Abstract: A description is given of a rotating turret device, which has a number of optical components, for example, lenses, condensors, filters and stops, which may be brought into operating position individually in each case. Apart from a motor drive device (1-4), an encoding device (12a-12c; 24a-24c) for the indexing or pre-selection of a specific optical component to be brought into operating position, and locating means (7, 7a; 8) for positioning the optical component in operating position, the rotating device has, in additiion, marking and control means (13; 13a), with the aid of which the speed of the turret can be controlled as a function of its particular relative position. In particular, it is possible with the device described to bring a high-speed motor-driven turret (5) into a set location, there taking place shortly before attainment of this operating position a controlled braking of the rotational speed of the turret (5).

Abstract: A process for photographing microscopic objects with consideration of exposure time values to be determined and for making visible a spatially variable measurement spot and an exposure format making before and after the exposure is indicated, which process proceeds according to the process steps which are prescribed in accordance with the claims.

Abstract: A modular device (5) for an optical device, such as a microscope (1), is described. This device has adjacently disposed mountings (24a, 24b) for optical systems which can be introduced alternately into the illumination beam path (2) or optical axis (2a) of the microscope by use of a pull rod (11) provided on the modular device (5). At least one of the mountings (24a) is capable of being uncoupled from the pull rod (11), so that the relative spacing of two mountings (24a, 24b) can be altered. Additionally an optical element (17), for example, a compensating plate disposed in the microscope, can be pivoted into the optical axis (2a). By using the modular device (5), a rapid switch-over from traditional methods of microscopy to, for example, investigations utilizing fluorescence microscopy and vice versa, without any effect on the image section and the image sharpness, is possible without undertaking adapting operations or reconstructing the microscope.

Abstract: A microscope support foot (10) includes a central portion (14) and two lateral portions (15, 16), which form receiving chambers (19, 20, 21) by means of separating walls (17, 18) extending as far as a base plate (23). The optical components for an illumination arrangement (28) are disposed in receiving chamber (20) so as to be protected from dust by a seal (25), and the electronic components are disposed in a heat-dissipating manner in the receiving chamber (21), so that the heat-emitting components are in contact with the base plate (23) which is made of heat-dissipating material. This base plate and the lateral portion (16) have ventilation slits (42, 42'). A drive unit (36) for the adjustment of the successviely arranged aperture stop and light field stop (30, 31) is secured in the receiving chamber (19) in such a manner that the adjusting arrangement is accessible from outside and is disposed at a convenient distance from a focussing arrangement (13).

Abstract: A transmitted light and/or incident light inverted microscope is described, which comprises a "C"-shaped microscope basic body (G), the free opening (Of) of which is directed toward the observer (B). A particular construction feature is the preferably vertical disposition of the following microscope parts along the optical microscope axis (4)--from bottom to top--: Objective (1) - object (3) - condenser (2) - center (19a) of the binocular housing (5) (FIG. 1a). At the pure incident light inverted variant (FIG. 1c) the condenser (2) is dispensed with. The multiply bent imaging beam path runs through the inside of the basic body (G). According to an alternative solution the binocular housing (5) is disposed at the front face of the stand arm (A) directed toward the observer (B) (FIG. 1b).

Abstract: A device for checking the adjustment of the light source in an incident light microscope includes a centering cylinder having a configuration similar to an objective which is set into the revolving lens turret and can thus be moved into the path of the illuminating beam. The centering cylinder has a bottom plate with markings, for example, in the form of concentric rings and cross-hairs, located approximately in the rear focal plane of the lenses. The light source is thereby imaged on the markings. Observation is effected through an orifice in the jacket of the centering cylinder, which may be rotated around the optical axis. Focusing and adjustment may then be affected by adjusting the collecting lens and/or the lamp housing.

Abstract: The stand for a microscope comprises a portion extended to receive the optical device and a transport handle (22) which may be retracted inside the stand.

Abstract: An incident light, bright-field, Kohler illuminating device for a microscope which reflects an illuminating beam into one half of the pupil of a microscope objective, which avoids vignetting of the field of vision without requiring especially short objectives, which can provide illumination with polarized light, and which can be added to any transmitted light microscope including microscopes with revolvable turrets without requiring a specially designed microscope stand.

Abstract: A semi-automatic coarse-fine focusing apparatus for microscopes adjusts the focus of a microscope through rotation of a shaft which rotates a pinion that drives a rack to reciprocate. The rack carries a specimen being observed by the microscope. The shaft which rotates the pinion is in turn driven by a gear that is meshed with a helix formed on a cylinder by a helical thread disposed therearound. The helix is non-rotatably mounted on another shaft that includes a knob which is manually turned to turn the helix and thus rotate the gear for coarse adjustment. The helix is preferably rigidly mounted on the shaft and the shaft is slidable. One arm of a bell crank engages an end face of the helix to reciprocate the helix and thus rotate the gear for fine adjustment. The other arm of the bell crank is engaged by a cam which pivots the bell crank according to the position of the cam. The position of the cam is determined by an electric motor which is preferably controlled by signals that vary with image contrast.