WO1997015856A1 - Dark field illuminator ringlight adaptor - Google Patents
Dark field illuminator ringlight adaptor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1997015856A1 WO1997015856A1 PCT/US1996/017195 US9617195W WO9715856A1 WO 1997015856 A1 WO1997015856 A1 WO 1997015856A1 US 9617195 W US9617195 W US 9617195W WO 9715856 A1 WO9715856 A1 WO 9715856A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- light
- ringlight
- aperture
- illumination
- reflective surface
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/06—Means for illuminating specimens
- G02B21/08—Condensers
- G02B21/10—Condensers affording dark-field illumination
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B21/00—Microscopes
- G02B21/06—Means for illuminating specimens
- G02B21/08—Condensers
- G02B21/082—Condensers for incident illumination only
- G02B21/084—Condensers for incident illumination only having annular illumination around the objective
Definitions
- Microscopes magnify light from only a small area with a concomitant reduction in light intensity. This necessitates intense illumination of the specimen in order to provide adequate light levels for viewing.
- Machine vision applications often achieve better performance with intense illumination, which provides better resolution of the workpiece's or specimen's details. Identifying workpiece edges and surface features allows the position and orientation to be determined automatically.
- the lighting can originate from in front of or behind the specimen.
- Microscopes commonly use backlighting with a light source below a specimen stage that directs light upward through a microscope slide held on the stage to its first optical element, or the microscope objective.
- This lighting configuration is typically used for a transparent or translucent specimen since the light must pass through the specimen to be captured by the microscope.
- Light sourced from above the specimen is typically used with opaque specimens.
- a problem stems from the fact that a single point light source can not be located in line with the microscope's optical axis without obstructing its view or a complex optical arrangement.
- the specimen is thus usually illuminated from light off the axis, but this can create shadows.
- the solution to this dilemma is a device termed a ringlight.
- This device is typically torroidal in shape to fit around the barrel of the microscope or similar optical apparatus.
- the barrel and ringlight are arranged so that the barrel is coextensive with the ringlight's axis.
- the ringlight emits light in a 360 degree circle in the general direction of its axis, but angling inward slightly. This forms a cone of light having a vertex located on the axis.
- the specimen is illuminated evenly from all sides without shadows being visible through the microscope.
- dark field illumination a form of differential illumination termed dark field illumination.
- Many specimens exhibit little or no contrast when viewed with ordinary backlighting because they are colorless and transparent. Chemical staining is the typical solution in this situation, but in some cases it may be undesirable.
- dark field illumination the specimen is illuminated with a hollow cone of light aligned along the optical axis of the microscope and originating from below the specimen.
- the microscope objective is located within the dark base of the hollow light cone. Consequently, without a specimen, there is no illumination in the microscope.
- a specimen placed on the stage tends to diffract, reflect, and refract light of the cone, and this scattered light can then enter the objective.
- live bacteria for example, are visible, their edges and internal structures being outlined by redirected light, which is collected by the microscope optics. Rheinberg differential illumination is similar except that the field is given a desired color with diffuse lighting.
- the present invention concerns a differential illumination system that uses a ringlight or similar source of electromagnetic radiation. Light from the ringlight is redirected to form a cone of light projecting upward and away from the system. This enables dark field or Rheinberg illumination, for example. As a result, if desired the invention may be used to retrofit conventional ringlights, adapted for general purpose illumination, for these specialized techniques.
- the invention features an illumination system.
- the system comprises a ringlight having an annular light emitting portion and a hood that fits over the ringlight.
- the hood has an aperture and an annular reflective surface, disposed opposite the light emitting portion, that reflects the light from the ringlight through the aperture.
- the ringlight receives light via a fiber optic bundle and the annular light emitting portion comprises a ring of these fibers from the bundle.
- an angle of the annular reflective surface is selected relative to a direction of light from the ringlight to form a cone of light exiting the aperture.
- a light baffle may be incorporated to prevent stray light from the ringlight from directly exiting through the PCI7US96/17195
- This baffle is preferably formed from a sleeve inserted into a center bore of the ringlight. If a diffuse cone is desired, a diffusion screen may be also added.
- a field illumination light source may be added to emit a diffused light to enable the Rheinberg differential illumination.
