JP5849540B2 - Microscope illumination device and microscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transmission illumination device for a microscope and a microscope including the transmission illumination device.

  Conventionally, an oblique illumination method is known as an optical method for visualizing a phase difference object in a transmission illumination device of a microscope. The oblique illumination method is a method of mainly improving the contrast of an image by shielding a part of a light beam emitted from a light source and irradiating the sample with a light beam that is polarized with respect to the optical axis. Patent Document 1 describes a transmission illumination device for a microscope that can use the oblique illumination method.

Japanese Patent No. 4503716

  In the transmission illumination device described in Patent Document 1, the incident state of light at the pupil position of the objective lens is determined by combining the positions of at least two light blocking bodies. For this reason, even if an illumination state that gives an optimum contrast is found once, it is difficult to reproduce the illumination state that gives the optimum contrast after temporarily shifting to another observation method.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a transmission illumination device for a microscope that can easily reproduce an illumination state that gives an optimal contrast once adjusted, and a microscope including the transmission illumination device. The purpose is to do.

To achieve the above object, a transmission illumination device for a microscope according to the present invention includes a light source that emits illumination light for illuminating a specimen, and a pupil of an objective lens included in an observation optical system for observing the specimen. A light-shielding body which is arranged at a position conjugate with the light-shielding material, can shield at least a part of the illumination light, and adjusts the way in which the contrast is applied to the sample by shielding at least a part of the illumination light The one light-shielding body is movable as a moving range between a position on one side and a position on the other side facing each other across the optical axis of the luminous flux of the illumination light. The light beam can be inserted into and removed from any direction on the other side, and is located at the end on the one side and the end on the other side of the moving range. The one side without shading In between the end and the end portion of the other side, characterized in that it is possible to position a position to shield the entire of the light beam.

  A microscope according to the present invention includes the above-described transmission illumination device for a microscope.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the microscope provided with the transmission illuminating device for microscopes which can reproduce easily the illumination state which gives the optimal contrast once adjusted, and the said transmission illuminating device for microscopes can be provided.

It is an external view of a microscope provided with a transmission illumination device according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the oblique illumination method in the transmissive illuminating device which concerns on embodiment, (a) shows the state which the light-shielding body has shielded a part of + Y direction side of opening, a lower figure and upper side These figures are views of this state seen from the side and the specimen side, respectively, and (b) shows a state in which the light-shielding body shields part of the −Y direction side of the opening, and FIG. The upper and lower figures show this state as viewed from the side and the specimen side, respectively. (A) is a figure which shows the observation image of the sample in the state (state of Fig.2 (a)) in which the light-shielding body has shielded a part of + F direction side of a light beam, (b) is a figure which shows the light-shielding body with a light beam. It is a figure which shows the observation image of the sample in the state (state of FIG.2 (b)) which has light-shielded one part of the -Y direction side. It is a figure which shows the example of the position of the light-shielding body with respect to an opening, (a) shows the state which the light-shielding body is located in the + Y direction side, and is not inserted in the light beam, (b) is the + Y direction side of a light shielding body (C) shows a state where the light shield is located on the −Y direction side and is not inserted into the light beam, and (d) shows a state where the light shield is on the −Y direction side of the opening. (E) shows a state in which the light shielding body is located at the middle point of the movement stroke and the entire opening is shielded from light. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the transmissive illuminating device which concerns on an Example. It is the figure which looked at the inside of the base part of a microscope from the upper part. It is a figure which shows the example of the position of the diffusion plate with respect to an opening, (a) shows the state which a diffusion plate is located in the + Y direction side, and is not inserted in the light beam, (b) is the + Y direction side of a diffusion plate (C) shows a state where the diffuser plate is located on the −Y direction side and is not inserted into the light beam, and (d) shows a state where the diffuser plate is opened. (E) shows the state where the diffuser plate is located at the intermediate point of the movement stroke and covers the entire opening.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the observer side is the front side (front side) of the microscope and the opposite side is the back side (rear side) of the microscope in a state in which the observer normally looks through the eyepiece. . Moreover, the left-right direction and the up-down direction refer to directions viewed from the observer. Also, with the intersection (the origin) of the specimen mounting table and the optical axis of the objective lens as the center (origin), the front-rear direction is the Y-direction or Y-axis, the left-right direction is the X-direction or X-axis, and the vertical direction (optical-axis direction) is Z Direction or Z axis. For the Y direction, the back side from the optical axis of the objective lens is the + (plus) side, and the near side from the optical axis of the objective lens is the-(minus) side.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a microscope provided with a transmission illumination device according to this embodiment.
The microscope 4 provided with the transmission illumination device according to the present embodiment is a parallel single objective binocular stereomicroscope. The microscope 4 includes a base unit 7, an objective lens 10, a variable magnification lens barrel 13, an eyepiece lens 16, and a focusing device 19. The base unit 7 incorporates a transmission illumination device. A specimen mounting table 25 in which a transparent member is embedded is provided on the upper surface of the base portion 7. The illumination light emitted from the light source passes through the transparent member and irradiates the specimen. The objective lens 10 is attached to an objective lens attachment portion (not shown) provided at the lower part of the variable magnification lens barrel 13. Note that the objective lens mounting portion is configured in such a manner that one of a plurality of predetermined low magnification objective lenses and a plurality of high magnification objective lenses can be selected and attached. In some cases, a plurality of low-magnification objective lenses and a plurality of high-magnification objective lenses can be selected and attached.

