EP0072652A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Variable stereomicroscope
Assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
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Filing: 1982-08-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A microscope having a variable degree of stereoscopy comprises a front objective lens (10), two secondary objective lenses (22,26) and a beam-directing means, such as a prism block (12), which directs light received from the front objective lens (10) to each secondary objective lens (22,26) and which is movable along the axis of the front objective lens (10).
Inventors
- 👤 Harold Horace Hopkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:07
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/14; G02B27/144; G02B21/00; G02B21/18; G02B21/20; G02B21/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An optical system comprises a front objective lens system; first and second secondary objective lens systems arranged to provide focused images from light received from the objective lens system; and between the front objective lens and the secondary objective lens systems a beam directing means arranged to receive light from the objective lens and to direct a part of said light to each secondary objective lens system, characterised in that the beam directing means (12) is movable along the axis of the front objective lens (10) with respect to that lens and to the secondary objective lens systems (22,32; 26,28), said movement causing equal variations in the respective angles at the focus of the front objective lens system of the axis of the front objective lens system and the optical rays forming the axial ray in each secondary objective lens system whereby an image having a variable degree of stereoscopy is provided.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An optical system comprises a front objective lens system; first and second secondary objective lens systems arranged to provide focused images from light received from the objective lens system; and between the front objective lens and the secondary objective lens systems a beam directing means arranged to receive light from the objective lens and to direct a part of said light to each secondary objective lens system, characterised in that the beam directing means (12) is movable along the axis of the front objective lens (10) with respect to that lens and to the secondary objective lens systems (22,32; 26,28), said movement causing equal variations in the respective angles at the focus of the front objective lens system of the axis of the front objective lens system and the optical rays forming the axial ray in each secondary objective lens system whereby an image having a variable degree of stereoscopy is provided.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
An optical system according to Claim 1 in which the beam directing means (12) comprises a beam dividing surface (16) arranged to reflect part of the light received from the front objective lens system (10) to the first secondary objective lens system (32,22), and to transmit the remainder of the said light to a reflecting surface (18) which reflects light to the second secondary objective lens system (26,28).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An optical system according to Claim 2 in which the beam dividing surface (16) and the reflecting surface (18) comprise two surfaces of a prism block (12) which is movable along the axis of the front objective lens system (10).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical system according to any preceding claim in which the aperture angle is greater than the angle of stereoscopy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optical system according to any preceding claim in which there is a neutral position of the beam directing means (12) along the axis of the front objective lens system (10) at which a binocular, non-stereoscopic image is formed by the first and second secondary objective lens systems (22,32; 26,28).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical system according to Claim 5 in which the beam directing means (12) can be moved from the neutral position in either direction along the axis of the front objective lens system (10) whereby a stereoscopic or a reverse stereoscopic image can be provided.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
An optical system according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which the beam directing means (12) receives a collimated beam from the front objective lens (10), and a movement through distance d/2 of the beam directing means from the neutral position causes a change in the angle of stereoscopy Q given by the relationship d/2 = F sin 9/2, where F is the focal length of the front objective lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical system comprises a front objective lens system; first and second secondary objective lens systems arranged to provide focused images from light received from the front objective lens system; and between the front objective lens and the secondary objective lens systems a beam directing means arranged to receive light from the front objective lens and to direct a part of said light to each secondary objective lens system, characterised in that the beam directing means (12) is movable along the axis of the front objective lens (10) with respect to that lens and to the secondary objective lens systems (22,32; 26,28), said movement causing a variation in the angle of stereoscopy of the system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical system comprises a front objective lens system; first and second secondary objective lens systems arranged to provide focused images from light received from the front objective lens system; and between the front objective lens and the secondary objective lens systems a beam directing means arranged to receive light from the front objective lens and to direct a part of said light to each secondary objective lens system, characterised in that the beam directing means (12) is movable along the axis of the front objective lens (10) with respect to that lens and to the secondary objective lens systems (22,32; 26,28), said movement causing a variation in the angle of stereoscopy of the system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A variable stereomicroscope comprising an optical system according to any preceding claim, and two Porro prism systems (38, 40), arranged respectively to receive light from the first and second eyepiece lens systems (22,32; 26,28).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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