JP5561052B2 - Microscope stand and portable microscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a stand and a head suitable for use in a microscope system that includes a head and a stand, and allows a sample to be observed with the head alone removed from the stand.

  Conventionally, a microscope called a digital microscope is known. A digital microscope is a microscope composed of a cylindrical head and a stand that mechanically holds the head. The head has an optical system and a CCD (image CCD) that images observation light from a sample guided by the optical system. Charge Coupled Devices) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  When observing a sample with a digital microscope, a controller that controls the operation of the head and a monitor that displays an observation image of the sample imaged by the CCD are connected to the head by a cable. Then, depending on the sample to be observed, the observation is performed with the head removed from the stand or with the head attached to the stand.

JP 2008-175893 A

  However, in observation using a digital microscope, the controller and monitor are connected to the head via a cable, so the cable routing is complicated and inconvenient, and the sample observation environment is limited due to restrictions such as cable length. It was not good.

  Therefore, if a monitor or a controller is connected to the stand and the stand and the head can be connected not only mechanically but also electrically, it is considered that the usability of the digital microscope can be improved. However, when a mechanical connection part that mechanically connects the head and the stand and an electrical connection part that electrically connects the head and the stand are provided integrally, the mechanical connection part and the like are electrically connected when the head is mounted on the stand. There is a risk that the electrical connection will be damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and is intended to prevent damage to an electrical connecting portion when attempting to mechanically and electrically connect a head and a stand.

Microscope stand of the present invention is a microscope stand which is solely function connected to the head and the mechanically and electrically to the portable microscope, the first mechanical connection for mechanically connecting with said head And a first electrical connection portion that is provided at a position different from the first mechanical connection portion and is electrically connected to the head, wherein the first mechanical connection portion and the first electrical connection portion are provided. The relative positional relationship of the connecting portion is relative to the second mechanical connecting portion and the second electric connecting portion of the head connected to the first mechanical connecting portion and the first electric connecting portion. The positional relationship is the same, and the head and the stand are mechanically connected by fitting the first mechanical connecting portion and the second mechanical connecting portion in a predetermined direction. , The first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion It is electrically connected by being fitted in a predetermined direction, and when the head and the stand are connected, the predetermined direction is substantially parallel to an optical axis of an optical system included in the portable microscope, A contact surface perpendicular to the predetermined direction that is pressed against a surface formed on the head perpendicular to a predetermined direction to lock the head; and the head is connected when the head and the stand are connected. The first electrical connection portion is locked by the abutting surface before being inserted into the second electrical connection portion to the limit that can be inserted in the predetermined direction .

The portable microscope of the present invention is a portable microscope that is mechanically and electrically connected to a microscope stand and is held by the stand, and is a second mechanical connecting portion for mechanically connecting to the stand. When provided in a position different from the second mechanical connection unit, a second electrical connection portion for electrically connecting with said stand, and an optical system, and the second mechanical connection portion and the The relative positional relationship between the second electrical connection portions is the first mechanical connection portion and the first electrical connection portion of the stand connected to the second mechanical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion. The second mechanical connecting portion is formed so that the longitudinal direction thereof is substantially parallel to the optical axis of the optical system, and the portable microscope and the stand and it includes a second mechanical connections and the first mechanical connecting part While being mechanically connected by being fitted in the longitudinal direction, electrically connected by said second electrical connection portion and the first electrical connection portion is fitted in the longitudinal direction When the portable microscope and the stand are connected, a contact surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is pressed against a surface formed on the stand perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to lock the portable microscope. The portable microscope may further include a portable microscope that is inserted before the second electrical connection portion can be inserted into the first electrical connection portion in the longitudinal direction when the portable microscope is connected to the stand. Further, it is locked by the contact surface.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when trying to connect a head and a stand mechanically and electrically, damage to an electrical connection part can be prevented.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of one Embodiment of the microscope observation system to which this invention is applied. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a head. It is a top view which shows the external appearance of a head. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of an arm. It is a top view which shows the external appearance of an arm. It is a right view which shows the external appearance of an arm.

  Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration example of microscope observation system]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of a microscope observation system to which the present invention is applied.

  This microscope observation system includes a microscope 11 and a monitor 12 connected to the microscope 11, and a sample 13 to be observed is observed by the microscope observation system.

  The microscope 11 includes a head 21 provided with an optical system for observing the sample 13, an image sensor, an electric system for controlling each part, and the like, and a stand 22 to which the head 21 is fixed. On the other hand, it is removable.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the head 21 and the stand 22 are mechanically and electrically connected, and the sample 13 is placed on a stage 31 provided on the stand 22. Even when the head 21 is detached from the stand 22, the head 21 alone functions as a single portable microscope.

  A grip portion 32 is formed on the head 21, and the user can carry the head 21 and easily operate by gripping the grip portion 32. In addition, the grip portion 32 is provided with a button 33 that is operated when the user captures an observation image of the sample 13.

  At the end of the head 21 on the stage 31 side, a plurality of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) 34 are arranged and fixed along the inner wall of the housing of the head 21, and the LEDs 34 irradiate the sample 13 with illumination light. The sample 13 is illuminated.

  In addition, an objective lens 35 is provided at the end of the head 21 on the stage 31 side so as to be surrounded by the LED 34, and in the center of the head 21, zoom optics that changes the magnification of the image of the observation light from the sample 13 is provided. A system 36 and an imaging optical system 37 that forms an image of observation light are provided. Furthermore, an image of the observation light formed by the imaging optical system 37 is captured at the end opposite to the end where the objective lens 35 is provided inside the head 21, so that the observation image of the sample 13 can be seen in more detail. Is provided with a CCD 38 for obtaining image data of an observation image.

  The head 21 is provided with a foldable small monitor unit 39 made of a liquid crystal panel or the like and displaying an observation image picked up by the CCD 38. The small monitor unit 39 includes various buttons for controlling the operation of the head 21 such as a button for changing the zoom magnification of the zoom optical system 36 and a button for adjusting the amount of illumination light from the LED 34. A button is also provided.

  Further, a control board 40 that controls the operation of the entire head 21 is provided inside the head 21, and the control board 40 is electrically connected to the control board 41 in the stand 22 via an electrical connection (not shown). Connected to. For example, the control board 40 operates each part of the head 21 based on a command supplied from the control board 41, or supplies an observation image captured by the CCD 38 to the control board 41.

  In addition, a battery for supplying power to each part of the head 21 and a memory for recording an observation image captured by the CCD 38 are also provided inside the head 21.

  The stand 22 is provided with a control board 41 for controlling the operation of the entire stand 22, and the control board 41 supplies an observation image supplied from the control board 40 to a memory (not shown) for recording. An observation image is supplied to the monitor 12 and displayed. Further, when the button group 42 including buttons for causing the head 21 to capture the observation image is operated, the control board 41 supplies a command corresponding to the operation to the control board 40.

  The stand 22 is provided with a handle (not shown) that is operated when the stage 31 is moved in the lateral direction or the depth direction in the drawing. Note that the stage 31 may be manually driven or electrically driven by a mechanical mechanism. Further, a mechanism that rotates or tilts the stage 31 may be provided.

  In addition, the stand 22 is provided with an arm 43 to which the head 21 is connected. The arm 43 is moved up and down with respect to the stand 22 when a vertical movement handle 44 provided on the stand 22 is operated. Move in the direction. The user can adjust the focus by moving the head 21 with respect to the stage 31 in the direction of the optical axis of the optical system of the head 21 including the objective lens 35 by operating the vertical movement handle 44. The arm 43 may also be driven manually or electrically. Furthermore, the arm 43 is provided with a lever 45 that is operated when the head 21 is fixed to the arm 43 by a clamp mechanism.

