Patent Publication Number: US-2011069379-A1

Title: Microscope Configuration Determination

Description:
Modern microscopes have a modular design, thereby enabling many different apparatus configurations. The apparatuses usually have exchangeable components, which influence the optical properties and, therefore, have to be selected to fit the desired microscopic method. Examples of such components are objectives held in revolving turrets, beam splitters or filters which can be incorporated to the apparatus by other revolving turrets or slides or can be built in separately. Components can be actuated, changed or adjusted both by a motor drive and manually. Particularly in the case of components which are manually or automatically changeable, the identification of the component presently active in the beam path is of great importance both for insuring that the correct configuration is set for a desired microscopic method and in order to provide correspondingly correct data for evaluation during microscopy. 
     An example of the problem that the configuration of a microscope has to be taken into consideration during use is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,714, wherein manual input of the designations of all objectives provided in a revolving turret is possible. Suitable algorithms then take the parameters of the objectives into account during further microscopy. The input objective data are taken from conventional labels that have been attached to the objectives already since the early days. 
     It is further known in the prior art to carry out automatic objective recognition. For this purpose, U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,251 suggests to design objectives differently with respect to the thread length of the lens cone screwed into the revolving turret. Suitable detector means provided in the revolving turret thus allow to identify the objective currently rotated into the beam path and to thereby determine, for example, the magnification setting. 
     DE 102 45 170 A1 also discloses a mechanical approach for identification of an objective. Strip marks are provided on a changer magazine, said marks allowing to determine the position of the changer magazine by optical, electrical, magnetic or mechanical scanning of the strip pattern. This changer magazine may also be used for filters that can be rotated into position. 
     DE 100 55 534 A1 envisages the fixation of a wireless transponder, which may be provided, for example, in the form of an electronic label, to the objective as well as arranging a respective reading unit on the revolving turret, said reading unit wirelessly scanning the transponder of the objective which has just been rotated into position. Predetermined code information in the transponder allows not only identification of the type of objective, but in addition also allows access to data describing the objective and stored in the transponder. 
     DE 102 49 904 A1 extends the principle of the electronic label to the detection of other assemblies, for example optical filters. Incidentally, the use of electronic labels is also known from DE 100 10 140 A1 in connection with the identification of object slides. An electronic label of the type that could be used for this purpose, for example, is described in EP 0 715 760 B1 or EP 0 647 943 A1. 
     It is the object of the invention to provide means for simple and, if possible, universal recognition of components in a microscope. 
     According to the invention, this object is achieved by an optical component or an attachable optical component intended for incorporation into a microscope, to which component an electronic chip is fixed and on which two contact pads are provided which are electrically connected to terminals of the chip and by which the chip, with the component installed, is electrically contactable and can be supplied with energy. 
     It is also envisaged to identify the components in the microscope by an electrically contactable microchip. This enables detection of the presence of one or more components in the device simultaneously and automatically. 
     The wire-bound contacting of the chip on the optical component or on the attachable optical component according to the invention allows installation even in the case of limited space even for already developed structural elements. There is no need to reserve space for an antenna which is required in the case of an electronic label. Also, metallic bodies at or near the optical component or the attachable optical component, such as, for example, the metallic holder of a reflector module or beam splitter may not have negative effects on the communication with the chip. The wire bound contacting and energy supply of the module provided according to the invention, thus, prevents many problems which arise in connection with electronic labels, and, moreover, allows refitting of already existing or developed optical components. 
     According to the invention, the optical component is an optical part, which can be moved into the beam path of the microscope and influences the function of the microscope. Examples of such optical components include objectives, filter elements, beam splitters or the like. According to the invention, an attachable optical component is understood to be an attachment piece which can be attached to such optical component, for example a holder, a retainer ring, a retainer cap, a housing etc. 
     The chip is preferably a memory chip. In addition or as an alternative, a microchip comprising more than two electrodes can also be used, and may serve, for example, to measure time, temperature, pH value, current, electrical current or other physical quantities. It is also possible to effect, for example, temperature control by heating. If reference is made hereinafter to a memory chip, this is merely meant to be an example. 
