Abstract: A light blocking member (18) for application, to a microscope is provided. Although it is producible at a sufficiently low cost, it can sufficiently block ambient light, and does not require a special operation when a sample (16) is placed on a stage (2) or the sample is taken out from above the stage. The light blocking member (18) is formed from a soft polymer, has an inner peripheral surface which is cylindrical in at least an upper part thereof, and is held on an objective lens assembly by fitting the upper part onto the outer peripheral surface of the objective lens assembly.

Abstract: A touch screen (60) disposed on a display surface of a display means (58) is used as an inputting means so that a variety of actions of a microscope can be controlled with sufficient ease and precision. A variety of actions are controlled based on an operator's various finger gestures used on the touch screen disposed on the display surface of the display means, for example, making contact by a finger (tap), making two consecutive contacts by a finger (double-tap), making contact by a finger, and moving the finger without releasing it (drag), making contact by a finger and maintaining the contact for a predetermined time or longer (touch-and-hold), making simultaneous contact by two fingers, and increasing spacing between the fingers (pinch-out) or decreasing the spacing (pinch-in), and making simultaneous contact by two fingers, and moving the fingers in parallel (double-drag).

Abstract: A touch screen (60) disposed on a display surface of a display means (58) is used as an inputting means so that a variety of actions of a microscope can be controlled with sufficient ease and precision. A variety of actions are controlled based on an operator's various finger gestures used on the touch screen disposed on the display surface of the display means, for example, making contact by a finger (tap), making two consecutive contacts by a finger (double-tap), making contact by a finger, and moving the finger without releasing it (drag), making contact by a finger and maintaining the contact for a predetermined time or longer (touch-and-hold), making simultaneous contact by two fingers, and increasing spacing between the fingers (pinch-out) or decreasing the spacing (pinch-in), and making simultaneous contact by two fingers, and moving the fingers in parallel (double-drag).

Abstract: A light blocking member (18) for application, to a microscope is provided. Although it is producible at a sufficiently low cost, it can sufficiently block ambient light, and does not require a special operation when a sample (16) is placed on a stage (2) or the sample is taken out from above the stage. The light blocking member (18) is formed from a soft polymer, has an inner peripheral surface which is cylindrical in at least an upper part thereof, and is held on an objective lens assembly by fitting the upper part onto the outer peripheral surface of the objective lens assembly.