provides accurate manipulation of an object on a microscope stage for further manipulations add reactions. The present invention also provides an inexpensive and easily accessible means to move an object without damage to the object. A plurality of electrodes are coupled to the stage in an array whereby the electrode array allows for distinct manipulations of the electric field for accurate manipulations of the object. There is an electrode array control coupled to the plurality of electrodes for manipulating the electric field. In an alternative embodiment, a chamber is provided on the stage to hold the object. The plurality of electrodes are positioned in the chamber, and the chamber is filled with fluid. The system can be automated using visual servoing, which manipulates the control parameters, i.e., x, y stage, applying the field, etc., after extracting the significant features directly from image data.

Abstract: A controlled low temperature chamber for a microscope has a vacuum chamber in a housing. The housing has a top panel and a bottom panel. A mounting in the chamber mounts a sample in a manner whereby the sample is microscopically observable. The mounting includes a base member, a pair of spaced supports extending perpendicularly from the base member and a pair of spaced platforms supported by the supports. Each of the platforms has an upper surface on which the sample rests and a spaced undersurface beneath the sample. A temperature control system maintains a specified temperature in the chamber, applies a controlled temperature gradient on the sample and moves the gradient along the sample in a controlled manner, thereby directionally solidifying and melting the sample, as desired.

Abstract: A temperature controlled culture dish apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus consists of a culture dish assembly, a stage insert assembly, and a temperature controller. The culture dish assembly has a culture dish bottom which is manufactured from glass of high optical transmissivity coated with a transparent electrically conductive material. The biological specimen is grown directly on the culture dish bottom. The culture dish assembly is then placed into a recess in the stage insert assembly for microscopic examination. The biological specimen is not disrupted or transferred from the culture dish in which it was grown for purposes of examination. Power wires on the floor of the recess in the stage insert assembly contact bus bars on the transparent electrically conductive coating material. A thermistor on the floor of the recess in the stage insert assembly contacts the bottom of the culture dish bottom.

Abstract: A heater assembly for microscope objectives is disclosed. The assembly includes a loop-shaped flexible heating element sized and constructed to surround and operatively engage microscope objectives of different sizes. The heating element is fixed to a rigid housing. A thermistor is fixed in one end section of a slidable, tubular member arranged with the housing to translate towards and away and into and out of engagement of the thermistor with microscope objectives. Electrical conducting wiring connects the heating element and thermistor with a controllable heat energy for regulating the heat energy source to the microscope objective. The housing also supports a lock screw for securing the tubular member with the housing.

Abstract: A system for maintaining desired temperature control of a specimen observed under a microscope includes an objective lens heater comprising a heating element placed within a heat sleeve, which surrounds the objective lens casing. When an electric current is applied, the heating element is activated, heating the objective lens to a desired temperature. The heated objective lens may be used in combination with a stage heater to ensure that the specimen will be maintained at a desired physiological temperature during observation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a microscope stage assembly for use in combination with magnification apparatus. The stage assembly includes a support assembly, temperature control assembly and fluid control assembly. The stage assembly provides for continuous visual observation of an object being magnified while at the same time controlling the thermal and fluid environment of the object. Physical and chemical changes to an object can be viewed continuously.

Abstract: A circular tissue recording chamber has a cavity therein for retaining tissue or cell samples immersed in a liquid bath. The temperature of the bath is maintained at a selected level by a transparent heater positioned beneath the bath, wherein the heater is comprised of a grid of fine wires supported on a transparent mylar substrate. Liquid is introduced into the bath through a serpentine passageway also in proximity with the heater, whereby the temperature of the liquid is raised to that of the bath as it traverses the passageway. The recording chamber has a thickness of approximately 1 cm so as to be readily usable with a high magnification microscope.

Abstract: The stage assembly for use in a microscope comprises a mechanical stage having an opening therein, a stage support plate having an opening therethrough, a support for supporting the stage support plate in the opening in the mechanical stage, a device for heating/cooling or warming the stage support plate mounted to the stage support plate, a specimen chamber/coverslip assembly mounted on the stage support plate above the opening therethrough, a perfusion fluid preheater/cooler assembly mounted on the support plate, a perfusion fluid tubing extends through the preheater/cooler assembly and to a specimen chamber in the specimen chamber/coverslip assembly, and a conduit for withdrawing perfusion fluid from the specimen chamber.