[External configuration example of head]
Next, FIGS. 2 and 3 show a state where the head 21 is detached from the stand 22. 2 is a perspective view of the head 21, and FIG. 3 is a top view of the head 21, that is, the head 21 as viewed from the left side to the right in FIG. 2 and 3, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  When the head 21 is detached from the stand 22 and used as a portable microscope, the user grips the grip portion 32, and the right lower end surface 71 of the head 21 in FIG. 13 observation images are taken.

  At this time, the observation light from the sample 13 enters the CCD 38 from the window provided on the end surface 71 through the objective lens 35 to the imaging optical system 37. When the observation light is received by the CCD 38 and photoelectrically converted, an observation image obtained as a result is displayed on the small monitor unit 39. More specifically, the observation image is displayed on a liquid crystal panel provided on the surface of the small monitor 39 that faces the front surface in FIG.

  When the user presses the button 33 while checking the observation image displayed on the small monitor unit 39, the control board 40 captures the observation image captured by the CCD 38 and records it in a memory (not shown).

  Note that the small monitor unit 39 is configured to rotate around an axis (not shown) that is provided at the left end of the small monitor unit 39 in FIG. That is, the small monitor unit 39 can be folded.

  The head 21 is provided with a long male ant 72 along the casing of the head 21. The male ant 72 is a protruding portion provided on the casing of the head 21 and functions as a mechanical connecting portion that mechanically connects the head 21 and the stand 22.

  In the vicinity of the left end of the male ant 72 in FIG. 2, a contact surface 73 that presses and locks the head 21 against the arm 43 when the head 21 is mounted on the stand 22 is provided. The contact surface 73 is configured so that the surface thereof is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the male ant 72.

  Further, a female connector 74 as an electrical connection part for electrically connecting the head 21 and the stand 22 is provided at a position adjacent to the contact surface 73 of the head 21. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the female connector 74 is located away from the male ant 72 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the male ant 72, that is, a predetermined distance in the lateral direction in FIG. Is arranged.

[External configuration example of stand]
As described above, the head 21 is provided with the male ant 72 as the mechanical connection part and the female connector 74 as the electric connection part. The stand 22 also has a machine corresponding to the male ant 72 and the female connector 74. A connection and an electrical connection are provided.

  4 to 6 show more detailed external configuration examples of the arm 43 of the stand 22. Here, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the arm 43, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are a top view and a right side view of the arm 43. That is, FIG. 5 is a view of the arm 43 as viewed from above in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a view of the arm 43 as viewed from the front in FIG. 4 to 6, the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to those in FIG. 1, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the front contact surface 101 of the arm 43 against which the head 21 is pressed in FIG. 4 is provided with a female groove 102 having a long groove in the vertical direction in FIG. 4. The female ant 102 functions as a mechanical connection unit that mechanically connects the head 21 and the stand 22.

  That is, the lower end in FIG. 3 of the male ant 72 is inserted from the upper end in FIG. 4 of the female ant 102 and the male ant 72 and the female ant 102 are fitted together, so that the head 21 and the stand 22 are machined. Connected. At this time, the contact surface 73 of the head 21 is pressed against the contact surface 103 of the arm 43 orthogonal to the contact surface 101, and the head 21 is locked.

  Further, the contact surface 103 is fitted with the female connector 74 of the head 21 at a position away from the contact surface 101 by a predetermined distance D in the direction of the surface facing the contact surface 101 of the arm 43. A male connector 104 is provided. That is, the relative positional relationship between the female ant 102 and the male connector 104 is the same as the relative positional relationship between the male ant 72 and the female connector 74 in the head 21.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 4, the direction in which the male connector 104 is inserted into the female connector 74 is the same as the direction in which the male ant 72 is inserted into the female ant 102, that is, the vertical direction in FIG. 4. Therefore, when the male ant 72 and the female ant 102 are fitted, the female connector 74 and the male connector 104 are fitted at the same time. That is, when the head 21 is attached to the arm 43, the head 21 and the stand 22 are mechanically connected and simultaneously electrically connected.

