Abstract: Apparatus for and method of rapid three dimensional scanning and digitizing of an entire microscope sample, or a substantially large portion of a microscope sample, using a tilted sensor synchronized with a positioning stage. The system also provides a method for interpolating tilted image layers into a orthogonal tree dimensional array or into its two dimensional projection as well as a method for composing the volume strips obtained from successive scans of the sample into a single continuous digital image or volume.

Abstract: A scanning laser microscope includes a laser light source; an acousto-optic deflector having a crystal, being arranged in an optical path of a laser beam emitted from the laser light source and capable of changing a traveling direction of the laser beam when frequencies of acoustic waves applied to the crystal are changed; a frequency control unit configured to simultaneously apply acoustic waves having a plurality of frequencies to the crystal of the acousto-optic deflector; an objective lens configured to converge the laser beam emitted from the laser light source to form a beam spot on a specimen; and an optical scanning device configured to two-dimensionally scan the scanning spot by deflecting the laser beam in two directions perpendicular to each other. The acousto-optic deflector, the optical scanning device, and a pupil of the objective lens are arranged at positions optically conjugate with each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microscopy system for representing an object that can be placed on an object plane (1) of the microscopy system, the latter comprising a representation system (26) containing several optical elements for providing at least one optical representation path (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d). According to one embodiment of the invention, the optical elements comprise a plurality of optical lenses (4-8, 11, 13, 14), through which the optical representation path(s) (2a-2d) pass(es) in sequence and which represent the object plane (1) in an intermediate image (P). The optical lenses (4-8, 11) are configured in such a way that the representation of the object plane (1) in the intermediate image (P) is reduced a maximum 0.9 times, preferably a maximum 0.8 times, preferably a maximum 0.6 times, with 0.5 times being the preferred maximum reduction.

Abstract: System and method are disclosed for in-situ monitoring of a specimen while undergoing a defined process. The system includes a processing system adapted to perform the defined process on the specimen, and a coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy system adapted to in-situ monitor the specimen. In another aspect, the CARS microscopy system is adapted to in-situ monitor the specimen simultaneous with the defined process being performed on the specimen by the processing system. In still another aspect, the CARS microscopy system is adapted to perform a measurement of the specimen while the defined process being performed on the specimen is paused or temporarily halted.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for optimizing a metrology tool, such as an optical or scanning electron microscope so that minimum human intervention is achievable during the optimization. In general, a set of specifications and an initial input data are initially provided for a particular target. The specifications provide limits for characteristics of images that are to be measured by the metrology tool. The metrology tool is then automatically optimized for measuring the particular target so as to meet one or more of the provided specifications without further significant human intervention with respect to the metrology tool. In one aspect, the input data provided prior to the automated optimization procedure includes a plurality of target locations and a synthetic image of the particular target.

Abstract: A device for wide-field and high resolution imaging of an object surface includes first and second imaging modalities, a lens associated with the second imaging modality. The first imaging modality is high resolution with a first observation line. The second imaging modality is arranged in an image plane at a first angle with respect to an object plane and has a second observation line and a wider imaging field than the first imaging modality. The lens associated with the second imaging modality is arranged in a lens plane at a second angle with respect to the object plane, where the second angle being equal to about one-half of the first angle. The first and second imaging modalities are mutually arranged such that the first and second optical axes intersect at a point on the object plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser scanning microscope that can generate an arbitrary control signal without depending on the configuration of the hardware. A memory 64 has a bit width wider than a bit width of drive data based on a drive table for generating a drive signal X for driving a scanner, which is driven by a drive circuit 66X, to scan a designated scanning area at a designated speed, and stores the drive table, and a controller 61 sets a control signal for controlling a predetermined operation in a predetermined mechanism that has a strict time relationship with the scanning based on the drive data, in bits in the bit width of the memory 64X, excluding the bits used by the drive data, and these mechanisms perform the predetermined operation based on the control signal that is read simultaneously when the drive data is read from the memory 64X. The present invention can be applied to a confocal laser scanning microscope that observes a sample by performing scanning with laser light.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reconstructing a wave, including interpolation and extrapolation of the phase and amplitude distributions, with application to imaging apparatus, such as microscopes.