  The inside of the variable magnification lens barrel 13 is branched into an observation optical system for the left eye and an observation optical system for the right eye. A variable magnification lens group (not shown) and an imaging lens group (not shown) are provided in each observation optical system. (Not shown) is arranged. A variable magnification knob 28 is disposed outside the variable magnification lens barrel 13. Each zoom lens group includes a plurality of movable lens groups (not shown) for zooming, and moves in the optical axis direction in accordance with a predetermined amount of movement corresponding to the rotation of the zoom knob 28. To do. The variable magnification lens group includes a variable diaphragm (not shown), and the variable magnification lens barrel 13 is provided with a variable diaphragm adjustment mechanism. The focusing device 19 includes a focusing knob 31 and a mechanism for moving the variable magnification lens barrel 13 up and down in the optical axis direction as the focusing knob 31 rotates.

  Each figure of FIG. 2 is a figure which shows the oblique illumination method in the transmission illuminating device which concerns on this embodiment. Here, with reference to FIG. 2, the principal part is demonstrated about the optical system of the microscope 4 provided with the transmission illumination apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

  As shown in each drawing of FIG. 2, the microscope 4 includes an illumination optical system 40 for illuminating the sample surface 37 and an observation optical system 43 for observing the sample surface 37. Note that the microscope 4 includes two left and right observation optical systems 43 and 43, but FIG. 2 shows only the left observation optical system. The illumination optical system 40 can shield a light source (not shown), a field stop (not shown) that restricts the light beam 46 of illumination light emitted from the light source, and a part of the light beam 46 that has passed through the field stop in order from the light source side. And a condenser lens 52 that condenses the light beam 46 on the sample surface 37. The observation optical system 43 includes an objective lens 10, a variable power lens system (not shown), and an eyepiece lens 16 (see FIG. 1) in order from the sample side. The objective lens 10 is common to the left and right observation optical paths. The front focal position of the condenser lens 52 is conjugate with the position of the pupil 55 of the objective lens 10. The objective lens 10 plays a role of converting the light beam 46 transmitted through the sample surface 37 into a parallel light beam and guiding it to the left-eye and right-eye variable power lens systems. The specimen images respectively emitted from the left and right zoom lens systems are observed by the left and right eyepieces 16 and 16, respectively.

