Patents Assigned to Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
  • Publication number: 20100108188
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for filling a container (5) with bulk material (3), comprising a filling device with an outflow opening (6) for the bulk material (3) and a container (5) with a filling opening, through which the bulk material (3) passes into the container (5). According to the invention, an arrangement of the abovementioned type is equipped with a measuring device (13) for the repeated detection of image data from the surface (7) of the bulk material (3) in the container (5) during filling and for the repeated determination of filling state values h which are equivalent to the level of the filled bulk material in predefined regions of the bulk material surface, and with a signal processing device for generating control commands from the filling state values h for positioning the outflow opening (6) and the filling opening relative to one another and/or for influencing the quantity of bulk material (3) which flows out of the outflow opening (6) per unit time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH
    Inventors: Nico Correns, Christoph Nieten, Michael Rode
  • Patent number: 7709809
    Abstract: Microscope with higher resolution with partial spatial superposition in the illumination by an excitation beam and a de-excitation beam and/or a switching beam in a fluorescing sample, whereby the light from the sample is deflected, whereby, in the excitation beam and/or in the de-excitation and/or the switching beam, at least one combination of devices exercising circular and radial influence on the spatial phase is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Kempe
  • Patent number: 7706090
    Abstract: A diaphragm device with which individual wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths in the path of a beam of spectrally dispersed light can be suppressed. Such a diaphragm device comprises at least one array of diaphragms, wherein the individual diaphragms of the array are arranged in a definite relation to each other and may be coupled in the path of the beam and each diaphragm of the array in the coupled state is arranged in a given relation to an individual wavelength or a range of wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Steinert, Thomas Mehner, Volker Gerstner
  • Patent number: 7706059
    Abstract: A tube attachment for microscopes which facilitates visual microscope work particularly over extended periods and which can be used universally for different types of microscopes and, at the same time, can be produced economically using simple manufacturing techniques, it is suggested that a tube attachment is constructed as a holder which can be adjusted with respect to height and, optionally, with respect to angle and can be fastened directly to a binocular tube of a microscope. The holder includes two carriers which are displaceable axially relative to one another and which have a forehead rest and a chin support or one carrier with the forehead rest for a user, and devices are provided at the carriers for clamping the adjusting movements of the carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Freerk, Cornelia Bendlin, Anke Vogelgsang
  • Patent number: 7706076
    Abstract: An optical system for arranging between a light source and a field diaphragm in an illumination beam path of a microscope comprises n imaging optical elements with focal lengths fi and Abbe numbers ?i (i=1, . . . , n). The following relationship is met for the optical system: ? i = 1 n ? h i f i · v i ? 0.07 , where hi is one half of the bundle diameter of a bundle of light rays proceeding from a point of the light source at the entrance to the imaging optical element i.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Brehm, Rolf Wartmann
  • Patent number: 7701632
    Abstract: Method and arrangement for changing the spectral composition and/or intensity of illumination light and/or specimen light in an adjustable manner, wherein a spatial separation into radiation components of different polarization is carried out with a first polarizing device, a spectral, spatial splitting of at least one radiation component is carried out with first dispersion device, the polarization state of at least one part of the spectrally spatially split radiation component is changed, and a spatial separation and/or combination of radiation components of different polarization are/is carried out by a second polarizing device, wherein a spatial combination of radiation components which are changed and not changed with respect to their polarization state is advantageously carried out by a second dispersion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Wolleschensky
  • Patent number: 7692857
    Abstract: The present invention serves to vary and adjust the transmitted light illumination in microscopes, particularly with respect to the numerous, different illumination situations. The device, according to the invention comprises modules for darkfield illumination, brightfield illumination, and/or diffuse illumination and/or for adapting the object field in which an illumination unit can be selectively coupled to different modules and in which actuators are provided for implementing the adjustments within the modules and for producing the desired connections, these actuators being operated by means of operating elements of a control unit. The adjustments within the modules and the implemented connections are detected and are stored in the control unit so as to be reproducible. The proposed solution makes possible a broad application by means of an ergonomic arrangement of the operating elements and adjusting and/or changing the illumination situations in a simple and reproducible manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Knoblich, Tobias Kaufhold, Detlef Hein