Abstract: There is provided a microscope device comprising: means for creating a collimated beam of light collected from a sample and comprising at least a first spectral range and a second spectral range, means for separating the collimated beam into a first beam containing a higher percentage of light of the first spectral range than light of the second spectral range and a second beam containing a lower percentage of light of the first spectral range than light of the second spectral range, means for reflecting the first beam, means for reflecting the second beam, means for combining the first beam and the second beam, a detector, and means for imaging the combined first and second beam onto the detector in order to create an image of the sample on the detector, wherein the means for reflecting the first beam and the means for reflecting the second beam are arranged in such a manner that the image created by the first beam and the image created by the second beam are shifted relative to each other on the detector, w

Abstract: To provide a confocal microscope for obtaining an extended image by easily determining the capturing range of an observation image without being aware of the shape of a sample to be observed, the confocal microscope comprises confocal image generating unit for generating a confocal image, first counting unit for counting a first number of pixels having a predetermined brightness level or lower among the brightness levels of the pixels of the confocal image, second counting unit for counting a second number of pixels obtained by extracting only a pixel that matches a predetermined condition for the confocal image, and boundary determining unit for detecting a boundary by determining whether or not the observation surface is within the image capturing range based on the first and the second numbers of pixels.

Abstract: A microscope system is for sequential observation of different fluorescent dyes that are accumulated in a tissue in an object plane. An illumination system and an observation system have at least two operating states. In one operating state, illumination radiation has a spectrum that includes an excitation band of a first fluorescent dye and is partly free from an excitation band of another fluorescent dye. In one operating state of the observation system, observation radiation guided in the first observation optical path has a spectrum in sections of the first observation optical path, which includes a first fluorescence band of the first fluorescent dye, while in another operating state observation radiation has a spectrum in at least some sections which is partly free from the first fluorescence band. A controller is configured to selectively switch the illumination system and the observation system into the first and second operating states.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control unit for an item of medical equipment, particularly a surgical microscope, for controlling equipment functions, comprising a sensor-screen having a sensor-screen surface for displaying image material, the sensor-screen being configured to be operated in contactless manner via a recognition device and to accommodate a sterile transparent control surface in front of the sensor-screen surface.

Abstract: An inverted microscope includes a lens holding mechanism which holds an objective lens arranged under a sample and used to form an observation image of the sample; a focusing mechanism which holds the lens holding mechanism on its upper part and moves the objective lens up and down together with the lens holding mechanism; and a microscope main body which serves as a casing including the focusing mechanism therein, and includes an opening allowing an attachment of the focusing mechanism and the lens holding mechanism in its upper wall surface. A size of the lens holding mechanism in a horizontal plane is larger than a size of an image projected onto the horizontal plane of the opening.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention include a microscope having a transparent specimen holder and a digital imaging device positioned within the transparent specimen holder. The digital imaging device can include a wireless transmitter. The transparent specimen holder can have a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the transparent specimen holder is completely transparent between the top surface and the bottom surface. Thus, the transparent specimen holder is completely transparent above and below the digital imaging device. Furthermore, a processor is operatively connected to the digital imaging device, wherein the processor produces an image of a specimen positioned on the specimen holder. A display is operatively connected to the processor, wherein the display displays the image.

Abstract: A device for high-intensity uniform illumination with minimal light reflection for use in reflective-type microscopes has a light source with a uniform emission and the following components, arranged in succession in the emission direction: a lens combination with a short focal length, the focal length of the lens combination being adjusted in such a way that the light source is projected to infinity; a rectangular diaphragm aperture, which is located on the rear focal plane of the lens combination, the Fourier plane of the lens combination being situated on the plane; an additional lens with a focal length, through which the rectangular diaphragm aperture is projected onto the intermediate image plane of the microscope; and a circular diaphragm, onto which the light source is projected in sharp focus and which is located on the rear focal plane of the additional lens.

Abstract: A detachable microscope pen mount for marking a microscope slide includes an attachment collar configured to secure to an objective lens, a lever secured to the attachment collar, a pen holder secured to the lever, and a pen secured to the pen holder and having a pen tip, where activating the lever moves the pen tip into a field of view and lowers the pen tip onto the microscope slide. Also disclosed is a method of marking a microscope slide includes identifying an object of interest in a field of view, positioning the object of interest in a center of the field of view, inserting a pen having a pen tip along a trough into a center of the trough, lowering the pen tip onto the microscope slide, and marking the microscope slide by tracing the inside of the center of the trough.