  The light shielding body 49 is a thin plate formed in a rectangular shape, and is disposed along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens 10. Further, when the four sides of the light shield 49 are S1, S2, S3, and S4 in order along the circumferential direction, the sides S1 and S3 are arranged in parallel with the X axis, and the sides S2 and S4 are arranged in parallel with the Y axis. Has been. The dimension of each side of the light shield 49 is formed larger than the diameter of the luminous flux 46 of the illumination light that has passed through the field stop. Therefore, the light shield 49 is larger than the cross-sectional shape of the light beam 46. The light shield 49 is preferably subjected to a black matte treatment to prevent various flares. The light shield 49 is provided so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the plane including the optical axes of the left and right observation optical systems 43 and 43, specifically, in the Y direction. By moving in the Y direction, the light beam 46 is inserted into and desorbed from the light beam 46. A part of the illumination light emitted from the light source is blocked by inserting the light shield 49 into the light beam 46. The position where the light shield 49 blocks a part of the illumination light is a position conjugate with the pupil 55 of the objective lens 10, that is, the pupil conjugate plane 58, or a position near the optical axis direction from the conjugate position (specifically, the optical axis direction). In other words, it is a parallel plane near the pupil conjugate plane 58 in the optical axis direction. In other words, the light shield 49 is inserted into or removed from the light flux 46 along the pupil conjugate plane 58 of the objective lens 10 or along a parallel plane near the pupil conjugate plane 58 in the optical axis direction. . Hereinafter, an axis along the Y direction along which the light blocking body moves is referred to as “axis A”. As shown in FIG. 1, the axis A is an axis connecting the near side (−Y side) and the back side (+ Y side) of the microscope.

  Next, the oblique illumination method in the present embodiment will be described with reference to each drawing of FIG. In order to perform phase difference observation with the microscope 4 including the transmission illumination device according to the present embodiment, oblique illumination is performed. The oblique illumination is performed by changing the cross-sectional shape of the luminous flux 46 of the illumination light on the pupil conjugate plane 58 of the objective lens 10 or a parallel plane near the pupil conjugate plane 58 in the optical axis direction. On the pupil conjugate plane 58 of the objective lens 10 or a parallel plane in the vicinity thereof, the cross section of the light beam 46 limited by the field stop looks like a circular aperture. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the cross section of the luminous flux 46 of the illumination light on the pupil conjugate plane 58 or a parallel plane in the vicinity thereof is referred to as “opening 61 of the pupil conjugate plane 58” or simply “opening 61”. The shape of the opening 61 is also referred to as “the shape of the opening 61 of the pupil conjugate plane 58” or simply “the shape of the opening 61”. Further, the following explanation of the oblique illumination method is a case where the light shielding body 49 is inserted into and removed from the light beam 46 along the pupil conjugate plane 58. However, the parallel illumination near the optical axis direction from the pupil conjugate plane 58 is described. The same applies to the case where the light beam 46 is inserted and removed along the surface.

  FIG. 2A shows a state in which the light-shielding body 49 shields a part of the opening 61 on the + Y direction side, and the lower diagram is a diagram of this state viewed from the side, and the upper diagram is the diagram of FIG. It is the figure seen from the sample surface 37 side. Further, (b) shows a state in which the light shield 49 shields a part of the opening 61 on the −Y direction side, and the lower view is a view of this state from the side, and the upper view. These are views seen from the specimen surface 37 side.

  The shape of the opening 61 of the pupil conjugate plane 58 is changed by inserting the light shield 49 into the light beam 46 as shown in FIGS. Thereby, it is possible to irradiate the sample with the light beam 46 which is biased with respect to the optical axis. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the light shielding body 49 extends from the near side of the microscope 4 to the far side along the axis A across the center of the opening 61, that is, the optical axis of the light beam 46. It can be inserted into the light beam 46 toward the front side, or can be inserted into the light beam 46 from the back side toward the front side, and can be moved to an arbitrary position. In other words, the position of the light shield 49 with respect to the opening 61 is not inserted into the light beam 46 at the front side of the opening 61 (front side moving end) and not inserted into the light beam 46 at the back side of the opening 61. It can be moved to any position between the position (back side moving end) and any position between the near side moving end and the back side moving end. Each figure in FIG. 2 shows a state in which the light shielding body 49 is at an arbitrary position between the front side moving end and the back side moving end.

