US3846009A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for enhanced depth of field viewing
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1973-09-10
•
Granted: 1974-11-05
•
Expires: 1993-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A nonachromatic microscope objective is used to give substantially increased depth of field capability. A range of 100 microns is achieved instead of the 2 or 3 microns field depth to which conventional objectives of a similar lateral resolution are limited. Images from the nonachromatic objective are presented in 3-D for visual work with controlled depth magnification at any value up to 10,000X. This is achieved by use of optical deviators which deviate incident light frequencies by different amounts so as to effect at the eyes of the observer a different convergence of each frequency. Dark field illumination aids in viewing the 3D displays produced.
Inventors
- 👤 Pratt J Courtney
- 👤 R Gregory
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:51
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/0075; G02B21/00; G02B21/02; G02B21/18; G02B21/20; G02B21/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for microscopically viewing a specimen over a large field depth, comprising: a microscope objective admitting light over a substantial portion of the visible spectrum and including means for bringing to focus in the same primary image plane at least two specific and different light wavelengths, each emanating from a different object plane within the field depth, means for mounting a specimen within a zone traversed by said different object planes, and means for illuminating said specimen with light including at least wavelengths of said two specific and different wavelengths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for microscopically viewing a specimen over a large field depth, comprising: a microscope objective admitting light over a substantial portion of the visible spectrum and including means for bringing to focus in the same primary image plane at least two specific and different light wavelengths, each emanating from a different object plane within the field depth, means for mounting a specimen within a zone traversed by said different object planes, and means for illuminating said specimen with light including at least wavelengths of said two specific and different wavelengths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for microscopically scanning a specimen over a large field depth comprising: a microscope objective admitting light over a large portion of the visible spectrum and including means for bringing into focus in the same primary image plane a continuum of light wavelengths from within said visible spectrum portion, the wavelengths so brought to focus emanating from different zones within said field depth; means for mounting a specimen within said successive zones; and means for illuminating said specimen with light of one or more selected wavelengths from within said continuum of wavelengths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for microscopically scanning a specimen over a large field depth comprising: a microscope objective admitting light over a large portion of the visible spectrum and including means for bringing into focus in the same primary image plane a continuum of light wavelengths from within said visible spectrum portion, the wavelengths so brought to focus emanating from different zones within said field depth; means for mounting a specimen within said successive zones; and means for illuminating said specimen with light of one or more selected wavelengths from within said continuum of wavelengths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus pursuant to claim 2, wherein the change of focus with wavelength associated with said objective is a substantially linear function over said continuous portion of said visible spectrum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus pursuant to claim 2, wherein the change of focus with wavelength associated with said objective is a continuous and substantially linear function between the wavelengths of 4, 360 A and 6.560 A.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus pursuant to claim 3 wherein said illuminating means comprises a white light source and monochromator means between said source and said specimen for varying the illuminating wavelength thereby to scan said specimen in depth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus pursuant to claim 3, further comprising binocular eyepiece means for viewing said specimen through said objective, and an optical element in each of the right and left paths of said eyepiece, each said element comprising means for deviating each of said light wavelengths by differing amounts, thereby to effect a different convergence of each said wavelength when viewed by the eyes of an observer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus pursuant to claim 6 wherein each said optical element has a deviation property of from 1* to 4* on either side of an undeviated frequency falling within the range of from 4500 A to 6,000 A.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus pursuant to claim 6, wherein said illuminating means comprises a white light source followed by a comb filter having a sequence of passbands each band separated from the adjacent bands, whereby different depths of said specimen can be viewed concurrently.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus pursuant to claim 8, wherein said passbands are substantially 10 A wide and said separation between adjacent said passbands is substantially 300 A.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus pursuant to claim 8, further comprising means for effecting dark field illumination of said specimen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus pursuant to claim 6, wherein said illuminating means comprises a white light source and monochromator means between said source and said specimen for varying the illuminating wavelength thereby to scan said specimen in depth; and further comprising means for effecting dark field illumination of said specimen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus pursuant to claim 7 wherein each said optical element comprises triple prism means each having parallel end faces disposed normal to the undeviated ray, and means for independently manipulating each said prism means so as to set the overall convergence of the right and left optic axes at a value in the range of from zero to 10*.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus pursuant to claim 12, further comprising means for separately rotating said prisms about their respective optic axes so as to effect the setting of the overall convergence.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |