# US 2024/0248293 A1 · Microscope illuminator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0248293 A1 - Document ID: US20240248293A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/408,428 - Filed: 2024-01-09 - Published: 2024-07-25 - Earliest claimed: 2023-01-23 - Assignees: Mikroscan Technologies - Applicants: Mikroscan Technologies - Inventors: Jeffrey Ross Gray - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240248293A1 ## CPC - G02B 21/06: Means for illuminating specimens - G02B 21/086: {for transillumination only} - G02B 21/0032: {Optical details of illumination, e.g. light-sources, pinholes, beam splitters, slits, fibers (G02B21/0036 - G02B21/008; means for illumination of specimens in general G02B21/06)} - G02B 21/0076: {arrangements using fluorescence or luminescence} - G02B 21/28: with cooling device - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A microscope is disclosed that has a base, a slide holder configured to accept a slide, and an illuminator comprising a light-emitting surface configured to project light on an optical path toward the slide when the slide is accepted by the slide holder. There is no light-shaping apparatus disposed on the optical path between the illuminator and the slide holder. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microscope, comprising: a base; a slide holder coupled to the base and configured to accept a slide; and an illuminator movably coupled to the base and comprising a light-emitting surface configured to project light on an optical path toward the slide when the slide is accepted by the slide holder; wherein: there is no light-shaping optical element apparatus disposed on the optical path between the illuminator and the slide holder. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microscope of claim 1, wherein the illuminator can be moved along the optical path with a separation distance between the light-emitting surface and the slide. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The microscope of claim 2, further comprising: an objective coupled to the base and disposed so as to observe a portion of the slide illuminated by the projected light; wherein: the objective has an aperture and an acceptance angle; the projected light reaches the aperture of the objective within an arrival angle that is inversely related to the separation distance; increasing the separation distance reduces the arrival angle of the projected light that enters the aperture of the objective, thereby reducing a realized numerical aperture of the microscope. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The microscope of claim 2, wherein: the illuminator has an adjustable intensity; and the intensity is adjusted automatically based in part on the separation distance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The microscope of claim 4, wherein the intensity is adjusted automatically to maintain a selected brightness as the separation distance is changed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microscope of claim 1, wherein the illuminator comprises a light emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The microscope of claim 6, wherein: the objective has a Field of View (FOV) with a first smallest dimension; the light-emitting surface has a second smallest dimension; the projected light has a peak intensity on an axis perpendicular to the light-emitting surface and a 90% intensity at a determined half-angle from the perpendicular axis; the projected light has an intensity over the entire FOV that is within a range of 10% of the peak intensity when the separation distance is at least the arcsine of the half-angle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The microscope of claim 7, wherein changing the separation distance changes the realized numerical aperture of the microscope. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The microscope of claim 1, wherein the projected light is essentially grainless. ### Claim 10 An illuminator for use with a microscope having a base, a slide holder configured to accept a slide, and an objective having a Field Of View (FOV) covering a portion of an accepted slide, the illuminator comprising a light-emitting surface and configured to be movably coupled to the base, wherein a clear and focused image can be provided by the objective with no light-shaping optical element disposed along an optical path from the illuminator to the accepted slide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The illuminator of claim 10, wherein: the illuminator is movable with respect to the base to selectably determine a separation distance between the light-emitting surface and the slide; the light-emitting surface configured to project light on the optical path; the projected light has a peak intensity on an axis perpendicular to the light-emitting surface and a 90% intensity at a determined first half-angle from the perpendicular axis; the projected light has an intensity over the entire FOV that is within a range of 10% of the peak intensity when the separation distance is at least the arcsine of the half-angle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The illuminator of claim 11, wherein changing the separation distance changes the realized numerical aperture of the microscope. ### Claim 13 A method of operating a microscope, comprising: projecting light from a planar light-emitting surface directly onto an underside of a slide accepted by the microscope; and adjusting a separation distance between the light-emitting surface and the underside of the slide to achieve a selected value of a realized numerical aperture of the microscope. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein: the light emitted by the light-emitting surface has an intensity that is uniform within a defined range over a dispersion cone having a defined half-angle; the projected light is not shaped between the light-emitting surface and the underside of the slide; and increasing the separation distance reduces a maximum half-angle of the emitted light that enters an entrance aperture of an objective of the microscope. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein: the light-emitting surface comprises a light emitting diode (LED); and reduces the maximum half-angle of the emitted light that enters the entrance aperture of the objective reduces the realized numerical aperture of the microscope.