Abstract: For roughness measurements, a passive roughness probe 118 having a probe tip 119 is exchanged into the measuring probe head of the coordinate measuring apparatus in lieu of the probe pin having a probe ball which is otherwise used to make coordinate measurements. The generation of the measurement points takes place while using the already available measured value transducers 23 in the probe head of the coordinate measuring apparatus. The desired surface characteristic variables are computed from the stored quasi-analog measured point sequence with the aid of a corresponding software module.

Abstract: The conventional grating is substituted by one or more curved prisms in a concentric spectrometer of the type derived from the Offner mirror objective. The curved prisms are known as Fery prisms. The deviations from the concentric form are used as a corrective device. The spectral apparatus is especially suited as an imaging spectrometer having a detector array because the two-dimensional image can be formed in the direction of the spatial coordinate as well as the spectral coordinate without distortions and curvatures.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a stress-free support which includes two parts 1 and 2 having different linear thermal expansion coefficients. One part can, for example, be a mirror support made of Zerodur and the second part can be an aluminum support structure. A compensating stress-free support with flexure joints (121 to 126, 211 to 213, 214 to 216) increases the stiffness with respect to tilting. The stress-free support has a low weight and a low structural elevation. The entire arrangement is planar.

Abstract: The precision table has at least one linear drive for the displacement of a cover plate relative to a baseplate for motion in at least one coordinate axis, wherein the linear drive has at least one magnet and at least one coil. The resultant displacement force acts in the center of the plate that is to be moved.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring apparatus for measuring a workpiece with a probe head having a probe element for contacting the workpiece. The coordinate measuring apparatus includes: a plurality of sensors with each sensor supplying a signal indicative of a coordinate measurement position and a processing unit. An interface device between the plurality of sensors and the processing unit receives the signals and supplies a plurality of output signals to the processing unit representing respective position measurement values at any given instant of time. The processing unit includes at least one smoothing function block for continuously receiving a portion of the position measurement values. The smoothing function block is adapted to determine a final position measurement value (X.sub.E, Y.sub.E, Z.sub.E or R.sub.E) of the contact point of the probe element on the workpiece in a defined standstill of the apparatus by averaging a defined number of the received position measurement values to form a mean value.

Abstract: A cryostatic microtome with an automatic approach of the preparation automatically stops the feed movement between the microtome knife and a frozen preparation towards each other upon a mechanical contact between the knife and the preparation. An electrical voltage of a few volts is applied between the microtome knife and the preparation. A small current which appears, due to the intrinsic conductivity of the preparation, upon mechanical contact between the preparation and the microtome knife, and a smaller voltage drop at the preparation resulting therefrom, is current amplified by means of a preamplifier connected as an impedance converter and subsequently measured. The feed movement between the preparation and the microtome knife is automatically stopped when the voltage at the amplifier output falls below a predefined threshold voltage.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an adapter connector for connecting an insertable connector plug to a receiving socket. The adapter connector includes a body having an adapter socket defining a hollow cylinder for receiving the insertable connector plug therein. A clamping device presses in the hollow cylinder to tightly clamp the insertable connector plug therein. The body also has an adapter connector plug provided thereon to include an external cylinder with a projecting latch nose for insertion into the receiving socket.

Abstract: In a device for compensating a torque that depends on rotation angle and results from the rotational motion of a mass around a rotation axis, the rotational motion is converted into a linear displacement of a movably mounted displacement unit along a displacement axis in a defined manner depending on the rotation angle. The torque acting at any given time is compensated by an elastic compensating element that exerts a force opposite to the linear displacement of the displacement unit. Such a device is particularly suitable for compensation of torques that depend on rotation angle in medical stands.

Abstract: An illuminating device for a stereo microscope having an objective with variable imaging focal intercept includes first coupling mechanism, which effects a coupling between the imaging focal intercept of the objective and the likewise adjustable focal intercept of the illuminating optical system, separate from the observation optics, in such a manner that the illuminating focal intercept is in agreement with the imaging focal intercept of the objective. Moreover, adjusting mechanism is provided for the defined adjustment of the diameter of the illuminated field. In particular, the illuminating device is suitable for a surgical microscope.

Abstract: A catadioptric reduction objective has a concave mirror 19', a beam splitter 150' and several lens groups (100', 200'; 300', 400'). The system diaphragm 40' is mounted between beam splitter surface 15' and image plane 36' and especially within the last lens group 400'. NA=0.7; for UV, DUV; image side or both sides telecentric; also achromatized.

Abstract: An apochromatic wide-angle objective has an improved correction of transverse chromatic aberration while at the same providing a high correction of other errors. These corrections are obtained utilizing long-crown and short-flint glasses.

Abstract: The control of a coordinate measuring apparatus includes a device for correcting the pregiven desired path when the actual geometry of the workpiece 17 to be measured deviates from the desired geometry. This device is a two-stage controller which includes a first control stage 27 which operates in response to a control signal proportional to the deflection of the moveable probe pin 7 and controls out deviations in the direction of the normal vector Ni on the workpiece surface. The second control stage 28 becomes active only when the deflection Ai of the probe pin 7 or the force F acting on the workpiece reaches or exceeds a predetermined amount. The second control stage 28 then controls out deviations in the direction of the probe deflection Ai.

Abstract: A microscope has the optically imaging portion of its optical arrangement separated from the object to be observed. The microscope has at least one force exerting drive element for the compensation of vibrations acting on the optical arrangement from its surroundings in at least one direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The drive element is installed in or on the microscope.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method wherein the probe head of a coordinate measuring apparatus is driven in a controlled manner in accordance with desired data. The control data, which are necessary for the control, are prepared in the computer of the coordinate measuring apparatus as a point sequence (S1 to Sm) from the geometric data (G1 to Gn) as, for example CAD data. These CAD data describe the work profile to be scanned. For this purpose, the computer encodes the speed profile which ensures a jolt-free movement and a measurement time as short as possible by appropriately selecting the spacings between the points (S1 to Sm) of the control data.

Abstract: An apparatus for scanning and digitizing image objects includes a conventional scanning unit for processing individual image objects with the aid of a first electro-optical scanning unit. Furthermore, an optional roll-film unit is provided for processing roll-film objects. The roll-film unit is optionally usable in combination with the conventional scanning unit. The roll-film unit too utilizes at least the first electro-optical scanning unit of the conventional scanner to digitize the roll-film object. The apparatus is especially suited for use for digitizing aerial images in individual image form or in roll-film form in the area of photogrammetry.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for manually measuring a workpiece with a manually guided coordinate measuring apparatus. The apparatus includes a carrier for a probe which, in turn, carries a probe ball 12 on a deflectable probe pin 11. The carrier is movably journalled in several spatial directions. The probe ball 12 is brought into contact with the geometric element of the workpiece 30' to be measured and is guided therealong in continuous contact therewith. Signals (.phi., .psi., z) of coordinate measuring devices are generated with the movement of the probe. Signals (u, v, w) of a transducer of the probe are generated with a deflection of the probe pin 11. Control signals (80 to 84) are generated from the first signals and/or the second signals and these control signals characterize the start and the end of the measuring operation on the geometric element and the validity of the coordinate measurement values (X, Y, Z).

Abstract: The invention relates to a one-hand control unit for controlling movements in optical instruments. The control unit corresponds in its configuration essentially to a computer mouse and has a mouse roller ball 2 on its lower side, an additional rotational transducer 3 at the thumb position and two or three keys (5, 6, 7) on the side of the mouse lying opposite to the rotational transducer 3. The keys (5, 6, 7) are for actuation by the middle finger, index finger and little finger, respectively. The mouse roller ball 2 and the rotational transducer 3 preferably function to drive continuously movable elements such as the illuminating field diaphragm 13, the aperture diaphragm 12, the motorized focus 20 or a motorized object stage 21. The keys (4, 5, 6, 7) are provided for driving discretely adjustable elements such as the objective-lens turret 14 or the incident-light reflector turret 15 or for switching over between coarse drive and fine drive for a motor-driven focus drive.

Abstract: An adapter is provided for connecting a stereoscopic endoscope having intertwined stereo beam paths to electronic documentation devices. The adapter has a releasable connection to the endoscope at a location at which the stereoscopic component images are not yet completely separated. A second releasable connection between the first releasable connection and the end of the adapter can be provided which faces toward the electronic documentation devices in order to provide a variable adaptation to different optics diameters of the stereoscopic endoscope.

Abstract: For the use of an Operation Microscope, in computer-supported stereotactic surgery, a set of preoperative diagnostic data of a patient is first generated by means of an image-forming preoperative diagnostic procedure. The surgeon then plans the operation path on a central control unit and determines which of the stored diagnostic images are to be reflected into the observation optics of the operation microscope. During the operation, the operation microscope, arranged on a motorized support system, is caused to travel in a motorized manner along the established operation path, and the diagnostic images corresponding to the prior selection are selectively reflected into the observation optics of the operation microscope without a correlation having to be carried out of the respective individual coordinate systems.

Abstract: The handle of the handle assembly can be detachably mounted in at least two different orientations relative to a defined apparatus axis. Furthermore, actuating elements of the particular instrument can be reached without difficulty via a suitable cutout in the handle without it being necessary for the operator to significantly change the manual hold on the handle. The handle assembly is especially advantageous on a surgical microscope.