# US 2014/0192408 A1 · Apparatus and method for transmitted light illumination for light microscopes and microscope system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192408 A1 - Document ID: US20140192408A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/978,621 - Filed: 2012-08-16 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-23 - Assignees: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH - Inventors: Detlef Hein; Juergen Fechti; Gleb Milinovici - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192408A1 ## CPC - G02B 21/06: Means for illuminating specimens - G02B 21/086: {for transillumination only} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract The invention relates to an apparatus for transmitted light illumination for light microscopes, in particular stereo microscopes or macroscopes, having changing effective entrance pupil of an objective. The apparatus has a light source for emitting an illuminating light beam, a housing, in which the light source is arranged, a holding device for holding a sample to be examined and at least one diaphragm edge for trimming the illuminating light beam, wherein the diaphragm edge extends transversely to an optical axis of a light microscope, which can be positioned in an operating state on the device for transmitted light illumination, and wherein a beam path of the illuminating light between the diaphragm edge and the sample held by the holding device is free from adjustable beam focussing components. The apparatus is characterised according to the invention in that in order to adapt the beam path of the illuminating light to the effective entrance pupil of the objective, means are provided for variable positioning of the diaphragm edge in the direction of the optical axis, wherein a position of the diaphragm edge in the direction of the optical axis can be varied irrespectively of a position of the diaphragm edge transversely to the optical axis, assembly means are provided on the housing for mounting a separate sample support able, means for determining the presence of a sample support table are present, the housing has a passage opening, through which the diaphragm edge can be moved in the direction of the optical axis, the holding device is formed in the region of the passage opening of the housing or on a separate sample support table and a control device is present which is adapted to position the diaphragm edge in dependence at least upon a determined presence of a sample support table. The invention also relates to a method for transmitted light illumination for a light microscope and a microscope system. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-17. (canceled) ### Claim 18 A transmitted light illumination apparatus for light microscopes with a changing effective entrance pupil of an objective, the apparatus comprising a light source adapted to emit an illuminating light beam, a housing, in which the light source is arranged, a holding device for holding a sample to be examined, and at least one diaphragm edge to trim the illuminating light beam, wherein the diaphragm edge extends transversely to an optical axis of a light microscope, which can be positioned in an operating state on the transmitted light illumination apparatus, and wherein a beam path of the illuminating light between the diaphragm edge and the sample which is held by the holding device is free of adjustable beam-focusing components, wherein in order to adapt the beam path of the illuminating light to the effective entrance pupil of the objective means for variable positioning of the diaphragm edge in direction of the optical axis are provided, wherein a position of the diaphragm edge in the direction of the optical axis can be varied irrespectively of a position of the diaphragm edge transversely to the optical axis, assembly means are provided on the housing for assembling a separate sample support table, means for determining the presence of a sample support table are present, the housing comprises a passage opening, through which the diaphragm edge can be moved in the direction of the optical axis, the holding device is formed in the region of the passage opening of the housing or on a separate sample support table, and a control device is provided which is adapted to position the diaphragm edge in dependence upon at least a determined presence of a sample support table. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein means are provided for determining an identity of a sample support table, the control device is adapted to position the diaphragm edge in dependence upon a determined identity of a sample support table. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the control device is adapted to move the diaphragm edge through the passage opening of the housing precisely when the means for determining the presence of a sample support table determine the presence of a sample support table. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein accessories can be inserted in the sample support table, means for determining the presence of accessories inserted in the sample support table are provided, and the control device is adapted to position the diaphragm edge in dependence upon a determined presence of accessories introduced into the sample support table. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein means are provided for determining the identity of accessories introduced into the sample support table, the control device is adapted to position the diaphragm edge in dependence upon a determined identity of accessories inserted into the sample support table. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein assembly means for an adapter plate for influencing the illuminating light beam are present, means for determining the presence of an adapter plate are provided and the control device is adapted to position the diaphragm edge in dependence upon a determined presence of an adapter plate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein means are provided to determine an identity of an adapter plate, the control device is adapted to position the diaphragm edge in dependence upon a determined identity of an adapter plate. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) Device according to claim 18, wherein in order to change the contrast, means are provided for variable positioning of the diaphragm edge a direction transversely to the optical axis. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the means for determining the presence of a sample support table, the means for determining the presence of accessories inserted into the sample support table and the means for determining the presence of an adapter plate respectively comprise a magnetic field sensor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the diaphragm edge can be rotated about a rotation axis which is transverse to the optical axis with the means for variable positioning of the diaphragm edge in the direction of the optical axis and with the means for variable positioning of the diaphragm edge in a direction transversely to the optical axis. ### Claim 28 Transmitted light illumination method for a light microscope with changing effective entrance pupil of an objective, in which a sample held by a holding device is subjected to illuminating light from a light source and in which an illuminating light beam emitted from the light source is trimmed by a diaphragm edge arranged between the holding device and the light source, wherein the light source is arranged in a housing, on which a separate sample support table can be assembled with assembly means, wherein the holding device is formed in the region of the passage opening of the housing or on a separate sample support table and wherein the housing comprises a passage opening, through which the diaphragm edge can be moved in the direction of an optical axis, wherein the presence of a sample support table is determined, and the diaphragm edge extends transversely to an optical axis and is positioned in dependence upon the position of the effective entrance pupil of the objective and in dependence upon at least a determined presence of a sample support table in direction of the optical axis. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) Method according to claim 28, wherein if the diaphragm edge has been moved through the passage opening into the sample support table and it is determined with means for determining the presence of a sample support table that the sample support table is removed, movement of the diaphragm edge is blocked. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) Method according to claim 28, wherein if the diaphragm edge has been moved through the passage opening into the sample support table and it is determined with means for determining the presence of a sample support table that the sample support table is removed, the diaphragm edge is moved back into the housing. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) Method according to claim 28, wherein for the movement of the diaphragm edge through the passage opening the diaphragm edge is rotated at least about a rotation axis which is transverse to the optical axis. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) Method according to claim 28, wherein at least one of a microscope setting and a microscope configuration is enquired, an optimal diaphragm position is determined using the at least one of the microscope setting and the microscope configuration, at least one of the presence of a sample support table, the presence of accessories introduced into the sample support table and the presence of an adapter plate is determined and from this information an available movement space of the diaphragm edge in the direction of the optical axis is determined, the diaphragm edge is positioned at the optimal diaphragm position if the optimal diaphragm position lies in the available movement space, and if the optimal diaphragm position lies outside of the available movement space the diaphragm edge is positioned at an end of the available movement space adjacent to the optimal diaphragm position. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) Method according to claim 28, wherein at least one of a microscope setting and a microscope configuration is enquired, an optimal diaphragm position is determined using the at least one of the microscope setting and the microscope configuration, at least one of the presence of a sample support table, the presence of accessories introduced into the sample support table and the presence of an adapter plate is determined and from these, an available movement space of the diaphragm edge in the direction of the optical axis is determined, it is checked whether the optimal diaphragm position lies within the available movement space, if the optimal diaphragm position lies outside of the available movement space, a prism film is moved into the illuminating light beam, and if the optimal diaphragm position lies in the available movement space, the diaphragm edge is positioned at the optimal diaphragm position. ### Claim 34 (depends on 18) Microscope system having a light microscope and an apparatus for transmitted light illumination according to claim 18.