Patent ID: 8390682
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A microscope system for observing a sample, comprising: a stage on which the sample is placed; an eyepiece lens for observing the sample with a naked eye; an image capturing unit for capturing an image of the sample; a light amount ratio changing unit for changing a ratio of an amount of light directed to a first optical path for directing an optical image of the sample to the eyepiece lens and a second optical path for directing the optical image of the sample to the image capturing unit; an image capturing controlling unit for controlling an exposure time of the image capturing unit; and a controlling unit for obtaining a first exposure time from the image capturing controlling unit if the light amount ratio changing unit sets the ratio of the amount of light to a first ratio of the amount of light, for calculating a second exposure time on the basis of the first exposure time and a second ratio of the amount of light changed by the light amount ratio changing unit, and for controlling the image capturing controlling unit to set the second exposure time as the exposure time of the image capturing unit if the light amount ratio changing unit changes to the second ratio of the amount of light; wherein the light amount ratio changing unit is a beam splitter unit for switching between a first beam splitter for making an observation light incident to the first optical path and the second optical path at a ratio of A.sub.1 to B.sub.1 and a second beam splitter for making the observation light incident to the first optical path and the second optical path at a ratio of A.sub.2 to B.sub.2, and if the light amount ratio changing unit selects the first beam splitter, the controlling unit obtains the first exposure time from the image capturing controlling unit, calculates the second exposure time by multiplying the first exposure time by [B.sub.1/(A.sub.1+B.sub.1)]/[B.sub.2/(A.sub.2+B.sub.2)], and controls the image capturing controlling unit to set the second exposure time as the exposure time of the image capturing unit if the light amount ratio changing unit switches from the first beam splitter to the second beam splitter.