With Single Or Parallel Objectives Patents (Class 359/377)
  • Patent number: 11298006
    Abstract: A medical imaging apparatus 11 captures observation light from an observed region inside a subject. This medical imaging apparatus 11 includes plural types of optical path separation devices 5, 6 which respectively guide first observation light and second observation light that are included in observation light from scopes 2, 3 that are inserted into the subject, take in the observation light from the observed region inside the subject, and emit the observation light, along optical paths being different from each other; and an imaging apparatus 7 which is shared by the plural types of optical path separation devices 5,6, is detachably connected to the plural types of optical path separation devices 5,6, and captures the first observation light and the second observation light respectively guided by the connected optical path separation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Motoaki Kobayashi, Kohtaro Amano
  • Patent number: 11160451
    Abstract: Provided is a microscope apparatus including: a microscope section configured to image a subject's eye with an image sensor for performing magnified observation of the subject's eye; a holding section configured to hold the microscope section; a front lens insertion/removal unit configured to insert/remove a front lens for observing a posterior eye of the subject's eye onto an optical axis of the microscope section; and a control apparatus configured to execute an AF control that focuses the microscope section on an image-forming position of an image of the posterior eye by the front lens when the front lens is inserted onto the optical axis of the microscope section by the front lens insertion/removal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tomonori Ishikawa, Naobumi Okada
  • Patent number: 11131860
    Abstract: Imagers and imaging spectrometers, which are more compact in physical size with wider spatial fields than previous designs and include axis bending elements, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11019260
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus (100) including a plurality of image capturing units (10a to 10c) that are arranged with reference to a predetermined axis (101), each of the plurality of image capturing units includes a first optical element (11) arranged at an object side, the first optical element having a first axis (OA1), a second optical element (13) arranged at an image side, the second optical element having a second axis (OA2), a third optical element (12) configured to bend a light beam from the first optical element to be introduced to the second optical element, and an image sensor 14), and in at least one of the plurality of image capturing units, the second optical axis is different from a direction of the predetermined axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takumi Uehara
  • Patent number: 10932665
    Abstract: An illumination system of an ophthalmologic microscope system projects illumination light onto a patient's eye. A light receiving system guides returning light of the illumination light to an image sensor. A display controller controls a display device to display an image obtained by the image sensor. A magnification changing unit changes display magnification of the image. An interference optical system detects interference light generated from returning light of measurement light from the eye and reference light. An optical scanner is used to scan the eye with the measurement light. An OCT data generation unit processes a detection result of the interference light to generate data. A condition setting unit sets a projection condition of the measurement light in accordance with change in the display magnification. An OCT controller controls the interference optical system and/or the optical scanner based on the projection condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Ikuo Ishinabe, Michiko Nakanishi, Satoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10926416
    Abstract: An automation system includes a manipulation system including a manipulator for moving an object to a target location, a vision system for detecting landmarks on the object and the target location, and a learning and control module. The vision system is movable. The learning and control module is configured to control a movement of the manipulator and change a field of view of the vision system independent of the movement of the manipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Iman Soltani Bozchalooi, Francis Assadian
  • Patent number: 10908421
    Abstract: Images are overlaid using a personal viewing device, such as a head mounted display. The personal viewing device includes a mount, an electronic display, a lens, and an electronic circuit. The electronic display, lens, and electronic circuit are physically attached to the mount. The electronic display and lens are positioned by the mount so that an eye views the electronic display through the lens. The electronic circuit overlays a first image with a second image to produce an overlaid image. The electronic circuit then displays the overlaid image on the electronic display. The electronic circuit can include an image generating device. The image generating device can generate the first image and/or the second image. The image generating device can be a video player or a processor. The personal viewing device can further include a wireless transceiver attached to the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: RAZER (ASIA-PACIFIC) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yuval S. Boger, Meir Machlin, Lawrence G. Brown
  • Patent number: 10866399
    Abstract: A 3D medical microscope contains: a control unit, a casing, a first lens, a second lens, a reflection unit, and a drive unit. The control unit is configured to control the 3D medical microscope, and the casing includes an accommodation chamber. The first lens is accommodated in the accommodation chamber and is electrically connected with the control unit. The second lens is accommodated in the accommodation chamber and is electrically connected with the control unit, and the first lens and the second lens are located on a horizontal axis. The reflection unit includes a first reflective face and a second reflective face. The drive unit is electrically connected with the control unit and includes a drive motor configured to drive the reflection unit so that the first reflective face and the second reflective face of the reflection unit synchronously move in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Innostar service Inc.
