Abstract:
A microscope includes at least one focusing means for focusing an object plane. The focusing means includes first and second adjustment means. The first and second adjustment means are coaxial and independently rotatably adjustable with respect to one another. The second adjustment means are releasably fastenable to the focusing means. In a preferred embodiment, the first adjustment means comprises a coarse focus adjustment knob and the second adjustment means comprises a fine focus adjustment knob. The second adjustment means preferably includes magnetic means adapted for mating engagement with complementary magnetically attractable means of a rotatable focus drive means of the focusing means. A particularly preferred embodiment comprises at least two focusing means wherein the second adjustment means of each may be releasably attached to each; one on each opposite side of the microscope as desired.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application for patent is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/721,695, filed Nov. 25, 2003 and Ser No. 10/733,628 filed Dec. 11, 2003. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to microscopy, and more specifically to a mechanism for controlling microscope stage movement, and even more particularly, to a mechanism for adjusting the vertical displacement of a microscope stage. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   As is well known, a microscope is an optical instrument used to view, examine and study very small objects. There are many different types of microscopes with different types being best suited for particular applications. Types of microscopes include, but are not limited to: compound microscopes, stereomicroscopes, confocal microscopes, inverted microscopes, and laser microscopes, etc. 
   Microscopes have long used stages for the positioning of samples within the optical path. An object can be manipulated by moving the stage forwards and backwards, left and right, and up and down. A common convention for naming the left-right, front-back, and up-down axes is x, y, and z, respectively. 
   Often, the focusing mechanism functions by adjusting the stage height. By changing the sample height, the microscopist can focus and observe different depths within the z-axis of the sample. 
   In order to adjust the x or the y position, the user must have available a stage control mechanism capable of performing this movement. Typically, both x and y adjustment are performed by a single mechanism. Additionally, this mechanism is located under and to one side of the stage. 
   Due to the variety of microscopists using these instruments, both left &amp; right-handed stages are required. The location of the stage control mechanism is on the side of the stage matching the user&#39;s predominant hand of use. Further complicating the problem, a laboratory may have a left-handed and a right-handed user sharing a single microscope. 
   Having to match the stage configuration to the microscopist&#39;s predominate hand creates difficulty for the manufacture of product. Each microscope must be either a left-handed or a right-handed microscope. After the assembly is complete, changing the configuration requires significant disassembly and reassembly time, as well as requiring a complete additional stage mechanism. This problem also requires microscope manufacturers to maintain inventories of both left-handed and right-handed stage assemblies. 
   As a result, the assignee of the present application for patent has developed a microscope comprising a stage drive assembly that is easily removed and secured to opposite sides of a microscope stage as may be desired by the microscopist. Such microscope is described in an application filed concurrently herewith by the assignee, which application is entitled “Interchangeable Microscope Stage Drive Assembly” and incorporated herein by reference. 
   In view of the development of the interchangeable stage drive assembly described above, there has also arisen a need for a focus adjustment knob for a microscope that may also be easily released and fastened to opposite sides of a microscope/microscope stage. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a microscope having at least one adjustment means for affecting a microscope parameter. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment means comprises at least one focusing means for focusing an object plane. The focusing means comprises coarse and fine focus adjustment knobs. The coarse and fine focus adjustment knobs are coaxial and independently rotatably adjustable with respect to one another. The fine focus adjustment knob is releasably fastenable to the focusing means. In a preferred embodiment, the fine focus adjustment knob includes magnetic means adapted for engagement with complementary magnetically attractable means of a rotatable focus drive means of the focusing means. In a preferred embodiment a microscope comprises at least two adjustment means, e.g., focusing means, disposed on opposite sides of the microscope. 
   Thus, an object of the invention is to provide an improved means for adjusting a microscope parameter. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for focusing a microscope which means may be readily modified by a user. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for focusing a microscope which means may be readily modified by a user according to a user&#39;s handedness. 
   These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention in view of the drawings and appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a typical compound microscope configured for use with an interchangeable microscope stage drive assembly and interchangeable fine focus adjustment knobs according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the microscope of  FIG. 1 , albeit further illustrating by way of “phantom” lines, interference between interchangeable microscope drive assembly and a fine focus adjustment knob; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a coarse focus knob and rotatable focus drive means according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view an elongate fine focus knob according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is front view of the coarse focus adjustment knob and rotatable focus drive means of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is rear view of the elongate fine focus knob of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a coarse focus adjustment knob and rotatable focus drive means according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a shortened fine focus knob according to the present invention operatively arranged to be secured on side of the microscope opposite the elongate fine focus knob; 
       FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a microscope according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a microscope according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a coarse focus adjustment knob and rotatable focus drive means according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective illustration of an alternative embodiment of a removable fine focus adjustment knob according to present invention; and, 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  are exploded and perspective illustrations, respectively, of another alternative embodiment of a removable fine focus knob according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   It should be appreciated at the outset that while the present invention relates to a “Releasable/Interchangeable Fine Focus Knob for a Microscope”, the assignees of the present application for patent have developed certain other improvements to microscopes, said improvements described in United States patent applications entitled “Interchangeable Microscope Stage Drive Assembly”, “Means for Transporting a Microscope”, “Ergonomically Arranged Object Adjustment Controls”, “Shielded-Ergonomic Microscope Stages” and “Lamp Assembly for a Microscope”, which applications are filed concurrently herewith by the assignees of the present application for patent, and which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
   Additionally, at the outset it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. In the description that follows, the terms “up”, “down”, “forward”, “backward”, “left”, “right”, and their derivatives and corollaries, should be interpreted from the perspective of one standing in front of the microscope shown in  FIG. 1  so as to peer through the eyepieces. 
