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US 7,612,316 B2Granted
Focus detection device and fluorescent observation device using the same
AssigneeOlympus Corporation
InventorsMasayoshi Karasawa, Atsuhiro Tsuchiya, Takashi Yoneyama, Kenichi Koyama
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A focus detection device which is applied to a fluorescent observation device for observing a fluorescent image to be emitted from an observation sample on the basis of an evanescent light, includes an image pickup unit which detects a contrast of the fluorescent image by imaging the fluorescent image, and a detector which detects a focus on the basis of the detection result.
Claims11
A focus detection device comprising:
- an objective lens to observe an observation sample;
- a transparent member having a refractive index that is different from a refractive index of the observation sample;
- an illumination optical system, including a light source, to project illumination light from the light source through a peripheral portion of the objective lens so that the illumination light is reflected by a boundary face between the observation sample and the transparent member;
- a detector to receive the reflected light from the boundary face through the objective lens;
- a condensing optical system to condense the reflected light on a detection surface of the detector;
- a position controller to move the objective lens and the observation sample relatively;
- and
- a controller to control the position controller based on the reflected light from the boundary face detected by the detector to perform focus detection;
- wherein the focus detection device further comprises:
- a shutter to shield the reflected light, wherein the shutter is insertable into and removable from an optical path of the illumination optical system;
- and
- a focus detection lens that is insertable into and removable from the optical path of the illumination optical system;
- and
- wherein the focus detection device is configured to switch between (i) focus detection carried out by inserting the focus detection lens into the optical path and removing the shutter out of the optical path, and (ii) fluorescent observation carried out by removing the focus detection lens out of the optical path and inserting the shutter into the optical path, thereby illuminating the observation sample with evanescent light.
11 more elements
A fluorescent observation device comprising:
- an objective lens to observe an observation sample;
- a transparent member having a refractive index that is different from a refractive index of the observation sample;
- an illumination optical system, including a light source, to project an illumination light from the light source through a peripheral portion of the objective lens so that the illumination light undergoes total reflection at a boundary face between the observation sample and the transparent member;
- a detector to receive the reflected light from the boundary face through the objective lens;
- a position controller to move the objective lens and the observation sample relatively;
- a controller to control the position controller based on the reflected light detected by the detector to perform focus detection;
- and
- an observation optical system to observe a fluorescent image of the observation sample when the observation sample is excited, wherein the observation optical system observes the fluorescent image of the observation sample using, as an exciting light, an evanescent light generated by the total reflection of the illumination light at the boundary face;
- wherein the fluorescent observation device further comprises:
- a shutter to shield the reflected light, wherein the shutter is insertable into and removable from an optical path of the illumination optical system;
- and
- a focus detection lens that is insertable into and removable from the optical path of the illumination optical system;
- and
- wherein the fluorescent observation device is configured to switch between (i) focus detection carried out by inserting the focus detection lens into the optical path and removing the shutter out of the optical path, and (ii) fluorescent observation carried out by removing the focus detection lens out of the optical path and inserting the shutter into the optical path, thereby illuminating the observation sample with the evanescent light.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.