  3 is a diagram showing an example of how to give contrast to the sample when the light shield 49 is inserted into the light beam 46 from different directions in the observation of the ring-shaped phase difference sample. FIG. It is a figure which shows the observation image in the state (state of Fig.2 (a)) in which the light-shielding body 49 light-shields a part of +61 direction side of the opening 61, (b) is- It is a figure which shows the observation image in the state (state of FIG.2 (b)) which has shaded one part by the side of Y direction.

  The light shielding member 49 is positioned as shown in FIG. 2A or 2B, and light is interfered by irradiating the sample obliquely. The degree of interference also changes depending on the angle of light irradiation. As a result, the appearance of the observation image of the specimen differs depending on the degree of interference, as shown in each drawing of FIG.

  3 (a) and 3 (b), dark portions are portions that interfere so that valleys of light wavelengths overlap, and the signal is weak with respect to the background. In addition, the bright part is a part that interferes so that the peaks of the wavelength of the light overlap, and the signal is strong against the background. Thus, the phase difference sample can be visualized by providing contrast. In the present embodiment, since one light-shielding body 49 can be inserted into the light beam 46 from both sides of the opening 61, that is, in the direction opposite to each other with the opening 61 interposed therebetween, it is possible to easily change how the contrast is applied to the sample. Be able to.

  Note that the microscope 4 according to the present embodiment is a parallel stereo microscope, and therefore has separate optical paths for the left eye and the right eye. Therefore, the light shield 49 has sides S1 and S3 crossing the opening 61 parallel to the X axis when inserted into the light beam 46 so that the same oblique illumination can be performed on the light beams on the left and right optical paths. And is configured to move along the axis A. That is, the sides S1 and S3 move on the axis A while maintaining a parallel state with the X axis. On the axis A, the normal vector of the light shield 49 is parallel to the optical axis at any position. With such a configuration, the same oblique illumination can be performed on the right and left light beams.

  4 is a diagram showing an example of the position of the light shielding body 49 with respect to the opening 61. FIG. 4A shows the light shielding body 49 located on the + Y direction side of the opening 61 and not inserted into the light beam 46. FIG. Indicates the state. In this state, the opening 61 of the pupil conjugate plane 58 is fully open, and bright field observation is performed. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the light shield 49 shields a part of the opening 61 on the + Y direction side. At this time, the sample has a certain contrast. FIG. 4C shows a state where the light shield 49 is not inserted into the light beam 46 as in FIG. 4A, but the light shield 49 is located on the −Y direction side of the opening 61. FIG. 4D shows a state in which the light shield 49 shields a part of the opening 61 on the −Y direction side. In this state, the method of applying contrast to the sample is different from that in FIG. FIG. 4E shows a state in which the light shield 49 is located at an intermediate point of the movement stroke and covers the entire opening 61.

  As shown in each of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the light shield 49 can be moved to an arbitrary position with respect to the opening 61 along the axis A, and the method of applying contrast to the sample can be easily adjusted. It can be done. As a result, it is easy to find the position of the light shield 49 that gives the optimum contrast. Further, since the contrast can be easily adjusted in this way, the light-shielding body 49 that gives the optimum contrast again even after switching from the state that gives the optimum contrast to the bright field observation once. Can be adjusted to the position.

(Example)
Next, one embodiment of the transmission illumination device according to the present invention will be described. The transmission illumination device according to the example and the microscope 104 including the transmission illumination device will be described mainly with respect to differences from the above embodiment, and the same configurations as those of the above embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the transmission illumination device according to the present embodiment.
The transmitted illumination device according to the present embodiment is built in the base portion 107 of the microscope 104. The transmission illumination device includes a light source 64, a light shielding body 49, and a diffusion plate 67. In the transmission illumination device according to the present embodiment, a thin transmission illumination system using surface-emitting illumination is applied to the light source 64. Specifically, it is an LED surface-emitting light source using a light guide plate. The light source 64 has a light emitting surface arranged along a parallel plane near the pupil conjugate plane 58 of the objective lens 10. The illumination light emitted from the light source 64 passes through the hole 110 provided in the upper surface of the base portion 107. Therefore, the illumination light passes through the hole 110 on the upper surface of the base portion 107 and reaches the sample mounting table 25 to irradiate the sample surface 37. The light shielding body 49 is provided so as to be movable between the light source 64 and the specimen surface 37 along the axis A direction (see FIG. 1), as in the above embodiment.

