Abstract:
An automated microscope includes a stand and a front control panel. The front control panel is disposed on the stand and including a first and a second button. Third and a fourth buttons are associated with the microscope.

Description:
Priority is claimed to German patent application DE 10 2005 013 152.2, filed Mar. 22, 2005, the entire subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
   The invention relates to an automated microscope. The invention relates in particular to an automated microscope having a stand. 
   BACKGROUND 
   U.S. Patent Application Pub. 2004/0190129 describes an apparatus and a method for controlling a microscope system. The microscope encompasses a stand that has an integrated central display. The display encompasses a menu for operating the microscope. Arranged around the actuation knob for focusing are several buttons that control at least one microscope function. 
   U.S. Patent Application Pub. 2003/0161036 describes a motorized microscope that encompasses a plurality of electrically controllable microscope components. The actuation of buttons then switches the corresponding microscope components into the beam path. 
   U.S. Patent Application Pub. 2003/0090789 describes a microscope having a plurality of control elements. The microscope encompasses a plurality of electronically controllable components. Because the number of components exceeds the number of control elements (buttons) on the microscope, corresponding microscope functions can be allocated to the buttons. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,725 describes an automated microscope system. Provided next to the microscope is a box in which is provided a control and monitoring device from which energy is supplied to the microscope. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,876 describes an apparatus for changing the objectives of a microscope. The objectives are provided on a motorized turret, so that objective changing proceeds in automatic and motorized fashion. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,452,625 describes a compact video microscope. For communication and in order to control the microscope, the microscope is equipped with a microphone, a loudspeaker, and a video camera. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,555 describes a microscope having a stand and a focusing knob provided on the stand, several buttons being provided in the region around the focusing knob. The buttons serve to input commands to a circuit provided in the microscope. A distribution and functionality of the buttons according to the invention are not disclosed here. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide an automated microscope which makes it easier for the user to position objectives in the working position of the microscope. 
   The present invention provides an automated microscope having a stand. A front control panel that possesses a plurality of buttons is provided on the stand. At least two further buttons are associated with the microscope. 
   Associated with each of the buttons is an indicator indicating the objective magnification that is associated with the respective button. The indicator can be an adhesive plate. The indicator can likewise be an electronic display. 
   The further buttons can be provided on the left or the right side of the stand. It is likewise conceivable for further buttons to be provided on the left and the right side of the stand. The buttons can also be implemented as a left footswitch and a right footswitch of a double footswitch. The footswitch and the buttons on the microscope stand can also be associated in shared fashion with the microscope. 
   In standard mode, the objective magnifications can be traveled to in succession by way of the footswitches or the buttons on the side of the stand. A pressing of the upper button or an actuation of the right footswitch has an identical function. Pressing the lower button on the stand or actuating the left footswitch likewise has an identical function. The identical function is a motorized clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the objective turret. 
   A toggle mode can be activated by actuating the toggle button. The standard mode can be activated by actuating the toggle button again, the objectives programmed for the toggle mode being retained. 
   Pressing and holding the toggle button activates the programming mode. While the toggle button is held down, two magnifications can be selected by pressing the objective-magnification buttons. The buttons selected in programming mode light up in the same color, toggle mode being activated when the toggle button is released. The buttons are equipped with at least one light-emitting means. An activated button emits green light, and a non-activated button emits yellow light. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is elaborated upon below based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the schematic drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a microscope that encompasses buttons for actuating the microscope functions. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the microscope with further buttons that are arranged on the side of the stand. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the microscope with a footswitch for actuating a defined microscope function. 
       FIG. 4  is a detail view of the front control panel with a plurality of buttons for selecting an objective magnification. 
       FIG. 5  is a detail view of the front control panel in standard operating mode. 
       FIG. 6  is a detail view of the front control panel in toggle mode. 
       FIG. 7  is a detail view of the front control panel in programming mode. 
       FIG. 8  is a detail view of the front control panel in programming mode for the toggle mode for switching between two defined objective magnifications. 