  If the contact surface 73 is not pressed against the contact surface 103 in a state where the male connector 104 is inserted to the limit that can be inserted into the female connector 74, the head 21 moves with respect to the insertion direction. And it will be in the state supported by the female connector 74. FIG. In such a state, the head 21 is not only unstable, but the male connector 104 and / or the female connector 74 may be damaged.

  Therefore, in the microscope 11, the contact surface 73 is pressed against the contact surface 103 before the male connector 104 is inserted to the limit that can be inserted into the female connector 74, and the head 21 is shown in FIG. The head 21 is locked so as not to move downward. In other words, in a state where the head 21 is locked to the contact surface 103, the male connector 104 is inserted into the female connector 74, but is not inserted into the female connector 74 until the insertable limit, and The head 21 and the stand 22 are electrically connected.

  In this way, the male connector 104 is prevented from being damaged by the head 21 being locked to the contact surface 103 before the male connector 104 is inserted into the female connector 74 to the limit of insertion. be able to.

  More specifically, the male connector 104 is slightly movable in the lateral direction and the depth direction in FIG. 4, that is, in a direction parallel to the contact surface 103 by a spring mechanism or the like. As a result, even if the relative positional relationship between the male ant 72 and the female connector 74 and the relative positional relationship between the female ant 102 and the male connector 104 are misaligned due to some factor, the misalignment is caused by the male connector 104. The head 21 is correctly mounted on the stand 22.

  As described above, by allowing the male connector 104 to move, it is possible to allow the machine difference of the head 21 attached to the stand 22, the play of the male ant 72, the manufacturing error of the head 21, and the like.

  Furthermore, in the microscope 11, as shown in FIG. 5, the distance D from the contact surface 101 to the male connector 104 is longer than the thickness B of the male ant 72. 5 shows a state in which the head 21 is attached to the arm 43. In FIG. 5, each part of the head 21 is represented by a dotted line.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the male connector 104 is arranged at a position farther from the contact surface 101 than the thickness B of the male ant 72 with respect to the direction perpendicular to the contact surface 101, whereby the stand 22 of the head 21. It is possible to prevent the male connector 104 from being damaged when it is attached to the connector.

  For example, if a male connector is provided at the right end in the figure of the male ant 72 in FIG. 2, when trying to fit the male ant 72 to the female ant 102, the male connector provided at the tip of the male ant 72 is: The contact surface 103 may be hit. If the ant and the connector are integrally provided in this way, when the head 21 is to be mounted on the arm 43, the connector may hit the arm 43 and be damaged.

  On the other hand, if the male connector 104 or the female connector 74 is provided at a position different from the female ant 102 or the male ant 72, the male connector 104 or the female connector 74 hits another part when the male ant 72 and the female ant 102 are fitted. This can be prevented.

  When attaching the head 21 to the arm 43, the user first places the male ant 72 and the female ant 102 in alignment by placing the lower right portion of the male ant 72 in the housing of the head 21 in FIG. 2 against the contact surface 101 of the arm 43. To do. When the tip of the male ant 72 is inserted into the end of the female ant 102, the user moves the head 21 along the longitudinal direction of the female ant 102 until the contact surface 73 is pressed against the contact surface 103. The male ant 72 and the female ant 102 are fitted.

  At this time, even if the housing of the head 21 (for example, the portion A11 in FIG. 2) is applied to the contact surface 101, the male ant 72 does not go deeper than the surface 102a of the contact surface 103. Therefore, if the male connector 104 is arranged at a position away from the contact surface 101 by a distance D longer than the thickness B of the male ant 72, when the head 21 is attached, the portion of the head 21 such as the male ant 72 hits the male connector 104, The connector 104 is not damaged.

  Here, the thickness B of the male ant 72 is the direction in which the female ants 102 and the male connector 104 are arranged in the state shown in FIG. 5 in which the head 21 and the stand 22 are connected, that is, the vertical ant 72 in FIG. Say length.

  The position of the female ant 102 on the arm 43 is designed so that the optical system of the head 21 is at an appropriate position when the head 21 is attached to the arm 43.

  For example, when the head 21 is attached to the arm 43 in a state where the stage 31 of the stand 22 is at a reference position, that is, a position where the operating range of the stage 31 is centered, the light of the optical system inside the head 21 The axis is positioned at the center of the stage 31. In other words, the position of the female ant 102 is determined such that the center of the visual field of the objective lens 35 is the center position of the stage 31 in a state where the stage 31 is at the reference position.

  Further, for example, in the state where the head 21 is attached to the arm 43 and the arm 43 is moved to the lower limit in FIG. 1, the mounting surface on which the sample 13 of the stage 31 is mounted on the focal plane of the objective lens 35. The arrangement positions of the female ant 102 and the contact surface 103 are determined so as to coincide with the surface. That is, when the arm 43 is moved to the lowest end in FIG. 1 so that the objective lens 35 is closest to the stage 31, the focus of the optical system of the head 21 matches the placement surface of the stage 31. As described above, the positions of the female ant 102 and the contact surface 103 in the arm 43 are determined.

  In this way, by considering the position of the optical system of the head 21 and determining the height of the contact surface 103 on the arm 43 and the position of the female ant 102, the sample 13 can be observed more appropriately. The observation environment can be improved.

  More specifically, the female ant 102 is formed larger than the male ant 72 for reasons such as to allow dimensional errors of the female ant 102 and the like in order to facilitate fitting. For this reason, even if the head 21 is locked by the contact surface 103, the head 21 may rattle due to vibration or the like.

  Therefore, in the microscope 11, a clamp mechanism is provided so that the head 21 is more firmly fixed to the arm 43. According to this clamping mechanism, as shown in FIG. 5, in a state where the male ant 72 and the female ant 102 are fitted, the side 72a of the male ant 72 is pressed against the side 102b of the female ant 102. It is pushed in the right direction.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, when the lever 45 is rotated so that the lever 45 moves from the upper side to the lower side in FIG. 6, the force applied to the lever 45 is transmitted to the arm 43. Thus, a rod-shaped clamp 131 that moves is provided. The clamp 131 is disposed on the side surface of the female ant 102 so as to be positioned at the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of the female ant 102.

  When the user rotates the lever 45 downward in FIG. 6, the clamp 131 moves in the right direction in the drawing, whereby the male ant 72 is pushed by the clamp 131, and the side surface 72 a of the male ant 72 is It is pressed against the side surface 102b.

  Here, since the side surface 72a and the side surface 102b are inclined in the oblique direction with respect to the contact surface 101, when the male ant 72 is pushed by the clamp 131, the male ant 72 is inclined in the upper right direction in FIG. It will be suppressed.

  Thereby, the housing of the head 21 and the contact surface 101, and the side surface 72 a and the side surface 102 b are in close contact with each other, and the head 21 is firmly fixed to the arm 43. That is, the head 21 is fixed so as not to move in the vertical and horizontal directions in FIG.

  Further, when removing the head 21 from the arm 43, the user rotates the lever 45 so that the lever 45 is in the upper side in FIG.

  As described above, by providing the female ant 102 and the male connector 104 of the stand 22 at different positions, when the stand 22 and the head 21 are mechanically and electrically connected, each part of the head 21 is connected to the male connector 104. Can be hard to hit. As a result, it is possible to prevent the male connector 104 from being damaged when the head 21 is mounted. In particular, by disposing the male connector 104 at a position away from the contact surface 101 of the female ant 102 by a distance longer than the thickness of the male ant 72, the head 21 can be prevented from hitting the male connector 104.