  The position where the light shield 49 is provided is the pupil conjugate plane 58 of the objective lens 10. The light-shielding body 49 shields a part of the luminous flux 46 of the illumination light emitted from the surface light source 64 in the same manner as shown in each drawing of FIG. In the present example, the cross section of the luminous flux 46 (see FIG. 6) of the illumination light emitted from the surface light source 64 corresponds to the opening 61 of the above embodiment. Further, the light shield 49 may be inserted into the light beam 46 from the near side to the far side of the microscope 4 along the axis A direction across the center of the opening 61, that is, the optical axis of the light beam 46, or from the far side to the near side. It can also be inserted into the light beam 46 toward the front, and can be moved to an arbitrary position. In other words, the position of the light shield 49 with respect to the opening 61 is not inserted into the light beam 46 at the front side of the opening 61 (front side moving end) and not inserted into the light beam 46 at the back side of the opening 61. It can be moved to any position between the position (back side moving end) and any position between the near side moving end and the back side moving end. With such a configuration, it is possible to easily adjust how the contrast is applied to the specimen.

  The diffusion plate 67 is provided so as to be movable in the direction of the axis A between the light shield 49 and the sample surface 37. The diffuser plate 67 is for reducing illumination unevenness in bright field observation and adjusting contrast in phase difference observation by oblique illumination. Details of the diffusion plate 67 will be described later.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the transmission illumination system of the microscope 104 is configured not to include an optical system such as a condenser lens. Between the light source 64 and the sample surface 37, only the light shield 49 and the diffusion plate 67 can be arranged. Therefore, the transmission illumination system according to the present embodiment can be made thinner than the conventional transmission illumination system in combination with the LED surface light source described above. As a result, the structure is suitable for a stereomicroscope mainly for observation at a low magnification. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize a base portion capable of observing both bright field observation and phase difference observation by oblique illumination. The light source of the light guide plate may be another light source such as a cold cathode tube. Further, a thin surface light source such as an organic or inorganic EL may be used instead of the light guide plate.

  Next, a support mechanism for the light shield 49 will be described. FIG. 6 is a view of the internal mechanism of the base portion 107 of the microscope 104 as viewed from above. In FIG. 6, the right side of the drawing is the front side of the microscope 104, and the left side of the drawing is the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a shaft member 70 extending in a direction parallel to the axis A is provided inside the base portion 107. Both ends of the shaft member 70 are fixed to the bottom surface 73 of the base portion 107 via fixing members 71, 71, and a space is interposed between the shaft member 70 and the bottom surface 73 of the base portion 107. A support member 76 for supporting the light shielding body 49 is supported on the shaft member 70. The support member 76 extends in a direction (X direction) perpendicular to the direction of the axis A, and is supported so as to be slidable in the direction of the axis A. The light shield 49 is supported by the support member 76 so as to be positioned at the center of the base portion 107 in the X direction. With this configuration, the movement of the light shield 49 in the direction of the axis A is guided by the shaft member 70. One end of the support member 76 (in this embodiment, the right end as viewed from the observer) penetrates the side surface of the base 107 and protrudes to the outside, and a knob 79 is formed at the end. ing. The knob 79 is an operating means for moving the light shield 49. The observer can find the position of the light shield 49 that gives the optimum contrast by sliding the knob 79 in the direction of the axis A to adjust the position of the light shield 49.

  In the present embodiment, a mechanism is provided for improving the reproducibility of the illumination state that gives the optimum contrast once adjusted in phase difference observation.

  A scale plate 82 is provided along the axis A direction on the right side surface of the base portion 107. The scale plate 82 is provided as a display means for knowing how much the light shield 49 shields the opening 61 of the pupil conjugate plane 58 or where the light shield 49 is currently located.

