Abstract:
The present invention discloses a portable microscope device which can be installed on the smartphone capable of capturing image. By combing these devices, users can observe the detection sample and capture the image of the sample instantly without environment limitation. Moreover, during operation, the user can observe the whole image of the sample by substituting the microscope lens of different magnification ratio or by shifting the position of the sample.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 103123319 filed in Taiwan, Republic of China on Jul. 7, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a portable microscope device, in particular to a portable microscope device which is able to cooperate with a communication device. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, conventional microscopes are utilized to observe the tiny structure of microorganism, cell or substance. The ordinary microscope generally refers to optical microscope, which uses lenses to enlarge the objective image to the eye or the imaging apparatus. Its resolution is about 1 micro meter, and thus the object in cell size is observable. The optical microscopes are classified into upright microscope, inverted microscope, stereo microscope, etc. based on different designs. The volume of the above conventional microscope is generally large and the user is a specialist in the specific field (biology field, chemical field or related field). To utilize the microscope more conveniently, the miniaturization the conventional microscope has been developed. Some compact microscope even can cooperate with the mobile phone having camera. Referring to US patent publication No. US20120157160 “Compact wide-field fluorescent imaging on a mobile device” (hereinafter the US publication), the US publication discloses an imaging device of a mobile device which has a fluorescent imaging device. The fluorescent imaging device has a lens, and a gripping element is installed on its bottom. The gripping element can grip a mobile device (for example mobile phone or tablet computer, etc.). A detection sample can be disposed in a space of the fluorescent imaging device, and thus the user can observe the detection sample by the capturing camera lens of the mobile device. Accordingly, the US publication minimizes the conventional microscope. Moreover, it is convenient to use the microscope since the mobile device is popular and the minimized microscope can cooperate with it. Other references are also listed below:
       (1) TW patent No. 1362556 “MICROSCOPY CONNECTER FOR DOCUMENT CAMERA”;   (2) TW patent No. M357612 “Multi-functional microscope device”;   (3) TW patent No. M444520 “Lightweight high-power microscopic magnifier lens”;   (4) CN patent application No. 201220163127.1 “Palm digital microscope based on intelligent handset”;   (5) CN patent application No. 201320060713.8 “Mobile phone external optical device”;   (6) CN patent application No. 201320295925.4 “Device for fixing smart phone on microscope or telescope to realize digital photography”;   (7) CN patent application No. 200920005757.4 “Multifunctional microscope device”;   (8) U.S. Pat. No. 8,184,366 “Multi-function microscope device”.       
 
         [0014]    From the above references, although the conventional compact microscope can shrink the whole structure for miniaturization and observe the detection sample by the capturing camera lens of the smart communication device (for example mobile phone) the detection sample, the compact microscope and the smart communication device are kept stationary when using the smart communication device. If the detection sample is not disposed at an adequate location, the camera lens of the compact microscope is not located at the optimized observation location to observe. The user can only dispose the detection sample again. These cumbrous procedures are very inconvenient for the user. Moreover, the magnification ratio of the camera lens of the conventional microscope is constant. The user cannot replace the camera lens on demand. Even the camera lens can be replaced, the conventional device cannot keep focal length optimized and cause problems such as blurred image and so on. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0015]    One objective of the invention is to provide a portable microscope device wherein it can cooperate with a communication device, the microscope lens can be replaced on demand, and the position of the sample to be observed can be adjusted on demand during operation. 
         [0016]    To achieve the above objective, the portable microscope device includes a base, a cover and a microscope module. The microscope module is installed on the communication device capable of capturing image. A detection sample is disposed on a microscope slide beforehand and covered with a coverslip. Then the microscope slide is supported on the base. The user can capture the real image of the sample by the communication device. During operation, the user can replace the microscope lens of the microscope module on demand and choose the corresponding cover to optimize its focal length. Moreover, the microscope module can move on the cover. After the user moves the detection sample, the communication device can obtain excellent captured image. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, which are given for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram according to the embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic assembling diagram (1) according to the embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a sectional diagram of the base according to the embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram (1) according to the embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram (2) according to the embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram (3) according to the embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram (4) according to the embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram (5) according to the embodiment of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  shows another embodiment (1) according to the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  shows another embodiment (2) according to the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  shows another embodiment (3) according to the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  shows another embodiment (4) according to the invention; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  shows another embodiment (5) according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    The embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram according to the embodiment of the invention. The portable microscope device  10  in  FIG. 1  can cooperate with a communication device which is capable of capturing image to capture the real image of a detection sample. The communication device is for example a smart communication device such as a smart phone. The portable microscope device  10  includes a base  101 , a cover  102  and a microscope module  103 . The base  101  can carry the above components. The base  101  has a restrictive groove  1011  formed on the upper plane thereof. A microscope slide  104  can be disposed in the restrictive groove  1011 . Moreover, the base  101  includes an illumination module  105  (referring to  FIG. 3 ). In details, the interior of the base  101  is hollow to accommodate the illumination module  105  and other related circuits. The cover  102  can be movably installed on (for example pivoting, wedging, magnetically connecting) and fixed to the base  101  to keep the focal length of the microscope module  103  optimized. The microscope module  103  has a certain magnification ratio to help the communication device to enlarge the imaging of the detection sample. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  is a schematic assembling diagram (1) according to the embodiment of the invention. Please also referring to  FIG. 1 , the base  101  includes a detective portion  1012  on its top and include two assembling portions  1013  respectively at two sides of the restrictive groove  1011 . The assembling portion  1013  can be composed of a metal or a magnetic element, but it is not limited thereto. Any implementation enabling the assembling portion  1013  to response to a magnetic force is applicable. Moreover, a magnetic attraction portion  1014  is installed on the periphery of the detective portion  1012 . Moreover, the cover  102  is formed with a hollow portion  1021  of which at two sides respectively two relative assembling portions  1022  are extended and formed. The relative assembling portion  1022  can be metal or magnetic material so it and the assembling portion  1013  can be attracted to each other by magnetic force. For example, if the assembling portion  1013  is magnet, the relative assembling portion  1022  can be metal which is attracted to the assembling portion  1013 . Alternatively, the relative assembling portion  1022  can attract the assembling portion  1013 , or the two are both magnet which attract each other by magnetic force between the two. Furthermore, whole of the microscope module  103  is made of permeance material, a microscope lens  1031  is embedded into the microscope module  103 , and the microscope lens  1031  is movably installed on the cover  102 . In details, the microscope module  103  includes a relative magnetic attraction portion  1032  at its bottom. During assembling, the microscope slide  104  can be disposed in the restrictive groove  1011  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and restricted by the restrictive groove  1011 , and then the cover  102  is attracted to the assembling portion  1013  of the base  101  by the relative assembling portion  1022 . The cover  102  is fixed to the base  101  by magnetic force so that the hollow portion  1021  of the cover  102  corresponds to the detective portion  1012  of the base  101 . Then, when using the microscope module  103 , the microscope module  103  can be disposed on the cover  102 , the relative magnetic attraction portion  1032  of the microscope module  103  will be attracted to the magnetic attraction portion  1014  of the base  101  so that the microscope module  103  and the cover  102  relatively move under the condition that they are not separated. Accordingly, the microscope lens  1031  is movably installed on the cover  102 . In the embodiment, when the portable microscope device  10  cooperates with the communication device, the image capture module of the communication device can capture the image of the detection sample by the microscope lens  103 , and its detail will be described later. Besides, in the base  101  of the embodiment, two restrictive portions  1015  are respectively formed at the two sides of the restrictive groove  1011 . When the cover  102  is attracted to the base  101 , the cover  102  is further embedded into the restrictive portion  1015 . Thus, the cover  102  is restricted by the restrictive portion  1015  so as to prevent the cover  102  from sliding during operation. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  is a sectional diagram of the base according to the embodiment of the invention. Between the bottom of the base  101  and the detective portion  1012 , a ring-shaped retaining wall  1016  is extended and formed. The illumination module  105  is disposed on the bottom of the base  101  and accommodated in the ring-shaped retaining wall  1016 , so that the axis of the illumination module  105  is toward the detective portion  1012  to emit an illumination source from the detective portion  1012 . Referring to the figure again, a light diffuse element  1017  such as a light diffuse film or a light diffuse plate and so on can be installed above the illumination module  105 , so that the illumination source illuminated by the illumination module  105  can uniformly emit out from the detective portion  1012 . 