   The present invention broadly comprises adjustment means for adjusting a microscope parameter. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment means comprises focusing means for a microscope wherein the focusing means comprises a coarse focus adjustment knob and a fine focus adjustment knob for vertically displacing a microscope stage. In a preferred embodiment, focusing means are disposed on opposite sides of a microscope, e.g. right and left sides, and the fine focus adjustment knobs of each focusing means may be selectively released therefrom and refastened to the focusing means of the opposite side. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the fine focus adjustment knobs are releasably secured to a focus drive means of the focusing means and one of the fine focus adjustment knobs has an axial length greater than the other. Hence, the present invention is, preferably, intended for use in association with a microscope comprising an interchangeable stage drive mechanism, as described, supra, such that the fine focus adjustment knob having a greater axial length may be readily alternated from one side of the microscope to the other depending on the side of the microscope the user locates the interchangeable stage drive mechanism. It should be appreciated, however, that the present invention may be utilized with microscopes that do not have interchangeable stage drive mechanisms. 
   Adverting now to the figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates the general structures of microscope  10 . In this figure it is seen that microscope  10  broadly comprises mounting stand  12  to which the various components of the microscope are mounted. In the embodiment shown, the viewing body  14  is binocular, comprising the body and two eyepieces  16 . The viewing body is not particularly germane to the invention, which is suitable for use with a microscope configured with any type of viewing body (monocular, binocular, trinocular, video, etc.). Objective lenses  18  are mounted to rotatable turret  20 . Microscope  10  further comprises interchangeable microscope stage system  22 , which is mounted to stand  12 . Interchangeable microscope stage system  22  comprises slide mount  25 , stage  24 , and drive mechanism  26 . Slide mount  25  is incorporated into stage system  22  and enables movement of slide  28  holding the specimen to be viewed. Coarse focus knobs  30  and short and elongate fine focus knobs  32  and  34 , respectively, are independently rotatable with respect to one another, that is, coarse focus knobs  30  may are independently rotatable with respect to the fine focus knobs  32  and  34 . In one embodiment, coarse focus knobs  30  may be adapted for rotating coarse focus drive shaft  45  and fine focus knobs  32  and  34  may be adapted for rotating fine focus drive shaft  43 , which fine focus drive shaft  43  is coaxial with coarse focus drive shaft  45  (see  FIG. 13 ). In use, the rotation of coarse focus knobs  30  and short and elongate fine focus knobs  32  and/or  34  rotate one or more drive shafts  43  and  45  (see  FIG. 13 ) to cause the upward and downward movement of stage  24 . Vertical displacement of stage  12  causes slide  28  to be moved within the optical path of the microscope which focuses on the object plane. Coarse focus knobs  30  and short and elongate focus knobs  32  and  34  are shown as being mounted on the sides of stand  12 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , microscope  10  comprises interchangeable stage system  22  which is operatively arranged to allow the microscopist to selectively move stage drive mechanism  26  from one side of the microscope to the other depending on the user&#39;s handedness. Additionally, microscope  10  is also ergonomically designed to prevent and/or minimize the microscopist from leaning forward with one arm to adjust the x, y or z stage positions. As a result, in order to prevent such “leaning” by a user, the longitudinal axis of the stage drive mechanism  26  and the longitudinal axes of coarse and fine focus knobs  30 ,  32  and  34  intersect one another when the stage/specimen is placed in the “center” position and aligned with the optical beam path. Moreover, when stage drive mechanism  26  is configured in such manner, it does not travel outside the circumference of coarse focus knobs  30  when the stage is moved forward or rearward. 
