JP2008275668A - Stereoscopic observation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply and stereoscopically view an object for observation in a form that all of a plurality of spatial recognition factors held by human including motion parallax are met without a contradiction by an optical means. <P>SOLUTION: Light from the object 1 for observation is formed by an image formation optical system (microscope optical system 20) and an observed image 12 is projected in the space. By this stereoscopic observation device, the observation direction of the object 1 for observation viewed from the image formation optical system periodically changes by a rotary motor 2A (and a rotation stage 2). Consequently, the image of the object for observation viewed from the different observation directions is formed on the observation side as the observed image 12. Furthermore, the projection direction of the observed image 12 by the image formation optical system periodically changes by being synchronized with the change of the observation direction of the rotary motor 2A by a deflection mirror 7. Thus, a stereoscopic image which can be stereoscopically viewed corresponding to the motion parallax is formed as the observed image 12. When viewed from an observer, the stereoscopic image viewed from a different angle is observed in accordance with its observation angle when the observation angle is changed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a stereoscopic observation device for enabling, for example, an observation object to be enlarged and stereoscopically viewed.

  Conventionally, a stereoscopic microscope is known as an optical microscope capable of stereoscopic viewing. The stereomicroscope includes a magnifying optical system for obtaining magnified images of the observation object viewed from different angles, and an eyepiece optical system for sending the magnified images from the different angles to the left and right eyes as observation images. ing. A stereoscopic image is observed by looking into a pair of eyepieces with both eyes.

Patent Document 1 describes an optical device that can stereoscopically observe an observation image without using an eyepiece. This optical device can separate the light beam of the objective lens into a right eye and a right eye, a means for forming an intermediate image by each separated light beam, and an intermediate image by each light beam can be observed without using an eyepiece. A field lens and an exit lens. In addition, this optical device has a pair of rotating mirrors that can change the interval between the exit pupils by the right and left light beams, and can adjust the pupil interval according to the observer.
JP-A-60-112016

  By the way, the presence of binocular parallax is important as a physiological factor for a human to recognize a solid, but other factors include convergence angle, motion parallax, and adjustment (focus adjustment). In order for humans to grasp a stereoscopic image more accurately, it is necessary to make all of these factors function consistently. Otherwise, humans may be confused by conflicting information and misrecognized, and it may be difficult to observe for a long time due to eye strain and brain fatigue. However, in stereoscopic viewing with a conventional stereomicroscope, binocular parallax information and a convergence angle only from a certain direction can be obtained only by observing an image obtained by viewing the observation target from a certain fixed direction. For this reason, even if the viewpoint is stationary, it looks three-dimensional without a sense of incongruity, but the observation image does not change when the viewpoint is moved, that is, motion parallax is not realized, so it feels unnatural when the viewpoint is moved. There was a problem. In other words, it is extremely important to obtain motion parallax in order for people to feel a solid accurately and without error, and it is necessary to be able to observe the observation object while changing the viewing angle somewhat. This is not possible with conventional stereomicroscopes. Similarly, the optical device described in Patent Document 1 can only realize pseudo stereoscopic vision without motion parallax.

  Further, in a stereomicroscope, it is necessary to observe one observation object with two optical systems in order to obtain binocular parallax. However, there is a problem that the size of the lens is limited and a space for housing those parts cannot be secured, so an apparatus that can observe at a very high magnification cannot be realized. On the other hand, a normal optical microscope is capable of high-magnification observation up to several hundred times, but stereoscopic observation is impossible. For this reason, in recent years, images that have been observed from various angles are imported into a computer, these images are combined on a computer, and the observation image is rotated and rotated on the computer screen to help grasp the three-dimensional structure. The current situation is that a method is taken. However, a device for easily viewing stereoscopic images using an optical means in the same way as an ordinary optical microscope is realized without using an electronic display device such as a liquid crystal display. It is convenient if possible. In addition, it would be convenient if the stereoscopic vision could be performed in a satisfactory manner without any contradiction, including not only binocular parallax and convergence angle but also motion parallax.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and its object is to simplify an observation target by optical means in a manner that satisfies all the plurality of human spatial recognition elements including motion parallax without contradiction. Another object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic observation apparatus that can perform stereoscopic viewing.

