Patent ID: 7224522
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical microscope apparatus comprising: a revolver which has a plurality of objective lenses attached thereto, and which is manually revolvable to switch an objective lens that is inserted in an optical path of the microscope; a plurality of additional optical elements, in addition to the objective lenses; a detection unit which detects at least one indicium on the revolver to identify a type of the objective lens inserted in the optical path and to detect when the objective lens inserted in the optical path is switched; a timer which counts a time elapsed from a time when the detection unit detects that the objective lens inserted in the optical path has been switched; a judgment unit which judges whether or not the elapsed time counted by the timer is longer than a predetermined time; a storage unit which stores information relating to an arrangement of the plurality of additional optical elements for each of a plurality of observation methods corresponding to the objective lenses; and an arrangement control unit which arranges the plurality of additional optical elements in accordance with the information stored in the storage unit corresponding to the type of optical element that is detected by the detection unit as being inserted in the optical path; wherein the arrangement control unit does not arrange the plurality of additional optical elements in accordance with the stored information corresponding to the type of optical element that is detected by the detection unit as being inserted in the optical path until the judgment unit judges that the elapsed time counted by the timer has exceeded the predetermined time.