  • Patent number: 7692879
    Abstract: A correction device for an imaging optical arrangement exhibiting a light path (1), in particular for a microscope, that exhibits at least one plane-parallel transparent plate (9), which is held in a mounting plate in the image beam path (1) and is propelable around at least one axle in a tipping and/or a swiveling motion, in order in adjust a definite parallel misalignment of the beams in the image beam path (1) by a change in the tipping situation of the plate (9). A confocal microscope with such a correction device exhibits a confocal screen (4), which illustrates a specimen mark (10), whereby the plane-parallel plate (9) is placed in front of the detector unit (2) in the light path (1), in order to center the illustration of the aperture diaphragm on the detector unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Steinert, Matthias Wald, Saskia Pergande
  • Patent number: 7692790
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a grating spectrometer system for polychromator spectrometer arrangements and monochromator spectrometer arrangements. The grating spectrometer system, according to the invention, comprises a light source for illuminating the sample to be analyzed, a diffraction grating, imaging optical elements, a detector arranged in the image plane, and a controlling and regulating unit. Individual light sources, preferably LEDs having different spectral characteristics, whose spectral range covers a plurality of diffraction orders in the image plane are used as light source. Only those LEDs which do not illuminate the same location of the individual detectors arranged in the image plane in any diffraction order are switched on individually or in groups by the controlling and regulating unit. The proposed solution is suitable for polychromator spectrometer arrangements and for monochromator spectrometer arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Kerstan, Nico Correns
  • Patent number: 7688504
    Abstract: Microscope, in particular an optical scanning microscope with illumination of a specimen via a beam splitter, which is arranged in an objective pupil and includes at least a reflecting first portion and at least a transmitting second portion, whereby the reflecting portion serves to couple in the illumination light and the transmitting portion serves to pass the detection light in the detection direction or the transmitting portion serves to couple in the illumination light and the reflecting portion serves to couple out the detection light, with a first scanning arrangement. Means are provided in the detection light path for the overlay of at least one further scanning arrangement for illumination and detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Wolleschensky
  • Patent number: 7688442
    Abstract: A method using fluorescence microscopy for image evaluation using a laser scanning microscope in which an at least partially spectrally resolved detection of the fluorescence spectrum occurs. Reference spectra are used for spectral demixing. Temporally and/or spectrally variable dyes and/or dye combinations are employed for recording of the reference spectra. Finally, the recorded reference spectra are inspected for image evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Wolleschensky, Bernhard Zimmermann, Richard Ankerhold
  • Patent number: 7679045
    Abstract: Method for correcting control of an optical scanner in a laser scanning microscope for imaging of a sample by scanning, the microscope guiding at least one beam path section of an illumination beam path of the microscope over the sample from an illumination device to the sample and/or an imaging beam path of the microscope from the sample to an acquisition device of the microscope in order to obtain an image of the sample, generating control signals corresponding to a predefined target movement using parameters and/or a transfer function of the scanner that are used for control and/or regulation and moving the at least one beam path section in response to the control signals, whereby an image of a reference sample having predefined structures imageable by the microscope is obtained by generating control signals corresponding to a predefined target test movement and moving the at least one beam path section in response to the control signals, thereby obtaining the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventor: Joerg Steinert
  • Patent number: 7671984
    Abstract: An arrangement for measuring the diffuse reflection of samples and a method for internal recalibration of the measuring head. The spectrometric measuring head with a device for recalibration comprises a housing which is provided with a window and which contains an illumination source, a spectrometer arrangement and at least two standards for internal recalibration. The two standards can be swiveled into the beam path of the measuring head selectively so that the measurement light emitted by the illumination source can be used in its entirety for recalibration. A processor for acquiring and processing measured values and an interface to a bus system are arranged in the housing. Accordingly, relatively time-consuming calibration of the measuring head at the place of use is required only before putting into operation or at longer time intervals. By the internal recalibrations, it is possible to prevent changes in the measured values in long-term operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Schebesta, Werner Hoyme, Michael Rode, Nico Correns, Martin Goetz
  • Patent number: 7672057