       FIG. 9  is a detail view of the front control panel, programming mode having been terminated. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a front view of microscope  10  in which an exemplifying embodiment of the teaching according to the present invention is realized. Microscope  10  encompasses a stand  1  on which a microscope stage  2  is mounted. A condenser  30  is provided beneath microscope stage  2 . Opposite condenser  30 , a turret  12  is mounted on stand  1 . Turret  12  carries several objectives  11 ,  14 ,  16  that, upon initiation by the user, can be introduced in motorized fashion into a working position  4 . The working position is that position of an objective  11 ,  14 ,  16  in which a user performs a microscopic examination of a specimen  3  located on microscope stage  2 . In the setting shown in  FIG. 1 , objective  16  is in the working position. 
   Microscope stage  2  is equipped with a displacement element  9  with which microscope stage  2  can be shifted in an X direction and a Y direction. Displacement element  9  possesses, for that purpose, an X displacement element  9   a  and a Y displacement element  9   b . Microscope  10  likewise encompasses a displacement device  5  for the Z direction, with which microscope stage  2  is moved in the Z direction. The displacement device encompasses at least one first and one second actuation element  5   a  and  5   b , each of which encompasses a fine and a coarse focus. 
   Condenser  30  is equipped with at least one displaceable diaphragm setting ring  22 . Condenser  30  can likewise be motorized, so that the setting of the diaphragm on condenser  30  matches the selected magnification of the objective. Microscope  10  furthermore carries a tube  34  that is equipped with a binocular eyepiece  35  through which the image of the specimen can be viewed. A front control panel  40 , which carries a plurality of buttons (see  FIG. 4 ) for selecting an objective magnification, is provided on the stand. 
     FIG. 2  is a side view of microscope  10  with further buttons  25  and  26  that are arranged on side  2   a  of stand  1 . Buttons  25  and  26  can also be mounted on both sides of stand  1 . Upper button  25  and lower button  26  are arranged around a drive element  8 . With a motorized condenser  30 , condenser head  30   a  is automatically swung out at objective magnifications of less than 10×. Condenser head  30   a  is swung in at objective magnifications equal to or greater than 10×. Also depicted in  FIG. 2  is a further embodiment of stand  1 . In this embodiment, stand  1  encompasses a USB interface  20  that is connected via a data cable  21  to a PC  23 . All the microscope functions are thus controllable via PC  23 . Consequently, buttons  25 ,  26 ,  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 ,  47  provided on the stand can also be assigned in the desired fashion from PC  23 . A display  24  associated with PC  23  provides graphical assistance for button assignment. For example, the buttons provided on stand  1  are depicted on display  24  and the user must then, for example using an input element, select the button to be assigned. 
     FIG. 3  is a side view of microscope  10  with a double footswitch  29  for actuating a defined microscope function. The function of upper button  25  can also be implemented using a right footswitch  29   a , and the function of lower button  26  can also be implemented using a left footswitch  29   b  of double footswitch  29 . The connector for double footswitch  29  can be located on a back side  2   b  of stand  1 . 
     FIG. 4  is a detail view of front control panel  40  with a plurality of buttons  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 ,  47  for selecting an objective magnification. In the embodiment depicted here, six buttons  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  are provided for direct selection of an objective. The user can be informed, via corresponding indicators  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 , of the allocation of the individual buttons  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  to the objectives. Indicators  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 , or  56  show the magnification that will be moved in motorized fashion into the working position of microscope  10  by way of the respective button  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 , or  46 . Indicator  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 , or  56  can be configured, for example, as an electronic display or as an adhesive plate. The assignments of the individual buttons  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  are generally selected in such a way that the objective having the lowest magnification can be swung into the working position using first button  41 . Button  41  for the lowest magnification is thus located at left edge  48  of front control panel  40 . The allocation of buttons  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  to the respective objectives is made at the factory or can also be carried out by the user, and is independent of the microscope&#39;s equipment. Button  47 , which serves as a toggle button, is provided at right edge  49  of front control panel  40 . The toggle button serves to switch over the mode of front control panel  40 . In standard mode, the two buttons  25  and  26  on the right or left side  2   a  of stand  1  are used to move to the object magnifications sequentially. Pressing upper button  25  causes a motorized clockwise rotation of objective turret  12 . Pressing lower button  26  causes a counterclockwise motorized rotation of objective turret  12 . In the standard configuration, the assignment of buttons  25  and  26  on the right and left sides  2   a  of stand  1  is identical. When toggle mode is selected, pressing side buttons  25  and  26  then switches back and forth between two previously programmed magnifications. In programming mode, the objectives predefined at the factory can easily be modified in user-specific fashion. In front control panel  40 , colored diodes or lamps are integrated into buttons  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46 ,  47 , and indicate the objective located in the working position or the current mode. 