  The stereoscopic observation apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging optical system that images light from an observation object and projects an observation image in space, and an observation direction of the observation object viewed from the imaging optical system periodically. An observation direction changing means for changing, a projection direction changing means for periodically changing the projection direction of the observation image by the imaging optical system according to a change in the observation direction by the observation direction changing means, and an observation direction by the observation direction changing means And a control means for performing synchronous control of the period of change of the projection direction and the period of change of the projection direction by the projection direction changing means.

  In the stereoscopic observation apparatus of the present invention, light from the observation object is imaged by the imaging optical system and an observation image is projected into the space. In this stereoscopic observation apparatus, the observation direction of the observation object viewed from the imaging optical system is periodically changed by the observation direction changing unit. Therefore, an image of the observation object viewed from different observation directions is formed on the observation side. Furthermore, the projection direction of the observation image by the imaging optical system periodically changes in synchronization with the change in the observation direction by the observation direction changing unit. Thereby, a stereoscopically viewable stereoscopic image corresponding to the motion parallax is formed. From the viewpoint of the observer, when the observation angle is changed, a stereoscopic image viewed from a different angle corresponding to the observation angle is observed.

  According to the stereoscopic observation apparatus of the present invention, the observation direction of the observation object viewed from the imaging optical system is periodically changed, and the projection direction of the observation image is periodically changed in synchronization with the change in the observation direction. Therefore, it is possible to form an image of a stereoscopically observable object viewed from different observation directions in a state corresponding to motion parallax. That is, the object to be observed can be easily stereoscopically viewed by optical means in a form that satisfies all of the plurality of human space recognition elements including motion parallax without contradiction.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a stereoscopic observation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The stereoscopic observation apparatus according to the present embodiment relates to an optical microscope capable of stereoscopic viewing. This stereoscopic observation apparatus does not use an electronic display device, such as a liquid crystal display, in other words, simply using a stereoscopic microscope (in the same way as a normal optical microscope). It is a device that displays an image as an aerial image.

  This stereoscopic observation apparatus is configured to be capable of intermittent light emission control with a rotary motor 2A, a rotary stage 2 that is directly connected to the rotary motor 2A and is configured to be rotatable with the observation object 1 placed thereon. And an illumination device 3 that illuminates the observation object 1 with visible light, and a microscope optical system 20 that enlarges the observation object 1 and forms (projects) an observation image (spatial image, stereoscopic image) 12 in the space. ing. This stereoscopic observation apparatus is also composed of, for example, a galvano mirror, and controls the rotation of the deflection mirror 7 that changes the projection direction of the observation image 12, the rotation stage 2 (rotation motor 2A), the illumination timing of the illumination apparatus 3, and And a control device 8 for controlling the deflection angle of the deflection mirror 7.

  The microscope optical system 20 includes a lens barrel 5 having a hollow inside, and an objective lens 4 and a relay / magnifying lens 6 provided at both ends of the lens barrel 5. The objective lens 4 enlarges the light from the observation object 1 on the rotary stage 2 and forms an objective image (spatial image) 11 inside the lens barrel 5. The relay / magnifying lens 6 has a function as a relay optical system and a magnifying optical system, and further enlarges the aerial image 11 by the objective lens 4 and draws it out of the lens barrel 5. The relay / magnifying lens 6 may include a zoom lens (variable magnification optical system) so that the magnification can be changed.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the rotary motor 2A and the rotary stage 2 correspond to a specific example of “observation direction changing means” in the present invention. The deflection mirror 7 corresponds to a specific example of “projection direction changing means” in the present invention. The microscope optical system 20 corresponds to a specific example of “imaging optical system” in the present invention, and the relay / magnifying lens 6 corresponds to a specific example of “projection lens system” in the present invention. The control device 8 corresponds to a specific example of “control means” in the present invention, and the lighting device 3 corresponds to a specific example of “illumination means” in the present invention.

