# US 2017/0285296 A1 · Solid immersion lens holder and image acquisition device

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- Number: US 2017/0285296 A1
- Document ID: US20170285296A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/507,252
- Filed: 2015-09-24
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-26
- Assignees: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
- Applicants: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
- Inventors: Hirotoshi TERADA; Ikuo ARATA; Masataka IKESU
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285296A1

## CPC

- G02B 7/027: {the lens being in the form of a sphere or ball}
- G02B 7/02: for lenses {(supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002)}
- G02B 7/16: Rotatable turrets
- G02B 21/0052: {Optical details of the image generation}
- G02B 21/02: Objectives
- G02B 21/26: Stages; Adjusting means therefor
- G02B 21/33: Immersion oils {, or microscope systems or objectives for use with immersion fluids}
- G02B 21/361: {Optical details, e.g. image relay to the camera or image sensor (G02B21/364 takes precedence; illumination details G02B21/06 and subgroups)}
- G02B 21/362: {Mechanical details, e.g. mountings for the camera or image sensor, housings (G02B21/364 takes precedence)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A solid immersion lens holder includes a first member having a first opening disposing a spherical face portion therein so that a part of the spherical face portion protrudes toward an objective lens side and a second member having a second opening disposing a contact portion therein so that a contact face protrudes toward a side opposite to the objective lens side. The first member includes three plate members disposed on the objective lens side with respect to the first opening. Each of the three plate members is provided with a protrusion portion capable of contacting the spherical face portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solid immersion lens holder holding a solid immersion lens at a front side of an objective lens, the solid immersion lens including a spherical face portion disposed to face the objective lens and a contact portion having a contact face configured to contact an observation object, and the solid immersion lens holder comprising:
a first member having a first opening disposing the spherical face portion therein so that a part of the spherical face portion protrudes toward an objective lens side, and three plate portions disposed on the objective lens side with respect to the first opening, each of the three plate portions being provided with a protrusion portion capable of contacting the spherical face portion; and
a second member having a second opening disposing the contact portion therein so that the contact face protrudes toward a side opposite to the objective lens side.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The solid immersion lens holder according to claim 1,
wherein the three protrusion portions are provided at an interval of 120 degrees in a circumferential direction of the first opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The solid immersion lens holder according to claim 1,
wherein a line passing through a contact position between each of the three protrusion portions and the spherical face portion and a curvature center of the spherical face portion intersects an optical axis of the objective lens in the range of 15 to 65 degrees.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The solid immersion lens holder according to claim 1,
wherein the three protrusion portions are configured to come into line-contact with the spherical face portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The solid immersion lens holder according to claim 4,
wherein a contact position between each of the three protrusion portions and the spherical face portion is located on a circumference having a center of the first opening as a center.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The solid immersion lens holder according to claim 1,
wherein the three plate portions are disposed along an optical axis of the objective lens.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The solid immersion lens holder according to claim 1,
wherein the three plate portions are formed along a radial direction of a circle about a center of the first opening.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An image acquisition device comprising:
a stage holding an observation object;
an objective lens disposed to face the observation object on the stage;
the solid immersion lens holder according to claim 1 holding the solid immersion lens at the front side of the objective lens;
an optical detector configured to detect light from the observation object through the solid immersion lens and the objective lens and to output image data; and
an image generating device configured to generate an image of the observation object based on the image data.