Abstract In order to selectively illuminate scientific instruments, such as the field of view of a high grade microscope, with light having predetermined characteristics, an adapter is provided for coupling a conventional lamphouse to a fiber optic bundle which terminates, at it remote end, at the area to be illuminated. The adapter is provided with fittings to mate with lamphouse and contains a collector lens or lens group to concentrate and collimate light from the lamphouse onto the transmitting end of the fiber bundle. The adapter is generally cylindrical in shape and, intermediate along its length, a circumferential segment is cut away to receive one or more filters to condition the light issued from the lamphouse according to the illumination requirements. The characteristics of the light transmitted through the fiber bundle may further be controlled by selecting the lamp utilized in the lamphouse. In variant configurations, the adapter incorporates a right angle prism at its outer end to permit the fiber bundle to be directed radially outwardly from the adapter to minimize the extent of the adapter from the lamphouse, which extent may be a critical factor where the lamphouse is installed permanently near a wall or other object with which the adapter might otherwise physically interfere. A conventional shutter mechanism is incorporated into another variant of the adapter for providing the capability of controlled transient illumination to the scientific instrument receiving light from the fiber bundle.
An illuminator adapter for coupling light emitted from a lamphouse port to a scientific instrument by means of a fiber optic bundle comprising: a generally cylindrical adapter housing, said adapter housing having a first end dimensioned and configured to fit into said port in light receiving relationship with respect to a light source within said lamphouse, said adapter housing further including, in serial disposition, a first section containing a converging lens, a second section comprising a cylindrical section cutaway about the upper half of its circumference for supporting at least one light filter, a third section supporting a compressing optical system for accepting the converging beam from said converging lens and a fourth section supporting one end of said fiber optic bundle, said converging lens and said compressing optical system being concentrically disposed within said adapter housing for respectively concentrating and collimating light from said source, said second section being disposed between said converging lens and said compressing optical system for selectively receiving at least one filter to condition the light passing therebetween, said one end of said fiber optic bundle being in light receiving relationship with respect to light collimated by said compressing optical system; and shutter apparatus disposed between said second section and said third section for selectively controlling the period during which light is transmitted through said fiber bundle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
An illuminator adapter for coupling light emitted from a lamphouse port to a scientific instrument by means of a fiber optic bundle comprising: a generally cylindrical adapter housing, said adapter housing having a first end dimensioned and configured to fit into said port in light receiving relationship with respect to a light source within said lamphouse, said adapter housing further including, in serial disposition, a first section containing a converging lens, a second section comprising a cylindrical section cutaway about the upper half of its circumference for supporting at least one light filter, a third section supporting a compressing optical system for accepting the converging beam from said converging lens and a fourth section supporting one end of said fiber optic bundle, said converging lens and said compressing optical system being concentrically disposed within said adapter housing for respectively concentrating and collimating light from said source, said second section being disposed between said converging lens and said compressing optical system for selectively receiving at least one filter to condition the light passing therebetween, said one end of said fiber optic bundle being in light receiving relationship with respect to light collimated by said compressing optical system; and shutter apparatus disposed between said second section and said third section for selectively controlling the period during which light is transmitted through said fiber bundle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An illuminator according to claim 1 in which apparatus for effecting a 90* reflection of the collimated beam issuing from said compressing optical system is disposed in the beam path between said compressing optical system and said one end of said fiber optic bundle such that the collimated beam is directed radially outwardly from said adapter through said fiber bundle.