- the invention may also be characterized as a system for converting a ringlight, which is adapted for conventional illumination, to provide differential illumination.
- a system would comprise the hood that has been adapted to fit over the ringlight to properly redirect the output from it .
- the invention may also be characterized as a method for converting a ringlight for differential illumination in a viewing device, such as a microscope.
- This method comprises blocking light from the ringlight from being transmitted directly into the viewing device. The light from the ringlight, however, is reflected to form a hollow cone of light. An objective of the viewing device is then placed within the hollow cone of light. This enables dark field viewing since only structures within a specimen will direct light to the viewing device.
- Fig. 1 illustrates the prior art use of a ringlight as a light source positioned above the specimen
- Fig. 2 is a perspective and exploded view of a differential illumination system of the present invention configured for dark field illumination and showing a partial cut-away in the ringlight adaptor- reflector hood;
- Fig. 3 is cross-sectional view of the inventive dark field illuminator
- Figs. 4A, 4B, and 4C are partial cross-sectional views showing the illuminator with a modification for providing adjustment of the angle of the light cone;
- Fig. 5 shows a modification of the inventive illuminator for Rheinberg differential color illumination
- Fig. 6 is a perspective exploded view of another embodiment of the inventive system that has a removable cover. Description of Preferred Embodiments
- Fig. 1 illustrates the typical application of a conventional ringlight as a microscope illuminator.
- the ringlight 110 is attached to the barrel of a microscope 50. It generates a cone of light 150 which is directed downward to the stage 310 to illuminate a specimen on slide 314.
- the ringlight itself typically receives light via a fiber optic cable 116 from a source 318.
- Fig. 2 shows a differential illumination system 100 based on the conventional ringlight 110 that has been constructed according to the principles of the present invention.
- the system 100 comprises a reflector hood 200 that fits over the ringlight 110.
- An inner sleeve 120 is press fit into the center aperture 112 of the ringlight 110.
- an end cap 130 covers a center cavity 132 defined by the inner surface of the sleeve 120 to form a dark field stop at the bottom of the illuminator 100. This prevents light seepage into the center cavity 132.
- the system 100 is located under a microscope stage 310 to illuminate a specimen 312 held on slide 314.
- the microscope objective 316 captures light for viewing by a user or imaged on a charge coupled device, for example.
- the hood 200 is preferably constructed from machined aluminum and has a non-reflecting, light absorbent, finish on most of its outer surfaces. Black anodization is one possible technique for achieving these surface characteristics.
- the hood 200 is generally cylindrical with a bore 202 extending axially through the hood.
- the proximal end 204 of the bore is frustro-conical, a terminal end of which is a light emitting aperture 206.
- the frustro-conical portion of the bore yields an inner chamfered surface 208 that is polished for maximum light reflectance.
- the light reflecting surface 208 is angled at approximately 45 degrees, preferably 42 degrees with respect to the central axis 102.
- the distal end 210 of the bore is essentially cylindrical and is sized to receive the ringlight 110.
- the ringlight 110 is installed into the distal end 210 of the bore. In one embodiment it is held in place by a bolt 212 threaded into the hood 200 and engaging a dimple 113 in the outer surface of ringlight 110. Indexing may be provided by forming multiple dimples 114 axially along the outer surface of the ringlight 110 to enable height adjustment of the ringlight 110 within the hood 200.
- the ringlight 110 is preferably a fiber optic type light system such as the Dolan-Jenner ringlight Model No. A3739P.
- a fiber optic bundle 116 connects to receive light from a light source 318.
- the bundle 116 may be glass, plastic or quartz fibers, to list a few alternatives.
- a light filter 320 can be added to adapt the color of the light for Rheinberg differential color illumination, for example.
- Light from the source 318 is coupled into the bundle 116 and transmitted to the ringlight 110.
- the individual fibers 118 are separated and dispersed evenly around the circumference of the ringlight.
- the terminal end 119 of the fibers 118 are aligned generally axially but angled inward slightly, 18 degrees in the particular ringlight illustrated, to generate a cone of light 150 having an acute angle vertex.
- ringlights are compatible with the invention.
- using a circle of light emitting diodes on the housing of the ringlight might be preferred in applications in which it is difficult to accommodate the thick fiber optic bundle 116.
