Documentation illumination module for a microscope system

Claim 2

An illumination module for a microscope system providing illumination from a light source to a field of view and to documentation equipment such as a camera for recording an image from the field of view by operation of said module, said module comprising: means for transmitting light from the light source to the field of view to produce a reflected image; said means receiving the reflected image and transmitting the reflected image without a beam splitter to the documentation equipment; said means including prism means to transmit the light to the field of view and the reflected image to the documentation equipment; and means for attaching said illumination module to said microscope system.

Claim 3

An illumination module as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said means for transmitting light further includes a second lens system for forming the light transmitted to the field of view.

Claim 4

An illumination module as set forth in claim 1 including means for orienting the reflected image for recording in the documentation equipment.

Claim 5

An illumination module as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for orienting the reflected image for recording in the documentation equipment comprises a second prism means.

Claim 6

An illumination module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said prism means comprises a right angle prism.

Claim 7

An illumination module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving and transmitting the reflected image to the documentation equipment comprises means for altering the magnification of said reflected image.

Claim 8

An illumination module as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for altering the magnification of said reflected image comprises a plurality of lenses disposed in a manually operable lens carriage means and wherein said lenses can be selectively interposed between said prism means and said documentation equipment.

Claim 9

The illumination module as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for altering the magnification of said reflected image comprises a zoom lens.

Claim 10

An illumination module as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the amount of light communicated from said prism means to said documentation means.

Claim 11

An illumination module as set forth in claim 1 further comprising adjustable aperture means disposed between said prism means and said documentation means for adjusting the amount of light communicated to said documentation means.

Claim 12

The illumination module as set forth in claim 10 wherein said adjustable aperture means comprises an adjustable iris.

Claim 13

The illumination module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching comprises dovetail mating means.

Claim 14

The illumination module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching comprises interlocking threaded means.

Claim 15

The illumination module as set forth in claim 1 further comprising lens means mounted for sliding into and out of the optical path defined by the reflected image from said prism means to said documentation module.

Claim 16

The illumination module as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one lens means disposed in the illumination path defined by the transmitted light from the light source to the field of view, said lens means comprising means for altering the light directed to said field of view.

Claim 17

A module for attachment to a microscope assembly, said assembly having a light source, prism means and lens means and said module providing illumination from said light source to a field of view and to documentation equipment, such as a photographic camera, video camera, television camera, or the like, for recording or documenting an image from the field of view without a beam splitter, said module comprising: a housing; first means in the housing for transmitting light from the light source through said prism means and said lens means to the field of view to produce a reflected image; second means in said housing for receiving said reflected image from said prism means and transmitting said reflected image to said documentation equipment; and means for attaching said housing to said microscope assembly.

Claim 18

A module for attachment to a microscope assembly, said assembly having a light source, prism means and lens means and said module providing illumination from said light source to a field of view and to documentation equipment, such as a photographic camera, video camera, television camera, or the like, for recording or documenting an image from the field of view without a beam splitter, said module comprising: a housing; first means in the housing for transmitting light from the light source through said prism means and said lens means to the field of view to produce a reflected image; second means in said housing for receiving said reflected image from said prism means and transmitting said reflected image to said documentation equipment; and means for attaching said housing to said microscope assembly.

Claim 19

The module as set forth in claim 16 wherein said first means contains second lens means for altering the light from the light source.

Claim 20

The module as set forth in claim 16 wherein said second means contains means for altering the magnification of said reflected image.

Claim 21

The module as set forth in claim 18 wherein said means for altering the magnification comprises a zoom lens.

Claim 22

The module as set forth in claim 18 wherein said means for altering the magnification comprises a plurality of lenses and means for selectively positioning said lenses in said housing to alter the magnification of said reflected image to said documentation equipment.

Claim 23

The module as set forth in claim 16 wherein said second means further comprises means for orienting the reflected image for recording in the documentation equipment.

Claim 24

The module as set forth in claim 21 wherein said means for orienting the reflected image comprises second prism means.

Claim 25

The module as set forth in claim 16 wherein said prism means comprises a right angle prism and said lens means comprises an objective lens.

