Abstract: A first a confocal optical microscope in which a good image with high contrast can be observed with which a bright image can be observed over a long time interval. The confocal optical microscope has a quarter wave plate arranged in an optical path between an imaging lens and an objective such that it is inclined relative to a reference optics axis extending between the imaging lens and the objective. Furthermore, the confocal optical microscope has a shortwave radiation attenuator for attenuating light radiated from the light source with wavelengths of less than or equal to 340 nm. The confocal optical microscope can form part of a length measuring device which can take a length measurement of a sample to be measured with high measurement accuracy and high reproducibility. The length measuring device also has a movable carrier, a carrier device for a sample to be measured, a computing device, a display device and a control device.

Abstract: A guide device for the backlash-free alignment of mutually relatively displaceable parts of an optical instrument, preferably of a rack-and-pinion housing of a microscope on a profile column. The rack-and-pinion housing is constructed with a gearing such that it can be moved along the profile column. Arranged between the rack-and-pinion housing and the profile column are a plurality of sliding elements (8), which are firstly constructed resiliently and form a force-closed connection between the rack-and-pinion housing and the profile column. For the purpose of fixing in the rack-and-pinion housing, the sliding elements (8) have a receptacle (11) for inserting an adhesive. After curing the adhesive, the sliding elements (8) lose their spring action.

Abstract: A connectible locking mechanism sets defined magnifications in a continuously operating zoom system of a microscope. The mechanism has a drive unit for setting the zoom, a locking disk fixedly connected to and provided axially on a drive shaft of the drive unit and a disk-shaped locking spring arranged fixedly to an instrument of the microscope. The locking disk has defined grooves arranged side by side. Arranged between the locking spring and the locking disk is a ball and a locking slider which is provided with a recess. The ball is positioned in the recess of the locking slider and is movable into and out of engagement with the grooves of the locking disk through a sliding motion of the locking slider.

Abstract: A multi-axes stage including a table for mounting an optical component having a plurality of optical paths; and first and second actuators for vertically movably supporting the table, the actuators having a control device for adjusting the vertical movement of the table by each actuator separately, and for controlling the movement of the table in at least one of the rotating direction about the optical paths and the vertical direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for manually controlling a motorized microscope stage for movement about the X, Y and Z axes. The apparatus includes a main housing having an X axis control knob and a Y axis control knob rotatably mounted to the housing. A Z axis control knob is provided for controlling movement about the Z axis. The Z axis knob is mounted to a removable module so that the position of the Z axis control knob is adjustable with respect to the other knobs. There is a controller for generating stage control signals in response to movement of the knobs. A plug-in connector connects the apparatus to the microscope stage controller such that the stage control signals create corresponding movements of the motorized stage. The apparatus simulates the controls of a nonmotorized stage while maintaining compatibility with existing stage controller units. The apparatus is designed to provide tactile position feedback to the user similar to that of a manual non-motorized microscope.

Abstract: A microscope has an objective optical system coupled to an observation optical system with parallel optical axes. A stage, which holds a sample, rectilinearly moves in a direction toward and away from the observation optical axis, which is perpendicular to the plane of the stage. The objective optical system rectilinearly moves in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the stage. The microscope thus permits viewing of a large sample with a small stroke of the stage, whereby a compact and lightweight structure may be achieved.

Abstract: The stage plate of a sample carrying stage for optical instruments has a piezoelectric translator that drives the stage plate centrally and directly, and a linear guide comprising at least two elastic elements to guide the stage plate. The elastic elements are arranged coaxially to the piezoelectric translator, which extends through a central recess in the elastic elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an operational member, particularly for use in an optical laser system for optically trapping and manipulating microscopic particles in a particle manipulation chamber. A flexure member, is provided which has a pair of substantially inflexible parallel members and four sets of flexible spring members. The pair of parallel members is maintained in a spaced relationship by the four sets of flexible spring members. Each of the four sets of flexible members has at least two parallel flexible elements which can be leaf springs or formed as a unitary part of the flexure member. The four sets of flexible spring members are in two groups of two flexible spring members with each of two of groups of flexible members having their two sets of flexible spring members positioned in a "V" shaped pattern. The apices of the "V" shaped patterns are positioned outwardly of each other forming a parallelogram having at least six sides and preferably a parallelogram having eight sides.

Abstract: A coarse/fine adjustment of a rotary body, comprising: a worm wheel fitted to a rotary shaft of a rotary body; a worm meshing with the worm wheel and having a first screw; a rotary driving shaft having a second screw engaging with the first screw and rotated by a manipulation member and a switching means for effecting a switchover to rotationally or rectilinearly move the worm engaging with the rotary driving shaft. The worm is biased by a biasing means to mesh with the worm wheel while keeping a thrust state.

Abstract: A limit switching apparatus with defined overtravel for specimen-objective protection on microscopes having a motorized focusing drive. A stored focus position or position of the specimen stage can be overtraveled by a fixed amount. The maximum travel path of the specimen stage is additionally limited by a switching rod and a short-circuiting switch, in order to ensure reliable specimen-objective protection even in the event of a fault in the control electronics.

Abstract: A subject position adjusting apparatus for use with an interferometer has a leveling stand disposed on a stationary stand of the interferometer. A leveling standard is stationary relative to and extends upright from the leveling stand. The leveling standard carries a subject stage for up and down movement in an axial direction of a light beam. A leveling mechanism is disposed between the stationary stand and the leveling stand. The leveling mechanism controls the angle of the leveling stand relative to a horizontal plane so as to level the leveling standard and make it parallel to the axial direction.