    Inventor: Chih-Meng Wu
  • Patent number: 10823950
    Abstract: A system that balances monocular image quality of images of a digital stereo microscope includes a camera subsystem comprising a right camera system and s left camera system which obtains images; and a processor subsystem which generates control commands to the camera subsystem, wherein the processor subsystem uses subjective quality stored in a personalization system for the control commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Digital Surigcals PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: James Kolenchery Rappel
  • Patent number: 10819973
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are head-mounted displays comprising a display screen and an optics block. The optics block is configured to present, at a time instant, to a left eye of a user of the head-mounted display apparatus, a first shifted version all of an image generated by the display screen. The first shifted version of the image has a first perceived center location that differs from the center of the display screen. The optics block is also configured to present, at the time instant, to a right eye of the user of the head-mounted display apparatus, a second shifted version of the image generated by the display screen, the second shifted version of the image having a second perceived center location that differs from the center of the display screen and that differs from the first perceived center location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Fat Shark Technology SEZC
    Inventors: Gregory French, Allan Evans
  • Patent number: 10788311
    Abstract: A microscope system is made available, said microscope system including: a microscope with an observer beam path with at least one camera for obtaining at least one electronic image of an observation object with a deep channel with a base, a motor-driven mount and/or a motor-driven stand, on which the microscope is mounted, a detection unit for detecting the focal depth set at the microscope, an image processing unit connected to the detection unit for the receiving focal depth and connected to the at least one camera for receiving the at least one electronic image, which image processing unit establishes the image portion in the at least one electronic image constituting the base of the deep channel in the electronic image, and a control unit connected to the image processing unit for receiving the established alignment for outputting control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
    Inventors: Christoph Hauger, Gerald Panitz, Marco Wilzbach, Stefan Saur
  • Patent number: 10698194
    Abstract: An optical system including: a sideways-viewing, distal optical assembly including an entry lens, a deflecting unit configured as a prism unit, and an exit lens on a common optical axis; a proximal optical assembly including left and right lens system channels, wherein the right and left lens system channels are identically configured and parallel to each other and each having an optical axis; and a prism unit between the distal optical assembly and the proximal optical assembly, the prism unit couples a left beam path exiting the exit lens into the left lens system channel and a right beam path exiting the exit lens into the right lens system channel; wherein a second distance between the left and right lens system channels is adjustable, the second distance being in a direction perpendicular to the first and second optical axes of the respective first and second lens system channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Jianxin Zhao
  • Patent number: 10520718
    Abstract: An optical system including: a sideways-viewing, distal optical assembly including an entry lens, a deflecting unit configured as a prism unit, and an exit lens on a common optical axis; a proximal optical assembly including left and right lens system channels, wherein the right and left lens system channels are identically configured and parallel to each other and each having an optical axis; and a prism unit between the distal optical assembly and the proximal optical assembly, the prism unit couples a left beam path exiting the exit lens into the left lens system channel and a right beam path exiting the exit lens into the right lens system channel; wherein a second distance between the left and right lens system channels is adjustable, the second distance being in a direction perpendicular to the first and second optical axes of the respective first and second lens system channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Jianxin Zhao
  • Patent number: 10409051
    Abstract: A method and system for extracting the zoom level of a microscope is disclosed. The method includes capturing a reference image; recording a first zoom level corresponding to a first magnification at which the reference image is captured; capturing a second image; determining a second zoom level by comparing the second image and the reference image, the second zoom level corresponding to a second magnification at which the second image is captured; and recording the second zoom level at a location accessible by a microscope application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Hugang Ren, Lingfeng Yu, Tammo Heeren
  • Patent number: 10244928
