Patents by Inventor Minoru Sukekawa
Minoru Sukekawa 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).
-
Patent number: 9052509Abstract: A microscope system includes a stage on which a specimen is placed; an objective lens configured to condense at least observation light from the specimen on the stage; a transmitted illumination optical system configured to irradiate the specimen with transmitted illumination light ejected from a light source, which is illumination light transmitting the specimen; and a microscope body part including a base unit holding the transmitted illumination optical system, a supporting column standing upright from the base unit, and an incident-light illumination optical system provided on the end of a side different from the base unit side of the supporting column and irradiating the specimen with incident-light illumination light which is illumination light ejected from a light source to be reflected on the specimen, wherein the stage and the transmitted illumination optical system are attachable to/detachable from the microscope body part.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2012Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventor: Minoru Sukekawa
-
Patent number: 8699131Abstract: In a microscope controller by which is performed an operation for controlling an operation of each of a plurality of electric units included in a microscope system, the control unit establishes a plurality of functional areas in the display region of the touch panel as regions for making operable the plurality of electric units. When an input to any of the functional areas is detected, the control unit generates a control instruction signal for controlling an electric unit corresponding to this functional area. The communication control unit transmits the control instruction signal to an external device controlling an operation of a corresponding electric unit. When an input to a predetermined functional area is detected, the control unit then reestablishes a plurality of functional areas within the display region of the touch panel so as to enlarge this functional area or a plurality of specific functional areas including this functional area.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Tetsuya Shirota, Katsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Minoru Sukekawa
-
Publication number: 20110149387Abstract: A microscope controller includes a touch panel and a CPU having first and second recognition units. The CPU sets a plurality of operation areas including at least first and second operation areas in the display area of the touch panel. The second recognition unit recognizes a difference between the start-of-input position in which input is first detected and the end-of-input position in which the input is last detected only when the first recognition unit recognizes continuous input to the first operation area, and when input is continuously performed to the second operation area. When the difference is recognized, the CPU generates a control directive signal for control of the driving of a corresponding electric drive mechanism based on the difference.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventor: Minoru SUKEKAWA
-
Publication number: 20110134517Abstract: In a microscope controller by which is performed an operation for controlling an operation of each of a plurality of electric units included in a microscope system, the control unit establishes a plurality of functional areas in the display region of the touch panel as regions for making operable the plurality of electric units. When an input to any of the functional areas is detected, the control unit generates a control instruction signal for controlling an electric unit corresponding to this functional area. The communication control unit transmits the control instruction signal to an external device controlling an operation of a corresponding electric unit. When an input to a predetermined functional area is detected, the control unit then reestablishes a plurality of functional areas within the display region of the touch panel so as to enlarge this functional area or a plurality of specific functional areas including this functional area.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Tetsuya Shirota, Katsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Minoru Sukekawa
-
Patent number: 7944608Abstract: Provided are an illuminating optical system which illuminates a sample, an illumination-side pupil modulating device which is arranged on a side of the illuminating optical system, an illumination-side turret which holds the illumination-side pupil modulating device, an illumination-side-turret revolving mechanism which revolves the illumination-side turret to move the illumination-side pupil modulating device along an orbital circumference on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis, a relaying optical system which relays a pupil of an objective lens, an imaging-side pupil modulating device which is arranged on a side of the relaying optical system, an imaging-side turret which holds the imaging-side pupil modulating device, and an imaging-side-turret revolving mechanism which revolves the imaging-side turret to move the imaging-side pupil modulating device along the orbital circumference on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hayashi, Minoru Sukekawa, Takayuki Kono
-
Patent number: 7589839Abstract: A microscope examination apparatus is provided that includes a light source for emitting excitation light or illumination light to a specimen placed on a stage; an objective lens opposing the stage and capable of focusing fluorescence or reflected light from the specimen; an image-forming lens for forming an image of the specimen obtained by the objective lens; and an image-capturing unit for capturing the image of the specimen forming by the image-forming lens, wherein a plurality of the objective lenses having different magnifying powers is provided, and an objective-lens switching mechanism for switching among the objective lenses is provided, and wherein a plurality of the image-forming lenses having different magnifying powers is provided, and an image-forming-lens switching mechanism for switching among the image-forming lenses is provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Yoshihiro Kawano, Keiji Shimizu, Minoru Sukekawa, Tsuyoshi Mochizuki, Susumu Honda, Kazuhiro Hayashi