    Abstract: A microscope objective having at least four lenses or groups of lenses and which can be used to improve image contrast. According to the invention, a phase plate, aligned concentrically to the optical axis, can be integrated into and taken out of the air space between the first lens and the second lens, as viewed from the object side. The defined arrangement of the phase plate and the associated shift of the real pupil into the air space between the first two lenses or groups of lenses, respectively, of the microscope objective allows a microscope objective, initially designed as a bright-field variant, to be redesigned as a phase contrast variant with relative ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH
    Inventors: Renhu Shi, Anke Vogelgsang, Thomas Bocher, Werner Kleinschmidt
  • Patent number: 7660449
    Abstract: A method for measuring residual protein in a cellular specimen including obtaining a low magnification image of a candidate object of interest, filtering the candidate object of interest pixels with a low pass filter, morphologically processing the candidate object of interest pixels to identify artifact pixels, identifying the candidate object of interest by eliminating artifact pixels, acquiring a higher magnification image of the subsample for the candidate object of interest, transforming pixels of the higher magnification image in a first color space to a second color space to differentiate higher magnification candidate object of interest pixels from background pixels, identifying an object of interest from the candidate object of interest pixels in the second color space, and determining the optical density of the protein in a cell contained in a subsample, wherein the optical density is indicative of the residual component of a cellular protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH
    Inventors: Presley Hays, Michal L. Peri, Douglas Harrington
  • Patent number: 7655888
    Abstract: A scanning microscope with a light source which emits illumination light for illuminating a specimen, with at least a first detector for detecting the detection light proceeding from the specimen, and with an objective through which the specimen can be illuminated and detected, wherein the objective is arranged in an illumination beam path and in a detection beam path, and with a second detector for non-descanned detection of the detection light proceeding from the specimen, wherein a compact assembly is provided which comprises a housing which is attached to a microscope stand and which has at least one receptacle for a microscope objective for the illumination beam path and/or detection beam path of the scanning microscope, wherein at least the second detector is arranged in the housing and can be acted upon by specimen light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Schadwinkel, Hubert Wahl, Dieter Schau
  • Patent number: 7656583
    Abstract: A beam corradiator for combining two radiation beams, preferably movable beams independent from each other in at least one direction, to scan and/or influence a sample, preferably a manipulation system and an imaging system, with a partially reflecting layer being provided for the corradiation, wherein the thickness of the layer is provided with a preferably consistent incline or decline over the optically effective cross-section of the beam corradiatior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Goelles, Ralf Netz, Marcus Heidkamp, Joerg-Michael Funk
  • Patent number: 7651856
    Abstract: To enable contactless laser microdissection in a closed container (10, 11), for example in the form of a Petri dish, it is proposed according to the invention to use a holding device which comprises a receiving portion (4) for arrangement in the container (10, 11) and a holding portion (1) for arrangement externally of the container (10, 11). The receiving portion (4) serves to receive at least one receiving means (9), which serves in turn to receive or collect at least one biological specimen obtained by laser microdissection from biological material (15) located in the container (10, 11). The holding portion (1) is coupled to the receiving portion (4) in contactless manner, for example by means of magnetic coupling, in such a way that, by moving the holding portion (1), the receiving portion (4), together with the receiving means (9) held thereby, may be positioned in the closed container (10, 11) precisely over the biological specimen in each case to be received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH
    Inventors: Raimund Schuetze, Bernd Saegmueller, Kurt Harms, Yilmaz Niyaz
  • Patent number: 7649683
    Abstract: Process for observing at least one sample region with a light raster microscope by a relative movement between the illumination light and sample via a first scanner along at least one scanning axis essentially perpendicular to the illumination axis wherein several illuminated sample points lie on a line and are detected simultaneously with a spatially resolving detector. At an angle to the plane of the relative movement, a second scanner is moved and an image acquisition takes place by coupling the movement of the first and second scanners and a three-dimensional sampling movement being done by the illumination of the sample. The second scanner is coupled to the movement of the first scanner such that straight and/or curved lines and/or plane and/or curved surfaces are scanned which are extended along at least one scanning direction of the first scanner as well as along the scanning direction of the second scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Engelmann, Joerg-Michael Funk, Joerg Steinert, Bernhard Zimmermann, Stefan Wilhelm, Joerg Engel, Ulrich Meisel
  • Patent number: D608787
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignees: Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Christopher Power, Markus Turber, Daniel Mauch, Bernhard Goetze, Fabian Hermann, Frank Hecht, Joerg Engel, Steffen Suepple, Stefan Brandys