Abstract:
An illumination device in a microscope includes multiple light sources arranged on a mirror housing. A mirror is provided which is rotatably or displaceably arranged in the mirror housing for selectably switching each of the light sources into an illumination beam path. At least one drive system is provided for rotating or displacing the mirror so as to switch one of the light sources at a time into the illumination beam path.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Priority is claimed to German patent application 10 2004 051 940.4, the entire subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to an illumination device in a microscope, having multiple light sources that are arranged on a mirror housing and are selectably allocatable to the illumination beam path by means of a mirror in the mirror housing. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Illumination devices of this kind are known in microscopes that, for example, image in multiple spectral regions and correspondingly comprise multiple light sources. The spectral regions can relate, for example, to the visible, the infrared, or the ultraviolet spectral region, or to spectral regions or spectral lines therein. These illumination devices contain light sources allocated to the spectral regions. 
   It is known for this purpose to arrange in the illumination beam path, between the actual light source and the illuminating optical system, a so-called double mirror housing on which two light sources are mounted. A hinge-mounted mirror is usually arranged for switchover between the two light sources. Manual switchover between the light sources is usually cumbersome and takes an unnecessarily long time, since the switching mechanisms are in some cases poorly accessible. 
   A great deal of time is furthermore lost when replacing a defective lamp, since the surroundings of the lamp, and the lamp itself, are very hot. If the second connector in a double mirror housing is unoccupied, one simply switches over to the second light source; if, however, it is occupied by a light source for a different method, work must then be interrupted until the system has cooled off. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an illumination device in a microscope having multiple light sources, which device makes possible a rapid, motorized switchover among multiple, specifically up to three, light sources. 
   The present invention provides an illumination device in a microscope having multiple light sources that are arranged on a mirror housing and are selectably allocatable to the illumination beam path by means of a mirror in the mirror housing, wherein the mirror is arranged rotatably or displaceably; and at least one drive system is provided which rotates or displaces the mirror and thereby switches in one of the light sources at a time. 
   In order to provide redundancy in this context, with this invention all three connectors can be occupied, the same light sources being present at two connectors. If one light source fails, it is possible to switch over immediately to the other. 
   This method could be automated if the functioning of the light sources were checked by means of a light sensor. If a sensor reports the failure of the one light source, a switchover to the other light source of the same kind could occur automatically by way of an intelligent activation of the motor. 
   As a result of the possibility of being able to remove the mirror with mirror holder from the mirror housing, that mirror can also be replaced at any time by a different mirror. If a specific investigation then also requires specific mirror coatings, a different mirror having the requisite specification (wavelength, reflection layer, color, shape, or the like) can then be inserted. 
   Also, in the event of damage to the mirror, the mirror no longer needs to be sent in for repair; instead, a replacement mirror merely needs to be ordered. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawings having  FIGS. 1 to 8 , in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a microscope having an illumination device with three light sources; 
       FIG. 2  shows a mirror housing having a motorized drive system; 
       FIG. 3  shows the same mirror housing from  FIG. 2  with the mirror holder pivoted in; 
       FIG. 4  shows the motorized mirror housing of  FIG. 3  with the mirror holder inserted in reversed fashion; 
       FIG. 5  is an external view of a manual mirror housing; 
       FIG. 6  shows the mechanical mirror housing of  FIG. 5  without the upper cover; 
       FIG. 7  shows an alternative configuration of a motorized mirror housing; 
       FIG. 8  shows, in plan view, the arrangement shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a microscope  1  comprising a stand  2  having a back wall  3  and an illumination arm  4 . Motorized mirror housing  5  is a stable housing and is mounted on back wall  3  in three-dimensionally oriented fashion. Up to three intermediate tubes  6 , on which up to three light sources  7  can be mounted, can be mounted on mirror housing  5 . In addition to the lamp housings depicted, fiber optic cables, lasers, or the like can also serve as light sources. 
   Intermediate tubes  6  can be made available in different lengths so that different requirements, e.g. utilization in a climate-controlled chamber, can be reacted to. 
     FIG. 2  shows motorized mirror housing  5  on back wall  3  of the microscope in plan view, without the upper cover and with two intermediate tubes  6  installed. Light source  7  is depicted here only schematically. The third connection possibility for a light source is closed off by a cover panel  22 . 
