Abstract: An objective lens includes a first lens unit constructed with a plurality of single lenses, having a negative power as a whole, and a second lens unit constructed with a plurality of single lenses, arranged on the object side of the first lens unit.

Abstract: An ultraviolet microscope optical system includes a light source emitting light in a region of wavelengths shorter than 300 nm; an illumination optical system; an objective lens system; an imaging optical system; and a photographing device.

Abstract: An ultraviolet microscope optical system includes a light source emitting light in a region of wavelengths shorter than 300 nm; an illumination optical system; an objective lens system; an imaging optical system; and a photographing device. The ultraviolet microscope optical system further includes a wavelength selective device, which satisfies the following condition: (To·&dgr;)/(Tm·&Dgr;)>2 where To is a transmittance at the center of a selected wavelength region, &dgr; is a half width at full maximum expressed in nanometers, Tm is an average transmittance in the region of wavelengths longer than 300 nm, and &Dgr; is a sensitive wavelength region of the photographing device, expressed in nanometers, in the region of wavelengths longer than 300 nm.

Abstract: An objective lens includes a first lens unit constructed with a plurality of single lenses, having a negative power as a whole, and a second lens unit constructed with a plurality of single lenses, arranged on the object side of the first lens unit.

Abstract: In a method of observing a specimen through a fluorescence microscope, molecules that could cause double-resonance absorption process in an appropriate manner are used to dye the specimen, and the specimen is irradiated with a plurality of light beams of different wavelengths in a good timing, so that a microscopic image with high spatial resolution is obtained. In the microscope to be used in the method of observation, the specimen is irradiated with two light beams of different wavelength bands via an aperture with an annular-zonal structure and an optical system that has different in-focus positions for these two wavelength bands, so that one of the two light beam is focused on a surface of the specimen and the other light beam is defocused thereon. Consequently, the microscope achieves improvement of the spatial resolution as to overcome the diffraction limit determined by the wavelengths in use.

Abstract: A laser scanning microscope having a first scanning optical system that causes coherent light projected from a first laser light source to scan a specimen, and a second scanning optical system that projects coherent light output from a second laser light source at a given position on the specimen. Fluorescence from the specimen is measured by a photoelectric conversion element.

Abstract: An objective lens system comprising at least one diffractive optical element, having a high magnification and a large numerical aperture, and capable of favorably correcting aberrations, in particular, longitudinal chromatic aberration and lateral chromatic aberration.

Abstract: A pupil modulation optical system which enables pupil modulation modes to be readily changed over from one to another and makes it possible to readily form an image of high resolution and high contrast. The optical system has a condenser lens (1) and an objective lens (2). Intensity modulation filters (3) and (4) for pupil modulation are disposed at at least two different pupil positions or positions equivalent to pupils of the optical system. By controlling the intensity distributions of the filters (3) and (4), various pupil modulation effects, e.g., contrast increasing effect, resolution improving effect, are obtained.

Abstract: Light from a mercury lamp is focused by an objective lens system and is incident on a specimen to be examined. A focusing optical path of light reflected by the specimen is split into an optical path of an ultraviolet ray and an optical path of visible light by a dichroic mirror having wavelength selectivity. The ultraviolet ray is guided to an ultraviolet CCD camera. The ultraviolet CCD camera supplies a monochrome picture signal to a monochrome display through a first picture processor. On the other hand, the visible light is guided to a color CCD camera. The color CCD camera supplies a color picture signal to a color display through a second picture processor. Therefore, an ultraviolet picture of the specimen is displayed on the monochrome display at a high resolving power and a large magnification. At the same time, a color picture of the specimen is displayed on the color display.

Abstract: A cover slip for use in a microscope, which is employed for a water-immersed objective lens, is made of a transparent material with a refractive index, the difference between the refractive index of the transparent material and that of water being 0.02 or less.

Abstract: A laser beam from a light source is reflected by a beam splitter and two galvanomirrors, and enters a pupil projection lens. The beam passing through the lens forms a spot on an image plane of an objective. This spot is two-dimensionally scanned by shaking the galvanomirrors with respect to their axes perpendicular to each other. Reflected light or fluorescence from a sample is returned to the beam splitter through the same path, passes through it, and is then reflected by a mirror. This optical system includes an optical unit which can be inserted/removed therein/therefrom. When the optical unit is removed, the optical system serves as a confocal optical system. When the optical unit is inserted, the optical system serves as a nonconfocal optical system. In the confocal optical system, the beam from the mirror enters a condenser, converges, passes through an iris and enters a photomultiplier tuber. The condenser includes a convex lens and a concave lens.

Abstract: A reflecting objective system comprising three or more spherical reflecting mirrors arranged symmetrically with regard to an optical axis common thereto and has spherical aberration corrected very favorably. By using a single or plural aspherical surfaces, this reflecting objective system can be modified so as to comprise two or more reflecting mirrors and correct not only the spherical aberration but also the offaxial aberrations.

Abstract: A reflecting objective system comprising three or more spherical reflecting mirrors arranged symmetrically with regard to an optical axis common thereto and has spherical aberration corrected very favorably. By using a single or plural aspherical surfaces, this reflecting objective system can be modified so as to comprise two or more reflecting mirrors and correct not only the spherical aberration but also the offaxial aberrations.

Abstract: The invention relates to an eyepiece that has an improved image surface flatness even at a wider field angle, is well corrected for various aberrations inclusive chromatic aberration of pupil and is usable with inexpensive microscopes (esp., stereoscopic ones). The eyepiece of the invention is an eyepiece including at least three lens components comprising a cemented lens component consisting positive and negative lens elements and a lens component having a negative refractive power in its entirety, characterized in that the lens component other than the lens components proximate to the object and eye sides is provided with a plastic lens element or elements having at least one aspherical surface.

Abstract: An objective of some 10 magnifications usable with microscopes, etc. which has an increased numerical aperture and working distance, including a first lens component that is a cemented lens consisting of negative and positive lens elements, a second lens component a third lens component, a fourth lens component consisting of a cemented lens and a fifth lens component having a positive refractive power, characterized by satisfying the following conditions:.nu..sub.I2 -.nu..sub.I1 >20 (1)n.sub.I1 -n.sub.I2 >0.2 (2)wherein:n.sub.I1 is the refractive index of d-line of the negative lens element of the first component,.nu..sub.I1 is the Abbe's number of said negative lens element of the first lens component,n.sub.I2 is the refractive index for d-line of the positive lens element of the first lens component, and.nu..sub.I2 is the Abbe's number of said positive lens element of the first lens component.

Abstract: A reflecting objective system comprising three or more spherical reflecting mirrors arranged symmetrically with regard to an optical axis common thereto and has spherical aberration corrected very favorably. By using a single or plural aspherical surfaces, this reflecting objective system can be modified so as to comprise two or more reflecting mirrors and correct not only the spherical aberration but also the offaxial aberrations.

Abstract: The illuminating optical system comprises a light source for emitting a light beam having an elongated sectional shape in parallel with the optical axis thereof, and a condenser lens for focusing said light beam onto a sample. This illuminating optical system permits easily correcting aberrations in the lens system thereof, assures little loss of light amount, has high operability and can easily be manufactured.