    Abstract: This application presents to an endoscope having a compact distal tip, and to a method for constructing same. In some embodiments one or more optical and sensing elements are mounted directly on an internal surface of a lumen within an external housing, which housing comprises an outer wall of the endoscope tip. Space saved by eliminating intervening containing elements can be used to enhance endoscope performance and/or reduce endoscope size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Cogentix Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Ellie Konwitz, Martin Abraham, Thomas S. Soulos, Ron Hadani
  • Patent number: 10146039
    Abstract: A method (200) is proposed for furnishing a digital resulting image, using a microscope system (1) that comprises means (R, L, 41) for furnishing microscopic images at different numerical apertures as well as a digital image capture unit (50). The method encompasses: capturing by means of the digital image capture unit (50), in the form of digital individual images, at least two microscopic images at different numerical apertures; and comparing respective mutually corresponding image regions of the digital individual images to one another in terms of their image sharpness, the image regions of the digital individual images having the greatest image sharpness being in each case combined to yield the digital resulting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventor: Harald Schnitzler
  • Patent number: 9715097
    Abstract: A stereomicroscope includes a stereoscopic main observer beam path having a main observer zoom system, a stereoscopic co-observer beam path having a co-observer zoom system, and a main objective common to the main observer beam path and the co-observer beam path. The co-observer beam path is coupled out from the main observer beam path via a geometrical beam splitter arranged between the main objective and the main observer zoom system, wherein in the co-observer beam path the co-observer zoom system succeeds the geometrical beam splitter and is constructed from lenses having dimensions such that both a first and a second stereoscopic partial beam of the co-observer beam path in each case pass through the lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Artur Hoegele, Andre Mueller, Daniel Kolster
  • Patent number: 9541748
    Abstract: A surgical microscope objective has an adjustable focal intercept and defines an optical axis. The objective has an objective body wherein a negative member is fixed and in which a positive member can be displaced. The negative member faces toward the object and has a lateral edge. The positive member is held in a frame, which is guided on a first guiding section formed on the objective body so it can move in the direction of the optical axis using a first guiding part. The positive member is guided on a second guiding section, which is formed on the objective body, using a second guiding part connected to the frame of the positive member and movable between the lateral edge of the negative member and the objective body. The second guiding part is offset from the first guiding part in the direction of the optical axis facing the negative member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Fenny Nauli, Reinhold Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 9438779
    Abstract: A wide-angle camera and fabrication method thereof includes a sensor with a plurality of pixel sub-arrays and an array of optical elements on a first side of a substrate. Each of the optical elements is capable of forming an image from a field of view onto a different one of the pixel sub-arrays. The wide-angle camera also includes an array of achromatic doublet prisms on a second side of the substrate, where each of the achromatic doublet prisms is aligned to provide a viewing angle with a different one of the optical elements. The sensor captures a wide-angle field of view while having a compact format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuen-Yi Yin, Jau-Jan Deng
  • Patent number: 9389498
    Abstract: A 3D-image pickup optical system includes: a pair of optical systems each of which includes a magnification-varying lens unit, an aperture stop, a first lens unit and a first reflective member in a sequential order from an object side, the optical systems having optical axes offset from each other; a second lens unit that receives object light fluxes from the pair of optical systems; a second reflective member that guides the object light fluxes from the pair of optical systems to the second lens unit; and a switching unit that is disposed in an object side of the second reflective member, and alternately guides the pair of the object light fluxes respectively from the pair of optical systems to the second reflective member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yu Inomoto
  • Patent number: 9311536
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards methods and systems for capturing artifact-free biometric images of an eye. The eye may be in motion and in the presence of partially-reflective eyewear. The method may include acquiring, by a first sensor, a first image of an eye while the eye is illuminated by a first illuminator. The first image may include a region of interest. The first sensor may be disposed at a fixed displacement from the first illuminator and a second sensor. The second sensor may acquire, within a predetermined period of time from the acquisition of the first image, a second image of the eye. The second image may include the region of interest. An image processor may determine if at least one of the first and second images include artifacts arising from one or both of the first illuminator and eyewear, within the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Eyelock LLC
    Inventor: Keith J. Hanna
  • Patent number: 8934169
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a dual objective stereomicroscope in which the two objectives are moved independent of each other along an angular axis by a mechanism to provide a stereoscopic image of an object. The microscope has two optical paths formed respectively with an objective lens, a primary mirror, a focusing mirror and an eye piece. The plane of the primary mirror is arranged normal to the plane of the objective lens. The focusing mirror is arranged in parallel to the primary mirror to reflect a beam of light received from the objective lens through the primary mirror to the eye piece. The primary mirror is moved synchronously with the movement of the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Ram Srikanth Mirlay
  • Publication number: 20140340500
    Abstract: A surgical microscope 1 comprises an imaging system 2 providing a magnified multidimensional image of an object 3 disposable in a focal plane 4 of the imaging system 2 along at least one optical imaging path 2a, 2b. The imaging system 2 comprises an objective 5 having at least two lens groups 6, 7, through which the at least one optical imaging path 2a, 2b passes consecutively, and which define the focal plane 4 of the imaging system 2. At least one lens group 6 of the objective is moveable along its optical axis relative to the at least one other lens group 7 of the objective. The objective's first lens group 6 located directly adjacent to the focal plane 4 along the at least one optical imaging path 2a, 2b consists of at least three optical lenses 61, 62, 63 and has altogether a negative optical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventor: Artur HOEGELE
  • Publication number: 20140267632
    Abstract: Stereoscopic instruments for viewing stereoscopic images of objects at a range of magnifications are described. The stereoscopic instruments are arranged to provide an optical beam comprising light received from an object over a given angular range, and to split the optical beam into left and right optical beams each traversing a respective optical path. The left and right optical paths each transmit a sub-beam over a respective angular range, the respective angular ranges thereby defining a first angular relationship between the respective sub-beams. Each optical path comprises a first angle adjustment means for adjusting the first angular relationship. Some embodiments also include a means for transmitting images formed from the left and right sub-beams, the images having a second angular relationship related to a vergence angle at which a user's eyes view the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: John WARD
  • Patent number: 8692867
    Abstract: An image acquisition device having a wide field of view includes a lens and image sensor configured to capture an original wide field of view (WFoV) image with a field of view of more than 90°. The device has an object detection engine that includes one or more cascades of object classifiers, e.g., face classifiers. A WFoV correction engine may apply rectilinear and/or cylindrical projections to pixels of the WFoV image, and/or non-linear, rectilinear and/or cylindrical lens elements or lens portions serve to prevent and/or correct distortion within the original WFoV image. One or more objects located within the original and/or distortion-corrected WFoV image is/are detectable by the object detection engine upon application of the one or more cascades of object classifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean, Mihnea Gangea, Piotr Stec, Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 8675061
    Abstract: A biocular display system is provided for use with a transmissive micro-LCD display and a biocular lens, where the biocular system includes a relay lens that can transfer a digital image from the transmissive micro-LCD display to a micro-resolution screen surface where a micro-diffusion surface is applied to a single planar transparent substrate that has a smooth surface on a side opposite the micro-diffusion surface, and the micro-diffusion surface has at least some surface features that can diffuse the light passing therethrough at greater than a 60-degree diffusion angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Richard D. Balentine
  • Publication number: 20140029089
    Abstract: A stereomicroscope (1) has two main observer's beam paths (24a, 24b) and two assistant observer's beam paths (23a, 23b) that pass through a main objective (2), such that pupils (4a, 4b; 3a, 3b) of the four beam paths are respectively formed in the objective plane, where the stereo bases (9, 10), connecting the centers of a pupil pair, of the main observer's and assistant observer's beam paths intersect at an angle, and has a device for illumination incoupling comprising an illumination deflection element (8) arranged such that illumination light is couplable simultaneously into all four observation beam paths (24a, 24b; 23a, 23b), imaginary connecting lines (12, 13) extending perpendicular to and between the axes respectively of an assistant observer's beam path and of a main observer's beam path, and the illumination deflection element arranged such that two parallel connecting lines are located in the plane of the illumination deflection element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventor: Michael GUENTERT
  • Patent number: 8477417
    Abstract: A variable power optical system used in a parallel stereoscopic microscope apparatus includes a plurality of optical paths in which optical axes are arranged substantially parallel, a plurality of lens groups that change the magnification of a diameter of a luminous flux entering substantially parallel to each of the optical paths to eject the luminous flux as substantially parallel luminous fluxes, and at least two lens groups move along the optical axis in each optical path according to the change in the magnification. At least two lens groups of at least one optical path among the plurality of optical paths move in a direction including a component perpendicular to the optical axis according to the change in the magnification at at least part of a section where the magnification is changed from a high-power end state to a low-power end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Mizuta, Hiroaki Nakayama, Yumiko Ouchi
  • Patent number: 8358498
    Abstract: A mounting assembly and method of mounting an electrical unit to an automotive dashboard includes providing an electrical unit and operatively engaging the electrical unit to a cover, either an undercover of the instrument panel, or a cowl lining area. Alignment pins provided in the cover cooperate with openings in mounting tabs of the electrical unit for positioning the electrical unit while fastener screws are subsequently installed to secure the unit to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: John Hill, Michael Khanh Luong, Jason T. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120281277
    Abstract: An imaging optical system is capable of arranging right and left optical systems parallel to each other while maintaining advantages of an inwardly inclined system stereoscopic microscope apparatus including right-eye and left-eye optical paths completely independent of each other, as well as a microscope apparatus including the imaging optical system. The imaging optical systems each include a plurality of lens groups and variable power optical systems. At least one lens group of the plurality of lens groups is arranged such that a center thereof deviates by a predetermined amount in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and a second lens group of each of the variable power optical systems is moved in a direction including a component perpendicular to a reference optical axis, in at least part of a power changing section from a high-power end state to a low-power end state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Mizuta
  • Patent number: 8275226
    Abstract: A multi-mode optical fiber delivers light from a radiation source to a multi-focal confocal microscope with reasonable efficiency. A core diameter of the multi-mode fiber is selected such that an etendue of light emitted from the fiber is not substantially greater than a total etendue of light passing through a plurality of pinholes in a pinhole array of the multi-focal confocal microscope. The core diameter may be selected taking into account a specific optical geometry of the multi-focal confocal microscope, including pinhole diameter and focal lengths of relevant optical elements. For coherent radiation sources, phase randomization may be included. A multi-mode fiber enables the use of a variety of radiation sources and wavelengths in a multi-focal confocal microscope, since the coupling of the radiation source to the multi-mode fiber is less sensitive to mechanical and temperature influences than coupling the radiation source to a single mode fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Spectral Applied Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Richard Berman
  • Patent number: 8159743
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical microscope having a microscope main objective for the visualization of an object plane in an object region. The objective is passed through by a first stereoscopic component beam path and by a second stereoscopic component beam path. The ophthalmologic surgical microscope includes an adjustable illuminating arrangement which makes illuminating light available. The illuminating arrangement has an illuminating optic having a beam deflecting unit which is mounted on the side of the objective facing away from the object region in order to direct the illuminating light through the objective to the object region. In a first position of the illuminating arrangement, the illuminating light passes through the cross sectional area of the objective in an area section, which at least partially surrounds the optical axis of the first stereoscopic component beam path and/or the optical axis of the second stereoscopic component beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Alfons Abele, Peter Reimer, Andreas Negele, Franz Merz, Jürgen Liegel
  • Patent number: 8144394
    Abstract: The invention provides a stereoscopic imaging optical system that has a total optical length short enough to be suitable for use in electron image microscopes. The stereoscopic imaging optical system comprises, in order from its object side, one objective lens DB and a plurality of zoom imaging optical systems ZI. Each zoom imaging optical system ZI comprises, in order from its object side, a positive first group G1, a negative second group G2, an aperture stop AS, a positive third group G3 and a positive fourth group G4. The second group moves for zooming on an optical axis, and the fourth group moves on the optical axis in association with the second group for correcting an image position fluctuation incidental to zooming. Various conditions are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Uzawa