  For example, in the observation of a certain phase difference sample, the position of the light shielding body 49 is adjusted by operating the knob portion 79, and the position shown in FIG. The position where the scale “20” is designated is found. From this state, the observation method is temporarily switched to bright field observation, or the insertion direction of the light shielding body 49 is reversed. After that, when an attempt is made to observe again in the contrast state found first, the observer may adjust the position of the knob portion 79 to the position of the scale “20” on the scale plate 82. By doing so, it is possible to instantly reproduce the illumination state with the optimum contrast.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the provision of the scale plate 82 makes it easy to reproduce the illumination state that has been adjusted once. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since one light shield 49 is moved only in the axis A direction, the operation is simple. In addition, the movement direction and movement amount of the knob 79 are the same as the movement direction and movement amount of the light shielding body 49, and the position of the light shielding body 49, that is, the insertion ratio into the light beam 46, and the scale of the scale plate 82. The correspondence is intuitive and easy to understand. As a result, operability is improved.

  Further, when the position of the light shield 49 is adjusted by the knob 79, a stopper mechanism for fixing the knob 79 at the adjusted position may be provided. Then, the optimum contrast state can be maintained. The configuration of the stopper mechanism is not particularly limited, and any mechanism may be used. For example, a type in which a pin is inserted into the scale plate 82 and the knob portion 79 is fixed may be used.

  In addition, a motor for moving the light shielding body 49 is provided to electrically move the light shielding body 49, and a sensor for detecting the current position of the light shielding body 49, a memory for storing the position of the light shielding body 49, and the like are provided. A mechanism for storing various parameters such as the scale position of the knob 79 in the state may be provided. In this case, information such as the type of the objective lens 10 and the position of the light shielding body 49 in an optimal illumination state can be used, so that reproducibility and operability are further improved.

  Next, the diffusion plate 67 will be described. In this embodiment, a diffusion plate 67 is arranged so as to be movable between the light shield 49 and the sample mounting table 25. The diffusion plate 67 is a rectangular thin plate and is formed larger than the light shielding plate 49. As described above, the diffusing plate 67 is for reducing illumination unevenness in bright field observation and adjusting contrast in oblique illumination.

  Although the support mechanism and guide mechanism of the diffusion plate 67 are not shown in the figure, the configuration is the same as the support mechanism and guide mechanism of the light shield 49 shown in FIG. 6, and the diffusion plate 67 is at an arbitrary position in the axis A direction. Can be moved. The adjustable range of the position of the diffusing plate 67 is the same as that of the light shield 49. That is, the diffusing plate 67 can be inserted into the light beam 46 from the near side to the far side of the microscope 104 along the axis A across the center of the opening 61, that is, the optical axis of the light beam 46, or from the far side to the near side. Thus, it can be inserted into the light beam 46. In other words, the position of the diffusing plate 67 with respect to the opening 61 is not inserted into the light beam 46 at the front side of the opening 61 (front side moving end) and not inserted into the light beam 46 at the back side of the opening 61. It can be moved to any position between the position (back side moving end) and any position between the near side moving end and the back side moving end. A knob portion and a scale plate for adjusting the position of the diffusion plate 67 are provided on the left side of the base portion. The light shielding body 49 and the diffusion plate 67 are arranged with different heights in the vertical direction, but are supported so as not to contact each other. Further, a stopper mechanism for holding the diffusing plate 67 at a predetermined position, a memory for storing the adjusted position, and the like may be provided.

  Each figure in FIG. 7 shows an example of a state in which the diffusion plate 67 is inserted into the light beam 46. That is, it is a diagram showing the position of the diffusion plate 67 with respect to the opening 61. However, the effect of the diffusion plate 67 varies depending on the position of the light shielding body 49. In each drawing of FIG. 7, the light shield 49 is in a state of shielding a part of the opening 61 on the −Y side. FIGS. 7A and 7C show a state where the diffusion plate 67 is located on the + Y direction side or the −Y direction side and is not inserted into the light beam 46. This state is suitable for observation of a sample having a small phase difference, and is a state in which a contrast is easily obtained. On the other hand, FIG. 7E shows a state in which the diffusion plate 67 is located at the intermediate point of the movement stroke and covers the entire opening 61. This state is suitable for observation of a specimen having a large phase difference, and an image with reduced glare can be obtained. In these intermediate phase difference samples, as shown in FIG. 7 (b) or (d), a diffusion plate 67 is inserted into the light beam 46 so as to cover a part of the opening 61, and the insertion direction and insertion distance are inserted. Adjust the contrast to the optimum contrast.

