US3971621A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for generating a relieflike contrast at microscopic images of a transparent phase object
Assignee: Novartis Corp
•
Filing: 1974-02-27
•
Granted: 1976-07-27
•
Expires: 1994-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A method of, and apparatus for, generating a relief-like contrast at microscopic images or micrographs of a transparent phase object, wherein the object is obliquely illuminated at one side with respect to the plane of the object and observed during transillumination. For illuminating the object there are employed mutually incoherent beams of light rays possessing axes which are essentially parallel to one another. The microscope for the performance of the aforesaid method aspects embodies an object illumination device encompassing a light source and a light conductor formed of a bundle of glass fibers, the light radiating end of which is arranged at the direct neighborhood of the point of intersection of the optical axis of the objective of the microscope with the object slide or support and encloses with such axis an angle which is preferably in the range of about 40° to 50°.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunter Albrecht-Buehler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:22
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/06; G02B21/08; G02B21/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
In the method of producing a relief-like contrast at the microscope image of a transparent phase object, wherein the object is obliquely illuminated with regard to the object plane at one side of the object and observed at the transmitted light, the improvement comprising the steps of employing a bundle of light rays for the illumination of the object and which bundle of light rays are mutually incoherent with respect to one another and possess axes which extend essentially parallel to one another, the bundle of light rays being produced by means of a light conductor consisting of a bundle of glass fibers having a frayed end portion and an opposing light radiating end, the axes of the bundle of light rays enclosing with the axis of an objective of the microscope an angle in the order of between about 40° and 50°, all of the bundle of light rays emanating from a plane wherein the surface area of such plane is in the order of between about 0.80 mm 2 and 80 mm 2 , and the number of bundle of light rays per square millimeter is in the order of between about 100 and 1000.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
In the method of producing a relief-like contrast at the microscope image of a transparent phase object, wherein the object is obliquely illuminated with regard to the object plane at one side of the object and observed at the transmitted light, the improvement comprising the steps of employing a bundle of light rays for the illumination of the object and which bundle of light rays are mutually incoherent with respect to one another and possess axes which extend essentially parallel to one another, the bundle of light rays being produced by means of a light conductor consisting of a bundle of glass fibers having a frayed end portion and an opposing light radiating end, the axes of the bundle of light rays enclosing with the axis of an objective of the microscope an angle in the order of between about 40° and 50°, all of the bundle of light rays emanating from a plane wherein the surface area of such plane is in the order of between about 0.80 mm 2 and 80 mm 2 , and the number of bundle of light rays per square millimeter is in the order of between about 100 and 1000.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
A microscope for producing a relief-like contrast at a microscope image of a transparent phase object, comprising a microscope objective possessing an optical axis, an object support, an object illumination device generating a mutually incoherent bundle of light rays for oblique illumination of the object, said object illumination device comprising a light source and a light conductor comprising a bundle of glass fibers, said bundle of glass fibers having a frayed end confronting said light source and a light radiating end arranged at the direct region of the point of intersection of the optical axis of the objective with the object support and enclosing with said axis an angle in the order of about 40° to 50°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
A microscope for producing a relief-like contrast at a microscope image of a transparent phase object, comprising a microscope objective possessing an optical axis, an object support, an object illumination device generating a mutually incoherent bundle of light rays for oblique illumination of the object, said object illumination device comprising a light source and a light conductor comprising a bundle of glass fibers, said bundle of glass fibers having a frayed end confronting said light source and a light radiating end arranged at the direct region of the point of intersection of the optical axis of the objective with the object support and enclosing with said axis an angle in the order of about 40° to 50°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The microscope as defined in claim 2, further including means for adjusting the angle between the axis of the objective and the direction of the light radiating end of the light conductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The microscope as defined in claim 3, wherein said adjusting means includes means for adjusting the spacing between the light radiating end of the light conductor and a plane of the object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The microscope as defined in claim 4, wherein said adjusting means further includes means for adjusting the light radiating end of the light conductor essentially parallel to the plane of the object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The microscope as defined in claim 2, further including means for adjusting the relative position of the light radiating end of the light conductor with regard to a plane of the object, said adjusting means together with the light source and the light conductor forming a unit which is detachably secured with the microscope.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR551673A
Cited
GB396325A
Cited
US2144653A
Cited
US2480312A
Cited
US3186296A
Cited
US3278739A
Cited
US3361031A
Cited
US3490828A
Cited
US3600568A
Cited
US3710091A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-27 | 1980-01-26 | 1980-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-27 | 1984-01-26 | 1984-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-27 | 1988-01-26 | 1988-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |