Patents by Inventor Franz Merz
Franz Merz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230418036Abstract: A surgical microscope includes an optical assembly to image an object plane with a microscope main objective system, through which a first stereoscopic partial beam path with a first optical axis and a second stereoscopic partial beam path with a second optical axis pass. An illumination device includes a light source assembly to provide illumination light in a luminous plane, with a radiant field stop, and an illumination optical unit which at least partially images a luminous object arranged in the luminous plane in the illumination beam path into a luminous image plane located in the microscope main objective system or for the vertical distance z of which from the microscope main objective system on the side facing the object region or the side facing away from the object region, in relation to a focal length f of the microscope main objective system, the following applies: z/f<10%.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Daniel Kolster, Manuel Steidle, Peter Reimer, André Mueller, Franz Merz
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Patent number: 10473905Abstract: A microscope having an observation beam path including a main objective, an OCT device including a first detection beam path, a wavefront measuring device including a second detection beam path, a first, a second and a third optics group is provided, wherein the first detection beam path contains the main objective and the first to third optics group, and the first to third optics group forms an afocal imaging optical unit of the first detection beam path and the second detection beam path contains the main objective, the first optics group and the second optics group, and the main objective and the first and second optics group form an afocal imaging optical unit of the second detection beam path.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AGInventors: Artur Hoegele, Franz Merz, Christian Beder, Andre Mueller, Daniel Kolster, Peter Reimer
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Publication number: 20190155010Abstract: A microscope having an observation beam path including a main objective, an OCT device inlcuding a first detection beam path, a wavefront measuring device including a second detection beam path, a first, a second and a third optics group is provided, wherein the first detection beam path contains the main objective and the first to third optics group, and the first to third optics group forms an afocal imaging optical unit of the first detection beam path and the second detection beam path contains the main objective, the first optics group and the second optics group, and the main objective and the first and second optics group form an afocal imaging optical unit of the second detection beam path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Artur Hoegele, Franz Merz, Christian Beder, Andre Mueller, Daniel Kolster, Peter Reimer
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Patent number: 9568722Abstract: An illumination device for an optical viewing apparatus has a light source including a first individual light source and a second individual light source arranged in a plane. The first individual light source has a first midpoint and the second individual light source has a second midpoint. An axial direction is defined by a vector from the second midpoint to the first midpoint. An illumination optical unit defines an optical axis which is arranged perpendicularly to the plane and intersects the plane at an intersection point. The light source is imaged toward infinity by the illumination optical unit. The first individual light source has an extent along the axial direction. The midpoint is offset by an amount (?) in a positive direction along the axial direction relative to the intersection. The relationship 0.1*L1???1*L1 is satisfied for the offset.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AGInventors: Peter Reimer, Daniel Kolster, Franz Merz, Stefan Meinkuss
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Patent number: 9480399Abstract: An illumination device for an optical viewing apparatus defines an illumination beam path and includes an illumination light source having mutually independently controllable individual light sources arranged in a first plane in a two-dimensional array. The illumination device defines an illumination beam path and includes illumination optics defining an optical axis. The illumination optics form a second plane conjugated with respect to the first plane. A diaphragm unit is arranged in the second plane. The diaphragm unit has a plurality of apertures and the apertures are assigned to corresponding ones of the individual light sources.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AGInventors: Peter Reimer, Daniel Kolster, Franz Merz, Stefan Meinkuss
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Patent number: 9304306Abstract: An optical imaging system generates an image of an object plane and includes a lens system which, in turn, includes a main objective and a reduction optical unit between the main objective and the object plane. The reduction optical unit includes a first composite element with a positive refractive power and a second composite element with a negative refractive power. The first composite element includes a first and second lens. The second composite element includes a third and fourth lens. An object-side first main plane and an image-side second main plane are defined by the lens system. The optical imaging system defines an observation beam path which is guided through the lens system so that, in each of the first main plane and the second main plane, the observation beam path is at a distance from the optical axis of the lens system.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AGInventors: Franz Merz, Artur Hoegele
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Patent number: 9285576Abstract: A stereoscopic microscopic providing at least one pair of stereoscopic optical paths comprises an objective system, a first focusing lens having a first optical refractive power and a second focusing lens having a second optical refractive power and at least one actuator. The first optical refractive power and the second optical refractive have different signs. The objective system and the first and second focusing lenses are commonly traversed by the at least one pair of stereoscopic optical paths, respectively. The actuator shifts at least one of these first and second focusing lenses along the at least one pair of stereoscopic optical paths to change the working distance and/or to vary an optical refractive power of at least one of these first and second focusing lenses. The first focusing lens is immediately neighboring the objective system along the at least one pair of stereoscopic optical paths.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AGInventors: Franz Merz, Artur Hoegele