   Mirror holder  8  with mirror  9  installed is supported rotatably on a rotation shaft  10 . One respective entrainment groove  12 , and transducers  111  at top and bottom, are located in mirror holder  8 . Transducers  11  can be embodied, for example, as magnets, vanes, etc. 
   Located below mirror holder  8  is a circuit board  13  having five sensors  14  and an intelligent control system. Hall sensors, photoelectric barriers, or the like can be used, for example, as sensors  14 . The intelligent control system detects the sensors  14  above which transducers  11  of mirror holder  8  are located; and the instantaneous position or index position of mirror holder  8 , and its switchover direction upon actuation of the switchover, are thus known. 
   A motor  15  having a pivot arm  16  installed effects the switchover of mirror holder  8 , the pivoting motion of pivot arm  16  being transferred via a connecting part  17  to the two mirror holder receptacles  18 . These mirror holder receptacles  18  are likewise rotatably mounted about rotation shafts  10 , and possess at one end an entraining pin  19  that, upon the insertion of mirror holder  8 , becomes inserted into its entrainment groove  12  and entrains it upon pivoting. The detent positions are implemented by way of a ball detent  20 . 
     FIG. 3  shows the same motorized mirror housing  5  with mirror holder  8  pivoted in, so that the right-hand light source  7  is in use. The precise position, in this case the angle, of mirror  9  can be adjusted via an adjusting screw  21 . Ball detent  20  constantly presses mirror holder receptacle  18  against adjusting screw  21 . 
   By way of transducers  11  and the corresponding sensors  14 , the intelligent control system knows the direction in which mirror holder  8  must be rotated at the next switching instruction. 
     FIG. 4  shows motorized mirror housing  5  with intermediate tube  6  and light source  7  on the left side. In order to get light from this side into the microscope, mirror holder  8  from left rotation shaft  10   a  must be placed in laterally reversed fashion onto right rotation shaft  10   b . The intelligent control system also detects this refitting and the new position of mirror holder  8 , and therefore also the next pivot direction. 
   The pivoting range and the pivoted-out mirror holder  8  are indicated with dashed lines in  FIG. 4 . 
     FIG. 5  is an external view of a manual mirror housing  23  having intermediate tubes  6  and light sources  7  on the straight and right sides. This variant is more economical than the motorized variant, but represents a less convenient solution. It could also be embodied in such a way that three connector sides are to be fitted with light sources. 
   The mechanical mirror housing  23 , like the motorized one, is mounted in three-dimensionally oriented fashion on the back wall  3 . The switchover between light sources  7  is accomplished by rotating rotary knob  24 . 
     FIG. 6  shows the mechanical mirror housing  23  on back wall  3  of the microscope, in plan view, without the upper cover and with two intermediate tubes  6  installed. Here as well, light source  7  is depicted only schematically. 
   Rotary knob  24  is joined immovably to mirror holder  8  and is located along the extension of rotation shaft  10 . Mirror holder  8  is held by ball detent  20  in the respective position, and the blockage position can be precisely adjusted with adjusting screw  21 . 
   The pivoting range and the pivoted-in mirror holder  8  are indicated with dashed lines in  FIG. 6 . 
     FIG. 7  shows an alternative approach to the motorized mirror housing just described, on which once again three light sources  7  having three intermediate tubes  6  can be installed simultaneously. For reasons of clarity, a depiction of the housing around the mirror housing, and the back wall of the microscope, was dispensed with. 
   Reflection is accomplished by way of two mirror surfaces  25  that are implemented in the present exemplifying embodiment by two prisms. The two mirror surfaces, in the present case the prisms, are mounted immovably on a displaceable platform  26 . Displacement travel must be implemented and ensured by appropriate features, e.g. by a guidance system and end stops (not depicted here). A motor  27 , having a pinion  28  that engages into a toothed rack  29 , can serve as the displacement drive system. Displaceable platform  26  is moved upward and downward by the rotation of motor  27 . The displaceable platform has a through hole in the center position in order to allow passage of the light beam of light source  7 , which beam is installed in a linear alignment. Adjustment of this illumination variant is depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
     FIG. 8  shows, in plan view, the arrangement shown in  FIG. 7 . Light sources are once again only schematically depicted here, and back wall  3  is shown in its position. 
   A manual displacement (not depicted here) of displaceable platform  26  can of course likewise be derived from this alternative approach.