     FIG. 5  is a detail view of front control panel  40  in standard operating mode. Button  47  (toggle button) is off. Either the toggle button is not energized or the diode is not lit, thus indicating non-functioning of button  47 . Button  41  for the current objective is lit, since the diode or lamp  60  incorporated thereinto is activated. Using buttons  25  and  26  on the side of stand  1 , the objectives can be swung in succession into the working position. For example, if one of buttons  25  and  26  on the side of stand  1  is pressed twice in succession, an objective will be skipped and the next objective will be swung directly into the working position. The button associated with that objective then lights up. The diode or lamp  60  provided in the button is activated. In a preferred embodiment, the diodes provided in buttons  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  emit green light. 
     FIG. 6  is a detail view of front control panel  40  in toggle mode. Proceeding from standard mode ( FIG. 5 ), briefly pressing on button  47  (toggle button) causes a switchover to toggle mode. The diode or lamp  67  provided in button  47  is correspondingly activated. This diode  67  preferably likewise emits green light. The lower of the previously programmed magnifications is set, and the associated button  42  lights up. The diode or lamp  62  preferably emits green light. Button  44  for the second programmed objective lights up in a different color from button  44 . The diode or lamp  64  preferably emits yellow light. Using the two buttons  25  and  26  on the right or left side of stand  1 , it is possible to switch back and forth between these two objectives. It is immaterial which of the side buttons  25  or  26  is pressed. As the objective is changed, the color indicator also changes, so that the button for the current objective always emits green and that of the other objective emits yellow. Pressing button  47  (toggle button) again switches back into the standard mode. A changeover to standard mode also occurs when one of buttons  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44 ,  45 ,  46  is pressed. The objective selected by the user is moved into the working position, and the objectives programmed for toggle mode are retained. 
     FIG. 7  is a detail view of front control panel  40  in programming mode. When the user presses and holds button  47  (toggle button), all the previously illuminated buttons go out. The objectives desired for the toggle mode must be selected, by pressing, while button  47  (toggle button) is pressed. 
     FIG. 8  is a detail view of front control panel  40  in the programming mode for the toggle mode for switching between two defined objective magnifications. Buttons  41  and  43  selected in programming mode now light up in the same color. Lamps  60  and  63  provided in buttons  41  and  43  emit light of the same color. In the preferred embodiment, the diodes or lamps  60  and  63  associated with buttons  41  and  43  emit yellow light. When button  47  (toggle button) is then released, toggle mode is activated. 
     FIG. 9  is a detail view of front control panel  40  in which programming mode has been terminated. After button  47  (toggle button) is released, button  41  for the objective having the lower magnification lights up in green. The objective having the lower magnification is also moved in. Button  43 , for the additional objective used in toggle mode, lights up in yellow. These settings are retained until programming mode is once again selected and activated. 
   As already described in  FIG. 3 , the objectives can also, optionally, be swung in using a double footswitch that is connected to stand  1 . The connector for double footswitch  29  can be located on the back side of stand  1 . Left footswitch  29   a  has the same function as lower button  26  on stand  1 . Right footswitch  29   b  has the same function as upper button  25  on stand  1 . 
   Special functions for side buttons  25  and  26  are also possible. With a motorized condenser  30 , condenser head  30   a  is automatically swung out at objective magnifications of less than 10×. Condenser head  30   a  is swung in at objective magnifications greater than or equal to 10×. For special applications, the swinging of the condenser head in or out can be assigned to the right or left buttons  25  and  26  of stand  1 , so that the position of the condenser head can be adjusted by the user. A change in the assignment of the buttons is possible only using the Leica DMControl software program and requires connection to a PC.