Microscope having image brightness equalization

Claim 2

A microscope comprising: a mounting structure having an optical axis defining a beam path; an objective turret having a plurality of objectives seated therein and said objectives having different light intensities; said objective turret being rotatably mounted on said mounting structure for rotatably indexing said objectives into said beam path; and, an arrangement for equalizing image brightness when indexing said objectives into said beam path, the arrangement including: a first slider corresponding to a first one of said objectives and a second slider corresponding to a second one of said objectives; first and second light-absorbing optical elements mounted in said first and second sliders, respectively; said first light-absorbing optical element and said first object conjointly defining a first optical unit and said second light-absorbing optical element and said second objective conjointly defining a second optical unity; said first and second light-absorbing optical elements having first and second coefficients of transmission selected so as to cause said optical units to provide equal image brightness; each of said objectives defining an objective lens axis which is coincident with said beam path when the objective is indexed thereinto; and, said turret including mounting means for insertingly receiving each of said sliders so as to permit the slider to be moved between a first position wherein the element does not intersect the lens axis and a second position wherein the element is transverse to said axis and in said beam path when the objective is indexed thereinto.

Claim 3

The microscope of claim 1, said mounting means being a plurality of slider openings formed in said turret so as to permit said optical elements to be inserted into the objective corresponding thereto.

Claim 4

The microscope of claim 1, said mounting means being a plurality of slider openings formed in said turret so as to permit said optical elements to be inserted behind the objective corresponding thereto.

Claim 5

The microscope of claim 1, said sliders being a first set of sliders and the microscope further comprising a second set of sliders and a plurality of differential interference contrast prisms mounted in corresponding ones of the sliders of said second set of sliders; and, said mounting means being adapted to permit said first set of sliders to be removable from said turret and to permit said second set of sliders to be insertable therein.

Claim 6

The microscope of claim 1, said mounting means being formed in said turret so as to cause said optical elements to be inclined with respect to said beam path when each of said sliders is in said second position and the objective corresponding thereto is indexed into said beam path.

Claim 7

The microscope of claim 1, at least one of said objectives being corrected so as to cause said beam path to run telecentrically behind said objective; and, said mounting means being a plurality of slider openings formed in said turret so as to permit said optical elements to be inserted into said beam path behind said objective.

Claim 8

The microscope of claim 1, said optical elements being respective neutral density filters.

Claim 9

A microscope comprising: a mounting structure having an optical axis defining a beam path; an objective turret having a plurality of objectives seated therein end said objectives having different light intensities; said object turret being rotatably mounted on said mounting structure for rotatably indexing said objectives into said beam path; and, an arrangement for equalizing image brightness when indexing said objectives into said beam path, the arrangement including: a plurality of sliders corresponding to respective ones of said objectives; a first slider corresponding to a first one of said objectives and a second slider corresponding to a second one of said objectives; first and second light-absorbing optical elements mounted in said first and second sliders, respectively; said first light-absorbing optical element and said first objective conjointly defining a first optical unit and said second light-absorbing optical element and said second objective conjointly defining a second optical unit; said first and second light-absorbing optical elements having first and second coefficients of transmission selected so as to cause said optical units to provide equal image brightness; a plurality of differential interference contrast prism elements mounted in the remaining ones of said sliders; each of said objectives defining an objective lens axis which is coincident with said beam path when the objective is indexed thereinto; and, said turret including mounted means for insertingly receiving each of said sliders so as to permit the slider to be moved between a first position wherein the element does not intersect the lens axis and a second position wherein the element is transverse to said axis and in said beam path when the objective is indexed thereinto.

Claim 10

A microscope comprising: a mounting structure having an optical axis defining a beam path; an objective turret having a plurality of objectives seated therein end said objectives having different light intensities; said object turret being rotatably mounted on said mounting structure for rotatably indexing said objectives into said beam path; and, an arrangement for equalizing image brightness when indexing said objectives into said beam path, the arrangement including: a plurality of sliders corresponding to respective ones of said objectives; a first slider corresponding to a first one of said objectives and a second slider corresponding to a second one of said objectives; first and second light-absorbing optical elements mounted in said first and second sliders, respectively; said first light-absorbing optical element and said first objective conjointly defining a first optical unit and said second light-absorbing optical element and said second objective conjointly defining a second optical unit; said first and second light-absorbing optical elements having first and second coefficients of transmission selected so as to cause said optical units to provide equal image brightness; a plurality of differential interference contrast prism elements mounted in the remaining ones of said sliders; each of said objectives defining an objective lens axis which is coincident with said beam path when the objective is indexed thereinto; and, said turret including mounted means for insertingly receiving each of said sliders so as to permit the slider to be moved between a first position wherein the element does not intersect the lens axis and a second position wherein the element is transverse to said axis and in said beam path when the objective is indexed thereinto.

Claim 11

The microscope of claim 1, each of said sliders having only a single light-absorbing optical element mounted therein.

Claim 12

The microscope of claim 1, each of said light-absorbing optical elements being configured as an optical flat.