  • Patent number: 8115993
    Abstract: A stereo-examination system including an objective arrangement configured to receive an object-side beam bundle emanating from the object plane and to convert the object-side beam bundle into an image-side beam bundle and a selection arrangement configured to select at least one pair of partial beam bundles from the image side beam bundle. The system also includes an image transmission apparatus configured to generate stereoscopic images of an object positionable in the object plane from the at least one pair of partial beam bundles and an illumination arrangement. The illumination arrangement includes a light source, a beam coupler to superpose a beam cross-section of the illumination beam with the image-side beam bundle, and a field of a plurality of state-changing elements. The elements are selectively switchable between a first state directed and a second state in which light of the illumination beam is and is not directed to the object plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Christoph Hauger, Michael Haisch, Andreas Obrebski
  • Publication number: 20120008194
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging optical system that can prevent enlargement of the entire optical system of a microscope apparatus while holding a wide distance between optical axes to allow enlargement to a low-power range. A variable power optical system 3 used in a parallel stereoscopic microscope apparatus 100 and the like includes a plurality of optical paths in which optical axes are arranged substantially parallel, includes a plurality of lens groups that change the magnification of a diameter of a luminous flux entering substantially parallel to each of the optical paths to eject the luminous flux as substantially parallel luminous fluxes, and at least two lens groups move along the optical axis in each optical path according to the change in the magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro MIZUTA, Hiroaki Nakayama, Yumiko Ouchi
  • Patent number: 8081380
    Abstract: A stereoscopic lens system for a stereo endoscope is disclosed, the stereoscopic lens system converting light propagated from an object and received at an objective end of the stereoscopic lens system to left and right optical images at an image plane end of the stereoscopic lens system. The system includes at least one linearly movable left optical element configured to selectably adjust the magnification and field of view of the left image in response to linear movement and at least one linearly movable right optical element configured to selectably adjust the magnification and field of view of the right image in response to linear movement. The at least one linearly movable left optical element and the at least one linearly movable right optical element are selectably movable in fixed relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventor: Harry R. McKinley
  • Patent number: 7990610
    Abstract: An illumination optical system projects an illumination light onto an observation object via an objective lens. A first observation optical system guides the illumination light reflected by the observation object to a first ocular lens. A second observation optical system includes a second ocular lens for observing the reflected light of the illumination light. An optical system drive mechanism rotates the second observation optical system and arranges the second observation optical system between a first position and second position facing each other. A reflecting member is disposed at a position retracted from the illumination light path and the reflected light path and reflects the reflected light in a direction different from the optical axis. A drive mechanism rotates the reflecting member around a rotation axis orthogonal to the optical axis and guides the reflected light to the second observation optical system arranged at the first or second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Higuchi, Hiroshi Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20110038040
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical microscope (1) having a microscope main objective (12) for the visualization of an object plane (45) in an object region (9). The microscope main objective (12) is passed through by a first stereoscopic component beam path (5) and by a second stereoscopic component beam path (7). The ophthalmologic surgical microscope (1) includes an adjustable illuminating arrangement (15) which makes illuminating light available. The illuminating arrangement (15) has an illuminating optic having a beam deflecting unit (19) which is mounted on the side of the microscope main objective (12) facing away from the object region (9) in order to direct the illuminating light through the microscope main objective (12) to the object region (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Alfons Abele, Peter Reimer, Andreas Negele, Franz Merz, Jürgen Liegel
  • Publication number: 20110032335