     In order to allow optimum consideration of the configuration of the microscope during measurement, it is advantageous if the optical component or if an optical module equipped with the attachable optical component can be activated in the microscope depending on the operating condition. Advantageously, electrical contacting is effected for those optical components or those optical modules equipped with attachable optical components, which are activated in the microscope and are, for example, located in the beam path. 
     It is also possible, of course, to read out the chips of optical components or attachable optical components according to the invention manually, by means of a hand-held scanner, during incorporation into the microscope, so that the identification of the component just fitted can be effected in the control unit. For component recognition of components to be manually incorporated, use can be made of a hand-held scanner which is made to contact the contact pads of the optical component or the attachable optical component according to the invention, before or after the optical component or the optical part equipped with the attachable optical component is/has been installed in the microscope. An example of such a hand-held scanner is, e.g. the read/write interface VGL-S-RS 232 of Megatron Elektronik AG &amp; Co., Hermann-Oberth-Strasse 7, 85640 Putzbrunn, Germany. 
     Moreover, data describing properties of the components may also be stored and accessed in the memory chip in addition to the data serving to identify components. Thus, for instance, serial numbers, specific protocols of measurement, such as optical spectra, deviations from predetermined specifications etc., can be stored, allowing statements about the optical component or about the optical part provided with the attachable optical component. 
     Conveniently, the electronic chip is as small as possible. An example of a module is the chip distributed Maxim, USA, under the name “1-wire”. It is connected via the two contact pads and both supplied with energy and read out. An example of the protocol used for reading out is the RS 232, RS 485, RS 422 or USB standard. 
     For small chips it is convenient to use a printed circuit board which, on the one hand, carries the chip and, on the other hand, provides the contact pads. 
     At least two contact pads are required for the chip to function. Said contact pads may be either parallel or coaxial. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the printed circuit board comprises both parallel contact pads and coaxial contact pads, e.g. on opposite sides. Such printed circuit board comprising a memory chip may be used universally for the most diverse components. A size with a diameter of a circular printed circuit board of approximately 5 mm is achievable, thereby allowing the memory chip including the printed circuit board to be subsequently fitted into a simple blind hole of already existing components. 
     However, in many cases, it is not possible to drill such blind holes into objectives. In this case, it is convenient to use a ring as the attachable optical component, said ring carrying the electronic memory chip and being attachable to a sleeve of the objective. 
     The electronic chip can be attached in a particularly space-saving manner, if one of the two contact pads is formed by an (already existing) electrically conducting housing element of the component. 
     Depending on the design of the contact pads, a spring-loaded contact tip combined with a spring-loaded cylindrical contact, spring-loaded contact tips or sliding contacts arranged in parallel as well as soldered contacts are suitable for electromechanical contacting of the chip. 
     In a favorable embodiment for detection of components, the invention provides a microscope objective comprising an attachable optical component, which is provided as a ring attachable to an objective sleeve, one of the two contact pads being formed by the objective sleeve and the other one of the two contact pads being provided as a ring-shaped strip conductor. Such ring-shaped strip conductor can be contacted in a simple manner, allowing existing revolving turret constructions to be substantially maintained and requiring only little modification. 
     In principle, the optical components or the attachable optical components according to the invention allow identification or data acquisition to be effected for all optical parts present in a microscope, regardless of whether the optical parts for the microscope are presently active or not. If all optical parts which can be theoretically activated in a microscope are detected, it is convenient, however, to provide a detection mechanism determining which components in the beam path are presently active. This is where the approaches mentioned in the prior art are useful. 
     In a favorable embodiment only those optical parts which are active in the beam path or will soon be activated are read out with respect to their electronic chips. Therefore, it is convenient to provide a contacting mechanism for a microscope with recognition of components, said contacting mechanism being provided for incorporation into a microscope and for contacting the aforementioned optical component or attachable optical component according to the invention and contacting components that are or can be moved into the beam path of the microscope. 
     Particularly with respect to a changer mechanism, a situation may occur in some cases, where the element rotated into the beam path or activated in the beam path can not be contacted, for example, for reasons related to space, precision or stability. In such cases, it is convenient to effect contacting of the optical component or of the attachable optical component as long as it has not been moved into the beam path yet. Together with position detection for the changer unit, a control unit can then determine which optical component, or which optical part provided with an attachable optical component, is located in the beam path. 