   In a microscope having such configuration, where the microscopist locates the stage drive mechanism  26  on the same side of the microscope as the elongate fine focus knob  34 , the two structures tend to interfere with one another as illustrated by the “phantom” illustration of stage drive mechanism  26  of  FIG. 2 . As a result, the microscopist must be capable of readily moving the fine focus knobs  32 ,  34  from one side of the microscope to the other to accommodate the newly located stage drive mechanism  26 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-8 , fine focus knobs  32  and  34  are adapted to be readily selectively released and fastened to right and left sides, i.e., opposite sides, of the microscope as may be desired. In a preferred embodiment, the fine focus knobs are releasably fastenable to rotatable focus drive means  36 , which comprise hubs disposed on each side of the microscope stand. Rotatable focus drive means  36  rotate independently with respect to coarse focus adjustment knobs  30  and may communicate with fine focus drive shaft  43  (see  FIG. 13 ) of the vertical stage drive mechanism (not shown) to cause vertical displacement of the microscope stage. Thus, rotatable focus drive means  36  are largely responsible for acutely focusing upon a specimen. In a preferred embodiment, rotatable focus drive means  36  comprise a magnetically attractive material, such as a ferromagnetic stainless steel, and have a circumference  40 . Rotatable focus drive means  36  include one or more fastening means  38 , which in this case comprise a plurality of pin receiving means, for aligning and releasably fastening the fine focus knobs  32  and  34  thereto. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  8 , in a preferred embodiment the fine focus knobs are adapted to be releasably fastenable to the rotatable focus drive means such that the stage height may be acutely adjusted. Preferably, fine focus knobs  32  and  34  are fabricated from a non-ferromagnetic material and comprise band portion  42 . Band portion  42  is adapted for fit about circumference  40  of rotatable focus drive means  36 . Fine focus knobs  32  and  34  further include one or more complementary fastening means  44 , which in this case comprise a plurality of pin means that are positioned and shaped for complementary mate with fastening means  38 . Fastened proximate the terminal ends of each complementary fastening means  44  are magnets  46 . Magnets  46  provide an attractive force between the fine focus knobs and the rotatable focus drive means such that the fine focus knobs remain sufficiently fastened thereto and allow rotation of the rotatable focus drive means. Thus, it is seen that the fine focus knobs may be readily removed and re-fastened to a preferred side of the microscope depending upon a user&#39;s handedness. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 9-12 , an alterative embodiment of the present invention may be configured to comprise fine focus knob  33  disposed on a same side of the microscope as stage drive mechanism  26  such that adjustment of the microscope stage in the x, y and z directions, and more particularly, fine focal adjustment, may be accomplished on the same side of the microscope. As shown more clearly in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  12 , fine focus knob  33  is illustrated as being disposed on a same side of the microscope as stage drive mechanism  26 . Fine focus knob  33  is substantially similar to fine focus knobs  32  and  34 , except the width of band portion  42  of fine focus knob  33  is less than that of fine focus knobs  32  and  34 . This reduction in width of the band portion  42  of fine focus knob  33  allows the knob to more readily and ergonomically fit between the focus drive means  36  and stage drive mechanism  26 . Thus x, y and z stage adjustment may be accomplished on a same side of the microscope using a single hand. It should be further appreciated that band portion  42  may be tapered such that fine focus knob  33  comprises a frustum. Additionally, it should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that while the  FIG. 9-12  illustrate fine focus knob  33  as comprising a substantially knurled surface, the surface of fine focus knob  33  may comprise other means for increasing grip or comprise a smooth surface to differentiate such knob from the coarse focus knobs. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention may be configured to comprise a rotatable focus drive means that is recessed within coarse focus adjustment knob  30 , independently rotatable therewith, and configured for preventing damage to sensitive internal microscope focusing drive/gearing mechanisms. Referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a microscope according to the present invention may be configured to comprise coarse adjustment knob  30 , rotatable focus drive means  48 , which is recessed within and independently rotatable with respect to coarse focus knob  30 , and fine focus knob  49 . In such embodiment, rotatable focus drive means  48  comprises a planar outer face which may be secured to fine focus drive shaft  43 , which shaft is coaxial with coarse focus drive shaft  45 . Rotatable focus drive means  48  may be secured to fine focus drive shaft  43  by fastening screw  41 . It should be appreciated that the outer surface, or face, of rotatable focus drive means  48  is configured such that it does not comprise pin receiving means and is, preferably, formed from a magnetically attractive material such that magnets  46  fastened to pins  44  of fine focus knob  49  may be attractively secured thereto. The magnetic attraction between magnets  46  of fine focus knob  49  and the magnetically attractive surface of rotatable focus drive means  48  is of such force that a microscope operator may finely adjust the object plane of the microscope by rotating knob  49 . However, the magnetic force between magnets  46  and rotatable focus drive means  48  is also of such force to allow fine focus knob  49  to slidably rotate thereon when the upper and lower focusing limits of focus are reached. Thus, because the fine focus knobs are adapted to rotate upon the fine focus drive means when the upper and lower limits of focus are reached, damage to sensitive internal microscope focusing drive/gearing mechanisms may prevented, as may occur for example when a microscope objective bottoms out on a slide. 
   Finally, it should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that while a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises magnetically attractive materials for providing the ready movement of the fine focus knobs from one side of the microscope to the other, other appropriate materials and structures may be substituted for achieving like results. For example, the fine focus knobs and/or the rotatable focus drive means may comprise hook and loop type fasteners, springed ball/detent assemblies, clutch assemblies, press fits, etc. for releasably fastening the fine focus knobs to the rotatable focus drive means. Other means may also be provided for allowing the focusing knobs to rotate upon their drive means when the upper and lower microscope focusing limits have been reached. Additionally, it should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that while the present specification has primarily illustrated an elongate fine focus knob associated with a fine focus knobs having a smaller widths, the various fine focus knobs of the present invention may be interchanged with one another as a user may desire. 
   Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.