Control unit for mixed light illumination, especially for microscopy

US7273298B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Schott AG · DE

Inventors

• Axel Laschke · Göttingen, DE
• Walter Körner · Saulheim, DE
• Charles Willis · Doncaster, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 24, 2003
• Grant date: Sep 25, 2007
• Expiry date: Nov 15, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B21/06
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A control unit for a microscope, a stereomicroscope, or an industrial image processing machine is described, to which at least three lighting units, e.g. for incident light-bright field illumination, incident light-dark field illumination, and for transmitted light illumination, are connected. Respective lighting units are simultaneously controlled according to user commands, e.g. for interval control to simulate a moving light source. The user commands can be input by function keys and/or a foot switch and/or stored in a memory provided in the control unit. Alternatively or in addition, the control unit can receive command statements from an external computer connected via an interface or control signals from an external camera. The control unit detects temperatures of the lighting units and shuts off a lighting unit or generates a warning signal when its temperature becomes excessive.