     A similar approach is possible if it is of interest to know all available optical components or all available optical parts provided with attachable optical components, before using a microscope. If a changer unit is switched through all possible changing positions and the required data concerning the optical parts or optical components are respectively determined by contacting, such “reference operation” provides the necessary data on all available parts. 
     The contacting mechanism preferably effects active contacting of the optical component or the attachable optical component, i.e. it has a corresponding drive unit which establishes said contact. Of course, passive contacting, for example in the form of spring contacts, is also possible. 
     The number of contacting mechanisms usually corresponds to the number of modification locations at which the beam path of the microscope can be modified by changeable elements. The number of optical components or attachable optical components according to the invention is higher in most cases and usually corresponds to the number of optical parts which can be built in, i.e. optical components and parts provided with attachable optical components. 
     The contacting mechanism is used to transmit data from the electronic chip to a control unit of the microscope, which can effect a reading operation and, as the case may be, additionally also a writing operation. The electronic chip may comprise one or more data areas which can be password-protected, if necessary. This allows safe storage of a manufacturer&#39;s data, so that they can only be requested, for example, by the manufacturer&#39;s service personnel. The electronic memory chip is preferably well-protected against electrostatic voltages and charges. This is advantageous, in particular, in the case of manually changeable components, because changing them then be carried out without safety measures against electrostatic charges. The electronic memory chip advantageously preserves stored data for at least 10 to 20 years even if it is not supplied with a voltage at usual temperatures of between 0 and 85° Celcius. 
     The aforementioned object is further achieved by a microscope comprising a contacting mechanism of the aforementioned type and a control unit which is connected to the contacting mechanism via a communication link and, by scanning the chips, determines data concerning the configuration of the microscope. Although contacting of the chip is effected in a wire-bound manner according to the present invention, so as to realize the desired small structural dimension, it is still possible to realize the communication link between the control unit and the contacting mechanism also by radio. This allows to dispense with sometimes interfering cable connections in the microscope. 
     For detection and data acquisition with respect to the objective rotated into the beam path, a further embodiment of the microscope is convenient which comprises a revolving turret including an objective plate into which objectives can be inserted at objective eyes, said contacting mechanism comprising, for each objective eye, a plunger which contacts one of the two contact pads and one of the two connections of the chip. 
     It is favorable to provide one plunger for each objective, said plunger establishing the electrical contact upon insertion of the objective into the objective eye. If the objective uses the already described attachable optical component in the form of a retainer ring or a retainer cap, the rotary position of the microscope after incorporation at the objective plate is not important, because the plunger then merely has to contact the ring-shaped strip conductor. The contacting mechanism conveniently contacts only that plunger which is assigned to the objective rotated into the beam path. Thus, the plunger comprises a connector which is, for example, provided as a sliding ring or spring contact, arranged on the revolving turret such that it contacts the plunger of the objective rotated into the beam path. 
     With a view to as compact a construction as possible the other connection of the memory chip may be connected via a sliding contact contacting the objective sleeve when the attachable optical component connects said connection of the chip with the (conducting) objective sleeve in a conducting manner. 
     According to the invention, the aforementioned object is further achieved by a method of component detection in a microscope, wherein optical components and/or attachable optical components of the aforementioned type are used, the chip is electrically contacted and read out and the components presently active in the beam path of the microscope are determined from the read-out data. As already mentioned, this method can be carried out in a particularly simple manner if contacting is effected merely for those optical parts which are activated on the microscope, i.e. which are located in the beam path. The information on the determined components can be utilized during microscopy, in particular in correcting methods. 
     Finally, the aforementioned object is further achieved by a method for equipping a microscope in terms of detectability of components, wherein one or more optical component(s) and/or attachable optical component(s) of the aforementioned type or a microscope objective of the aforementioned type is/are built into the microscope and at least one contacting mechanism of the aforementioned type is provided on the microscope. In a simple manner, this method also allows to upgrade existing microscopes in terms of their ability to detect components. 