-
Patent number: 7554727Abstract: A transmission illumination apparatus for a microscope has an optically transparent sample mount plate on which a sample is mounted, a surface light source that projects substantially uniform illumination light toward the sample mount plate, and a light orientation member that restricts diffusion of the illumination light in relation to at least one direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2008Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Keiji Shimizu, Minoru Sukekawa, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Tsuyoshi Mochizuki
-
Publication number: 20090161209Abstract: Provided are an illuminating optical system which illuminates a sample, an illumination-side pupil modulating device which is arranged on a side of the illuminating optical system, an illumination-side turret which holds the illumination-side pupil modulating device, an illumination-side-turret revolving mechanism which revolves the illumination-side turret to move the illumination-side pupil modulating device along an orbital circumference on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis, a relaying optical system which relays a pupil of an objective lens; an imaging-side pupil modulating device which is arranged on a side of the relaying optical system, an imaging-side turret which holds the imaging-side pupil modulating device, and an imaging-side-turret revolving mechanism which revolves the imaging-side turret to move the imaging-side pupil modulating device along the orbital circumference on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2008Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuhiro HAYASHI, Minoru Sukekawa, Takayuki Kono
-
Publication number: 20080117502Abstract: A transmission illumination apparatus for a microscope has an optically transparent sample mount plate on which a sample is mounted, a surface light source that projects substantially uniform illumination light toward the sample mount plate, and a light orientation member that restricts diffusion of the illumination light in relation to at least one direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2008Publication date: May 22, 2008Applicant: Olympus CorporationInventors: Keiji SHIMIZU, Minoru Sukekawa, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Tsuyoshi Mochizuki
-
Patent number: 7345815Abstract: A transmission illumination apparatus for a microscope has an optically transparent sample mount plate on which a sample is mounted, a surface light source that projects substantially uniform illumination light toward the sample mount plate, and a light orientation member that restricts diffusion of the illumination light in relation to at least one direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2005Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Keiji Shimizu, Minoru Sukekawa, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Tsuyoshi Mochizuki
-
Publication number: 20070273877Abstract: Even when the magnifying power is reduced, an image can be obtained at high resolution without significantly reducing the numerical aperture, and examination accuracy is improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2005Publication date: November 29, 2007Inventors: Yoshihiro Kawano, Keiji Shimizu, Minoru Sukekawa, Tsuyoshi Mochizuki, Susumu Honda, Kazuhiro Hayashi
-
Patent number: 6967773Abstract: A microscope is provided which includes a frame which supports a stage that is adapted to have a specimen placed thereon, an arm provided on the frame to support an objective lens, an observation optical system provided on the arm, and an illumination optical system which includes a light source for illuminating the specimen and which is integrated with the frame. A fastening mechanism fastens the arm and the frame together via at least one spacer, which is provided between the arm and the frame. The spacer has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the arm. When a temperature of the frame rises due to operation of the light source, the objective lens is moved toward the stage due to the difference in coefficients of thermal expansion between the spacer and the arm.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2004Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Minoru Sukekawa
-
Publication number: 20050243413Abstract: A transmission illumination apparatus for a microscope has an optically transparent sample mount plate on which a sample is mounted, a surface light source that projects substantially uniform illumination light toward the sample mount plate, and a light orientation member that restricts diffusion of the illumination light in relation to at least one direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2005Publication date: November 3, 2005Applicant: Olympus CorporationInventors: Keiji Shimizu, Minoru Sukekawa, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Tsuyoshi Mochizuki
-