Abstract: A microscope which comprises a main unit comprising a base, an arm body mounted on and fixed to the base, an arm top, a revolver attached to the arm top, an objective attached to the revolver, a lens barrel held by the arm top, and an eyepiece attached to the lens barrel, a stage for supporting a specimen, a movable member connected to the front of the arm body, opposing the specimen supported on the stage, and capable of moving in a vertical direction, a revolver/ stage holder attached to the movable member, for holding the revolver or the stage, a focus adjustment knob coupled to the arm body, a focus-adjusting mechanism located within the arm body and mechanically connected to the movable member and the focus adjustment knob, for moving the movable member in the vertical direction for a distance proportional to an angle through which the knob is rotated, a first revolver holder secured to the arm top, for holding the revolver, and a stage support to be mounted on the base in the case where the objective is

Abstract: A guide apparatus for vertical movement of a stage supports a stage supporting member for supporting the stage vertically movable by means of two groups of guide mechanism. Each of the guide mechanism groups is separately mountable with respect to the stage supporting member and is fixed to sandwich the stage supporting member from the left and right side. For one of the guide mechanisms, a highly rigid guide member machined with a high precision is used while a for the other guide mechanism, a guide member having a low rigidity as compared with the foregoing highly rigid guide member is used. One of the guide mechanisms is arranged so that its mounting position can be adjusted to match with the other guide mechanism. The mounting position of one of the guide mechanism is made higher than that of the other guide mechanism. The light path of the beam from a light source is provided lower than the mounting position of the foregoing one of the guide mechanisms.

Abstract: A microscope apparatus in which an arm and a focusing adjustment are arranged to be detachable with respect to a foot base to make possible to change the length of the arm from an optical axis of an objective provided in the arm and an inner surface of a stand portion of the arm; a height of the arm; a stiffness of the focusing adjustment. In the apparatus according to the invention, since the arm having a different length or a different height and the focusing adjustment having a different stiffness can be selectively adapted to the foot base, it is possible to examine by one apparatus specimens having different dimensions.

Abstract: The disclosed pivoting device is used with a frame structure that supports optical units, such as surgical microscopes and the like, for viewing a predetermined observation point, the frame structure being adjustable in height and in relation to three coordinate axes. The pivoting device carries the optical unit and permits adjustment of the unit about three axes of rotation to any desired position over a spherical surface. The pivoting device includes counterbalancing apparatus that adjusts synchronously with the movement of the optical unit. With this apparatus, it is easy to move the optical unit, and minor adjustments in the position of the optical unit do not require an adjustment of the frame structure. In addition, since the pivoting device's three primary axes of rotation all intersect at the observation point, focus of the optical unit relative to the observation point is not changed by such minor spatial adjustments of the unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spatially-adjustable supporting frame for a surgical microscope unit which can be selectively locked in any adjusted position. The frame includes a hinged parallelogram which can be pivoted about a bearing supported on a column. The hinged parallelogram carries a second structure in the form of a coupled-hinge parallelogram which, in turn, carries the surgical microscope. Two counterweights are independently adjustable along paths parallel with two adjacent sides of the hinged parallelogram to permit the continuous balancing of the weight of the surgical microscope.

Abstract: A durable, frictionless remote controlled manipulator, which is compact, stable, easy to construct, and has good dynamic capability, is a cradle suspension of lever arms, joined by crossed spring hinges to form a parallelogram suspension. The suspension creates vertical motions that have minimal cross-coupled horizontal error. Vertical cross-coupling error that arises at the extremes of parallelogram displacement in the two horizontal axes is hydraulically corrected by the remote controller. Thus, displacements are more nearly mutually perpendicular, and the position of the microtool more faithfully corresponds to the micromter settings. Being compact, the device can be mounted on a microscope stage to minimize cantilevering of the microtool, which is an unwanted source of vibration and also limits the load bearing in larger devices that can only be placed alongside the microscope.

Abstract: It is possible to control the amplitude and phase modulation of light independently and simultaneously. The invention described here details how to do so by dividing a picture element into smaller modulating elements, providing independent addressing for each element, setting the necessary angle for each element and then resolving them into the picture element. The invention also show one embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: A microscope includes a first stage for placing a specimen on a first plane, a second stage for placing the specimen on a second plane, an objective lens provided between the first plane and the second plane, the objective lens being provided so that the first plane and the second plane are in conjugate relationship with the objective lens, a Koehler illuminating optical system for supplying an illuminating light beam for illuminating the first plane, the illuminating optical system supplying the illuminating light beam to the second plane through the objective lens when the specimen is placed on the second plane, and an observation system for observing therethrough the image of the specimen formed on a third plane, the observation system being provided with an optical system cooperating with the objective lens to cause the image of the specimen placed on the first plane to be formed on a third plane, or cause the image of the specimen placed on the second plane to be formed on the third plane.

Abstract: A coaxial fine and coarse adjusting device for moving a movable member movably supported on a device body includes a coarse adjustment handle, a fine adjustment handle provided coaxially with respect to the coarse adjustment handle, a bearing member fixed to the device body, a rotation transmission shaft rotatingly supported in the bearing member, the rotation transmission shaft having a pinion for the movement of the movable member, a hollow cylindrical coarse adjustment shaft which passes through the rotation transmission shaft and is rotatably supported by the rotation transmission shaft and the bearing member, a rotatable fine adjustment shaft which passes through the coarse adjustment shaft, a reduction gear train provided between the rotation transmission shaft and the fine adjustment shaft, a first retaining member provided on one end of the coarse adjustment shaft for retaining the reduction gear train in such a manner that it can turn around about its own axis and rotate about the coarse adjustment s