     By electrical contacting, the inventive solutions to the aforementioned problem allow not only a particularly small structural dimension, but also allow writing on the microchip at any time. The component detection made possible by the invention provides an operator with a better overview over the currently employed optical parts in the microscope. This allows to avoid faulty device settings or even inaccurate microscope images. At the same time remote control of the apparatus becomes more efficient and diagnosis of microscopes also becomes more efficient and more reliable. Finally, the component detection according to the invention also allows manufacture as well as the logistics on the part of the customer to be automated to a greater extent, in particular by providing serial numbers, article numbers and order number on the microchip, and this allows the control of manufacture as well as servicing to be structured more clearly. 
    
    
     
       The invention will be explained in more detail below, by way of example and with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of an optical microscope that can be configured in different ways; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  show perspective views of a module for component detection; 
         FIGS. 4 to 6  show perspective views of different optical components, each comprising the module of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  show perspective representations of a contacting mechanism for the module of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows a lateral view of the contacting mechanism of  FIGS. 7 and 8 ; 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  show sectional views or partial sectional views of the mechanism of  FIGS. 7 to 9 ; 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  show perspective views of a retainer cap for a microscope comprising a module according to  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
         FIGS. 14 to 16  show top views of lateral or sectional views, respectively, of a retainer ring or a retainer cap similar to those shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 ; 
         FIG. 17  shows a detailed view of the structural part shown in  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  shows a perspective view of a revolving turret for the microscope of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 19  shows a perspective representation of a revolving turret of the objective plate used in  FIG. 18 , and 
         FIG. 20  shows a perspective view of the revolving turret of  FIG. 8  with an objective inserted therein. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows a microscope system  1  which can be set up and used in different configurations. The re-configuration of the microscope system  1  can be effected both automatically, for example by a motor-driven change of components, and manually by intervention of an operator. In particular, the microscope system  1  comprises an optical microscope  2  which is attached to a light source unit  3  and which is controlled, during operation, by a control unit  4  comprising suitable input/output means. The input/output means may comprise, for example, a keyboard, a special input unit, a screen, data carriers, input systems (disc drive, CD drive or the like) or even a network connection. 
     Via an objective  6  the microscope  2  images an object arranged on the microscope stage. The objective  5  is mounted to a revolving turret  6 , which is motor-driven in the embodiment example and allows different objectives to be rotated into position. A stand  7  of the microscope  2  is provided with a changer unit  8  at which different optical components can be inserted into the microscope  2 . Said unit may be, for example, a revolving turret for reflectors, a filter or a beam splitter for conventional contrast methods (for example, DIC, TIC etc.). The image is then observed via a body tube  9  with an ocular  10  attached thereto or a camera  11  connected thereto. The detailed construction of the microscope  2  is of relevance to the following description only insofar as it may be configured in different ways by effecting a change or insertion or removal of optically active components. 
     The microscope  2  is connected to the already mentioned control unit  4  via a data link  12 , said control unit  4  reading out control information regarding the operation of the microscope and feeding said information to the microscope  2 , respectively. The degree of automation may be varied according to the variant realized. Intervention by the control unit  4  may include anything from a simple test of the microscope&#39;s function, to a warning concerning unfavorable configurations, a participation in image acquisition (for example, in laser scanning operation) or to a fully automatic microscope operation. 
       FIG. 2  shows a module  13  which is used for detecting optical parts fitted to the microscope system  2 . The module  13  comprises a printed circuit board  14  on which a memory chip  15  is installed and is connected to two parallel contact pads  16  and  17  on the printed circuit board  14 . The contact pads  16  and  17  allow contacting of the chip  15  which is provided for 2-point contacting. The contact pads  16  and  17  allow, on the one hand, for energy supply of the chip  15  and, on the other hand, for data communication with the chip. Said data communication takes place, for example, according to the USB standard. On the backside of the printed circuit board  14  shown in  FIG. 3  there are located a central contact  18  as well as a ring contact  19  which are connected to the contact pads  16  and  17  by a suitable feedthrough.  FIGS. 2 and 3  clearly show the feedthrough  20  for the ring contact. The feedthrough for the central contact is not shown in the drawings. 
