Movable objective lens assembly for an optical microscope and optical microscopes having such an assembly

An optical microscope system, comprising:

• a stage that includes a specimen region for holding a specimen;
• an infinity-corrected objective lens providing a field-of-view along a first optical axis perpendicular to said specimen region;
• an imaging body having an opening for receiving light from said infinity-corrected objective lens along a second optical axis parallel to said first optical axis of said infinity-corrected objective lens;
• and
• a mirror system that includes:
• a plurality of mirrors, including:
• a first mirror fixed along said second optical axis and pivotable thereabout, said first mirror for directing light from a third optical axis perpendicular to said second optical axis to along said second optical axis;
• and
• a second mirror fixed relative to said infinity-corrected objective lens and movable in a direction parallel to said third optical axis, said second mirror for directing light from said field of view along a fourth optical axis parallel to said third optical axis;
• and
• a support supporting said plurality of mirrors so as to allow said plurality of mirrors to pivot about said second optical axis;
• wherein said mirror system is configured so that said first optical axis of said infinity-corrected objective lens is positionable so as to be coaxial with said second optical axis of said imaging body by translation of said first mirror relative to said second mirror.

An optical microscope system, comprising:

• a stage that includes a specimen region for holding a specimen;
• an infinity-corrected objective lens providing a field-of-view along a first optical axis perpendicular to said specimen region;
• an imaging body having an opening for receiving light from said infinity-corrected objective lens along a second optical axis parallel to said first optical axis of said infinity-corrected objective lens, said imaging body including an imaging lens fixed relative to said imaging body;
• and
• a mirror system that includes:
• a plurality of mirrors, including:
• a first mirror fixed along said second optical axis and pivotable thereabout, said first mirror for directing light from a third optical axis perpendicular to said second optical axis to along said second optical axis;
• and
• a second mirror fixed relative to said infinity-corrected objective lens and movable in a direction parallel to said third optical axis, said second mirror for directing light from said field of view along a fourth optical axis parallel to said third optical axis;
• and
• a support supporting said plurality of mirrors so as to allow said plurality of mirrors to pivot about said second optical axis;
• wherein said mirror system consists essentially of four mirrors such that said mirror system includes a third mirror and a fourth mirror working cooperatively with one another so as to fold said fourth optical path along said third optical path.

An optical microscope system, comprising:

• a stage that includes a specimen region for holding a specimen;
• an infinity-corrected objective lens providing a field-of-view along a first optical axis perpendicular to said specimen region;
• an imaging body having an opening for receiving light from said infinity-corrected objective lens along a second optical axis parallel to said first optical axis of said infinity-corrected objective lens, said imaging body including an imaging lens fixed relative to said imaging body;
• and
• a mirror system that includes:
• a plurality of mirrors, including:
• a first mirror fixed along said second optical axis and pivotable thereabout, said first mirror for directing light from a third optical axis perpendicular to said second optical axis to along said second optical axis;
• and
• a second mirror fixed relative to said infinity-corrected objective lens and movable in a direction parallel to said third optical axis, said second mirror for directing light from said field of view along a fourth optical axis parallel to said third optical axis;
• and
• a support supporting said plurality of mirrors so as to allow said plurality of mirrors to pivot about said second optical axis;
• wherein said specimen region has a geometric center and said second optical axis of said imaging base intersects said specimen region substantially at said geometric center.