Automatic microscope

An automatic microscope comprises an operating member operated electrically, and a detector for outputting an operation signal upon detecting the presence of an observer of the microscope in a predetermined range around the microscope, thereby operating the operating member. The operating member may be a shutter for opening and closing an optical path of the optical system of the microscope, an optical path switching member for switching the optical path of the optical system, a main power switch of the microscope, an auxiliary power switch of the microscope or a power switch for an illuminating light source, and the detector may be a light reflection detector including a light source and a photosensor unit for receiving the reflected light of the light emitted from the light source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an automatic microscope. 
2. Related Background Art 
There has already been developed and commercialized an automatic microscope 
in which various operations of the microscope are conducted automatically. 
However, in the conventional automatic microscope, at least the first 
operation, such as the switching operation for the main power source, is 
manually executed by the observer. In recent microscopes the observer 
effects various operations of the microscope more frequently at the 
observation of the specimen. For example, for reducing the damage to the 
specimen by the illuminating light, the observer closes a shutter, for 
intercepting the light from the light source to the specimen, except 
during the period of observation. Conventionally, the opening and closing 
of shutter have been conducted by a manual operation or a switch 
operation. Such operation is cumbersome, and the specimen may be damaged 
if the operation is forgotten. Also the power source for the illuminating 
lamp may be turned off except for the period of observation, and the power 
source switch for the illuminating lamp has to be operated each time. 
Also in case the observer interrupts the observation with the microscope 
and leaves the area, the power source switch has to be turned off each 
time, for power saving and for suppressing the damage to the specimen. 
Also in case of measuring weak light from the specimen, stray light from 
the eyepiece lens significantly affects the measured value. For this 
reason it has conventionally been necessary to cover the eyepiece lens 
with a cap or to operate a manual or electric shutter. 
Also in the microscope equipped with a television camera, a light measuring 
sensor, a phototaking camera or the like, there are provided an optical 
path for guiding light from the specimen to such equipment and an optical 
path for guiding light to an eyepiece lens barrel, and there is required 
an operation for switching the optical path at each observation through 
the eyepiece lens barrel. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In consideration of the foregoing, the object of the present invention is 
to provide an automatic microscope enabling the observation of the 
specimen in satisfactory condition and also enabling electric power saving 
and saving of labor by the observer, even if the observer intentionally 
omits the operations of the microscope. 
The above-mentioned object can be attained, according to the present 
invention, by an automatic microscope comprising: 
an operation member operated electrically; 
a detector for outputting a first signal upon detecting the presence of an 
observer for the microscope in a predetermined area around the microscope, 
and a second signal, different from said first signal, in the absence of 
such detection; and 
a control circuit for controlling the operation of said operation member 
according to said first and second signals outputted from said detector. 
According to the present invention, the operation member of the microscope 
is operated automatically when the detector detects the observer of the 
microscope, present in a predetermined range. 
It is also possible to detect the movement of the observer of the 
microscope in more precise manner, by providing plural detectors in 
mutually different positions of the microscope and to cause the control 
circuit to control the function of said operation member according to a 
combination of the respective first and second signals outputted from said 
plural detectors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Now a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with 
reference to FIG. 1. 
A shutter 1, constituting an operation unit 2, opens an optical path of an 
illuminating optical system for guiding the illuminating light to a 
specimen, when a current flows in a direction A, and closes said optical 
path when a current flows in a direction B. A reflected light sensor 3 
outputs a detection signal upon detecting the presence of an observer 
within a predetermined detection range. A control unit 4 is composed of 
transistors Q1, Q2 connected to an inverter U1, and transistors Q3, Q4 
connected to a buffer U2. Between the sensor 3 and the control unit 4, 
there is provided a switch 5, and there is branched a signal output unit 
6, composed of a buffer 7 and a connector 8. 
In the following there will be explained the function of the 
above-explained circuit. 
When a person approaches the microscope and enters a predetermined 
detection range of the sensor 3 while the switch 5 is closed, said sensor 
3 detects the presence of said person and shifts the output to the 
low-level ("L") state. In response the inverter U1 outputs a high (H) 
level output while the buffer U2 outputs an L-level output, whereby the 
transistors Q1 and Q4 are turned on while the transistors Q2 and Q3 are 
turned off. In this state a current flows in the direction A, from the 
transistor Q1 through the shutter 1 to the transistor Q4, thereby opening 
the shutter 1. 
When the person leaves the microscope and steps out of the predetermined 
detection range of the sensor 3, it no longer detects the presence of said 
person and shifts the output to the H-level. In response the inverter U1 
outputs an L-level output while the buffer U2 outputs an H-level output, 
whereby the transistors Q1 and Q4 are turned off while the transistors Q2 
and Q3 are turned on. In this state a current flows in the direction B, 
from the transistor Q3 through the shutter 1 to the transistor Q2, thereby 
closing the shutter 1. 
When the switch 5 is open, the shutter 1 is always closed since the output 
of the inverter U1 is at the L-level while that of the buffer U2 is at the 
H-level at any time. 
It is also possible to constantly open the shutter 1 even when the switch 
is closed, by connecting the switch parallel to the sensor and grounding 
one of the terminals of the switch. 
The sensor signal of the sensor 3 is outputted, when the switch 5 is 
closed, through the buffer 7 and the connector 8 of the signal output unit 
6 to external equipment, for example peripheral equipment of the 
microscope or an illuminating light source device, separate from the 
microscope. Consequently devices other than the microscope can also be 
operated by said sensor signal. 
The signal output unit 6 may also be branched between the sensor 3 and the 
switch 5. 
In the following there will be explained a second embodiment of the present 
invention, with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. Parts same as or similar to 
those in the foregoing first embodiment will not be explained further. 
Also in FIGS. 2A and 2B, components equivalent in function to those in the 
first embodiment are represented by same reference designation. 
FIG. 2A shows a mirror 12 for switching an optical path to a phototaking 
device and another optical path to an eyepiece lens. An optical path L1 
from a specimen (not shown) is switched, by the mirror 12 rotated by a 
motor 13 (FIG. 2B), between a straight optical path L2 and a deflected 
optical path L3. 
Referring to FIG. 2B, a position detecting switch 14 is closed by the 
mirror 12 at a position for forming the optical path L2, and a position 
detecting switch 15 is closed by said mirror 12 at a position for forming 
the optical path L3. 
A control unit 4 is composed of a serial connection of an inverter U1, a 
one-shot trigger U3, a flip-flop U5 and transistors Q1, Q2, and, in 
parallel, another serial connection of a buffer U2, a one-shot trigger U4, 
a flip-flop U6 and transistors Q3, Q4. The flip-flops U5, U6 are 
respectively connected to the switches 14, 15. Said one-shot triggers U3, 
U4 are composed of monostable multivibrators, each generating a single 
negative pulse of a predetermined duration (0.5 to 2 seconds) for moving 
the mirror 12 by the motor 13, at the upshift of an input signal. 
When the output of the sensor 3 is shifted to the L-level by the approach 
of a person, the output of the inverter U1 changes from the L-level to the 
H-level while that of the buffer U2 is at the L-level. The one-shot 
trigger U3 outputs an L-level pulse of a predetermined duration at the 
upshift of the output of the inverter U1 from the L- to the H-level, but 
the one-shot trigger U4 does not output a pulse. The pulse outputted from 
the one-shot trigger U3 sets the flip-flop U5, thereby shifting the output 
thereof to the H-level. As the output of the flip-flop U6 remains at the 
L-level, a current flows from the transistor Q1, through the motor 13, to 
the transistor Q4, whereby the motor 13 is activated to rotate the mirror 
12, thus connecting the optical path L2 to the optical path L1 and closing 
the switch 14. When the flip-flop U5 is reset by the closing of the switch 
14, both outputs of the flip-flops U5, U6 assume the L-level so that the 
current no longer flows in the motor and the mirror 12 stops. 
When the output of the sensor 3 is shifted to the H-level as the person 
moves away, the outputs of U1 to U6 are all inverted relative to the 
states explained above, whereby a current flows from the transistor Q3 
through the motor 13 to the transistor Q2, and the motor 13 is rotated 
inversely. Thus the mirror 12 returns to the original position, whereby 
the optical path L3 is connected to the optical path L1 and the switch 15 
is closed. When the flip-flop U6 is reset by the closing of the switch 15, 
both outputs of the flip-flops U5, U6 assume the L-level so that the 
current no longer flows in the motor 13 and the mirror 12 stops. 
Now there will be explained, with reference to FIG. 3, a third embodiment 
of the present invention, in which parts same as or similar to those in 
the first embodiment will not be explained further. 
A lamp 17 is connected to a DC power source 18 and a relay switch 19. 
When the output of the sensor 3 is shifted to the L-level by the approach 
of a person, the output of the inverter U1 is shifted from the L-level to 
the H-level whereby a current flows in a relay coil 20. Thus the relay 
switch 19 is opened and the lamp 17 is turned on. 
When the output of the sensor 3 is shifted to the H-level as the person 
moves away, the output of the inverter U1 is shifted from the H-level to 
the L-level whereby the current no longer flows in the relay coil 20. Thus 
the relay switch 19 is opened and the lamp 17 is turned off. 
Now there will be explained a fourth embodiment of the present invention 
with reference to FIG. 4, wherein parts same as or similar to those of the 
first embodiment will not be explained further. 
To a main power source 21, there is connected a power supply circuit 22 
through a main power switch 23, and said power supply circuit 22 
constitutes the power source 24 for the sensor circuit. Also connected, to 
the main power source 21, is a power supply circuit 25 for electric power 
supply to a main load 26 such as the illuminating system. 
The sensor 3 is activated when the electric power is supplied to the sensor 
circuit by the closing of the main power switch 23. When the output of the 
sensor 3 is shifted to the L-level by the approach of a person, the output 
of the inverter U1 is shifted from the L-level to the H-level, whereby a 
current flows in the relay coil 20. Thus the relay switch 19 is closed and 
the main load 26 is activated. 
When the output of the sensor 3 is shifted to the H-level as the person 
moves away, the output of the inverter U1 is shifted from the H-level to 
the L-level, whereby the current no longer flows in the relay coil 20. 
Thus the relay switch 19 is opened and the main load 26 is deactivated. 
Now there will be explained a fifth embodiment of the present invention 
with reference to FIG. 5. This embodiment is to open and close a shutter 
as in the first embodiment, and the explanations of the corresponding 
structure will be omitted. 
Two sensors 31, 32 are connected, through an operation unit 33, to the 
control unit 4. Said operation unit 33 is composed of an AND circuit U7. 
When a person approaches and is detected by both sensors 31, 32, the AND 
gate U7 receives L-level input signals to output an H-level output, 
whereby a current flows from the transistor Q1 through the shutter 1 to 
the transistor Q4, thereby opening said shutter 1. When the position of 
the person varies with respect to the sensors 31, 32 and either of the 
outputs of said sensors 31, 32 vary to the H-level, the shutter 1 is 
closed. 
Two sensors can provide four detection states, i.e., a state of detection 
by both sensors, a state of detection by one of the sensors, a state of 
detection by the other and a state of no detection, so that the position 
of the observer can be detected in a more precise manner. 
Also a switch may be provided between the sensors 31, 32 and the operation 
unit 33 or between the operation unit 33 and the control unit 4, and the 
signal output unit may be provided in front of the operation unit 33. 
In the following there will be explained the positions of arrangement of 
the sensors. 
As shown in FIG. 6, a sensor 3a is provided at an upper position A of the 
eyepiece lens barrel 36, and detects the approach of the upper part of the 
face, around the forehead and including the eyes, of the observer. A 
sensor 3b is provided at a front end position B of a microscope arm 37, 
supporting the eyepiece lens barrel, and detects the central to lower part 
of the face of the observer. A sensor 3c is provided at a front position C 
of a microscope base 38 and detects the approach of the body of the 
observer to the microscope. There may also be selected other suitable 
positions. The sensor 3 in the first to fourth embodiments and the sensors 
31, 32 in the fifth embodiment may be provided in any of the positions A, 
B and C shown in FIG. 6. In the following there will be explained an 
example of the positional relationship between the sensor and the member 
to be operated. 
For example, in case the sensor of the second embodiment corresponds to the 
sensor 3a shown in FIG. 6, the switching of the optical path for the 
illuminating optical system can be achieved by said sensor 3a only. 
Also if two sensors 3b, 3c are employed in the third embodiment and the 
operation circuit is so constructed that the power supply to the lamp is 
turned off only when both sensors are in the non-detection state, it is 
rendered possible to avoid unnecessary on/off operations of the power 
source even when the observer moves his face away from the microscope, 
such as for writing a note. 
Also in case the sensor of the first embodiment corresponds to the sensor 
3b in FIG. 6 and that of the fourth embodiment corresponds to the sensor 
3c in FIG. 6, the illuminating light is irradiated to the specimen during 
the observation, but the shutter is closed when the observer moves the 
face away from the microscope, such as for writing a note, and the power 
supply of the microscope is turned off when the observer walks away from 
the microscope upon completion of the observation. 
In addition to the foregoing embodiments, there may be provided, as shown 
in FIG. 6, a sensor 3d in the vicinity of a knob for vertically moving the 
stage. It is thus made possible to normally effect the vertical movement 
of the stage in the auto focusing mode, and to switch said movement to the 
manual operation mode when the sensor detects the hand of the observer, 
extended to manipulate the knob. 
The circuits of the foregoing embodiments may also be realized by a 
microprocessor, and, in such case, an erroneous operation can be prevented 
even in case a person or an object merely passes in front of the 
microscope, by constructing the software in such a manner that the 
operation takes place only if the detection signal is outputted 
continuously for a predetermined period.