  The rotary motor 2A rotates the rotary stage 2 within the XZ plane shown in FIG. The rotation motor 2 </ b> A periodically changes the observation direction of the observation object 1 as viewed from the microscope optical system 20 by periodically rotating the rotary stage 2. The deflection mirror 7 periodically reciprocates in the same XZ plane as the rotation plane of the rotary stage 2. The deflection mirror 7 periodically deflects the light beam emitted from the microscope optical system 20 (the relay / magnifying lens 6) toward the observation side in synchronization with the change in the observation direction by the rotary motor 2A (and the rotation stage 2). By doing so, the projection direction of the observation image 12 is periodically changed. In this case, the deflection mirror 7 changes the projection direction of the observation image 12 in a direction corresponding to the observation direction of the observation object 1 viewed from the microscope optical system 20. The correlation between the deflection angle of the deflection mirror 7 and the rotation angle of the rotary stage 2 (rotary motor 2A) will be described in detail later with a specific example.

  The control device 8 performs synchronous control of the period of change in the observation direction by the rotary motor 2A (and the rotary stage 2) and the period of change in the projection direction by the deflection mirror 7. The control device 8 further performs synchronized control of illumination timing by the illumination device 3. As will be described later, the control device 8 controls the illumination timing by the illumination device 3 so that the observation object 1 is illuminated only during a period in which the deflection mirror 7 is deflected at a constant angular velocity. . These synchronization controls will be described in detail later with specific examples.

Next, the operation of the stereoscopic observation apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
In this stereoscopic observation apparatus, an observation object 1 that is an object to be observed is placed on a rotary stage 2 mounted on a rotary motor 2A, and rotates with the rotation of the rotary motor 2A. The observation object 1 is illuminated by the illumination device 3. The light scattered by the observation object 1 is guided into the lens barrel 5 by the objective lens 4 and emitted from the relay / magnifying lens 6. The emitted light is reflected by the deflecting mirror 7 and enters the observer's right eye 10R and left eye 10L, and the observation image 12 is observed. Here, the image of the observation object 1 is magnified by the objective lens 4 and the relay / magnifying lens 6 and projected into the space. The mechanism by which the image is magnified is not different from that of a normal optical microscope, but the image observed by the observer is a virtual image of the normal optical microscope, whereas the observation image 12 by this stereoscopic observation device is a spatial image. . The aerial image is formed once in the lens barrel 5 by the objective lens 4. The aerial image (object image 11) is further extracted by the relay optical system of the relay / magnifying lens 6, and is magnified by a magnifying optical system such as a zoom lens as necessary, and is again formed as an aerial image (observation image 12). . An observer observes this aerial image.

  Further, in this stereoscopic observation apparatus, the aerial image (observation image 12) is observed as a stereoscopic image by the synchronized movement mechanism of the rotary stage 2 (and the rotary motor 2A) and the deflection mirror 7. The mechanism by which this stereoscopic image is observed will be described. When an image is captured by the objective lens 4 while rotating the observation object 1 arranged on the rotation stage 2, images of the observation object 1 observed from various angles according to the rotation angle according to the rotation are displayed from the objective lens 4. Will be captured. For this reason, the displayed aerial image is displayed as an image observed from various angles according to the rotation angle of the rotary stage 2. Therefore, when this aerial image is displayed, a stereoscopic image is formed if it is displayed from a direction that matches the angle of the rotary stage 2.

  The principle of viewing as a three-dimensional image will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows the configuration shown in FIG. 1 as simple as possible for the sake of simplicity. Since the observation object 1 in FIG. 1 is a light scatterer, it may be considered to be composed of a set of light emitting points. Therefore, it is easy to understand by focusing on a certain light emitting point in the set of light emitting points and considering the light emitted therefrom. The principle of stereoscopic vision in the present embodiment can be explained as long as this single light emitting point is known. This is because the other light emitting points of the observation object 1 can be considered in the same manner, and the aerial image is constructed by collecting and superimposing the behavior of light from all the light emitting points. For the above reason, only one point (object point 1A) will be described as the observation object 1 as shown in FIG. Further, in order to explain the difference in observation state due to rotation, the object point 1A is assumed to be located on the rotary stage 2 away from the rotation center 2B.