     The chip  15  of the module  13  can thus be supplied with energy and read out or written on either by parallel contacting on the front side or by coaxial contacting on the backside of the printed circuit board  14 . 
     The module  13  is generally employable and can be provided at almost any optical part of the microscope system  1  for component detection. Due to the possibility of a parallel as well as coaxial connection, flexible use is achieved; if one wishes to dispense therewith, it is possible, of course, to omit one of the two types of contact. 
     The module  13  is supplied with energy via the contacts, i.e. either the contact pads  16  and  17  or the central contact  18  including the ring contact  19 , and is connected to the control unit  4  for data exchange. The control unit  4  can thus detect whether a module  13  is present in the microscope system  1 . Due to a known assignment of the module  13  to an optical part of the microscope  1  component detection is thereby achieved. 
     As an alternative or in addition, there may be stored on the chip  15 , in addition to a simple serial number which has to be assigned to an optical part via further external sources of information, also the information describing the optical part, for example, the name of said part, the product number, the specified values, the serial number, special protocols of measurement, such as spectra, deviations from specified values etc., up to characteristics required for compensations, for example temperature compensations. The data stored on the chip  15  are electrically read via the above-explained contacts. As already mentioned, the chip  15  may also perform other functions. In addition, a chip having further functions can also be provided, connected in parallel. 
     Data writing is conveniently effected by the manufacturer during installation of the module  13  into an optical part, but under certain circumstances it may also be effected on location, for example, if correction parameters are determined and are stored on the chip  15 . 
     Upon a control command, the control unit  4  reads out the data of all modules  13  to which it has access, for example in a cyclic manner. Reading out is also possible if the control unit  4  detects a manual change in the microscope system  1  or if such change is indicated to it. This information provides the control unit  4  with a specific image of the present device configuration and the active components. Thus, the control unit  4  can warn an operator if an unfavorable configuration is present. In this respect, the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,714 is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     In addition, after component detection has been effected, the control unit  4  can display the actual beam path of the microscope  2 , for example on a monitor. By allocation of individual parameters of measurement stored on the chip  15 , said parameters being those of the module  13  carrying the optical unit, the precision of measurement can be increased. Preferably, the exact balance length of an objective is thus considered by the control unit  4 . The same applies to what is called the point spread function of an objective. Storage of these values in the control unit  4  as previously performed can be dispensed with, because the data are now available in the chip  15  and thus directly on the objective. 
       FIG. 4  shows the use of the module  13  on a reflector module  21 , which carries further components that are connected to it via bayonet or screw connections  22 ,  23  and can be moved into the beam path of the microscope  1 . One side of the reflector module  21  is provided with a blind hole into which the module  13  is glued. The view of  FIGS. 4 and 5  shows that the backside of the printed circuit board  14  including the central contact  18  as well as the ring contact  19  is accessible.  FIG. 6  shows an alternative design of a reflector module  21 . 
     For component detection contact is established, in the embodiment according to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , by means of a separate hand-held scanner, such as already mentioned in the description of the advantages, prior to installing the reflector module  21  in the beam path of the microscope  2 . Thus, prior to or following installation of the reflector module  21  in the microscope  2 , the control unit  4  obtains access to the chip  15  of the module  13  and thus to the data describing or at least identifying the reflector module  21 . 
     As an alternative or in addition to such manually assisted reading of data of the chip  15  when fitting a microscope system  2 , fully automatic contacting of optical components is also possible. This is convenient, for example, in the case of optical parts which are often changed during operation using a changer mechanism as it is present, for example, in the form of the changing unit  8  in the microscope  2 . An example thereof are reflector modules which can be changed via a revolving turret. 
     The contact sensor  25  shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  comprises a housing  26  to which an electric motor  27  is attached, which moves a contact pin unit  28 . This contact pin unit  28  is fitted on the end of an arm  29  which is actuated by a cam  30  fitted on a shaft  31  that is driven by the electric motor  27 . As the lateral view of  FIG. 9  as well as the sectional view of  FIG. 10  obtained along the line A-A of  FIG. 9  show, a screw connection  32  fixes the arm  29  such that it is driven as a one-armed lever by the cam  30 . At its free end, the arm  29  comprises an opening  33  in which a button  34  of the contact pin unit  28  is located. Rotation of the cam  30  displaces the bottom  34  along a longitudinal axis of the contact pin unit  28 . 