Abstract: To prevent incidence of strong external light into a photodetector and an imaging device while a lid is opened, so as to thereby perform accurate photodetection and imaging operations without receiving the influence of external light. An observation apparatus comprising: a stage on which a sample serving as an observation target is placed; a detection unit which detects light from the sample; an imaging optical system which projects the light from the sample onto the detection unit; a light shielding member which covers the whole or a part thereof; an opening provided in the light shielding member; a lid which opens/closes the opening; an open/close detection unit which detects the open/close state of the lid; a dimmer which limits light incident into the detection unit; and a controller which operates the dimmer to reduce the amount of the light incident into the detection unit, when the open/close detection unit detects that the lid has been opened.

Abstract: A microscope illumination device comprising: a light source; an objective for illuminating a specimen; a collector lens for converting light from the light source into parallel light; a fly-eye lens placed near to rear focal point of the collector lens; an epi-illumination projection lens for projecting light source images generated by the fly-eye lens onto the objective pupil; a tube lens for imaging an observation light from the objective; and a fluorescence cube placed between the objective and projection lens and comprised a filter, satisfies the expression ?2*ffly*D<?*ffly*??h*p, where ? is defined as the magnification of the projection lens, ffly as the focal distance of the fly-eye lens, D as the effective diameter of the fly-eye lens, ? as the effective diameter of the filter, h as the distance between the filter and the pupil, and p as the pitch of the fly-eye lens.

Abstract: Apparatus for obtaining an image of a specimen (6) by optical projection tomography comprises a confocal microscope which produces a light beam which scans the specimen (6) whilst the latter is supported in a rotary stage (7). Light passing through the specimen is passed through a convex lens (8) which directs, onto a central light detector of an array of detectors (9), light which exits or by-passes the specimen parallel to the beam incident on the specimen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pinhole disk, which can be used in a transmitted light mode as a filter disk, in particular in confocal microscopes, and consists of an optically transparent material with an inner hole having a fixed outer radius rmax and inner radius rmin. The optically transparent material is covered with a non-transparent layer, at least over a large area, the area being provided with a pattern of transparent pinholes. The pinholes are arranged according to a rule, in such a way that a quasi-uniform point density is obtained on the disk.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an illuminating apparatus for an operating microscope comprising two observation beam paths (152, 154) for a first observer (main surgeon) and two observation beam paths (156, 158) for a second observer (assisting surgeon), comprising an illuminating system (102; 106a, 108a, 172) and deflecting means (118, 120, 170), for deflecting light emanating from the illumination system onto an object (200) that is to be observed, wherein the deflecting device comprises a first deflecting element (118) which is associated with a first observation beam path (152) of the first observer and a first observation beam path (156) of the second observer, and a second deflecting element (120) which is associated with a second observation beam path (154) of the first observer and a second observation beam path (158) of the second observer.

Abstract: A laser radiation-guiding device including: a laser including a control unit; ports for connection of one module each, it being possible that laser radiation may exit at the ports. The device further can include joining part sensors respectively assigned to a port and whose electrical condition depends on whether a predetermined joining part is spaced apart from the respective port by less than a maximum distance in a predetermined orientation relative to the respective port, and an evaluating unit connected to the joining part sensors via a signal link that detects the electrical conditions of the joining part sensors and, depending on the detected conditions, emits a control signal to the control unit of the laser or to a laser radiation-blocking unit, by which emission of eye-damaging laser radiation to the ports of the device can be prevented inhibited.

Abstract: A plant growth array device includes an aerial growth chamber configured to receive aerial shoot portions of a plurality of plants and a root growth chamber configured to receive root portions of the plurality of plants. A dividing member is between the aerial growth chamber and the root chamber and has a plurality of apertures for receiving the plurality of plants therein. The plurality of apertures are configured so that the root portions grow substantially in a common orientation.

Abstract: A confocal microscope (100) based on a large mode area photonic crystal fibre (5) is described. The microscope may comprise an optical pump source (1) for exciting a sample under study (9), a dichroic beamsplitter (2) to combine the optical paths of the pump and fluorescent light, a lens (3) to couple pump light into the fibre and collimate fluorescent light emerging from the fibre, a large mode area photonic crystal fibre (5), a lens (7) to collimate pump light emerging from the fibre and couple fluorescent light into the fibre, and a lens (8) to focus pump light onto the sample and collimate the resulting fluorescent light. The fluorescent light emitted by the sample (9) is detected by a detector (10). The core (32) of the fibre (5) acts as the aperture of the confocal microscope (100). The large mode area photonic crystal fibre may operate as a single mode fibre over a wide wavelength range (e.g. 400 nm to 2000 nm).