  FIG. 3 shows the correlation between the deflection angle of the deflection mirror 7 and the rotation angle of the rotary stage 2 (rotary motor 2A). Here, numbers P1, P2, P3 added to the deflection mirror 7 and the object point 1A on the rotary stage 2 in the figure are numbers for associating the deflection angle of the deflection mirror 7 with the rotation angle of the rotary stage 2. Yes, when the deflection mirror 7 is at a certain number position, it indicates that the rotation angle of the rotary stage 2 is at the same number position. Further, the progress of time proceeds in the order of this number, P1, P2, and P3. In FIG. 3, for the convenience of explanation, the states of the deflection mirror 7 and the rotary stage 2 for a certain period of time are overlapped. It is shown. The microscope optical system 20 is assumed to have a very simple structure such as a “needle hole camera (pinhole camera)” for easy understanding. Even if it is such a structure, the generality regarding the mechanism of the spatial display which is going to be explained here is not lost. Light rays L1, L2, and L3 shown in FIG. 3 pass through the center of the aperture stop St of the microscope optical system 20, that is, the light emitted from the object point 1A, that is, the pinhole (needle hole) of the “needle hole camera”. It is.

  In the description of FIG. 3, when the position of the rotation angle on the rotation stage 2 is “P2”, the rotation angle on the “P1” side is −α, “P3”. The rotation angle on the side is α. First, as shown in FIG. 3, when the rotational angle position of the rotary stage 2 (rotational motor 2A) is “P1,” that is, the angle is at the position of −α, a light beam is emitted from the object point 1A. The light ray that has passed through the pinhole is indicated by a broken line “light ray L1”. When the position of the rotation angle of the rotary stage 2 is “P1”, the position of the deflection mirror 7 is controlled to be “P1”, that is, the deflection angle is −α / 2. For this reason, the light beam indicated by the above-mentioned “light beam L1” is reflected in the direction shown in FIG. 3 and recognized by the observer.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when the rotary stage 2 rotates with time and the position of the rotation angle is “P2”, that is, the angle is “0 °”, a light beam is emitted from the object point 1A, Among the light rays, a light ray that has passed through the pinhole is indicated by a solid line “light ray L2”. When the rotational angle position of the rotary stage 2 is “P2”, the deflection mirror 7 is also deflected with time, and the position of the deflection mirror 7 is controlled to be “P2”, that is, the deflection angle is “0 °”. Yes. For this reason, the above-mentioned “ray L2” is reflected in the direction shown in FIG. 3 and recognized by the observer. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the rotary stage 2 further rotates with time and the position of the rotation angle is “P3”, that is, when the angle is + α, the light beam emitted from the object point 1A Among the light rays in the middle, the light ray that has passed through the pinhole is indicated by a one-dot chain line “light ray L3”. When the rotation angle position of the rotary stage 2 is “3”, the deflection mirror 7 is also deflected with time, and the position of the deflection mirror 7 is controlled to “P3”, that is, the deflection angle becomes + α / 2. Yes. For this reason, the light beam indicated by the above-mentioned “light beam L3” is reflected in the direction shown in FIG. 3 and recognized by the observer.

  Through the above process, the spatial image (observation image 12) of the object point 1A is displayed at the place where the “light ray L1,” “light ray L2,” and “light ray L3” intersect in front of the observer. When the position of the object point 1A is “P1”, an image of the object point 1A viewed from the right angle α can be seen from the position of the microscope optical system 20. When the "light ray L1" starting from there is traced, it is reflected by the deflection mirror 7, but the position of the deflection mirror 7 is "P1" and is deflected by -α / 2 from the reference angle. The light beam reflected at the angle becomes a light beam traveling toward the viewer from the left angle α with respect to the viewer. That is, from the observer's position, an image of the object point 1A viewed from the right side α direction can be seen from the direction of the left side α angle when viewed from the emission side of the microscope optical system 20. Considering similarly about “ray L2” and “ray L3”, the image from the front of the object point 1A is seen from the front of the observer, and the object point is seen from the right side of the observer as viewed from the exit side of the microscope optical system 20. The video on the left side of 1A can be seen. However, in addition to this, it is necessary that the aerial image (observed image 12) of the object point 1A by the microscope optical system 20 is in focus at the intersection of the light beams. This may be achieved by focusing using a normal optical system focusing method. In the above, a plurality of representative light rays from the observation object 1 are considered, but the same applies to light rays at positions between these representative light rays.

