Multi-user microscope with orientation adjustment and method

Claim 1

A microscope system having primary and secondary binocular viewing stations which are rotatably positionable relative to one another for simultaneously viewing an object, said system comprising: a) an objective lens cooperable with the primary viewing station and oriented within a primary optic axis to focus a plurality of rays of light upon the object to be viewed; b) first light deflecting means for redirecting a pair of the rays of light from the objective lens orthogonally to form an orthogonal optic axis spaced transversely from the primary optic axis, wherein the primary and orthogonal optic axes perpendicularly intersect a transverse optic axis extending therebetween; c) second light deflecting means cooperable with the secondary viewing station for redirecting the pair of light rays in the orthogonal optic axis along a secondary viewing station optic axis, wherein said second light deflecting means is rotatable about the secondary viewing station optic axis which is spaced from and parallel to the transverse optic axis to allow the second viewing station to be rotated relative to the primary viewing station; d) means for compressing or stretching the paths of light in the orthogonal optic axis as the secondary viewing station is rotated; and e) means for rotating the images of the object viewed at the second viewing station to compensate for the image rotation which occurs when the primary and secondary viewing stations are rotated relative to one another.

Claim 7

A method of automatically orienting an image viewed by a secondary observer using a binocular microscope having primary and secondary binocular viewing stations which are rotatably shiftable relative to one another, comprising: a) providing an objective lens oriented within a primary optic axis for focusing a plurality of light ray pairs upon an object to be simultaneously viewed by a primary and secondary user; b) deflecting one pair of light rays from the primary optic axis perpendicular along a transverse axis and further deflecting the light ray pair perpendicular therefrom to form an orthogonal optic axis spaced from the primary optic axis; c) deflecting the pair of rays and the orthogonal optic axis along a second viewing station optic axis perpendicular thereto and aligned with the second viewing station axis of rotation; d) rotating a second viewing station about a second viewing station optic axis to maintain the secondary user's eyes horizontal as the primary user varies the inclination of the primary viewing station in a fore and aft plane; and e) automatically rotating the image observed by the secondary observer to maintain uniform orientation of the image at the secondary viewing station irrespective of the relative orientation of the primary and secondary viewing stations.

Claim 8

A method of automatically orienting an image viewed by a secondary observer using a binocular microscope having primary and secondary binocular viewing stations which are rotatably shiftable relative to one another, comprising: a) providing an objective lens oriented within a primary optic axis for focusing a plurality of light ray pairs upon an object to be simultaneously viewed by a primary and secondary user; b) deflecting one pair of light rays from the primary optic axis perpendicular along a transverse axis and further deflecting the light ray pair perpendicular therefrom to form an orthogonal optic axis spaced from the primary optic axis; c) deflecting the pair of rays and the orthogonal optic axis along a second viewing station optic axis perpendicular thereto and aligned with the second viewing station axis of rotation; d) rotating a second viewing station about a second viewing station optic axis to maintain the secondary user's eyes horizontal as the primary user varies the inclination of the primary viewing station in a fore and aft plane; and e) automatically rotating the image observed by the secondary observer to maintain uniform orientation of the image at the secondary viewing station irrespective of the relative orientation of the primary and secondary viewing stations.