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Patent number: 9279970Abstract: An optical imaging system generates an image of an object plane and includes a lens system which, in turn, includes a main objective and a reduction optical unit ahead of the main objective. The lens system is aligned along an optical axis and the reduction optical unit includes a first lens with a positive refractive power and a second lens with a negative refractive power. An object-side first main plane and an image-side second main plane are defined by the lens system. The optical imaging system defines an observation beam path which is guided through the lens system so that, in the first main plane and in the second main plane, the observation beam path is at a distance (B) from the optical axis. The first lens is of a first material having a first Abbe number and the second lens is of a second material having a second Abbe number, wherein the first Abbe number is greater than the second Abbe number.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AGInventors: Franz Merz, Artur Hoegele
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Publication number: 20150374235Abstract: An illumination device for an optical viewing apparatus defines an illumination beam path and includes an illumination light source having mutually independently controllable individual light sources arranged in a first plane in a two-dimensional array. The illumination device defines an illumination beam path and includes illumination optics defining an optical axis. The illumination optics form a second plane conjugated with respect to the first plane. A diaphragm unit is arranged in the second plane. The diaphragm unit has a plurality of apertures and the apertures are assigned to corresponding ones of the individual light sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Peter Reimer, Daniel Kolster, Franz Merz, Stefan Meinkuss
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Publication number: 20150378142Abstract: An illumination device for an optical viewing apparatus has a light source including a first individual light source and a second individual light source arranged in a plane. The first individual light source has a first midpoint and the second individual light source has a second midpoint. An axial direction is defined by a vector from the second midpoint to the first midpoint. An illumination optical unit defines an optical axis which is arranged perpendicularly to the plane and intersects the plane at an intersection point. The light source is imaged toward infinity by the illumination optical unit. The first individual light source has an extent along the axial direction. The midpoint is offset by an amount (?) in a positive direction along the axial direction relative to the intersection. The relationship 0.1*L1???1*L1 is satisfied for the offset.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Peter Reimer, Daniel Kolster, Franz Merz, Stefan Meinkuss
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Publication number: 20150085358Abstract: An optical imaging system generates an image of an object plane and includes a lens system which, in turn, includes a main objective and a reduction optical unit between the main objective and the object plane. The reduction optical unit includes a first composite element with a positive refractive power and a second composite element with a negative refractive power. The first composite element includes a first and second lens. The second composite element includes a third and fourth lens. An object-side first main plane and an image-side second main plane are defined by the lens system. The optical imaging system defines an observation beam path which is guided through the lens system so that, in each of the first main plane and the second main plane, the observation beam path is at a distance from the optical axis of the lens system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Franz Merz, Artur Hoegele
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Publication number: 20150085357Abstract: An optical imaging system generates an image of an object plane and includes a lens system which, in turn, includes a main objective and a reduction optical unit ahead of the main objective. The lens system is aligned along an optical axis and the reduction optical unit includes a first lens with a positive refractive power and a second lens with a negative refractive power. An object-side first main plane and an image-side second main plane are defined by the lens system. The optical imaging system defines an observation beam path which is guided through the lens system so that, in the first main plane and in the second main plane, the observation beam path is at a distance (B) from the optical axis. The first lens is of a first material having a first Abbe number and the second lens is of a second material having a second Abbe number, wherein the first Abbe number is greater than the second Abbe number.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Franz Merz, Artur Hoegele
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Patent number: 8864311Abstract: Among other things, an illumination device (10) is described for one, two or more observation beam paths, each with an observation device having an observation beam bundle, in particular for an operating microscope, having at least one light source (12) for producing at least one illumination beam bundle for illuminating an object to be observed (13), in particular, an eye to be observed, wherein the at least one illumination beam bundle runs coaxially to an observation beam bundle. It is provided according to the invention, in order to be able to suppress disruptive reflections, that illumination device (10) has an illumination optics (11) that is constructed according to the Köhler principle of illumination, and in which at least one reflection diaphragm (18) is provided in order to avoid light reflected from the surface of an objective element (19). In addition, a correspondingly improved observation device is described.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2007Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AGInventors: Franz Merz, Peter Reimer, Fritz Straehle
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Publication number: 20130265637Abstract: A stereoscopic microscopic providing at least one pair of stereoscopic optical paths comprises an objective system, a first focusing lens having a first optical refractive power and a second focusing lens having a second optical refractive power and at least one actuator. The first optical refractive power and the second optical refractive have different signs. The objective system and the first and second focusing lenses are commonly traversed by the at least one pair of stereoscopic optical paths, respectively. The actuator shifts at least one of these first and second focusing lenses along the at least one pair of stereoscopic optical paths to change the working distance and/or to vary an optical refractive power of at least one of these first and second focusing lenses. The first focusing lens is immediately neighboring the objective system along the at least one pair of stereoscopic optical paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AGInventors: Franz MERZ, Artur HOEGELE
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Patent number: 8523359Abstract: An illumination device (10) is described for an observation device (100) having one, two or more observation beam paths (16, 17), each with at least one observation beam bundle, particularly for an operating microscope, the illumination device having at least one light source (11, 12) for producing at least one illumination beam path (14, 15) with at least one illumination beam bundle for illuminating an object to be observed, in particular, an eye to be observed, the illumination device (10) having at least one illumination optics unit, which has a collector (18, 22), and the at least one illumination beam path (14, 15) or the at least one illumination beam bundle running coaxially to an observation beam path (16, 17) or observation beam bundle.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AGInventors: Franz Merz, Artur Hoegele, Peter Reimer
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Patent number: 8159743Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical microscope having a microscope main objective for the visualization of an object plane in an object region. The objective is passed through by a first stereoscopic component beam path and by a second stereoscopic component beam path. The ophthalmologic surgical microscope includes an adjustable illuminating arrangement which makes illuminating light available. The illuminating arrangement has an illuminating optic having a beam deflecting unit which is mounted on the side of the objective facing away from the object region in order to direct the illuminating light through the objective to the object region. In a first position of the illuminating arrangement, the illuminating light passes through the cross sectional area of the objective in an area section, which at least partially surrounds the optical axis of the first stereoscopic component beam path and/or the optical axis of the second stereoscopic component beam path.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2010Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AGInventors: Alfons Abele, Peter Reimer, Andreas Negele, Franz Merz, Jürgen Liegel
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Patent number: 7907336Abstract: A surgical microscope (100) has an illuminating arrangement (110) which can guide illuminating light to the object region (105) with a first illuminating beam path (111) and with a second illuminating beam path (112). A light exit unit is provided in the first illuminating beam path (111). An illuminating field diaphragm is mounted in the second illuminating beam path. The first illuminating beam path (111) has an illuminating optic which images the light exit plane of the light exit unit or a plane conjugated to the light exit plane into a first image plane (350). An illuminating optic is provided in the second illuminating beam path (112) and this illuminating optic images the illuminating field diaphragm into a second image plane (250) different from the first image plane.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbHInventors: Alfons Abele, Peter Reimer, Anja Seiwert, Fritz Strähle, Franz Merz
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Publication number: 20110038040Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical microscope (1) having a microscope main objective (12) for the visualization of an object plane (45) in an object region (9). The microscope main objective (12) is passed through by a first stereoscopic component beam path (5) and by a second stereoscopic component beam path (7). The ophthalmologic surgical microscope (1) includes an adjustable illuminating arrangement (15) which makes illuminating light available. The illuminating arrangement (15) has an illuminating optic having a beam deflecting unit (19) which is mounted on the side of the microscope main objective (12) facing away from the object region (9) in order to direct the illuminating light through the microscope main objective (12) to the object region (9).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Inventors: Alfons Abele, Peter Reimer, Andreas Negele, Franz Merz, Jürgen Liegel
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Publication number: 20100309433Abstract: An illumination device (10) is described for an observation device (100) having one, two or more observation beam paths (16, 17), each with at least one observation beam bundle, particularly for an operating microscope, the illumination device having at least one light source (11, 12) for producing at least one illumination beam path (14, 15) with at least one illumination beam bundle for illuminating an object to be observed, in particular, an eye to be observed, the illumination device (10) having at least one illumination optics unit, which has a collector (18, 22), and the at least one illumination beam path (14, 15) or the at least one illumination beam bundle running coaxially to an observation beam path (16, 17) or observation beam bundle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2009Publication date: December 9, 2010Inventors: Franz Merz, Artur Hoegele, Peter Reimer
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Publication number: 20090273757Abstract: Among other things, an illumination device (10) is described for one, two or more observation beam paths, each with an observation device having an observation beam bundle, in particular for an operating microscope, having at least one light source (12) for producing at least one illumination beam bundle for illuminating an object to be observed (13), in particular, an eye to be observed, wherein the at least one illumination beam bundle runs coaxially to an observation beam bundle. It is provided according to the invention, in order to be able to suppress disruptive reflections, that illumination device (10) has an illumination optics (11) that is constructed according to the Köhler principle of illumination, and in which at least one reflection diaphragm (18) is provided in order to avoid light reflected from the surface of an objective element (19). In addition, a correspondingly improved observation device is described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2007Publication date: November 5, 2009Inventors: Franz Merz, Peter Reimer, Fritz Straehle