  In this way, since the diffuser plate 67 can be changed to an arbitrary position, it is possible to slightly change the way the contrast is applied, and furthermore, such a delicate change can be easily adjusted. The subsequent state can be easily reproduced. Further, as shown in each drawing of FIG. 4 and each drawing of FIG. 7, the combination of the positions of the light shield 49 and the diffusion plate 67 is, for example, a state where both are not inserted into the light beam 46, both of which are the openings 61. Various states such as a state in which the whole is covered, and a state in which both are in a position where only a part of the opening 61 is covered can be employed. In the present embodiment, when neither the light shield 49 nor the scattering plate 67 is inserted into the light beam 46, no optical member or the like is disposed between the light source 64 and the sample. Only the air interval is interposed.

  As described above, the transmissive illumination device according to the present embodiment has a good operability, and has a configuration in which it is easy to find the position of the light shield 49 that gives an optimum contrast. Furthermore, since the scale plate 82 indicating the position of the light shield 49 is provided, it is easy to reproduce the illumination state once adjusted. Further, since the position of the diffusing plate 67 can also be moved by the same mechanism as that of the light shield 49, it is possible to easily adjust the contrast and to reproduce the once adjusted contrast. Is easy.

  In the above embodiments and examples, the transmission illumination device according to the present invention is applied to a parallel stereo microscope, but is applied to other microscopes such as an internal oblique stereo microscope, a mono zoom microscope, and a general microscope. Has the same effect.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101 Transmission illumination apparatus 4, 104 Microscope 7, 107 Base part 10 Objective lens 13 Variable magnification lens barrel 16 Eyepiece 19 Focusing device 22 Transparent member 25 Sample mounting table 28 Variable magnification knob 31 Focusing knob 37 Sample surface 40 Illumination optical system 43 Observation optical system 46 Light beam 49 Light blocking member 52 Condenser lens 55 Pupil 58 of objective lens Pupil conjugate surface 61 Aperture 64 Light source 67 Diffuser plate 70 Shaft member 71 Fixing member 73 Bottom surface (base portion) 76 Support member 79 Knob portion 82 Scale plate

Claims (7)

A light source that emits illumination light to illuminate the specimen;
By arranging at a position conjugate with the pupil of the objective lens included in the observation optical system for observing the specimen, it is possible to block at least a part of the illumination light, and by blocking at least a part of the illumination light One light-shielding body for adjusting how the contrast is applied to the specimen,
The one light-shielding body is movable as a moving range between a position on one side and a position on the other side facing each other across the optical axis of the luminous flux of the illumination light. It can be inserted into and removed from the light beam from the direction, and when it is located at the one end of the moving range and at the other end, it does not block the light beam, A transmission illumination device for a microscope, characterized in that it can be located between the one end and the other end so as to shield the entire light beam.   2. The transmission illumination device for a microscope according to claim 1, wherein, when the light shielding body is inserted into and removed from the light flux, an edge portion of the light shielding body that crosses the light flux is linear.   The transmission illumination device for a microscope according to claim 1, further comprising: an operation unit that moves the light shielding body; and a display unit that indicates a position of the light shielding body with respect to the light flux.   The movable optical member for diffusing at least one part of the said illumination light is further provided, The said optical member is arrange | positioned rather than the said light-shielding body at the said sample side, The Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The transmission illumination device for a microscope according to any one of the above.   5. The transmission illumination device for a microscope according to claim 4, wherein the optical member is movable in the same direction as the light shield.   6. The microscope transmission according to claim 4, wherein, when the optical member is inserted into and removed from the light beam, an edge portion of the optical member that crosses the light beam is linear. 6. Lighting device.   A microscope comprising the transmission illumination device for a microscope according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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