  4A, 4B, and 4C show control timings of the deflection mirror 7, the illuminating device 3, and the rotary motor 2A with the observation process described in FIG. 3 as one cycle. The control device 8 performs synchronous control as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C for the deflection mirror 7, the illumination device 3, and the rotary motor 2A. The deflection mirror 7 reciprocates at a deflection angle as shown in FIG. 4A, for example, and the rotary stage 2 (rotation motor 2A) rotates at a constant angular velocity as shown in FIG. 4C, for example. The deflection mirror 7 reciprocates at an angle of, for example, ± 25 ° (α = 50 °), and the rotary motor 2A rotates at a cycle of, for example, 30 Hz. When such reciprocating motion and rotational motion are performed, a normal space display operation is not always possible. The time domain in which the space display operation is possible is, for example, the time domain indicated by the section “T1” in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C. This time region is a region in which the deflection mirror 7 is deflected at a constant angular velocity and can be synchronized with the angular velocity of the rotary stage 2. In this region, it is necessary to make an accurate adjustment so that the relationship in which the change in the deflection angle of the deflection mirror 7 is exactly half the change in the rotation angle of the rotary stage 2 is always maintained.

  As described above, the spatial display operation is not always possible. For this reason, it is necessary to prevent an observer from seeing an image in a time domain where a spatial display operation is impossible. One method for this purpose is to use the lighting device 3 shown in FIG. Make it visible to the observer only when the light is turned off. If the timing at which the illumination is turned on is selected in the time region indicated by “T1” in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, the observation image 12 is displayed only when the spatial display operation is possible from the observer. Observed. FIG. 4B shows the timing when such a lighting device 3 is turned off.

  The illumination control as shown in FIG. 4B is performed by, for example, on / off (light emission / non-light emission) control of the light source of the illumination device 3. However, in addition to this, for example, the illumination device 3 may always be in a light emitting state, and a shutter or the like that blocks light may be disposed in an arbitrary optical path to the observation position. In this case, the timing for closing the optical path with the shutter may be controlled as shown in FIG.

  According to the stereoscopic observation apparatus according to the present embodiment, the observation direction of the observation object 1 viewed from the microscope optical system 20 as the imaging optical system is periodically changed, and in synchronization with the change in the observation direction. Since the projection direction of the observation image 12 is periodically changed, it is possible to form an image of the observation object that is stereoscopically viewed from different observation directions in a state corresponding to motion parallax. That is, the object to be observed can be easily stereoscopically viewed by optical means in a form that satisfies all of the plurality of human space recognition elements including motion parallax without contradiction.

In particular, according to the present embodiment, since the imaging optical system is the microscope optical system 20, an optical microscope image of a small object that cannot be observed with the naked eye can be spatially displayed as a three-dimensional image in free space. The observed object can be observed with the naked eye as if it were there. In addition, since the viewing angle can be changed, motion parallax is also added, and all spatial recognition elements (binocular parallax, convergence, adjustment, motion parallax) possessed by humans are observed in a consistent manner. It becomes possible. For this reason, it is possible to reduce accurate observation and observation errors, and further to reduce fatigue due to observation.
[Second Embodiment]

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component substantially the same as the said 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the stereoscopic observation apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In the configuration example of FIG. 1, the observation object 1 is placed on the rotary stage 2 and the observation object 1 itself is rotated to change the observation direction. On the other hand, the configuration example of FIG. 5 shows a method in which the observation object 1 is fixedly arranged on the fixed stage 22. Since the fixed stage 22 only places the observation object 1, observation is easier than using the rotary stage 2. In the configuration example of FIG. 5, instead of rotating the observation object 1, a deflection mirror 21 is newly mounted, and by reciprocating it, an image of the observation object 1 from various angles is sent to the objective lens 4. It has become. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the object-side deflection mirror 21 is referred to as “object-side deflection mirror 21”, and the observer-side deflection mirror 7 is referred to as “observation-side deflection mirror 7”. Similar to the observation-side deflection mirror 7, the object-side deflection mirror 21 is composed of, for example, a galvanometer mirror, and reciprocates periodically in the XZ plane of FIG. 5 in the same manner as the observation-side deflection mirror 7.
In the present embodiment, the object side deflection mirror 21 corresponds to a specific example of “observation direction changing means” in the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, instead of the rotary stage 2 and the rotary motor 2A in the configuration example of FIG. 1, only the difference is that an object-side deflection mirror 21 and a fixed stage 22 are provided. This is the same as in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the control device 8 synchronously controls the change cycle of the deflection angle of the object side deflection mirror 21 and the change cycle of the deflection angle of the observation side deflection mirror 7.