Abstract: A microscope comprising a main objective having a variable focal length and comprising an illuminating unit including a light source and an illuminating optical system for generating an illuminating beam path directed onto the object plane and extending outside the main objective. A unit is provided for centering the illumination dependent on a variation of the focal length of the main objective, and the illuminating optical system is mounted at least in part in a laterally shiftable manner for centering the illumination. In particular, the illuminating optical system has a diaphragm that is mounted in a laterally shiftable manner.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluorescence microscope and a method for using this to measure fluorescence. The microscope comprises a silicon wafer filter membrane which is highly-planar and does not fluoresce. Moreover, it has a very high perforation density, so that a small surface area is sufficient for effective measurement. Using a camera as the location-sensitive detector moreover makes it possible to take advantage of better optical resolution, which means that optics having a smaller numerical aperture and a smaller magnification factor can be employed, with a greater working distance. All these factors together provide a fluorescence microscope capable of much more rapid measurements than the existing fluorescence microscopes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for optically scanning a sample (1). The device comprises an adjusting unit (2, 3) and a scanning device (4, 5) which comprises an optical unit (4) and a scanning unit (5). The inventive device also comprises a control arrangement (6) which controls the optical unit (4), the scanning unit (5) and the adjusting unit (2, 3). The sample (1) is displaced in relation to the scanning device (4, 5), or vice-versa, by means of the adjusting unit (2, 3) which is impinged upon by the control arrangement (6). As a result, individual images (7), which are obtained by means of the scanning device (4, 5) are assembled to make at least one global image in the control arrangement (6). According to the invention, the respectively detected individual image (7) is evaluated either partially or totally in relation to the contrast thereof, and the obtained contrast values (K) influence the functionality of the entire arrangement.

Abstract: A scanner arrangement (50), in particular a scanning microscope, for optically scanning an object (101) in a sequence of scanning steps, has: a drivable moving object stage (40) and an objective assembly (4, 7-10), which has a front objective lens (9, 103) on an objective lens carriage (8) which can be moved parallel to the object stage (40) by a carriage drive (5, 6, 10, 11), wherein the object stage (40) can be driven during the sequence of scanning steps in order to achieve a continuous movement and the objective lens carriage (8) with the front objective lens (9, 103) can be driven in each of the scanning steps for a forward movement step, in which the front objective lens (9, 103) is moved synchronously with the object stage (40) out of an initial position, and in each case between successive scanning steps for a backward movement into the initial position, with the object (101) being able to be optically scanned during the continuous movement of the object stage (40).

Abstract: In an apparatus and system for focusing optics an objective lens is configured to collect light from a region of an object to be imaged, said region having a feature with a known geometric characteristic, wherein the geometric characteristic is known before the feature is imaged by the optical device. A focusing sensor is configured to observe a shape of the feature and a splitter is configured to split the collected light into a first portion and a second portion, and directing said first portion through a weak cylindrical lens to the focusing sensor. A processor is configured to analyze the observed shape and determine whether the observed shape of the feature has a predetermined relationship to the known geometric characteristic and a mechanism is configured to autofocus the optical device by moving at least one of the objective lens and the object to be imaged in response to the analysis and determination of the processor. In some embodiments, the feature can be a fluorescent bead.

Abstract: A measuring system is disclosed with enhanced resolution for periodic structures on a substrate for semiconductor manufacture. Aperture structures of varying geometries are provided in the illumination beam path. The aperture structures differ regarding the transmission characteristics of light, and which adjust the intensity distribution of the diffraction orders in the imaging pupil of the optical system.

Abstract: Dynamic movement of a specimen in a pressing direction and in directions intersecting the pressing direction is effectively suppressed, while maintaining the viability of the specimen. A stabilizer for in vivo examination that is placed in contact with a biological specimen during examination of the specimen to suppress movement thereof includes a contact-area increasing portion that is provided on a contact surface with the biological specimen and that is configured to increase the contact area with the biological specimen by virtue of a pressure applied during the contact.