Claim 26

The module as set forth in claim 16 further comprising means for attaching said light source to said housing.

Claim 27

The module as set forth in claim 16 wherein said second means includes adjustable aperture means for adjusting the amount of light communicated to said documentation means.

Claim 28

The module as set forth in claim 25 wherein said adjustable aperture means comprises an iris.

Claim 29

A module for a microscope system providing illumination from a light source to a field of view and without a beam splitter providing a reflected image from the field of view to a means for recording said image, said module comprising: a housing for attachment to said microscope system; means defining an illumination channel in said housing for providing illumination to a field of view; means defining an image channel in said housing for receiving said reflected image and transmitting it to said means for recording said image; and means for attaching said housing to said microscope system.

Claim 30

A module for a microscope system providing illumination from a light source to a field of view and without a beam splitter providing a reflected image from the field of view to a means for recording said image, said module comprising: a housing for attachment to said microscope system; means defining an illumination channel in said housing for providing illumination to a field of view; means defining an image channel in said housing for receiving said reflected image and transmitting it to said means for recording said image; and means for attaching said housing to said microscope system.

Claim 31

The module as set forth in claim 27 wherein said illumination channel means is in operable communication with said light source when said housing is attached to said microscope system.

Claim 32

The module as set forth in claim 27 wherein said image channel means is in operable communication with said recording means.

Claim 33

The module as set forth in claim 27 wherein said illumination channel means comprises means for focusing and controlling the size of the illumination from said light source.

Claim 34

The module as set forth in claim 27 wherein said image channel means comprises means for orienting the reflected image for recording by said recording means.

Claim 35

The module as set forth in claim 27 wherein said image channel means comprises means for altering the magnification of the reflected image.

Claim 36

The module as set forth in claim 32 wherein said means for altering the magnification of said reflected image comprises a plurality of lenses disposed in a manually operable lens carriage means and wherein said lenses can be selectively interposed in said image channel means.

Claim 37

The module as set forth in claim 27 wherein said image channel means comprises means for adjusting the amount of light transmitted to said recording means.

Claim 38

An illumination module for a microscope system providing illumination from a light source to a field of view and to documentation equipment such as a camera for recording an image from the field of view by operation of said module, said module comprising: means for transmitting light from the light source to the field of view to produce a reflected image; said means receiving the reflected image and transmitting the reflected image without a beam splitter to the documentation equipment; said means including prism means to transmit the light to the field of view and the reflected image to the documentation equipment; said means for receiving and transmitting the reflected image to the documentation equipment comprising means for altering the magnification of said reflected image; and said means for altering the magnification of said reflected image comprising a plurality of lenses disposed in a manually operable lens carriage means and wherein said lenses can be selectively interposed between said prism means and said documentation equipment.

Claim 39

An illumination module for a microscope system providing illumination from a light source to a field of view and to documentation equipment such as a camera for recording an image from the field of view by operation of said module, said module comprising: means for transmitting light from the light source to the field of view to produce a reflected image; said means receiving the reflected image and transmitting the reflected image without a beam splitter to the documentation equipment; said means including prism means to transmit the light to the field of view and the reflected image to the documentation equipment; said means for receiving and transmitting the reflected image to the documentation equipment comprising means for altering the magnification of said reflected image; and said means for altering the magnification of said reflected image comprising a plurality of lenses disposed in a manually operable lens carriage means and wherein said lenses can be selectively interposed between said prism means and said documentation equipment.

Claim 40

An illumination module for a microscope system providing illumination from a light source to a field of view and to documentation equipment such as a camera for recording an image from the field of view by operation of said module, said module comprising: means for transmitting light from the light source to the field of view to produce a reflected image; said means receiving the reflected image and transmitting the reflected image without a beam splitter to the documentation equipment; said means including prism means to transmit the light to the field of view and the reflected image to the documentation equipment; and lens means mounted for sliding into and out of the optical path defined by the reflected image from said prism means to said documentation module.

Claim 41

An illumination module for a microscope system providing illumination from a light source to a field of view and to documentation equipment such as a camera for recording an image from the field of view by operation of said module, said module comprising: means for transmitting light from the light source to the field of view to produce a reflected image; said means receiving the reflected image and transmitting the reflected image without a beam splitter to the documentation equipment; said means including prism means to transmit the light to the field of view and the reflected image to the documentation equipment; and lens means mounted for sliding into and out of the optical path defined by the reflected image from said prism means to said documentation module.

Claim 42

A module for attachment to a microscope assembly, said assembly having a light source, prism means and lens means and said module providing illumination from said light source to a field of view and to documentation equipment, such as a photographic camera, video camera, television camera, or the like, for recording or documenting an image from the field of view without a beam splitter, said module comprising: a housing; first means in the housing for transmitting light from the light source through said prism means and said lens means to the field of view to produce a reflected image; second means in said housing for receiving said reflected image from said prism means and transmitting said reflected image to said documentation equipment; and means for attaching said light source to said housing.

Claim 43

A module for attachment to a microscope assembly, said assembly having a light source, prism means and lens means and said module providing illumination from said light source to a field of view and to documentation equipment, such as a photographic camera, video camera, television camera, or the like, for recording or documenting an image from the field of view without a beam splitter, said module comprising: a housing; first means in the housing for transmitting light from the light source through said prism means and said lens means to the field of view to produce a reflected image; second means in said housing for receiving said reflected image from said prism means and transmitting said reflected image to said documentation equipment; and means for attaching said light source to said housing.

Claim 44

A module for a microscope system providing illumination from a light source to a field of view and without a beam splitter providing a reflected image from the field of view to a means for recording said image, said module comprising: a housing for attachment to a microscope system; means defining an illumination channel in said housing; means defining an image channel in said housing; said image channel means comprising means for altering the magnification of the reflected image, and said means for altering the magnification of said reflected image comprising a plurality of lenses disposed in a manually operable lens carriage means, said lenses capable of being selectively interposed in said image channel means.

Claim 45

A module for a microscope system providing illumination from a light source to a field of view and without a beam splitter providing a reflected image from the field of view to a means for recording said image, said module comprising: a housing for attachment to a microscope system; means defining an illumination channel in said housing; means defining an image channel in said housing; said image channel means comprising means for altering the magnification of the reflected image, and said means for altering the magnification of said reflected image comprising a plurality of lenses disposed in a manually operable lens carriage means, said lenses capable of being selectively interposed in said image channel means.

Claim 46

A portable removable illumination module for transmitting light from a light source to a microscope assembly, the microscope assembly having a housing, viewing lens means for observing a field of view, prism and lens means in the housing for directing light to the field of view, an opening for passage of light into the housing and the prism and lens means, and a mounting mechanism thereon for the illumination module, said illumination module comprising: a module housing; mounting means on the module housing for mating with said mounting mechanism on the microscope assembly; said module housing having a first port for receiving illumination from the light source; said module housing having a second port for transmitting illumination to said microscope housing; and lens means in said module housing for optically communicating illumination from said first port to said second port; whereby said module housing can be removed and installed on said microscope housing in order to form, control and transmit light from the light source into the microscope assembly, to the prism and lens means and to the field of view.

Claim 47

A portable removable illumination module for transmitting light from a light source to a microscope assembly, the microscope assembly having a housing, viewing lens means for observing a field of view, prism and lens means in the housing for directing light to the field of view, an opening for passage of light into the housing and the prism and lens means, and a mounting mechanism thereon for the illumination module, said illumination module comprising: a module housing; mounting means on the module housing for mating with said mounting mechanism on the microscope assembly; said module housing having a first port for receiving illumination from the light source; said module housing having a second port for transmitting illumination to said microscope housing; and lens means in said module housing for optically communicating illumination from said first port to said second port; whereby said module housing can be removed and installed on said microscope housing in order to form, control and transmit light from the light source into the microscope assembly, to the prism and lens means and to the field of view.

Claim 48

The module as set forth in claim 39 further comprising securing means for securely holding together in mating relationship said module housing mounting means and said microscope assembly mounting mechanism.

Claim 49

The module as set forth in claim 40 wherein said securing means comprises a threaded clamping knob.

Claim 50

The module as set forth in claim 39 wherein said module housing mounting means comprises first dovetail means and said microscope assembly mounting mechanism comprises a second dovetail means for mating with said first dovetail means.

Claim 51

The module as set forth in claim 39 wherein said lens means forms and controls the size of the light from the light source.

Claim 52

The module as set forth in claim 39 wherein said light source is a fiber optic light source and said first port on said module housing includes a fiber optics cable adapter means.

Claim 53

A removable illumination module for a microscope assembly, the microscope assembly having a microscope for observing a field of view, the microscope having a microscope housing means, lens system, and viewing ports, and a source of illumination associated with said microscope housing means for transmission of the primary source of viewing light to said field of view, said illumination module comprising: module housing means, said module housing means having a first end, a second end and at least one side wall portion adjacent said ends; mounting means on one of said side wall portions for removably attaching said module housing means to said microscope housing means; an illumination port on said first end of said module housing means for receiving illumination from said source of illumination; illumination channel means in said module housing means for optically communicating illumination from said source of illumination to said field of view.

Claim 54

A removable illumination module for a microscope assembly, the microscope assembly having a microscope for observing a field of view, the microscope having a microscope housing means, lens system, and viewing ports, and a source of illumination associated with said microscope housing means for transmission of the primary source of viewing light to said field of view, said illumination module comprising: module housing means, said module housing means having a first end, a second end and at least one side wall portion adjacent said ends; mounting means on one of said side wall portions for removably attaching said module housing means to said microscope housing means; an illumination port on said first end of said module housing means for receiving illumination from said source of illumination; illumination channel means in said module housing means for optically communicating illumination from said source of illumination to said field of view.

Claim 55

The module as set forth in claim 45 wherein said mounting means on said side wall portion for attaching said module housing means to said microscope housing means comprises dovetail mating means.

Claim 56

A module for attachment to a microscope system, said system having a microscope means for observing a field of view, light source means, and lens means and said module providing illumination from said light source means to provide the primary source of viewing light to said field of view, said module comprising: a housing having a first end, a second end, and at least one side wall member between said ends; means in the housing for transmitting light from the light source means to said field of view to produce a reflected image; dovetail means on said side wall member for attaching said housing to mating dovetail means on said microscope means; and means for separately attaching said light source means to said first end of said housing.

Claim 57

A module for attachment to a microscope system, said system having a microscope means for observing a field of view, light source means, and lens means and said module providing illumination from said light source means to provide the primary source of viewing light to said field of view, said module comprising: a housing having a first end, a second end, and at least one side wall member between said ends; means in the housing for transmitting light from the light source means to said field of view to produce a reflected image; dovetail means on said side wall member for attaching said housing to mating dovetail means on said microscope means; and means for separately attaching said light source means to said first end of said housing.

Claim 58

The module as set forth in claim 47 further comprising means in said housing for focusing and controlling the illumination from said light source means.

Claim 59

A removable illumination module for a microscope assembly, said microscope assembly having a microscope for observing a field of view, a microscope housing, a source of illumination for said field of view, and first dovetail means on said microscope housing, said module comprising: a module housing with a first end, a second end and side wall means extending between said first end and said second end; an illumination port on siad first end of said module housing for receiving illumination from said source of illumination; second dovetail means on said side wall means of said module housing for mating with said first dovetail means and attaching said illumination module to said microscope assembly; and channel means in said module housing for optically communicating illumination entering said illumination port to said field of view.

Claim 60

A removable illumination module for a microscope assembly, said microscope assembly having a microscope for observing a field of view, a microscope housing, a source of illumination for said field of view, and first dovetail means on said microscope housing, said module comprising: a module housing with a first end, a second end and side wall means extending between said first end and said second end; an illumination port on siad first end of said module housing for receiving illumination from said source of illumination; second dovetail means on said side wall means of said module housing for mating with said first dovetail means and attaching said illumination module to said microscope assembly; and channel means in said module housing for optically communicating illumination entering said illumination port to said field of view.