  6A, 6B, and 6C show control timings of the observation-side deflection mirror 7, the illumination device 3, and the object-side deflection mirror 21 in the stereoscopic observation apparatus according to the present embodiment. The control device 8 performs synchronous control as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6 </ b> B, and 6 </ b> C for the observation-side deflection mirror 7, the illumination device 3, and the object-side deflection mirror 21.

  Unlike the configuration example of FIG. 1, in this embodiment, in principle, the observation-side deflection mirror 7 and the object-side deflection mirror 21 can be synchronized to perform deflection by completely the same reciprocating motion. Although the observation object 1 is illuminated by the illumination device 3, the illumination timing is always illuminated if the observation-side deflection mirror 7 and the object-side deflection mirror 21 are deflected in complete synchronization. Panashi is fine. However, as shown in FIG. 6 (B), the illumination may be performed only during a period T2 in which the direction of movement (outward or return path) is deflected. By doing so, it is possible to avoid the observation image 12 from appearing double due to the deflection variation due to the individual difference between the observation side deflection mirror 7 and the object side deflection mirror 21. For example, in the case where the observation-side deflection mirror 7 and the object-side deflection mirror 21 reciprocate, the observation image 12 may appear double if there is a deviation in deflection between the forward path and the return path. This is prevented by deflecting only in one direction of motion.

As described above, according to the stereoscopic observation apparatus according to the present embodiment, the light from the observation object 1 is periodically directed toward the microscope optical system 20 (the objective lens 4 thereof) by the object side deflection mirror 21. Since the deflection is performed, the observation direction of the observation object 1 viewed from the microscope optical system 20 can be easily changed without rotating the observation object 1 itself as compared with the case where the rotary stage 2 is used. .
[Third Embodiment]

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that components that are substantially the same as those in the first and second embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of a stereoscopic observation apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
In the first and second embodiments, the observation-side deflection mirror 7 and the rotary stage 2 (FIG. 1) or the observation-side deflection mirror 7 and the object-side deflection mirror 21 (FIG. 5) are deflected in the horizontal H direction. Although motion parallax has been realized by exercising such that the angle changes, only motion parallax in the horizontal H direction can be realized by this. That is, the appearance of the observation image 12 changes as the observer changes the observation direction to the horizontal H direction (left-right direction). However, even if the observer changes the observation direction to the vertical V direction (vertical direction), the appearance of the observation image 12 does not change. That is, motion parallax in the vertical V direction cannot be realized.

  The stereoscopic observation apparatus according to the present embodiment can also realize the motion parallax in the vertical V direction. Specifically, the observation-side deflection mirror 7 and the object-side deflection mirror 21 in the configuration example of FIG. 5 are reciprocated so that the deflection angle changes not only in the horizontal H direction but also in the vertical V direction, thereby changing the deflection direction. This is also changed in the vertical V direction. For example, a piezo deflection device or the like can be used as the deflection mirror that realizes the deflection movement in two directions orthogonal to each other.

  As described above, according to the observation apparatus according to the present embodiment, since motion parallax is realized not only in the horizontal H direction but also in the vertical V direction, stereoscopic viewing closer to reality can be performed. it can.

  8A, 8B, and 8C show an example of an observation image 12 that is actually observed by the stereoscopic observation apparatus (FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 schematically shows the observation images shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C.

  8A, 8 </ b> B, and 8 </ b> C are obtained by observing granulated sugar having a side length of about 0.1 mm as the observation object 1. The enlargement magnification at this time is about 50 times. 8A, 8B, and 8C are intended to show that an aerial image can actually be displayed by the stereoscopic observation apparatus in FIG. 1, and for that purpose, the aerial image of the observation object is a space. It shows that it looks as if it is in a certain place. The images shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are respectively taken from directions (A), (B), and (C) in FIG. 9 (corresponding to directions P3, P2, and P1 in FIG. 3). It was taken. The metal bar 81 is a mark for indicating the location of the space. The granulated sugar particles 80 displayed in space are displayed near the tip of the metal bar 81 as shown in FIG. Actually, as shown in FIGS. 8 (A), (B), and (C), the granulated sugar particles 80 are seen from the tip of the metal rod 81 in any direction of (A), (B), and (C). It can be seen that the spatial image of granulated sugar particles 80 is displayed near the tip of the metal rod 81 by being reflected in the vicinity. Further, the appearance changes according to the directions (A), (B), and (C). That is, motion parallax can be realized.

