Optical switching apparatus for a reflected fluorescence microscope

An optical system switching apparatus for a reflected fluorescence microscope, comprising:

• a first turret having a first rotation center axis and a plurality of first windows which are formed at an equal distance from the first rotation center axis and on which absorption filters are mounted, said first turret being rotatable about the first rotation center axis;
• a second turret having a second rotation center axis and a plurality of second windows which are formed at an equal distance from the second rotation center axis and on which excitation filters are mounted, said second turret being rotatable about the second rotation center axis;
• a third turret having a third rotation center axis and a plurality of mounting portions which are formed at an equal distance from the third rotation center axis and on which dichroic mirrors are mounted, said third turret being rotatable about the third rotation center axis;
• and
• support means for supporting said first to third turrets to be rotatable independently of each other, and for optically aligning an arbitrary one of said excitation filters, an arbitrary one of said dichroic mirrors, and an arbitrary one of said absorption filters at respective rotational positions.