Abstract: A slit 9 having a predetermined length is formed in a mirror 8 and an illumination light L of illumination part 10 irradiates an observation area E in a manner of zero-angle illumination to an optical axis K. The illumination part is movable to form an oblique path of the illumination light L which passes through the slit 9. A shadow appears due to the oblique path of the illumination light L and it facilitates a stereoscopic observation.

Abstract: Provided is a wavelength selective switch which includes: at least one input port; a dispersive portion for dispersing wavelength-multiplexed light input from the input port into wavelength-demultiplexed lights; a condenser element for condensing the wavelength-demultiplexed lights dispersed by the dispersive portion; a deflection portion having deflection elements for deflecting, for each wavelength-demultiplexed light condensed by the condenser element; at least one output port for outputting the wavelength-demultiplexed lights deflected by the deflection portion. A light-condensing position shift compensating element is disposed in an optical path between the input port and the dispersive portion or in the dispersive portion, for compensating light-condensing position shift of the wavelength-demultiplexed lights relative to the deflection element, light-condensing position shift being generated based on the arrangement of the input ports.

Abstract: A hand-held microscope includes a rigid tripod stand with adjustable legs, a visual display component, an imaging detector and an optical assembly comprising an imaging lens and an objective lens housed within an imaging tube. Multiple illumination sources can be used in the microscope, including LED or laser diode sources. The microscope can also include interchangeable imaging tubes that enable bright field, dark field, fluorescence and other imaging modalities.

Abstract: Various beam selectors for selectively placing one of at least two beams of light along the same output path are disclosed. In one aspect, a beam selector receives at least two substantially parallel beams of light. The beam selector includes a plate with an aperture so that when one of the at least two beams is selected for transmission, the beam selector directs only the selected beam along an output path through the aperture. The plate can also serve to block transmission of unselected beams. The output path through the aperture is the same for each of the at least two beams when each beam is selected. Beam selectors can be incorporated into fluorescence microscopy instruments to selectively place particular excitation beams along the same path through the microscope objective lens and into a specimen to excite fluorescence of fluorescent probes attached to a particular component of the specimen.

Abstract: This microscope apparatus is provided with the following elements: an objective lens; a CCD that constructs an image of a sample S; an illumination intensity change unit for adjusting an intensity of excitation light; an sensitivity adjustment unit for adjusting a detection sensitivity by the CCD; a galvanometer mirror for changing a light focusing position of excitation light at a pupil position of the objective lens; a storage unit that stores, for each observation method, a predetermined intensity, a predetermined detection sensitivity, and the light focusing position; and a control unit that switches the observation method, reads out the intensity, the detection sensitivity, and the light focusing position according to the observation method based on a synchronization signal synchronized with a frame signal for constructing an image, and controls the illumination intensity change unit, the sensitivity adjustment unit, and the galvanometer mirror.

Abstract: A device for examining and manipulating microscopic objects with a microscope having a light source that serves to illuminate the object, and which generates an illumination light beam that runs along and illumination beam path, that can be guided over or through the object by means of a beam deflector, with a detector to detect light emitted from the object that runs along the detection beam path, with a primary beam splitter, and with a light source, which generates a manipulation light beam that runs along an illumination beam path, that serves to manipulate the object.

Abstract: A microscope for observing a specimen, while switching optical-path splitting portions, by using bright images without a positional displacement between the images, includes an optical-axis moving portion that parallelly moves laser light; a scanning portion; an objective lens; a detector; a plurality of excitation dichroic mirrors placed in an optical path in an insertable/removable manner and split the optical path; an excitation DM turret that selectively switches the excitation dichroic mirrors; a storage portion storing entry-angle displacement information and transmitting-position displacement information for the laser light at the pupil position of the objective lens, which are associated with the individual excitation dichroic mirrors; and a control portion controlling the scanning portion based on the entry-angle displacement information associated with an excitation dichroic mirror placed in the optical path and also controlling the optical-axis moving portion 15 based on the transmitting-position d

Abstract: A microscope for conventional fluorescence microscopy (epi-fluorescence) and for total internal reflection microscopy is described. A first light source emits conventional fluorescent illumination light along a first illumination path and a second light source emitting evanescent illumination light along a second illumination path that differs from the first illumination path. An objective emits light onto an object to be viewed. A beam combiner directs the two lights into the objective while keeping their beam paths geometrically separated. The beam combiner comprises at least two spatially separated first zones for coupling in the conventional fluorescent illumination light and at least two spatially separated second zones for coupling in the evanescent illumination light. The first and second zones are adapted in their size and position to objective pupils of different objectives.