     The contact pin unit  28  which is shown in  FIG. 11  as an enlarged cutout of  FIG. 10  comprises a sleeve  36  located in a wall  35  of the housing  26 , in which sleeve an insert  37  is arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable. The movement of the arm  29  starting at the button  34  displaces the insert  37  in the longitudinal direction within the sleeve  36 . In the insert  37  a coaxial contact  38  is biased away externally from the button  34  by a spring  39 . Since the button  34  is connected to the insert  37 , the arm  29  also moves the coaxial contact  38  via the button  34 . The same applies to a central contact  41  which is attached directly to the button  34  and is electrically insulated from the coaxial contact by an insulating piece  40 . 
     The contact sensor  25  thus causes longitudinal displacement of the insert  37  by rotation of the cam  30 . If the coaxial contact  38  is immobilized on a ring contact, the central contact  41  is displaced relative to the coaxial contact  38 , because the coaxial contact  38  is moved into the insert  37  against the spring  39 . This is effected until both the coaxial contact  38  and the central contact  41  contact the corresponding contacts of the printed circuit board  14 . 
     The contact sensor  25  is preferably installed in the microscope  1  in all those locations where a changer unit for parts to be introduced to the beam path is provided. The control unit  4  communicates with the contact sensor  25  via the data line  12  as well as possibly, in addition or as an alternative, via radio links. The control unit  4  can thus obtain information on the configuration of the microscope system  1  at any time by activating the contact sensor  25  or, in the case of several sensors, by sequential or simultaneous activation and interrogation of all sensors, in that the contact sensor(s)  25  is/are actuated to read out the corresponding modules  13 . 
     According to this concept it is advantageous, moreover, to provide additional means which detect the activity of a changer unit or generally the presence of an optical part. A possible example thereof is magnetic detection by means of Hall sensors. For example, a permanent magnet may be provided in a lid of the reflector module  21 , said permanent magnet being read out by magnetic field sensors, for example a Hall sensor, mounted to the microscope  2 . This sensor system, which can also use other types of sensors, of course, allows to recognize whether the lid of the reflector module is open or closed. Thus, the control unit  4  will know whether the lid of the reflector module  21  is open or closed, i.e. whether a reflector module is being changed or not. If a revolving turret for reflectors is provided, said turret will conveniently be rotated once to electronically read out all reflector modules, i.e. whether components were mounted thereto which may possibly require reading out. Such procedure is advantageous in particular whenever, in a changer mechanism, e.g. a revolving turret, the active element can not be measured (for example, due to reasons of structural dimensions) or should not be measured (e.g. in order to know the possible configuration in advance). In this case, the present assembly at the changer mechanism can be determined, stored and considered together with a position detection in a previous step. 
     The high storage capacity of the chip  15  is advantageous, because detailed information on parts, in particular the optical elements in the reflector module, can be obtained. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show alternative ways of arranging the module  13  in the form of annular sleeves  42  which can be slid over objectives.  FIG. 12  shows a transparent plastic ring for mounting to the lens cone (for example by means of gluing) and comprising a recess  43  for receiving the module  13 . The transparent design of the annular sleeve  42  avoids covering of any writing on the objective, when the annular sleeve  42  with its objective compartment  44  is slid over the objective. The module  13  is connected by its two contacts to two electric connections on the annular sleeve  42 . A connection is formed by the internal surface  45  of the annular sleeve, which comprises electrical contact pads or establishes an electrical contact with an objective sleeve (not shown). The second contact is a ring-shaped conductor strip  47  provided at the upper edge  46  of the annular sleeve  42 , the upper surface of said conductor being contacted when the objective is installed. A possible embodiment for this will be explained below. 
     The conductor  47  is circular, i.e. it is provided as a ring which fixes the objective with the annular sleeve  42  retained thereon usually by a rotary movement to the revolving turret. In case of mounting by a bayonet another solution would be possible, i.e. the conductor  47  would no longer be required to extend circumferentially with a circular shape. 