Abstract: A scanning microscope includes a source of illumination light; a scanner scanning the illumination light in a two-dimensional direction crossing a light axis; a lens irradiating the illumination light to a sample, and collecting return light from the sample; a focusing position adjuster adjusting a focal position in a light axis direction; and a light detector detecting collected light. A storage section stores the intensity of detected light, and positional information of an irradiating position of the illumination light set by the scanner and the focusing position adjuster. An image processor acquires images parallel to the light axis based on the intensity of return light and the stored positional information, and processes the images to detect a moving distance along a light axis direction of an area of the sample. The focusing position adjuster is controlled to correct a light condensing position of the illumination light.

Abstract: A surgical microscope (100) has a viewing beam path for main viewing and a secondary beam path (106) for viewing by another person. The surgical microscope (100) has a microscope main objective (101) through which the viewing beam path for main viewing and the viewing beam path (106) for secondary viewing pass. The surgical microscope (100) includes an OCT-system (120) for examining an object region. The OCT-system (120) includes an OCT-scanning beam (123) which is guided through the microscope main objective (101). In the viewing beam path (106) for secondary viewing, an in-coupling element (150) is provided to couple the OCT-scanning beam (123) into the viewing beam path (106) for secondary viewing and to guide the same through the microscope main objective (101) to the object region (108).

Abstract: A microscope system (10, 10?, 10?, 10??) includes a laser (18) or light emitting diode (18??) that generates source light having a non-uniform spatial distribution. An optical system includes an objective (40) defining a field of view, and an optical train (22, 22?, 22?, 22??) configured to convert the source light into an enlarged-diameter collimated light, to spatially homogenize the enlarged-diameter collimated light, and to couple the homogenized enlarged-diameter collimated light into the objective to provide substantially uniform static illumination of the field of view. A camera system (56) is statically optically coupled by the objective with at least most of the field of view.

Abstract: Provided is a microscope equipped with an automatic focusing mechanism, comprising an illumination light source; an objective lens for focusing first light emitted from the illumination light source onto an object to be detected; an illumination light source for imaging the first light that is reflected by the object to be detected and passes through the objective lens; and a focal-point detector for detecting a positional shift of a microtiter plate from a focal position of the objective lens, wherein the focal-point detector includes a focal-point-detection light source for emitting focal-point-detection light serving as second light, a focal-point detection light acquisition unit on which the focal-point-detection light is focused, and a region setting unit which can set an in-focus assessable region of the focal-point-detection light acquired by the focal-point detection light acquisition unit to any position on the focal-point detection light acquisition unit.

Abstract: A microscope system improves the operability of a user in performing a microscope observation. The microscope system attains the improvement by including: a microscope apparatus including a plurality of drive units; a display unit for displaying an operation screen for operation of the microscope apparatus; a pointing device for inputting by a pointer an operation instruction to the microscope apparatus on the operation screen; and a control unit for switching the drive units depending on the position of the pointer on the operation screen, and controlling the operation of the switched drive units depending on the operation of the pointing device.

Abstract: A near-field microscope using one or more diffractive elements placed in the near-field of an object to be imaged. A diffractive covers the entire object, thus signal may thereby be gathered from the entire object, and advantageously increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the resulting image, as well as greatly improve the acquisition speed. Near-field microscopy overcomes the limitation of conventional microscopy in that subwavelength and nanometer-scale features can be imaged and measured without contact.

Abstract: The present application includes a culture chamber, an observation chamber having an optical system of observation to observe samples to be cultured in the culture chamber, and a movement stage provided at a boundary which separates the culture chamber and the observation chamber, functioning as a wall to maintain an environment of both of the chambers, bearing the samples, and moving the samples on a light axis of observation of the optical system of observation. Due to such an arrangement, a culture observation equipment which has good response and excellent environmental resistance can be achieved, preventing problems such as the overall size of the device became large, maintenance work was difficult, and device cost became expensive.

Abstract: A device for magnifying an object comprising an SSID having at least one imaging array disposed on a distal end thereof. The device further comprises a first optical element disposed on the distal end of the SSID wherein the first optical element has a distal end and a proximal end defining a first longitudinal length. A GRIN lens is disposed on the distal end of the first optical element and a second optical element is disposed on the distal end of the GRIN lens defining a second longitudinal length. The first longitudinal length and the second longitudinal length are configured such that when viewing the object at a predetermined wavelength of light, the object is magnified at a predetermined level of magnification and the focal plane of the magnified object is aligned at the proximal end of the first optical element.