         [0035]    In addition, the portable microscope device  10  in the embodiment further includes a switch module  106  and a power module  107 . The switch module  106  is installed on the base  101 , and it can be for example but not limited to a micro switch, an electronic switch, a piezoelectric switch, a photosensitive switch, etc. The power module  107  is also accommodated in the base  101 , and it can output an electric power to drive the illumination module  105  to work. Herein, the power module  107  is electrically connected respectively to the illumination module  105  and the switch module  106 , and controlled by the switch module  106 . For example, after the switch module  106  is actualized, then the power module  107  can drive the illumination module  105  to work. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram (1) according to the embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment, a user disposes the microscope slide  104  in the restrictive groove  1011  beforehand. At the moment, because the microscope slide  104  is not heavy enough to actualize the switch module  106 , the microscope slide  104  is slightly supported by the switch module  106 . After the microscope slide  104  is completely disposed, the user can dispose a detection sample S on the microscope slide  104  and then cover it with a coverslip  1041 . He may align the microscope slide  104  with the detective portion  1012 , or dispose the detection sample S and the coverslip  1041  on the microscope slide  104  before disposing the microscope slide  104 , and it is not limited thereto. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram (2) according to the embodiment of the invention. Please also referring to  FIG. 4 , after disposing the detection sample S, the user can align the relative assembling portion  1022  of the cover  102  with the assembling portion  1013  of the base  101 . Thus, the cover  102  is accordingly effected by the magnetic force due to the relative assembling portion  1022  and the assembling portion  1013  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) to attract the cover  102  to the base  101 . Please referring to the figure again, if the cover  102  has been fixed, the hollow portion  1021  of the cover  102  just corresponds to the microscope slide  104  and further corresponds to the detective portion  1012 . Moreover, when the cover  102  is attracted to the base  101  by magnetic force, the cover  102  further presses the microscope slide  104  so the microscope slide  104  is tightly stacked on the restrictive groove  1011 . Therefore, the microscope slide  104  can actualize the switch module  106  and accordingly the power module  107  drives the illumination module  105  to work and generate an illumination source L. In the embodiment, the illumination module  105  is the illumination source of visible light. 
         [0038]    In other embodiments, the illumination module  105  can be the illumination source of invisible light, for example but not limited to the illumination source of infrared rays, the illumination source of ultraviolet or the Raman illumination source. When the illumination module  105  is the illumination source of ultraviolet, the portable microscope device  10  can be applied to fluorescent detection, for example counting detection of biological cell sample. For example, the detection sample can be a sample which contains agent. When ultraviolet provided by the illumination module  105  is irradiated from the detective portion  1012  to the detection sample, at the moment, the agent is excited by ultraviolet to generate fluorescent light for observed by the user. Moreover, when the illumination module  105  is the illumination source of ultraviolet, an ultraviolet cut film can be disposed correspondingly on the microscope module  103  for protecting the user&#39;s eyes. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram (3) according to the embodiment of the invention. Please also referring to  FIG. 5 , as to a communication device such as a smart communication device  20  in the figure, when the user want to observe the detection sample S, the user can correspondingly install the microscope lens  1031  of the microscope module  103  on an image capture module  201  of the smart communication device  20 . When detecting, the user can attach the microscope module  103  installed on the smart communication device  20  to above the cover  102 . Here, the microscope lens  1031  holds an adequate distance with the thickness of the cover  102  so the examinee can be located at the imaging focal plane of the microscope lens  1031  and the distance between the microscope lens  1031  and the examinee can be kept at the optimized focal length. Moreover, when the smart communication device  20  captures the imaging of the detection sample S, the image capture module  201  can clearly capture the imaging of the detection sample S by the illumination source L projected by the detective portion  1012 . Moreover, the user can watch the captured imaging on a screen of the smart communication device  20 . As mentioned above, the portable microscope device  10  in the embodiment can be applied to not only the observation of the imaging of the detection sample S, but also the observation of the detection sample S having crystallization (for example starch). As long as the sample is birefringent, polarization observation can be performed. If the illumination module  105  is an illumination source of ultraviolet, the portable microscope device can be further applied to fluorescent detection. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram (4) according to the embodiment of the invention. If the detection sample S cannot obtain the whole imaging at the stationary location for capturing, the base  101  and the smart communication device  20  can be moved relatively so that the microscope lens  1031  can capture the whole imaging of the detection sample S. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram (5) according to the embodiment of the invention. Please also referring to  FIG. 5 , in the embodiment, the magnification ratio of the microscope lens  1031  is constant. If the user want to observe at other magnification ratios and the single microscope lens  1031  is insufficient, the user can replace the microscope module  103  on demand and choose the cover ( 102 ′,  102 ″) of adequate thickness (d 1 , d 2 ) so that the microscope lens  1031  can be kept at optimized focal length. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 9  shows another embodiment (1) according to the invention. In the embodiment, the microscope module  103  has a first polarizer film  1034  and a second polarizer film  1035 . The first polarizer film  1034  is disposed between the illumination module  105  of the base  101  and the detection sample S (the detection sample S can refer to  FIG. 4 , the illumination module  105  can refer to  FIG. 3 ). Namely, the first polarizer film  1034  is disposed within the base  101  and between the illumination module  105  and the microscope slide  104 . The second polarizer film  1035  is disposed between the detection sample S and the image capture module  201 .  FIG. 9  shows that the second polarizer film  1035  is disposed between the microscope module  103  and the image capture module  201  for example, and the second polarizer film  1035  is disposed at the side where the camera lens of the microscope module  103  faces the image capture module  201 . In other embodiments, the second polarizer film  1035  can be also disposed between the detection sample S (the microscope slide  104 ) and the cover  102 , or disposed between the cover  102  and the microscope module  103 , and it is not limited thereto. 
         [0043]    For example, the first polarizer film  1034  and the second polarizer film  1035  are linear polarizer film and respectively disposed on two sides of the detection sample S. When the illumination source L (please also referring to  FIG. 5 ) is emitted from the base  101 , it passes through the first polarizer film  1034 , the detection sample S (the microscope slide  104 ), the microscope module  103  and the second polarizer film  1035  in sequence, and up to the image capture module  201  to form an image. The first polarizer film  1034  and the second polarizer film  1035  each has a polarization axis. Thus, by adjusting the relative positions of the polarization axes of the first polarizer film  1034  and the second polarizer film  1035  with rotation, the quantity of the illumination source L entering the image capture module  201  is accordingly adjusted so that lights at different polarized angles irradiate the detection sample S. Therefore, the resolution of the image is enhanced due to the first polarizer film  1034  and the second polarizer film  1035 . As to adjustment of relative positions of the first polarizer film  1034  and the second polarizer film  1035 , because the second polarizer film  1035  in the embodiment is disposed on the microscope module  103 , the microscope module  103  can be fixed to the smart communication device  20 , and when the cover  102  rotates with respect to the smart communication device  20  as shown in  FIG. 9 , the first polarizer film  1034  accordingly rotates with respect to the second polarizer film  1035  so that lights at different polarized angles can irradiate the detection sample S. In other embodiments, the second polarizer film  1035  can be directly disposed on the image capture module  201 , and it is not limited thereto. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 10  shows another embodiment (2) according to the invention. Please also referring to  FIG. 6 , in the embodiment, the microscope module  103  is fixed to the smart communication device  20  by screw thread so the microscope module  103  can be tightly secured on the smart communication device  20 . In the figure, a screw thread portion  1033  is formed on the outer edge of the microscope lens  1031  of the microscope module  103 . Furthermore, the image capture module  201  of the smart communication device  20  is also formed with a relative screw thread portion  2011 . When assembling the microscope module  103  and the image capture module  201 , the screw thread portion  1033  of the microscope module  103  is screwed to the relative screw thread portion  2011  or the image capture module  201 , so the microscope module  103  can be tightly secured on the smart communication device  20 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 11  shows another embodiment (3) according to the invention. Because the magnification ratio of the microscope lens  1031  is constant, the focal length of the microscope lens  1031  is also constant. If the user want to substitute