       FIG. 13  shows a similar construction of the annular sleeve  42 , which is not transparent here, however.  FIG. 13  clearly shows the position of the module  13  in the recess  43  of the annular sleeve. The non-transparent design of  FIG. 13  has the advantage that an adhesive bond between the objective and the annular sleeve  42  can be effected in a simpler manner, because possible air bubbles are not visible. This makes mounting simpler and more affordable. 
       FIG. 14  shows a further possible construction of an attachable optical component which is in turn intended for attachment to an objective. In contrast to the annular sleeve  42  of  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a ring shaped circuit board  48  comprising two contact rings in the form of an external contact  49  and an internal contact  50  is provided here. The latter contact is intended, for example, for contacting an electrically conducting microscope housing provided in the objective&#39;s internal space  44 . The ring shaped circuit board  48  carries the chip  15  on one side, said chip being connected to the external contact  49  or the internal contact  50 , respectively, in an electrically conducting manner. Accordingly, said circuit board is an example of a construction which does not use the module  13  of  FIGS. 2 and 3  but only uses the chip  15 . The ring shaped circuit board  48  is attached to the objective by adhesive bonding. Connection is in turn effected by the metallically conducting housing and the external contact  49 . 
     If no metallically conducting housing is present, contacting can be effected from outside, directly at the internal contact  50  and the external contact  49 . This has the advantage of a double insulation, because the electrical potential of an objective housing is not affected. This results in advantages with respect to EMC or electrostatic protection. 
     As  FIGS. 15 and 16  show, the ring-shaped circuit board  48 , having a 2-part design, also allows to realize an annular sleeve similar to the variant shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . For this purpose, a sleeve  51  is used into which the ring-shaped circuit board  48  is inserted. A corresponding recess  52  provides space for the chip  15 . The sleeve  51  can be connected directly to the internal contact  50  and in turn establishes the contact with an electrically conducting objective housing. 
       FIG. 17  schematically shows the detail indicated in a circle in  FIG. 16  as well as a lower surface contact  53  of the ring-shaped circuit board  48 , which is double-sided in this embodiment. Thus, in this construction the external contact  49  is arranged on one side and the internal contact  50  is arranged on the other side of the ring-shaped circuit board  48 , which facilitates the electrical connection between the sleeve  51  and the ring-shaped circuit board  48 . 
     In order to contact the objective, which may be equipped, for example, with the annular sleeve  42  of  FIG. 12  or  13 , a plunger  56  is provided on the revolving turret  54  in the region of each objective eye  55 , said plunger being contacted via a spring contact  57 . For this purpose, each plunger  56  has a plunger contact  60  on its upper surface. The plunger  56  with the plunger contact  60  as well as an additional mass contact ring  61  is provided in an objective plate  59  of the revolving turret  54 . 
       FIG. 19  shows this objective plate  59 . A plunger with a plunger contact  60  is located at each objective eye  55 . Rotation of the objective plate  59  always moves that plunger contact  60  to the spring contact  57  which is assigned to the objective rotated into the beam path. This measure ensures that the chip  15  is read out for that particular objective which is presently rotated into the beam path. Of course, this may also realized differently, for example by reading out the position of the revolving turret. 
       FIG. 20  shows a perspective schematic view of the revolving turret  54  with inserted objective  62 . The plunger  56  contacts the plunger contact  60  provided on the annular sleeve  52 . The other terminal of the chip is established by the mass contact  28  (which is not shown in  FIG. 20 ), which is connected to an objective sleeve  63  of the objective  64  and is in turn connected from the annular sleeve  62  to one of the terminals of the chip  15  (not shown in  FIG. 20 ). 
     Of course, instead of the optical parts described here merely as an example, other elements having an effect on the beam path can be detected by using microchips  15  attached thereto for component detection. Examples include beam deflectors, color filters or gray filters, stops, aperture stops, field stop slides, DIC slides, TIC slides, cameras, capacitors, light sources, changeable revolving turrets, TV ports, body tubes, prisms, microtiter plates, object slides, electronic circuit boards controlling microscope components, or even the microscope stand.