Microscope lens guide system
AssigneeLeica Inc.
InventorScott Parks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microscope lens guide system is disclosed wherein a plurality of lens carriers are magnetically biased to guide rods to ensure rectilinear motion of lenses held by the carriers along an optical axis of the microscope. In a first embodiment, each lens carrier includes a first portion having a passage for slidably receiving a guide rod and a second portion having a magnet for biasing the second portion for engagement with another guide rod formed of magnetic material. In a second embodiment, additional magnets are provided to bias the passage for engagement with the guide rod received by the passage.
Claims21
A variable power optical instrument comprising:
- (a) support means;
- (b) a pair of elongated magnetic guide rods secured to said support means;
- (c) a plurality of lens carriers each adapted to support a lens and position said lens along an optical axis of said instrument, each said carrier having a first portion slidably connected to one of said guide rods and a second portion magnetically biased for continuous engagement with another of said guide rods to prevent rotation of said carrier about a longitudinal axis of said one guide rod as said carrier is moved along said optical axis;
- and
- (d) zoom adjustment means connected to said support means for moving said carriers along said optical axis.
A lens carrier for use in a variable power optical instrument comprising:
- a first portion having a passage for slidably receiving a first guide rod;
- a second portion having a slot for slidably receiving a second guide rod with clearance between a pair of opposing surfaces of said slot, an abutment surface corresponding to one of said opposing surfaces of said slot for continuously engaging said second guide rod and a magnet associated with said abutment surface for continuously biasing said abutment surface against said second guide rod, another of said pair of opposing surfaces having no magnet associated therewith;
- and a third portion having a view opening therethrough and means to support and locate a lens cell within said view opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.