US5009488A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Filter accessory for an imaging microspectrofluorimeter
Assignee: UMass Memorial Medical Center
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Filing: 1990-06-14
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Granted: 1991-04-23
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Expires: 2010-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A microscope is modified to allow for precise imaging of samples using different filters at different focal planes under computer control. A filter accessory includes a filter disc having bandpass filters. The filter disc may be rotated to move a selected filter into the optical path between a light source and the microscope sample. Adjustment of the image plane of the microscope is controlled by the computer using feedback from a lens position sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Fredric S. Fay
- 👤 Kevin E. Fogarty
- 👤 Cyril Rodgers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/645; G01N21/6456; G01N21/6458; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/06; G02B26/00; G02B26/007; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; G01J1/44; G01J2001/4413; G01J2001/442; G01J2001/4446; G01J2001/4453; G01J3/00; G01J3/12; G01J2003/1226; G01J2003/123; G01N2021/6417; G01N2021/6421; G01N2021/6423; G01N21/6428; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/12; G01N2201/126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A filter accessory comprising: an optical conduit between a light inlet and a light outlet; an inlet connector at the inlet end of the optical conduit for coupling the conduit into a microscope system; an outlet connector complementary to the inlet connector at the outlet end of the optical conduit for coupling the conduit into a microscope system; a filter assembly eccentrically mounted relative to the optical conduit, the assembly including a filter housing and a filter disc within the filter housing, the filter disc having a plurality of removable filter elements circumferentially spaced about a filter axis offset from the optical conduit; and a filter drive for rotating the filter discs about the filter axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A filter accessory comprising: an optical conduit between a light inlet and a light outlet; an inlet connector at the inlet end of the optical conduit for coupling the conduit into a microscope system; an outlet connector complementary to the inlet connector at the outlet end of the optical conduit for coupling the conduit into a microscope system; a filter assembly eccentrically mounted relative to the optical conduit, the assembly including a filter housing and a filter disc within the filter housing, the filter disc having a plurality of removable filter elements circumferentially spaced about a filter axis offset from the optical conduit; and a filter drive for rotating the filter discs about the filter axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A filter accessory as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for sensing the position of the filter disc as each filter is positioned between the light inlet and light outlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A filter accessory as claimed in claim 2 wherein the filter drive is bidirectional and the filter disc is driven in the direction of the shortest angular distance to a selected next position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A filter accessory as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filter drive is a stepper motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A filter accessory as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet connector and outlet connector are complementary pinned bayonet connector elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
A filter accessory comprising: an optical conduit between a light inlet and a light outlet; an inlet connector at the inlet end of the optical conduit for coupling the conduit into an optical system; an outlet connector at the outlet end of the optical conduit for coupling the conduit into an optical system; a filter assembly eccentrically mounted relative to the optical conduit, the assembly including a filter housing and a filter disc within the filter housing, the filter disc having a plurality of filters circumferentially spaced about a filter axis offset from the optical conduit; drive means for rotating the filters about the filter axis; and means for sensing the position of the filter disc as each filter is positioned between the light inlet and light outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
A filter accessory comprising: an optical conduit between a light inlet and a light outlet; an inlet connector at the inlet end of the optical conduit for coupling the conduit into an optical system; an outlet connector at the outlet end of the optical conduit for coupling the conduit into an optical system; a filter assembly eccentrically mounted relative to the optical conduit, the assembly including a filter housing and a filter disc within the filter housing, the filter disc having a plurality of filters circumferentially spaced about a filter axis offset from the optical conduit; drive means for rotating the filters about the filter axis; and means for sensing the position of the filter disc as each filter is positioned between the light inlet and light outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A filter accessory as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of the filters is a removable filter element.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-04-22 | 1994-10-22 | 1995-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-22 | 1998-10-22 | 1999-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-22 | 2002-10-22 | 2003-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |