Microscope that displays superimposed data

A microscope includes a mount 18 secured to an eyepiece tube 10 to superimpose image data upon the microscope image. The image data is projected and reflected into the intermediate image plane using a receiving unit 27 to hold the image data on a slide 29 and an optical part 12. The receiving unit 27 includes a magnetic wall surface 31 and is freely movable and arbitrarily positionable together with slide 29 on a slide surface 32. Permanent magnets 33 are provided behind the slide surface 32 within the mount 18 to keep receiving unit 27 in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is directed to a microscope which displays superimposed data. 
European Patent Publication No. EU 88,985B1 discloses a photomicroscope 
having a device for superimposing additional information on an image in a 
binocular tube. In this photomicroscope, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 
field is used to display transparent signs and/or symbols. The LCD field 
is illuminated by a light projection device. The LCD field includes 
electrically drivable segments which are imaged into the intermediate 
image plane in the eyepiece tube. A separately switchable partial region 
of the display field or a second separately illuminable display field is 
provided in the film plane using reflectors. In this device, one portion 
of information is visible to the observer during use of the microscope, 
while a different portion of information passes into the image plane for 
imaging and is not readily accessible for visual observation. 
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,092 to reflect an LED display into one 
of two eyepieces of a microscope. To accomplish this, one end of a tubular 
attachment is secured laterally at one of the eyepiece connections and at 
the other end of the tubular attachment an LED display is provided. The 
LED display is connected via an electronic control circuit to a computer 
into which display data can be input. This data is then superimposed on 
the microscope image by feedback via the LED display. In the case of this 
conventional microscope, reflecting-in into the intermediate image plane 
of the eyepiece does not take place. For this reason, the superimposed 
display cannot be photographed. Also, movement of the display is not 
possible. 
German Patent Publication No. DE-OS-2,361,692 discloses a microscope with a 
photographic camera. In this arrangement, the image of the object which is 
formed on the image recording plane of the camera can be sharply focused 
using an auxiliary image of a sharpness indicator. The auxiliary image is 
superimposed on the beam path of a visual observation device. For this 
purpose, the beam path is branched off from the object beam path by a beam 
splitter disposed within the binocular tube of the microscope and the 
auxiliary image is superimposed on the microscope image by an optical 
imaging system. The sharpness indicator is fixed in the microscope and is 
therefore not moveable. 
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved microscope which overcomes the 
shortcomings of the microscopes discussed above. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention is to provide a microscope in which arbitrary 
image data can be superimposed on the visual image of the microscope by a 
device consisting of only a few components which are displaceable in 
relation to the image and can be independently fixed in any desired 
position. 
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a 
microscope which includes an eyepiece tube and a mount attachable to the 
eyepiece tube. The mount superimposes additional image data upon the 
microscope image by projecting and reflecting-in the additional image data 
into an intermediate image plane in the eyepiece tube. A receiving unit is 
located within the mount to hold the additional image data. A slide 
surface is provided within the mount parallel to an object plane formed by 
the additional image data to permit movement of the receiving unit while 
the receiving unit is holding the additional image data when force is 
applied to the receiving unit. An assembly maintains the receiving unit in 
its current position when the force is no longer applied. 
Thus, the invention permits markings such as reference arrows, edgings, 
numbers, letters, graphical representations, and the like, to be placed in 
the microscope image by the observer in any desired position. The 
invention also permits these markings to be photographically recorded. 
In one embodiment, the image data is on a mounted slide which can be 
clamped in the mount using a spring. Thus, widely varying image data can 
be prepared in a simple manner for appropriate microscope applications and 
slide mounts of differing thicknesses can be employed. 
The slide surface can include a layer of magnetic material and permanent 
magnets can be provided on the mount. Thus, a slide carrying image data 
can be easily displaced in the x and y directions and rotated by hand. The 
set position is maintained after the movement has ceased. 
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent 
from the detailed description of preferred embodiments set forth below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention. Components 
which are conventional and are not required for an understanding of the 
invention are not shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity. 
In FIG. 1, a recording connection 11 for a substantially tubular optical 
part 12 is provided on a binocular eyepiece tube 10 of a microscope at 
right angles to the direction of viewing. Optical part 12 is secured by a 
connecting ring 13 to the recording connection 11. The connection can be, 
for example, a screwed connection. The optical part 12 includes a carrier 
tube 14 and a casing 15 surrounding the carrier tube. Lenses are secured 
inside the carrier tube 14. The casing 15 includes, at the end opposite 
the connecting ring 13, a shaped-on threaded ring 16, which is screwed to 
an end connection ring 17 of a mount 18. 
The mount 18 is in the form of a cylindrical housing 19 with flattened-off 
side surfaces. A similar-shaped cylindrical lamp house 20 is secured to 
housing 19. The lamp house 20 contains a projection lamp 22 mounted on a 
lamp mount 21 and a condenser lens 23 with an infrared filter 24 placed in 
front. This provides a projection beam path 25 in optical part 12. 
In the housing 19 of the mount 18 a slit-shaped recess 26 is provided in 
which a receiving unit 27 having an insertion slit 28 for a mounted slide 
29 containing image data is inserted. Slide 29 lies in an object plane 30 
of the projection beam path 25. 
The receiving unit 27 is a circular-segment-shaped plate. One of the wall 
surfaces 31 of the receiving unit 27 which faces the lamp house 20 is 
composed of a magnetic material, for example sheet steel, or is coated 
with such a material. The wall surface 31 lies against a slide surface 32, 
which is formed of a low-friction plastic coating, for example 
polytetrafluoroethylene, on a side wall of the mount 18. Rod-shaped 
permanent magnets 33 are inserted in the mount 18 (only one magnet is 
shown in FIG. 1). The spacing between the magnets 33 and wall surface 31 
of magnetic material can be variable Thus, in the gap between the wall 
surface 31 and the permanent magnets 33 there is a magnetic field in which 
the receiving unit 27, together with slide 29, is freely movable within 
recess 26 when force is applied to the receiving unit. 
The receiving unit 27 can be conveniently grasped by hand and arbitrarily 
displaced due to the flattened-off side surfaces of the housing 19. After 
the hand motion has ceased, the receiving unit 27 together with slide 29 
automatically remain in the desired position. 
To permit the use of slides 29 of differing thicknesses, a spring 34 is 
provided at the wall surface 31. Sharp focusing is performed using a 
focusing ring 35, which is secured on a tube socket 36 of the mount 18, 
and which upon actuation displaces the mount 18 in relation to the optical 
part 12 in the axial direction and thus adjusts for any deviation in the 
object plane 30. 
Lamp 22, condenser 23, and optical part 12 together form a conventional 
projection device which images image data on slide 29 into an intermediate 
image plane in the binocular tube 10. By imaging into the intermediate 
image plane 37, image data is superimposed on the microscope image, can be 
viewed using both eyes, and can also be photographed and transmitted, for 
example onto a screen. In the binocular tube 10, the projection beam path 
25 impinges on prism 38, 38' is deflected by the prism and mirrors 39, 
39'. The image data is therefore imaged, in the intermediate image plane 
37 of the two eyepieces 40, 40' of the binocular tube 10 and is thus 
viewed together with the microscope image. 
Although the invention has been described above with reference to certain 
specific embodiments, the scope of the invention is not limited to the 
embodiments described above. Other designs, modifications, and 
applications within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent 
to those skilled in the art after receiving the above teachings. For 
example, the receiving unit can be fixed by static friction within the 
mount and the mount can be integral with the optical part. The scope of 
the invention, therefore, is defined with reference to the following 
claims.