- the light 150 emitted from the ringlight is reflected off of the light reflective surface 208 of the hood 200.
- the light then travels out through the light emitting aperture 206.
- the light exiting the aperture is substantially 25 degrees from horizontal.
- the result is a hollow light cone 152 projecting upward from the aperture 206.
- the trajectory of the light is such that it will not enter the light collection optics 316 of the imaging device, the microscope objective.
- the specimen 312 placed on the slide 314 will tend to reflect, refract, and diffract light toward the microscope objective 116, however.
- a more diffuse light cone may be desirable.
- a diffusion screen 168 may be added in these cases.
- the preferred location is across the aperture 206.
- the inner sleeve 120 functions as a light baffle. Good contrast in dark field illumination requires keeping light from the illuminator 100 only in the hollow cone 152. The fibers, however, tend to emit a portion of the light off of their central axes, see
- the inner sleeve 120 has an extension 122, which is beyond the top of the ringlight so that light from the fibers cannot directly exit the illuminator 100. Only light that is reflected from the reflective surface 208 of the hood 200 is able to exit.
- Figs. 4A, 4B, and 4C show alternative embodiments that enable adjustability in the angle of the light cone 152.
- the light reflecting surface is machined to have a concave continuously curved or arcuate cross-section 208a.
- the angle of the light cone 152 is dependent upon the location at which the incident beam 150 reflects off the arcuate reflecting surface 208a. This location is adjusted by changing the height of the ringlight 110 in the hood 200.
- a rack 172 is attached to the ringlight 110.
- the rack 172 is engaged by a pinion gear 170 on the hood 200.
- the gear is then turned by an operator to change the height .
- this embodiment works best with a tight, well collimated beam 150 from the ringlight 110. Stray light will tend to be reflected at divergent angles off of the arcuate surface 208a which may blur the edges of the light cone 152.
- Fig. 4B shows another embodiment 208b of the light reflecting surface. This embodiment also has an overall curved light reflecting surface but having two -in ⁇ discrete angles to enable generation of light cones of two angles.
- Fig. 4C is still another embodiment also having two angles, but arranged in a generally convex configuration.
- the illuminator 100 may be modified for Rheinberg differential color illumination. This is an extension of the dark field viewing in which the field is given a desired color rather than simply being without light.
- the end cap 130 is replaced with a field color filter 160, and an integrating chamber 162 is placed below this filter. The chamber receives light from a second fiber optic bundle 164.
- Similar chambers or diffusers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,227, entitled "Lighting and Detection System", by Zwirner, et al .
- the bundle 164 can be connected to a separate source of light, or if a splitter 166 is available, connected to light source 318.
- the filtered light from filter 160 determines the color of the field.
- the color filter 320 may be used to color the light to the ringlight 110 to enhance the differential color between the specimen and the background as viewed in the microscope.
- the light passing through the filter 160 is preferably diffuse.
- Fig. 6 is a perspective, exploded view of a further embodiment of the inventive differential illumination system.
- this embodi ent also includes a hood 200 that fits over a ringlight 110.
- the hood is held in place by a bolt 212 that engages a dimple 113 on the ringlight 110.
- the inner sleeve 120 is press fit into the center bore 112 of the ringlight 110.
- This embodiment differs in that a glass or other transmissive material is placed over the aperture 206 in the hood 200.
- the glass cover or stage 410 is placed in a recess 414 machined in the top of the hood.
- a retaining ring 412 is then bolted or screwed 413 to the hood 200 to hold the glass cover in place.
- This glass cover protects the inside ringlight from becoming dirty. When the cover 410 becomes dirty, however, it may be removed for cleaning.
- the glass cover can be a filtering material for color filtering or polarization of the dark field light.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Microscoopes, Condenser (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP9516840A JPH11514458A (en) | 1995-10-24 | 1996-10-24 | Darkfield ring light adapter |
AU74775/96A AU7477596A (en) | 1995-10-24 | 1996-10-24 | Dark field illuminator ringlight adaptor |
EP96937002A EP0857316B1 (en) | 1995-10-24 | 1996-10-24 | Dark field illuminator ringlight adaptor |
DE69619253T DE69619253T2 (en) | 1995-10-24 | 1996-10-24 | RING-SHAPED DARK FIELD LIGHTING ADAPTER |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/547,507 | 1995-10-24 | ||
US08/547,507 US5820250A (en) | 1995-10-24 | 1995-10-24 | Dark field illuminator ringlight adaptor |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1997015856A1 true WO1997015856A1 (en) | 1997-05-01 |
Family
ID=24184922
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1996/017195 WO1997015856A1 (en) | 1995-10-24 | 1996-10-24 | Dark field illuminator ringlight adaptor |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US5820250A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0857316B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH11514458A (en) |
AU (1) | AU7477596A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2233211A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69619253T2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997015856A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (30)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5820250A (en) * | 1995-10-24 | 1998-10-13 | Dolan-Jenner Industries, Inc. | Dark field illuminator ringlight adaptor |
KR100278477B1 (en) * | 1997-10-24 | 2001-03-02 | 윤종용 | Optical microscope |
US6271963B1 (en) * | 1998-01-16 | 2001-08-07 | Daniel Freifeld | Microscope illuminator for cylindrical objects |
DE19903486C2 (en) * | 1999-01-29 | 2003-03-06 | Leica Microsystems | Method and device for the optical examination of structured surfaces of objects |
US6341878B1 (en) * | 1999-08-31 | 2002-01-29 | Cognex Corporation | Method and apparatus for providing uniform diffuse illumination to a surface |
US7604361B2 (en) | 2001-09-07 | 2009-10-20 | Litepanels Llc | Versatile lighting apparatus and associated kit |
US7331681B2 (en) | 2001-09-07 | 2008-02-19 | Litepanels Llc | Lighting apparatus with adjustable lenses or filters |
US6749310B2 (en) | 2001-09-07 | 2004-06-15 | Contrast Lighting Services, Inc. | Wide area lighting effects system |
US7083298B2 (en) * | 2001-10-03 | 2006-08-01 | Led Pipe | Solid state light source |
GB0227872D0 (en) * | 2002-11-28 | 2003-01-08 | Dunning Keith J | Microscope |
US7248402B2 (en) * | 2002-12-09 | 2007-07-24 | Carl Zeiss Surgical Gmbh | Surgical microscopy system |
JP2005003995A (en) * | 2003-06-12 | 2005-01-06 | Olympus Corp | Dark-field illuminator |
WO2005101086A2 (en) * | 2004-04-16 | 2005-10-27 | Auburn University | Microsope illumination device and adapter therefor |
US7344273B2 (en) | 2005-03-22 | 2008-03-18 | Binary Works, Inc. | Ring light with user manipulable control |
DE102005047593A1 (en) * | 2005-10-05 | 2007-04-12 | Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh | Device for variation and adjustment of transmitted light illumination for microscopes |
US7551349B2 (en) * | 2005-12-01 | 2009-06-23 | Auburn University | High resolution optical microscope with cardioid condenser for brightfield and darkfield illumination |
US7688505B2 (en) * | 2005-12-09 | 2010-03-30 | Auburn University | Simultaneous observation of darkfield images and fluorescence using filter and diaphragm |
WO2007098137A2 (en) * | 2006-02-20 | 2007-08-30 | Auburn University | Applications for mixing and combining light utilizing a transmission filter, iris, aperture apparatus |
CN100451631C (en) * | 2006-03-24 | 2009-01-14 | 华南理工大学 | PCB drill bit image detecting and illuminating device |
DE102006018410A1 (en) | 2006-04-20 | 2007-10-25 | Carl Zeiss Microimaging Gmbh | Contrast enhancement device for ring light illuminators |
US20080062424A1 (en) * | 2006-09-07 | 2008-03-13 | Mark Richard Shires | Compact Ringlight |
JP5022700B2 (en) * | 2006-12-27 | 2012-09-12 | 株式会社東芝 | Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment |
US8854734B2 (en) * | 2009-11-12 | 2014-10-07 | Vela Technologies, Inc. | Integrating optical system and methods |
JP5646922B2 (en) * | 2010-09-03 | 2014-12-24 | 株式会社トプコン | Inspection device |
CN105531529A (en) * | 2014-04-04 | 2016-04-27 | 生物辐射实验室股份有限公司 | Annular illumination structure |
US11385452B2 (en) | 2015-03-13 | 2022-07-12 | Genea Ip Holdings Pty Limited | Method and apparatus for microscopy |
CN105278091B (en) * | 2015-11-20 | 2018-01-23 | 西南大学 | monochromatic field microscope illumination system |
CN106932399B (en) * | 2015-12-30 | 2020-02-18 | 上海微电子装备(集团)股份有限公司 | Dark field lighting device and surface defect detection device |
DE102016122102A1 (en) * | 2016-11-17 | 2018-05-17 | Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster | Protective cap for an imaging device |
US11733172B2 (en) | 2020-05-15 | 2023-08-22 | Kla Corporation | Apparatus and method for rotating an optical objective |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0019309A1 (en) * | 1979-04-11 | 1980-11-26 | Jean Louis Jeanne Chandesais | Ring lighting for the dark ground observation of a precious stone |
US4706168A (en) * | 1985-11-15 | 1987-11-10 | View Engineering, Inc. | Systems and methods for illuminating objects for vision systems |
EP0504940A2 (en) * | 1991-03-22 | 1992-09-23 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd | Microscope illuminating apparatus |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4160578A (en) * | 1978-04-17 | 1979-07-10 | American Optical Corporation | Annular reflector for microscope objective |
DE3100662A1 (en) * | 1980-01-31 | 1981-11-26 | Jenoptik Jena Gmbh, Ddr 6900 Jena | Device for dark field illumination in reflected light microscopes |
US4626079A (en) * | 1984-04-13 | 1986-12-02 | Nippon Kogaku K.K. | Dark field illumination apparatus for epi-illumination system |
DE3442218A1 (en) * | 1984-11-19 | 1986-05-28 | Fa. Carl Zeiss, 7920 Heidenheim | LIGHTING LIGHTING DEVICE FOR MICROSCOPE |
US4779967A (en) * | 1986-07-01 | 1988-10-25 | Ram Optical Instrumentation, Inc. | Objective lens assembly |
US5102227A (en) * | 1989-12-01 | 1992-04-07 | Dolan-Jenner | Lighting and detection system |
US4974094A (en) * | 1989-12-04 | 1990-11-27 | Yuhkoh Morito | Direct lighting/illuminating system for miniature CCD camera |
US5268749A (en) * | 1991-07-26 | 1993-12-07 | Kollmorgen Corporation | Apparatus and method for providing uniform illumination of a sample plane |
US5820250A (en) * | 1995-10-24 | 1998-10-13 | Dolan-Jenner Industries, Inc. | Dark field illuminator ringlight adaptor |
-
1995
- 1995-10-24 US US08/547,507 patent/US5820250A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1996
- 1996-10-24 CA CA002233211A patent/CA2233211A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-10-24 DE DE69619253T patent/DE69619253T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-10-24 EP EP96937002A patent/EP0857316B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-10-24 JP JP9516840A patent/JPH11514458A/en active Pending
- 1996-10-24 AU AU74775/96A patent/AU7477596A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-10-24 WO PCT/US1996/017195 patent/WO1997015856A1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1998
- 1998-09-18 US US09/156,114 patent/US5997164A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0019309A1 (en) * | 1979-04-11 | 1980-11-26 | Jean Louis Jeanne Chandesais | Ring lighting for the dark ground observation of a precious stone |
US4706168A (en) * | 1985-11-15 | 1987-11-10 | View Engineering, Inc. | Systems and methods for illuminating objects for vision systems |
EP0504940A2 (en) * | 1991-03-22 | 1992-09-23 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd | Microscope illuminating apparatus |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
D.S. GOODMAN: "Illuminators based on fiber rings", APPLIED OPTICS, vol. 24, no. 11, 1 June 1985 (1985-06-01), pages 1560 - 1562, XP002023153 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US5820250A (en) | 1998-10-13 |
DE69619253D1 (en) | 2002-03-21 |
DE69619253T2 (en) | 2002-10-17 |
EP0857316B1 (en) | 2002-02-13 |
EP0857316A1 (en) | 1998-08-12 |
JPH11514458A (en) | 1999-12-07 |
CA2233211A1 (en) | 1997-05-01 |
US5997164A (en) | 1999-12-07 |
AU7477596A (en) | 1997-05-15 |
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