Patent number: 6940640Abstract: The inverted microscope comprises a microscope main body, a stage configured to place a specimen thereon, a stage fixing part arranged between the stage and the microscope main body and configured to fix the stage to the microscope main body, an objective lens configured to observe the specimen from below the stage, an observation optical system configured to observe a specimen image taken by the objective lens with an eyepiece, and a reflection member configured to reflect an image in vicinity of the objective lens from vicinity of the eyepiece, the reflection member being arranged below the stage fixing part of the microscope main body and arranged on an axis which is almost parallel to an optical axis of the observation optical system passing the eyepiece and passes vicinity of the eyepiece.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2003Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Sukekawa, Susumu Honda, Atsuhiro Tsuchiya, Miwa Kojima, Keisuke Tamura
-
Publication number: 20050117205Abstract: A microscope is provided which includes a frame which supports a stage that is adapted to have a specimen placed thereon, an arm provided on the frame to support an objective lens, an observation optical system provided on the arm, and an illumination optical system which includes a light source for illuminating the specimen and which is integrated with the frame. A fastening mechanism fastens the arm and the frame together via at least one spacer, which is provided between the arm and the frame. The spacer has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the arm. When a temperature of the frame rises due to operation of the light source, the objective lens is moved toward the stage due to the difference in coefficients of thermal expansion between the spacer and the arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2004Publication date: June 2, 2005Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.Inventor: Minoru Sukekawa
-
Patent number: 6853481Abstract: A base, a frame, and an arm which constitute a microscope body are formed independently of one another, and receptacles receiving fastening members at the bottom of the frame are formed as protrusions so that the area of contact between the base and the frame is smaller than a predetermined area. The protrusions are formed so that they surround the fastening members. The protrusions increase resistance to heat conduction from the base to the frame to reduce the amount of heat which is generated from the lamp and conducted from the base to the frame. Such an arrangement reduces an image blur due to thermal deformation, thereby providing a good specimen image.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2004Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Minoru Sukekawa
-
Patent number: 6693741Abstract: A base, a frame, and an arm which constitute a microscope body are formed independently of one another, and receptacles receiving fastening members at the bottom of the frame are formed as protrusions so that the area of contact between the base and the frame is smaller than a predetermined area. The protrusions are formed so that they surround the fastening members. The protrusions increase resistance to heat conduction from the base to the frame to reduce the amount of heat which is generated from the lamp and conducted from the base to the frame. Such an arrangement reduces an image blur due to thermal deformation, thereby providing a good specimen image.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2000Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Minoru Sukekawa
-
Patent number: 6643061Abstract: In the present invention, a transmission-illumination apparatus for use in a microscope has a transmission-illumination optical system comprising a condenser lens for radiating light emitted from a light source onto a sample, and an observation optical system including an objective lens for observing the sample. At least two shield members for controlling a shape of an aperture created in a pupil of the objective lens are disposed at or near positions conjugate with a pupil position of the objective lens. Thereby, a contrast can be successively varied without disposing a purpose-specific optical element, etc. in the observation optical system, and illumination with an optimal contrast can be provided for various samples.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Osa, Minoru Sukekawa, Kenji Kawasaki
-
Publication number: 20030165010Abstract: The inverted microscope comprises a microscope main body, a stage configured to place a specimen thereon, a stage fixing part arranged between the stage and the microscope main body and configured to fix the stage to the microscope main body, an objective lens configured to observe the specimen from below the stage, an observation optical system configured to observe a specimen image taken by the objective lens with an eyepiece, and a reflection member configured to reflect an image in vicinity of the objective lens from vicinity of the eyepiece, the reflection member being arranged below the stage fixing part of the microscope main body and arranged on an axis which is almost parallel to an optical axis of the observation optical system passing the eyepiece and passes vicinity of the eyepiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2003Publication date: September 4, 2003Inventors: Minoru Sukekawa, Susumu Honda, Atsuhiro Tsuchiya, Miwa Kojima, Keisuke Tamura
-
Publication number: 20020191281Abstract: In the present invention, a transmission-illumination apparatus for use in a microscope has a transmission-illumination optical system comprising a condenser lens for radiating light emitted from a light source onto a sample, and an observation optical system including an objective lens for observing the sample. At least two shield members for controlling a shape of an aperture created in a pupil of the objective lens are disposed at or near positions conjugate with a pupil position of the objective lens. Thereby, a contrast can be successively varied without disposing a purpose-specific optical element, etc. in the observation optical system, and illumination with an optimal contrast can be provided for various samples.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Applicant: OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuhiko Osa, Minoru Sukekawa, Kenji Kawasaki