  In the above, it has been described that the female ant 102 and the male connector 104 are provided on the stand 22 and the male ant 72 and the female connector 74 are provided on the head 21 as the mechanical connection part and the electrical connection part. One or both of them may be provided in reverse.

  That is, for example, as an electrical connection portion, the female connector 74 may be provided on the stand 22 and the male connector 104 may be provided on the head 21. In such a case, for example, the male connector 104 provided on the head 21 is movable in a direction parallel to the contact surface 73 with respect to the head 21.

  Further, in the above, it has been described that the male connector 104 provided on the stand 22 is prevented from being damaged. However, since the ant and the connector are provided in the same positional relationship in the stand 22 and the head 21, the head 21 is provided. Damage to the female connector 74 as an electrical connecting portion provided in is also prevented.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  11 microscope, 21 head, 22 stand, 43 arm, 72 male ant, 73 contact surface, 74 female connector, 101 contact surface, 102 female ant, 103 contact surface, 104 male connector, 131 clamp

Claims (5)

A microscope stand that is mechanically and electrically connected to a head that functions alone as a portable microscope,
A first mechanical connection for mechanical connection with the head;
Provided at a position different from the first mechanical connection portion, and a first electrical connection portion for electrically connecting to the head,
The relative mechanical relationship between the first machine connection and the first electrical connection is such that the second machine of the head is connected to the first machine connection and the first electrical connection. It is the same as the relative positional relationship between the connection part and the second electrical connection part,
The head and the stand are mechanically connected by fitting the first mechanical connection portion and the second mechanical connection portion in a predetermined direction, and the first electrical connection portion. The second electrical connection portion is electrically connected by being fitted in the predetermined direction,
When the head and the stand are connected, the predetermined direction is substantially parallel to an optical axis of an optical system included in the portable microscope, and a surface formed on the head perpendicular to the predetermined direction is pressed against it. A contact surface perpendicular to the predetermined direction for locking the head,
When the head and the stand are connected, the head is moved by the abutting surface before the first electrical connection portion is inserted into the second electrical connection portion to the limit that can be inserted in the predetermined direction. A microscope stand characterized by being locked. The microscope stand according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connection portion is movable in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction with respect to the stand. A holding unit that is provided with the first mechanical connection unit and the first electrical connection unit and moves the connected head in the optical axis direction of the optical system in the head;
And a stage on which the observation object is placed,
In the head, when the holding unit is moved so that the head is closest to the stage, the focal plane of the optical system in the head becomes the position of the mounting surface of the stage. The microscope stand according to claim 1 , wherein the microscope stand is connected to the holding unit. A portable microscope mechanically and electrically connected to a microscope stand and held by the stand,
A second mechanical connection for mechanical connection with the stand;
Provided at a position different from said second mechanical connection unit, a second electrical connection portion for electrically connecting with said stand,
With optical system,
Said second mechanical connection portions with the relative positional relationship of the second electrical connection portion, said being connected to the second mechanical connection and the second electrical connection portions, a first machine of the stand It is the same as the relative positional relationship between the connection portion and the first electrical connection portion ,
The second mechanical connection portion is formed such that its longitudinal direction is substantially parallel to the optical axis of the optical system,
The portable microscope and the stand are mechanically connected by fitting the second mechanical connecting portion and the first mechanical connecting portion in the longitudinal direction, and the second electric connection The connection portion and the first electrical connection portion are electrically connected by being fitted in the longitudinal direction,
A contact surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction that is pressed against a surface formed on the stand perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to lock the portable microscope when the portable microscope and the stand are connected; Prepared,
When the portable microscope is connected between the portable microscope and the stand, before the second electrical connection portion is inserted into the first electrical connection portion to the limit of insertion in the longitudinal direction, A portable microscope characterized by being locked by a contact surface. The portable microscope according to claim 4 , wherein the second electrical connection portion is movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction with respect to the portable microscope.

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