Patent ID: 6643070
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A viewing tube for a stereomicroscope having first and second beam paths, said viewing tube comprising:a first beam splitter fixed at an axial location in said first beam path, said first beam splitter being rotatable about said first beam path; and a second beam splitter fixed at an axial location in said second beam path, said second beam splitter being rotatable about said second beam path; said first and second beam splitters having a first mutual setting wherein said first and second beam splitters are positioned to reflect light from said first and second beam paths in opposite directions, and a second mutual setting wherein said first and second beam splitters are positioned to reflect light from said first and second beam paths in a common direction; whereby, in said first mutual setting, said first and second beam splitters can each be used to reflect light to or receive light from an independent non-stereo optical device used simultaneously with said stereomicroscope, and whereby, in said second mutual setting, said first and second beam splitters can be used to reflect light to a stereo observation tube used simultaneously with said stereomicroscope.