In addition, this invention is not limited to said each embodiment, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible.
For example, the stereoscopic observation apparatus of the present invention is applicable not only to a microscope but also to an endoscope. When applied as an endoscope, a bundle fiber may be used instead of the lens barrel 5. Moreover, it is not necessarily limited to the one that performs magnified observation, and may be one that forms an equal-magnification image and performs the same-magnification observation, for example.

It is a lineblock diagram showing an example of a stereoscopic observation device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which simplifies and shows the stereoscopic observation apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing about the optical effect | action of the stereoscopic observation apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the control timing of the deflection | deviation mirror (A) in the stereoscopic observation apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, an illuminating device (B), and a rotary motor (C). It is a block diagram which shows an example of the stereoscopic observation apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the control timing of the deflection mirror (A) by the side of observation in the stereoscopic observation apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, an illuminating device (B), and the deflection mirror (C) by the side of an object. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the stereoscopic observation apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the actual observation image by the stereoscopic observation apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the actual observation image shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Observation object, 1A ... Object point, 2 ... Rotation stage, 2A ... Rotation motor, 2B ... Rotation center, 3 ... Illumination device, 4 ... Objective lens, 5 ... Lens barrel, 6 ... Relay / magnification lens, 7 ... Deflection mirror (observation side), 8 ... Control device, 11 ... Aerial image (intermediate image, objective image), 12 ... Observation image (aerial image, stereoscopic image), 20 ... Microscope optical system, 21 ... Deflection mirror (object side) 22 ... fixed stage, 81 ... metal rod.

Claims (8)

An imaging optical system that images light from the observation object and projects the observation image in space;
Observation direction changing means for periodically changing the observation direction of the observation object viewed from the imaging optical system;
A projection direction changing means for periodically changing the projection direction of the observation image by the imaging optical system in accordance with a change in the observation direction by the observation direction changing means;
A stereoscopic observation apparatus comprising: control means for performing synchronous control of a period of change in observation direction by the observation direction change means and a period of change in projection direction by the projection direction change means. The stereoscopic observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection direction changing unit changes the projection direction of the observation image in a direction corresponding to the observation direction of the observation object viewed from the imaging optical system. . The observation direction changing unit periodically changes the observation direction of the observation object viewed from the imaging optical system by periodically rotating the rotation stage on which the observation object is placed. A rotating motor to be changed,
The projection direction changing means has a deflection mirror that periodically deflects the light beam emitted from the imaging optical system toward the observation side,
The stereoscopic observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit synchronously controls a cycle of change in the rotation angle of the rotary motor and a cycle of change in the deflection angle of the deflection mirror. The observation direction changing means changes the observation direction of the observation object viewed from the imaging optical system by periodically deflecting light from the observation object toward the imaging optical system. A deflection mirror,
The projection direction changing means includes an observation side deflection mirror that periodically deflects the light beam emitted from the imaging optical system toward the observation side,
The stereoscopic observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit synchronously controls a cycle of change in the deflection angle of the object side deflection mirror and a cycle of change in the deflection angle of the observation side deflection mirror. Illuminating means for illuminating the observation object intermittently in synchronization with the observation direction changing means and the projection direction changing means,
The said control means performs synchronous control of the period of the change of the observation direction by the said observation direction change means, the period of the change of the projection direction by the said projection direction change means, and the illumination timing by the said illumination means. The stereoscopic observation apparatus according to 1. The projection direction changing means is a deflection mirror that periodically deflects the light beam emitted from the imaging optical system toward the observation side,
The said control means controls the illumination timing by the said illumination means so that the said to-be-observed object is illuminated only during the period when the said deflection | deviation mirror is deflecting by fixed angular velocity. Stereoscopic observation device. The imaging optical system is
An objective lens that forms an objective image in space by imaging light from the observation object;
The stereoscopic observation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a projection lens system that projects the objective image onto the observation side to form an observation image in the space. The stereoscopic observation apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the projection direction changing unit periodically changes the projection direction of the observation image by periodically deflecting a light beam emitted from the projection lens system. .