    Abstract: A video stereomicroscope includes a main objective (2) having a substantially vertical optical axis (11), a deflecting element (5) provided downstream of the objective (2) to cause light passing through the main objective (2) to be deflected into a substantially horizontal direction, and further includes a zoom system (7) which is disposed downstream of the deflecting element (5) and has at least two substantially horizontally extending observation channels (7c, 7d), a first observation channel (7c) and a second observation channel (7d) of the zoom system (7) being vertically spaced from each other. The video stereomicroscope has at least one optoelectronic image-capturing device (40a-40e) provided downstream of the zoom system (7) for providing a stereoscopic image based on beams of radiation (20c, 20d) passing through the first observation channel (7c) and the second observation channel (7d).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS (SCHWEIZ) AG
    Inventor: Ulrich SANDER
  • Patent number: 7768701
    Abstract: By adding perspective information in addition to binocular parallax, the invention provides a three-dimensional medical imaging apparatus that allows surgery to be performed with a more natural three-dimensional view, similar to that achieved with the naked eye. The three-dimensional medical imaging apparatus includes an image-acquisition optical system and an imaging device for acquiring three-dimensional images of a subject. The image-acquisition optical system includes an objective optical system for forming an image of the subject at an image-forming plane, and an entrance pupil position of the image-acquisition optical system is disposed between the objective optical system and the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Namii, Kenji Hirose, Koji Yasunaga
  • Patent number: 7751120
    Abstract: A stereomicroscope of the telescope type includes a first beam path and a second beam path, wherein in the first beam path a first telescope system and in the second beam path a second telescope system are provided, wherein the magnifications of both telescope systems are equal and can be changed synchronously to each other, and wherein a common main objective is allocated to both beam paths. In order to increase the resolution without loss in depth of field, it is proposed that at least one optical element of the first telescope system has, compared to at least one corresponding optical element of the second telescope system, a different optically effective diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Zimmer, Ruedi Rottermann, Harald Schnitzler
  • Patent number: 7724427
    Abstract: A telescope-type stereomicroscope which is outfitted with an objective and two magnification changers arranged downstream of the objective. In this telescope-type stereomicroscope, the light from an object that is being examined enters the objective. Two light bundles of the light re-exiting from the objective, which are oriented parallel to one another, enter the magnification changers. The optical axes of the magnification changers are arranged at a fixed distance from one another. Each magnification changer has an entrance pupil for the light bundle associated with it. The entrance pupil has a diameter DEP that depends on the respective selected magnification, where the condition DEP>B/1.06 is met at the maximum selected magnification. Optionally, the stereomicroscope meets the condition tan(?)?0.16 with respect to the angle ? at which the light coming from an extra-axial point P at the object enters the magnification changers at the lowest possible magnification setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Winterot
  • Publication number: 20090268281
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stereo microscope (20) with a first and a second main beam path (21, 22), the spacing of which defines a stereo base (23), wherein an axis of the microscope (24) extends through the middle of the stereo base (23) parallel to the main beam paths (21, 22), and with an optical beam splitter device (30) for producing an assistant beam path (31) and a documentation beam path (32), wherein the direction of the assistant beam path (31) in a first position is rotated by 180° to the direction of the assistant beam path (31) in a second position of the beam splitter device (30), and the decoupled documentation beam path (32) in both positions of the beam splitter device (30) is in each case perpendicular to the decoupled assistant beam path (31), and wherein in both the first and second positions of the beam splitter device (30) the assistant beam path (31) can in each case be decoupled at least from the first main beam path (21) and the documentation beam path (32) can in each case b
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Harald SCHNITZLER, Peter Strobel, James NG, Manfred Kuster
  • Patent number: 7605975
    Abstract: A stereomicroscope of the telescope type includes a first beam path and a second beam path, wherein in the first beam path a first telescope system and in the second beam path a second telescope system are provided, wherein the magnifications of both telescope systems are equal and can be changed synchronously to each other, and wherein a common main objective is allocated to both beam paths. In order to increase the resolution without loss in depth of field, it is proposed that at least one optical element of the first telescope system has, compared to at least one corresponding optical element of the second telescope system, a different optically effective diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Zimmer, Ruedi Rottermann, Harald Schnitzler