the microscope lens  1031  of other magnification ratios or the user finds that the distance between the detection sample S and the microscope lens  1031  is insufficient due to other reasons, the distance between the microscope lens  1031  and the detection sample S (the detection sample S can refer to  FIG. 4 ) or the distance between the microscope lens  1031  and the cover  102  must be adjusted. In the embodiment, a structure  108  can be disposed between the microscope module  103  and the cover  102 . As shown in  FIG. 11  for example, the structure  108  in the embodiment can be a cover structure to increase or decrease the distance between the detection sample S and the microscope lens  1031 . In detail, the structure  108  is disposed between the microscope module  103  and the cover  102 . In the embodiment, a screw thread portion  1033  is disposed on a surface of the microscope module  103  facing the structure  108 , the structure  108  has a relative screw thread portion  1082  on a surface of the structure  108  closer to the microscope lens  1031  so as to screw the screw thread portion  1033  of the microscope module  103 . Namely, in the embodiment, the structure  108  and the microscope module  103  are fixed by screwing. Alternatively in other embodiment, wedging or other manners to fix also can be applicable and it is not limited thereto. In the embodiment, the screw thread can be properly designed to precisely adjust the distance between the microscope lens  1031  and the detection sample S. Thus, even though the user substitutes the microscope lens  1031  of different magnification ratio, the detection sample S is still located at the adequate focal length of the microscope lens  1031 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 12  shows another embodiment (4) according to the invention. In the embodiment, when using the portable microscope device  10 , it cooperates with the smart communication device  20 . The portable microscope device  10  and the smart communication device  20  are fixed by magnetic force. For better fixing both, in the embodiment, a stationary fixture  30  is installed on the base  101 . During using, the stationary fixture  30  can clamp two sides of the smart communication device  20  to fix the base  101  with the smart communication device  20 . Moreover, in the embodiment, clamping is utilized, but any structure which can fix the base  101  to the smart communication device  20  for example clamping only by one side, attracting by magnetic force, fixing by sucker, or wedging structure, etc. is also applicable and not limited to. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 13  shows another embodiment (5) according to the invention. In the portable microscope device  10  in the embodiment, the microscope slide  104  can be installed at one side of the cover  102 , or alternatively the microscope slide  104  can be embedded into the hollow portion  1021  of the cover  102 , or alternatively the cover  102  is made by transparent material and acts as the microscope slide  104 . However, it is not limited thereto. In the figure, in the embodiment, the microscope slide  104  is installed at one side of the cover  102 . Accordingly, in the embodiment, the user can dispose the detection sample S (not shown in the figure) on the microscope slide  104  on the cover  102  and cover it with a coverslip, and then the user can observe the detection sample S. Therefore, in the embodiment, the microscope slide  104  is directly installed on the cover  102 , accordingly the user can use the microscope slide  104  less time. Please referring to the figure again, a protrusion  1023  is installed on the other side of the cover  102 . If the cover  102  is fixed to the base  101 , the protrusion  1023  on the cover  102  can accordingly actualize the switch module  106 . 
         [0048]    As mentioned above, the portable microscope device includes a base, a cover and a microscope module. A detection sample is disposed on a microscope slide on the base beforehand, and then the cover is fixed to the base to complete the preparation before the examination. The user can install the microscope module on a communication device, and align a microscope lens of the microscope module with an image capture module of the communication device. During examination, the microscope module of the communication device is disposed on the cover, the microscope module can be attracted to a ring-shaped magnetic element of the base, and the microscope module and the base can move relatively to each other so as to move the base or the communication device. Accordingly, the communication device can capture the whole imaging of the detection sample. Moreover, a relative assembling portion of the cover adequately distances the microscope module distances from the microscope slide so that the microscope lens is located at the optimized focal length to observe the detection sample. If the microscope lens is replaced, the corresponding cover can be chosen to keep the focal length of the microscope lens optimized. Therefore, according to the embodiment of the invention, the portable microscope device can cooperate with a communication device, the microscope lens can be replaced on demand, and the position of the sample to be observed can be adjusted on demand during operation. 
         [0049]    Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.