Abstract: An improved filter wheel is disclosed, through embodiments, that comprises a plurality of reflector support structures formed as a unitized structure with a circular base member. In some embodiments, the filter wheel further comprises a plurality of light sources mounted on the filter wheel.

Abstract: An optical filter 11 is fixed in an optical path in a light generation unit 6 to cut out light in an infrared region. The optical filter 11 do not deviate from the optical path, and infallibly eliminate light in the infrared region which becomes heat radiation. The optical filter 11 cuts out light whose wavelength is longer than a threshold wavelength that is longer than 805 nm and shorter than 815 nm, and eliminates heat radiation in the infrared region, which includes a wavelength (approximately 825 nm) which is substantially a first peak P of the radiant intensity of the xenon lamp 10.

Abstract: An illumination system of a microscopy system comprises an actuator configured to change an angle of an illumination light beam and a mirror assembly, which is selectively positionable into the beam path of the illumination light beam. The mirror assembly may comprise an actuator configured to change an orientation of a mirror with respect to another mirror.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microscope illumination system for switching between a first, confocal and a second, non-confocal microscope illumination mode, the system having an illumination unit that, in order to provide the first illumination mode, includes an illumination source for generating an illumination beam propagating parallel to the optical axis; a scanning mirror for deflecting the illumination beam perpendicular to the optical axis; and a scanning eyepiece and a downstream scanning tube lens for imaging the scanning mirror into the back focal plane of a microscope objective and for expanding the illumination beam, the objective focusing the illumination beam onto a specimen to be examined. In order to provide the second illumination mode, the system has a focusing lens inserted into the path of the illumination beam in such a way that the illumination beam is focused into the back focal plane of the microscope objective.

Abstract: A microscope system includes: an illumination unit; a light control direction unit specifying quantity of light output from the illumination unit; a storage unit storing voltage-related information in which a direction value specified by the light control direction unit and a voltage value to be applied to the illumination unit are associated with each other and are set, the direction value being in an entire range that can be specified by the light control direction unit under each observation condition, the voltage value corresponding to the direction value; a light quantity control unit controlling the quantity of the emitted light; and a control unit acquiring the voltage value corresponding to the specified direction value from the voltage-related information corresponding to the observation condition, and allowing the light quantity control unit to control the quantity of light based on the acquired voltage value.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a lamp mount including a first mount and a second mount. The first mount has a first cavity to mount an observation module. The second mount has a second cavity to mount an image capture module. The measurement apparatus further includes a plurality of light modules mounted on an undersurface of the lamp mount. The second mount is disposed with an included angle relative to a first axis of the first cavity so that a second axis of the second cavity and the first axis converge on a point. The undersurface of the lamp mount is concave so that light from the light modules tilts toward the first axis, and the light and the first axis also converge on the point.

Abstract: A nonlinear optical microscope includes: a light source unit emitting pulsed light having a wavelength of 1200 nm or more and having a pulse width of several tens through several hundreds of femtoseconds; an objective emitting the pulsed light from the light source unit to a sample and having a working distance of 2 mm or more; and an immersion liquid filling the space between the sample and the objective and having an internal transmittance higher than an internal transmittance of pure water with respect to the wavelength of the pulsed light emitted from the light source unit.

Abstract: Instrument for obtaining wide field images of a specimen comprising (1) a divergence disperser, generating within a light beam different divergences in each of the chromatic components thereof to form images of the specimen at different depths thereof, and (2) a wavelength analyser, selecting the wavelength or interval of wavelengths of the light beam to form the image of the specimen at a specific depth. The light beam may be mono- or polychromatic and the instrument may have a configuration of illumination by transmission or by reflection. The instrument may moreover be modified through diverse configurations of the divergence disperser and/or of the wavelength analyser, including the motorisation thereof or the inclusion of a movable mask, together with being coupled to a CCD or CMOS camera to integrate the diverse images acquired from all sections of the specimen.

Abstract: It is an objection of the present invention to provide a fluorescence reading apparatus in view of the influence of fluorescence derived from a fluorescence substance that is not involved with an interaction between a probe substance and a target substance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope illumination method, to a microscope illumination set, comprising a white light LED (4) and a correction filter (6), and to a corresponding microscope system (1) for analysing a sample (10) alternately or simultaneously in transmitted light bright field illumination and in incident light fluorescence illumination, wherein a white light LED (4) is used for the transmitted light bright field illumination, and a correction filter (6) is activated at a location in the illumination beam path of the transmitted light bright field illumination both during transmitted light bright field illumination and during incident light fluorescence illumination, wherein the correction filter (6) has a spectral transmission profile which has a minimum in the wavelength range of at least one maximum of the spectrum of the white light LED (4).

