Photomicrographic illuminator

Claim 2

A photomicrographic instrument comprising: a. a compound microscope equipped with a camera, b. a stage for said microscope for positioning an object to be photographed, c. A Kohler microscope illuminating system for illuminating said object, including at least a collecting lens, a field stop diaphragm, a condenser diaphragm, and a condenser lens, d. a fiber optic with one end at the entrance pupil of the illuminating system, facing the illuminating system, e. illumination means comprising at least one light source, which illumination means are capable collectively of providing light of low intensity and of high intensity at different sequential times, f. said illumination means being arranged to direct the light to the fiber optic end remote from the entrance pupil of the illuminating system, and g. control means for limiting the total radiant energy of the high intensity light in the camera in response to an integrating light sensor in the microscope optical system.

Claim 3

A photomicrographic instrument comprising: a. a compound microscope equipped with a camera, b. a stage for said microscope for positioning an object to be photographed, c. a substage Kohler microscope illuminating system for illuminating said object, including at least a collecting lens, a field stop diaphragm, a condenser diaphragm, and a condenser lens, d. a fiber optic with one end at the entrance pupil of the illuminating system, facing the illuminating system, e. illumination means comprising two light sources, one of which is capable of providing continuous light of low intensity and the other of which is capable of providing a flash of high intensity light, f. said illumination means being arranged to direct the light to the fiber optic end remote from the entrance pupil of the illuminating system, and g. control means for limiting the total radiant energy of the high intensity light in the camera in response to an integrating light sensor in the microscope optical system.

Claim 4

A photomicrographic instrument comprising: a. a compound microscope equipped with a camera, b. a stage for said microscope for positioning an object to be photographed, c. a substage Kohler microscope illuminating system for illuminating said object, including at least a collecting lens, a field stop diaphragm, a condenser diaphragm, and a condenser lens, d. a fiber optic with one end at the entrance pupil of the illuminating system, facing the illuminating system, e. illumination means comprising two light sources, one of which is capable of providing continuous light of low intensity and the other of which is capable of providing a flash of high intensity light, f. said illumination means being arranged to direct the light to the fiber optic end remote from the entrance pupil of the illuminating system, and g. control means for limiting the total radiant energy of the high intensity light in the camera in response to an integrating light sensor in the microscope optical system.

Claim 5

An instrument as in claim 2 in which the high intensity source of light is coupled to the camera shutter for illumination when the shutter is opened.

Claim 6

An instrument as in claim 3, in which the illumination means comprises a low intensity light source and a separate high intensity light source, each of which may be selectively directed to the fiber optic.

Claim 7

An instrument as in claim 4, in which the microscope optical system includes a beam splitter for directing a predetermined fraction of the light in the optical system to the light sensor.

Claim 8

A photomicrographic instrument comprising: a. a compound microscope equipped with a camera, b. a stage for said microscope for positioning an object to be photographed, c. a Kohler microscope illuminating system for illuminating said object, including at least a collecting lens, a field stop diaphragm, a condenser diaphragm, and a condenser lens, d. a branched fiber optic with the joined end at the entrance pupil of the illuminating system, and e. a high intensity flash source of light directed to one of the branches of the fiber optic.

Claim 9

A photomicrographic instrument comprising: a. a compound microscope equipped with a camera, b. a stage for said microscope for positioning an object to be photographed, c. a Kohler microscope illuminating system for illuminating said object, including at least a collecting lens, a field stop diaphragm, a condenser diaphragm, and a condenser lens, d. a branched fiber optic with the joined end at the entrance pupil of the illuminating system, and e. a high intensity flash source of light directed to one of the branches of the fiber optic.

Claim 10

An instrument as in claim 6 in which a continuous light is directed to the other branch of the fiber optic.

Claim 11

An instrument as in claim 7 in which the illumination is under the stage of the microscope for passage of the light to the microscope through the object.

Claim 12

An instrument as in claim 8 in which the flash source of light is coupled to the camera shutter for illumination when the shutter is opened.

Claim 13

An istrument as in claim 9 which the instrument includes means for transmitting a predetermined fraction of the light in the microscope optical system to an integrating light sensor for terminating the flow of energy to the flash source of light.