Infrared microscope adapter for viewing at an angle
US6661573B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B21/24
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An adapter is interposed between the objective and the microscope. The adapter has a support structure to which are mounted an objective-engaging structure, a microscope-engaging structure, and a reflecting element. The objective-engaging structure and the microscope-engaging structure, when mounted to the support structure, are characterized by respective axes that are non-collinear, and the reflecting element is positioned and oriented so that light incident along the objective-engaging structure's axis is reflected to travel along the microscope-engaging structure's axis. The relative angle between the axes is preferably 90 degrees. A user mounts the adapter to the microscope and the objective to the adapter, at which point, the microscope is capable of viewing a sample at an angle displaced from the vertical. In the specific example of a 90-degree angle, a sample of any size can be viewed merely by bringing the sample beside the microscope and in front of the objective.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.