Illumination device, in particular for microscopes

US8125709B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Carl Zeiss Micromanaging GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Lutz Hoering · Oberkochen, DE
• Andreas Nolte · Kirchlinteln, DE
• Michael James Brehm · Allen, US
• Mario Sondermann · Quohren, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 22, 2006
• Grant date: Feb 28, 2012
• Expiry date: Jan 25, 2027

Classification

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

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a controllable microscope illumination within a microscope system by which all essential contrasting methods in microscopy can be realized. The illumination device according to the invention comprises a plurality of individual light sources which can be regulated with respect to brightness, wherein these individual light sources are formed as unit cells and form a luminous surface by a periodic arrangement. In an advantageous arrangement, imaging optics are associated with each individual light source in order to magnify the image of the source surface of the individual light source so that the images of the source surfaces of adjacent individual light sources touch. Illumination variants for all of the essential contrasting methods in microscopy can be generated by way of the proposed solution. The proposed LED illumination is electronically switchable, can be regulated with respect to brightness, supplies all colors, is long-lasting and economical. LEDs have a long life and are very robust and insensitive to vibrations. The spatial light distribution and the color temperature are adjustable.