  • Patent number: 7599114
    Abstract: Providing a compact lightweight stereomicroscope securing a light weight necessary for carrying, capable of securing stability upon attaching a camera. The stereomicroscope includes a base 1 that places a sample thereon, a microscope body 9 having a pair of left and right observation optical systems for observing the sample and a photographing optical system that leads the light from the sample substantially corresponding to the focusing center of the observation optical systems to a imaging means 17, a column 3 that is disposed on the base 1 and supports the microscope body 9, a support means that supports the imaging means 17, and a connecting means 13 that rotatably connects the microscope body 9 to the column 3. An optical axis I of the photographing optical system becomes substantially parallel to a rotation axis O of the connecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignees: Nikon Vision Co., Ltd., Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7586675
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device (500) with a device (600) for increasing the depth of field having at least one optical element (3) with different focal lengths (f1, f2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Patent number: 7564619
    Abstract: A stereomicroscope has, in order form the object side, a single objective lens system; afocal relay optical systems, each including a front lens unit with positive refracting power and a rear lens unit with positive refracting power and having an intermediate image between the front lens unit and the rear lens unit; variable magnification optical systems; a plurality of aperture stops including at least aperture stops for right and left eyes, located at positions decentered from the optical axis of the objective lens system; and a plurality of imaging lens systems located at positions corresponding to the plurality of aperture stops. In this case, when each of the variable magnification optical systems lies at the low-magnification position, an entrance pupil of an optical system ranging from the objective lens system to each of the imaging lens systems is located closest to the objective lens system to satisfy the following condition: 0<L—enp—w/f—ob<0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Uzawa, Yasushi Namii
  • Publication number: 20090168166
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stereoscopic optical system (1), comprising a first optical sub-system (2L) with a number of optical elements (31L, 32L, 33L, 34L, 35L, 36L, 37L, 38L, 39L) for providing a left beam path (4L) of the stereoscopic optical system (1), and a second optical sub-system (2R) with a number of optical elements (31R, 32R, 33R, 34R, 35R, 36R, 37R, 38R, 39R) for providing a right beam path (4R) of the stereoscopic optical system (1). At least one first optical partial element (38L) of the first optical sub-system (2L) has a first optical surface (O1), and at least one second optical partial element (38R) of the second optical sub-system (2R) has a second optical surface (O2). According to the invention, the first and the second optical surfaces (O1, O2) are partial surfaces of one common mathematical surface that is rotationally symmetrical about a common main axis (7) of the stereoscopic optical system (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS SURGICAL GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Obrebski
  • Publication number: 20090116102
    Abstract: An illumination optical system projects an illumination light onto an observation object via an objective lens. A first observation optical system guides the illumination light reflected by the observation object to a first ocular lens. A second observation optical system includes a second ocular lens for observing the reflected light of the illumination light. An optical system drive mechanism rotates the second observation optical system and arranges the second observation optical system between a first position and second position facing each other. A reflecting member is disposed at a position retracted from the illumination light path and the reflected light path and reflects the reflected light in a direction different from the optical axis. A drive mechanism rotates the reflecting member around a rotation axis orthogonal to the optical axis and guides the reflected light to the second observation optical system arranged at the first or second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Higuchi, Hiroshi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7515345
    Abstract: A high-performance image-forming optical objective lens made compact and thin, particularly in the object side direction, by twice folding the optical path by means of two prism lenses longitudinally separated and arranged in an angular relationship to one another. The prisms have entrance and exit faces each of which is constructed of a curved surface having optical power, as well as having a rotationally symmetric polynomial aspheric attribute. The image-forming optical objective is particularly suited to helmet-mounted applications wherein the angular means for folding the optical path provides for an optical objective configuration that closely conforms to the exterior surface contour of the helmet, while providing a minimal forward projection in object space from the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Heimer