Patent ID: 8964287
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A microscope comprising a microscope objective, a stage on which a sample is placed, and a focusing device for focusing a microscope objective on the sample that is positioned on a stage, said focusing device comprising: a positioning unit having a main body; an objective holder movably supported on the main body for holding the microscope objective; and an actuator for moving the objective holder along the optical axis of the microscope objective; wherein the objective holder holds the microscope objective only at a front portion of the microscope objective facing the sample; the positioning unit comprises one or more lever arms, each of which having a first end and a second end and is coupled at its first end via a first elastic solid state hinge to the main body and at its second end via a second elastic solid state hinge to the objective holder; the positioning unit is made from a material as a single-piece component including the main body, objective holder and lever arms, said main body, objective holder and lever arms being movable relative to each other and separated from one another by cavities formed in the material, said cavities providing in the region of the first and second ends of the one or more lever arms regions of locally reduced lever arm cross sections defining the elastic solid state hinges; and the main body of the positioning unit is attached to the stage on which the sample is arranged.