Abstract: It is possible to achieve a required field number and numerical aperture for microscope observation at a scanning speed equal to video-rate or higher and also to change the scanning speed with a simple configuration. The invention provides a laser microscope including a laser light source; a scanning unit configured to scan a specimen with laser light emitted from the laser light source; and an objective lens configured to focus the laser light scanned by the scanning unit on the specimen. The scanning unit is provided with an electro-optical deflecting element including an electro-optical crystal in which a refractive index gradient is induced by injecting electric current.

Abstract: A microscope and a method for illuminating an object to be imaged by a microscope are described. The method includes illuminating the object by primary light of a first spectral intensity distribution and by secondary light of a second spectral intensity distribution, the secondary light arising from the scattering of the primary light; measuring the intensity of at least one wavelength of the secondary light; comparing at least one of the measured intensity and a value derived from this measured intensity to a threshold value; and generating a signal indicating a change in the spectral intensity distribution of the secondary light by indicating whether the at least one of the measured intensity and value derived from this measured intensity either exceed or stay below the predefined threshold value.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An assistant microscope add-on device for a surgical microscope (1) comprises an objective (22) inclined relative to an object plane (10) with an object field (10?), wherein the objective defines an objective plane (22?) and an objective axis (16?) perpendicular thereto forming an angle ? larger than 0° to the surface normal of the object plane (10). A tube (23) and an eyepiece (24) having an eyepiece lens (27) defining an eyepiece plane (27?) and an eyepiece axis (35) perpendicular thereto. Due to the oblique viewing angle, an intermediate image plane (26) to be imaged by the eyepiece (24) is inclined relative to the objective plane (22?). The resulting aberration is eliminated by the eyepiece axis (35) and the objective axis (16?) forming an angle ? of larger than 0°, wherein the angle ? is so chosen that the eyepiece axis (35) is substantially perpendicular to the intermediate image plane (26). Consequently, the object field (10?) is imaged free of distortion and sharply across the entire image area.

Abstract: A device for examining chemical and/or biological samples is provided that includes a sample carrier. The sample carrier includes a sample carrier wall through which a sample is examined with the aid of an objective. The objective includes an exit lens that defines a gap towards an outer surface of the sample carrier wall, in which gap a film of an immersion material can be arranged such that the film is in contact with both the outer surface and the exit lens. The exit lens is surrounded by an objective cap. To improve protection of the objective from becoming fouled by the immersion medium, the objective cap includes a capillary channel connected with a suction device for discharging the immersion medium.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A microscope for introducing light from a light source via an objective lens to a sample so that a user observes the sample via the objective lens includes: a minute opening arranged in an optical path between the light source and the objective lens and on a focal plane of the image side of the objective lens or at a position conjugate with its conjugate plane; position adjusting means for adjusting the position of the minute opening so that the light from the light source via the minute opening is incident to the sample at the Brewster's angle; an polarizing element arranged in the optical path between the light source and the objective lens for extracting rectilinear polarized light from the light from the light source and applying the rectilinear polarized light to the sample.

Abstract: An automated cassette and slide handling system is disclosed which organizes microscope slides in cassettes, automatically and sequentially removes individual slides from their respective cassettes, positioned each slide under the microscope as provided by the protocol, and after examination returns the slide to its proper cassette.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A fluorescence detecting apparatus includes a light detecting device disposed in a light path of fluorescence generated in an illuminated area of a specimen and a barrier filter disposed in the light path toward the light detecting device to exhibit transparency for each of a plurality of fluorescences having separated wavelength bands.

Abstract: The number of seams between magnified images in a created virtual slide is reduced to make the virtual slide clear and sharp. Provided is a microscope apparatus including an objective lens that collects light from a sample on a slide; a focus position detecting section that detects a focus position of the objective lens with respect to the sample; a focus state adjustment section that adjusts a focus state with respect to the sample based on a detection result from the focus position detecting section; and a magnified-image acquisition section that acquires a magnified image of each part of the sample, in which, if the focus position detected by the focus position detecting section is changed by more than a predetermined threshold with respect to a focus state in which an adjacent magnified image was obtained, the focus state adjustment section limits the adjustment in the focus state to the predetermined threshold or less.