Motorized focus drive for a microscope

US4695137A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, Heidenheim/Brenz · DE

Inventors

• Reinhard Jorgens · Aalen, DE
• Bernd Faltermeier · Aalen, DE
• Franz Trautwein · Aalen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 26, 1986
• Grant date: Sep 22, 1987
• Expiry date: Feb 26, 2006

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B21/241
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The operating means for manual focusing of a microscope having a motorized-focus drive is embodied in a separate control console that is flexibly connected to and positionable alongside the microscope; the operating means includes a finger wheel or knob which is coupled with an electrical bit-signal generator (encoder). Digital output signals of the encoder are fed to control electronics for the focus-drive motor, and the electronic control system may either be contained within the control console, or it may be packaged, along with further electronic control means for additional functions, in a separate housing provided for the purpose. The indicated arrangement makes possible manually operated focus adjustment which, although admittedly indirect in its action via the motor of the focus drive, is nevertheless very sensitive; in addition, the availability of digital output signals from the encoder enables further simplification in the operation of the microscope, particularly when specimens are successively transferred and from the microscope stage, and when a multiple-lens turret of the microscope is controlled from the console, with electronic coordination of focus, turret-indexin…