Abstract: An illuminating system for transmitted-light microscopes has a illuminator unit seated on a bracket. A condenser is mounted on the bracket by way of a condenser holder and is rotatable with respect to the bracket. The condenser has an integrated modulator slider that slidably extends through the condenser. The bracket has an upright portion with a window through which the modulator slider may be fed in the direction facing away from the operator. the bracket may be provided with a stand mount.

Abstract: Among other items, an illumination device (110) is [provided] for an observation device (100) having one, two or more observation beam paths, each with at least one observation beam bundle, in particular for an operating microscope, having at least one light source (112) for producing at least one illumination beam path with at least one illumination beam bundle (121, 122, 123) for illuminating an object to be observed, in particular, an eye to be observed, in addition having at least one illumination optics unit (11)*, which is constructed according to the Köhler principle of illumination, as well as an objective element (119), wherein the at least one illumination beam path or the at least one illumination beam bundle (121, 122, 123) runs coaxially to an observation beam path or observation beam bundle.

Abstract: An optical system is used in a microscope which is provided to observe a sample or in a light emitting device which applies a beam of light such as a laser beam onto a sample. The optical system can form an oblique path of light so that without shifting the sample or the position of the eyes of the observer (or the position of a light source of the light emitting device), the observer can observe (in the case of the light emitting device, it can apply light onto) not only a vertical top side the sample but also a front, rear, left or right side of the sample, or the position of a portion of the sample to be observed (in the case of the light emitting device, a portion onto which light is applied) can be varied.

Abstract: The automatic adjustment method of a microscopic image for automatically adjusting an image on the basis of the lightness of the microscopic image includes distinguishing an observation pixel being an observation target in the image from a non-observation pixel not being an observation target on the basis of the lightness of each pixel of the image, determining a representative value for representing the lightness of the image on the basis of the lightness of a selection pixel identified as the observation pixel and adjusting the lightness of the image on the basis of the representative value.

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 microscope system that is capable of changing a status of observation of a sample comprises an instruction unit for giving instruction for driving one or more optical members including an objective lens or for changing a relative position of the sample and the objective lens; and an image capturing unit for capturing an observed image of the sample as a still image or a live image. The microscope system changes an order for performing operations in accordance with the instruction from the instruction unit, the operations including an operation of driving the one or more optical members or changing the relative position; an operation of switching the illumination light for the sample from being cut-off or reduced to being applied; and an operation of switching the image displayed in a display unit from the still image to the live image.

Abstract: A microscope, which moves an objective lens along an observation optical axis with respect to a specimen, includes an imaging unit and a supporting unit. The imaging unit has an imaging lens, which is arranged on the observation optical axis and forms an observation image of the specimen, and an imaging element, which is arranged on the observation optical axis and takes the observation image, and is optically connected to the objective lens by a parallel light flux. The supporting unit fixedly supports the imaging unit, and movably supports the objective lens.

Abstract: An illumination optical system which irradiates a sample surface with light through an illuminating lens includes: a light source; a condensing optical system receiving the light emitted from the light source; and a lens array optical system including a first lens array surface and a second lens array surface each formed by a plurality of lens elements. The first lens array surface has a conjugate relation with a back focal position of the illuminating lens. The second lens array surface is placed at a back focal position of the lens array optical system, has a conjugate relation with a pupil position of the illuminating lens, and the light source and the condensing optical system are arranged to form an image of the light source on the first lens array surface.

Abstract: An assembly (100) and a method are provided for inputting a light beam into a light path extending from the confocal scanning head (102) to the microscope (104) of a scanning confocal microscope system to illuminate a selected region of a sample mounted in the microscope. The assembly comprises a light input for receiving a light beam from a light source; beam directing means (8, 12) for controlling the path of the light beam with reference to the shape of the selected region of the sample; and a beam coupler (16) for selective coupling the light beam into the light path from the confocal scanning head (102) to the microscope (104), with the beam direction being controlled by the beam directing means so as to illuminate the selected region. A scanning confocal microscope system including such an assembly is also described, together with a method of calibrating the system. In addition, an optical switch for selectively switching a light beam between two paths is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluorescent microscope and a remote control system thereof. The present invention reduces the size of the fluorescent microscope to facilitate transportation and management and be disposed in a narrow place such as the inside of the incubator or the clean bench, etc. and observes the samples through a remote control, thereby making it possible to improve the user convenience.

Abstract: A microscope includes: an objective lens radiating laser light and illumination light onto a specimen; a first detection optical system detecting first observation light produced from the specimen when the laser light is radiated; a second detection optical system detecting second observation light produced from the specimen when the illumination light is radiated; optical elements placed so as to be capable of being inserted into or removed from a light path of the first detection optical system or the second detection optical system; a rotating turret selectively switching the optical elements to be inserted into the light path; a storage section storing correction information about a relative misalignment between the first observation light and the second observation light caused when the optical elements are switched; and a control section correcting the relative misalignment between the first observation light and the second observation light based on the correction information.

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.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a family of microscopes with components or discrete compact devices for illuminating an object with radiation of various spectral ranges suitable for multichannel fluorescence microscopy, so that an object is sequentially illuminated with different excitation spectra of particular fluorescent dyes.

Abstract: An illumination device (20) for a microscope (40) has a laser unit (24) that generates at least one broadband laser light pulse (30); light components (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76) of different wavelengths of said broadband laser light pulse (30) being offset in time from one another. A compensation unit (36) disposed in the path of the broadband laser light pulse (30) temporally offsets the light components (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76) of the broadband laser light pulse (30) in such a way that they exit the compensation unit (36) simultaneously or nearly simultaneously.

Abstract: A microscope image pickup system includes: alight source; an object lens; a display device; a record device; a capture device for performing a preview mode in which an image of the test object obtained by the object lens is repeatedly captured and a plurality of captured images are continuously displayed on the display device, or an image record mode in which the image of the test object is captured and the captured image is recorded on the record device; an illumination light amount control device for controlling the amount of light of the illumination light; and a system control device for controlling an operation of the illumination light amount control device depending on the preview mode or the image record mode performed by the capture device.

Abstract: A microscope including an illumination device for a light sheet having an approximately planar extension along an illumination axis of an illumination beam path with a transverse axis to the illumination axis. Light emitted from the sample region on axis of detection the illumination axis and the axis of detection as well as the transverse axis and the axis of detection being oriented relative at an non-zero angle. The illumination device includes structure deflecting light to different beam path and thus produces an additional sheet of light, together illuminating the sample region on common illumination axis, and with switches between beam paths. Detection device has a detection lens system for light from by the sample region. The switches include a rapidly switching element with a time <10 ms, a predetermined integration of the surface detector synchronized so the sample region is illuminated twice during integration.

Abstract: A microscope image processing method includes applying a computing operation to at least one part of a microscope image, having the following steps: (a) providing the image in the mass storage device, (b) breaking down the microscope image into at least two image segments that can be loaded into the working memory and that have a dimension m, where m?n, (c) for one image segment, determining all pixels that are located in the image segment and in at least one of the partial images, so that a filled image segment results, (d) providing the filled image segment in the working memory, (e) applying the computing operation to the pixels located in the filled image segment so that an image segment result is created, (f) repeating steps (c), (d), and (e) for all image segments, and (g) combining all image segment results to create an overall result.

Abstract: An illumination device for a microscope has a variable working distance (d, d?), at which an object is illuminated obliquely from two different directions. Light from a light source is split into at least two illumination beam paths. In order to adapt to the different working distances, the light is subjected to an angle change before splitting or, if after splitting, then respectively by the same amount in both beam paths. A deviating element with at least two reflective surfaces is arranged in one of the illumination beam paths to induce a change in an angle at which one of the illumination beam paths strikes the object, in the same sense as another illumination beam path. The reflective surfaces may be arranged so that the illumination beam paths strike essentially the same region of the optical axis even with different working distances.

Abstract: An optical deflection apparatus includes a signal light source configured to emit signal light having one or more wavelengths, a control light source configured to emit control light having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the signal light, a thermal lens forming optical element including a light absorption layer configured to transmit the signal light and selectively absorb the control light, and a beam-condensing unit configured to cause beam-condensation of the control light and the signal light at different convergence points in the light absorption layer.

Abstract: A microscope includes a condenser lens that is provided in an illumination light path and in which at least one optical device is insertable into and removable from an illumination light axis for switching observation method. The microscope also includes a first polarizing plate that is provided in the same light axis as the optical device and is insertable into and removable from the illumination light axis integrally with the optical device; and a second polarizing plate that is provided in the illumination light axis independently from insertion and removal of the optical device into and from the illumination light axis.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided which allow the rapid collection of image data in situations where ancillary equipment must be controlled and co-ordinated as part of an image formation process, such as confocal microscopy for example. The apparatus includes control means (20?) for co-ordinating the operation of the apparatus, and operable to receive a first trigger signal (33, 33?, 37) indicating the completion of an operation from one component and transmit a second trigger signal (27, 27?) to start an operation by another component in response to the first trigger signal. Such a configuration is operate to reduce delays encountered in operation of the apparatus.

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.

Abstract: A light source apparatus is provided which includes semiconductor laser elements that emit laser light according to an inputted current signal, a light receiving element that receives the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser elements, and a controller that controls light emission of the semiconductor laser elements. The controller includes a first semiconductor laser element drive circuit that outputs a current signal to the semiconductor laser elements according to an instruction signal, a second semiconductor laser element drive circuit that adjusts the current signal based on a light quantity of the laser light received by the light receiving element, and outputs the adjusted current signal to the semiconductor laser elements, and a circuit switching section that switches between the first and the second semiconductor laser element drive circuits according to an instruction signal.

Abstract: A microscope image pickup system is one having a microscope apparatus enabled to change an observation state by driving one or more optical members, which comprises: an image pickup unit for picking up an image of an observation object; an image process unit for applying an image process to an image picked up by the image pickup unit; an input unit for inputting a process factor of the image process unit, wherein an observation state of the microscope apparatus and/or an image pickup condition of the image pickup unit are set up and an image is picked up so as to pick up an image of an image quality being equal to, or better than, that of an image to which an image process is applied on the basis of the process factor input from the input unit.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a circular dichroism fluorescent microscope having a confocal section. In the circular dichroism fluorescent microscope, a circularly polarizing/modulating section converts, into right and left circularly polarized lights, a light beam emitted from a light source. As such, the obtained right and left circularly polarized lights are focused on a sample so that the sample is irradiated with the right and left circularly polarized lights. Then, an optical lens focuses fluorescence emitted from the sample. Further, a wavelength selecting section transmits only fluorescence having a predetermined wavelength. Subsequently, the fluorescence having passed through the wavelength selecting section is detected.

Abstract: The microscope comprises a first phase-contrast objective including a first phase film shaped like a ring and having a 20-fold magnification or lower, a second phase-contrast objective including a second phase film shaped like a ring and having a 60-fold magnification or higher; and a ring slit shared and used by the first and second phase-contrast objectives.

Abstract: A microscope capable of forming a beam spot in a desired shape on a focal plane is provided. The microscope is provided with a modulation optical element (38) having a plurality of regions for spatial modulation of illumination light and an adjustment element (37) for adjusting an optical property of the illumination light modulated by the modulation optical element.

Abstract: An optical microscope, which has a light source, for observing a sample by illuminating light from the light source on the sample includes a second light source that is different from the light source and is insertable/removable in/from the optical path of the optical microscope. The second light source is configured to have the peak of an emission spectrum only in a wavelength range of 400 to 490 nm.

Abstract: In one method of and apparatus for varying the luminosity of illumination, each of a plurality of light sources has an on state in which it emits light and an off state in which it does not emit light. Each of the plurality of light sources is switched cyclically between the on state and the off state in a sequence over a cycle period. The switching sequence is selected such that the number of said light sources that are on is uniform over the cycle. The luminosity of the illumination is varied by varying the proportion of each cycle for which each light source is switched on.

Abstract: A tunable multiple laser pulse scanning microscope and a method of operating the same is described, applying two pulsed laser beams with distinct wavelengths incident on a scanning spot of a sample to be imaged simultaneously or at a specific time delay. The microscope comprises at least two pulsed laser light sources emitting laser light of distinct wavelengths, an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) for tuning at least one of the laser pulses, a delay stage provided upstream of the AOTF, and an actuator for moving delay stage depending on the time delay. As a result, the wavelength of at least one type of pulses is tuned, and the delay between at least two pulses of distinct wavelengths is adjusted.

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: An optical microscope apparatus selectively arranges a plurality of optical elements in an optical path, and includes: a manual switch unit capable of manually switching any of the plurality of optical elements; a detection unit detecting an arrangement status of manually switched optical elements; a storage unit storing information relating to the arrangement of the plurality of optical elements for each observing method; and an arrangement control unit arranging the plurality of optical elements according to the detection result by the detection unit and the information stored in the storage unit.