Abstract:
The present invention relates to a microscope ( 1 ), preferably a dental microscope, including a microscope body ( 15 ) and a stand ( 2 ) formed by a plurality of components to provide a supporting function or to enable positioning of the microscope ( 1 ) in the room ( 11 ), the microscope body ( 15 ) and the stand ( 2 ) having cavities ( 16 ) therein. It is a feature of the present invention that at least one cavity ( 16 ) of the microscope body ( 15 ) and/or the stand ( 2 ) has a light source ( 17 ) provided therein whose light ( 17   a,    17   b,    17   c ) can pass outwardly through passage openings ( 18,   24, 27 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of German patent application number 10 2009 034 309.1 filed Jul. 16, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. This application also claims priority of German patent application number 10 2010 025 114.3 filed Jun. 25, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a microscope including a microscope body and a stand formed by one or more components to provide a supporting function or to enable positioning of the microscope in the room. These components are hereinafter jointly referred to as a stand. The stand includes one or more support arms, for example, in the form of a parallelogram linkage support. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    Many different techniques are known for illuminating objects to be observed using a wide variety of different microscopes. Moreover, in particular for surgical stereomicroscopes, various techniques are known whereby additional information, such as, for example, information on the various operating conditions, or operating mode indications of the microscope, can be projected into one or more observation beam paths of such a microscope. 
         [0004]    Thus, conventional microscopes typically have a light source for illuminating the object field to be viewed. The design and operation of the microscope and/or its stand are of minor importance in this connection. Also, to date, the microscope has not been used as a light source for the room in which it is located, and information on the microscope could only been read from a display or from discrete control elements, indicators, or the like. 
         [0005]    Document DE102005036230B3 describes a microscope having light-emitting diodes mounted in the body or stand thereof to illuminate the object field. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, the light-emitting diodes are used for purposes of object field illumination. 
         [0007]    Document DE102007051909A1 discloses a microscope having a light source provided in the body thereof, said light source illuminating the object field via a deflection mirror. Thus, this light source is also used for purposes of object field illumination and does not have any other function. 
         [0008]    Document U.S. Pat. No. 2,766,655A1 describes a phase contrast microscope whose object field illumination means is arranged within the stand, from where illumination light is directed into the microscope body, and from there via a mirror onto the object field. Here, too, the illumination system is used exclusively for purposes of object field illumination. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a microscope having an improved device, using the existing housings of the microscope and/or its stand. 
         [0010]    More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to use the microscope and/or its stand more universally and, by implementing at least one additional light source besides a light source that may be provided for object field illumination, to enable the microscope and/or its stand to be used also for room illumination purposes or to illuminate the microscope or its stand (apart from the area to be viewed through the microscope) and, optionally, to make light available for further information purposes. 
         [0011]    The present invention includes at least one light source which is disposed within the microscope body and/or the stand and which emits its light outwardly into the room through passage openings when in the operating condition, independently of the microscope illumination, and which is not used for purposes of object field illumination. 
         [0012]    The light source and the passage openings may be designed to merely improve the perception of the microscope or the stand in space (for example, in twilight conditions). 
         [0013]    More specifically, the light source and the passage openings may be designed to simulate different appearances of the microscope or stand using different light intensities or colors. 
         [0014]    Yet more specifically, the light source and the passage openings may be designed to provide illumination effects which vary over time so as to distract the patient, and thus to increase the safety of the treatment. 
         [0015]    Variation of the light color can best be accomplished by inserting color filters, or by using colored light-emitting diodes which are driven as needed and according to the desired color mixture. 
         [0016]    The light source and the passage openings may also be designed to provide indirect room illumination. 
         [0017]    In addition, the light source and the passage openings may be designed to deliver signals to a user and/or to change the visible exterior appearance of the microscope or stand using different light colors. 
         [0018]    This illumination system for indirect external illumination may also include a plurality of light sources and a plurality of passage openings for the passage of this light into the room external to the microscope or stand. 
         [0019]    To date, no techniques or devices are known which, except for external indicator lamps, such as externally mounted LEDs, would allow the appearance of the microscope or stand to be changed, or different operating conditions or operating mode indications to be displayed, on the exterior of the microscope body or stand and/or which would provide means for providing indirect room illumination. 
         [0020]    However, it appears desirable to provide such additional display options so as to allow selected operating conditions of a microscope, or changes thereto, to be made visible not only to the operator, but also to other people, especially for example a patient, who are present in the room in which the microscope is located, and to do so independently of the image acquired by the microscope; i.e., the image of an object being viewed. 
         [0021]    The present invention achieves the object described above, making it possible to implement both indirect room illumination and a means for distracting patients, and allowing operating conditions or operating mode indications, and also the extent of the microscope or its stand, to be displayed or made visible externally in a simple manner. In accordance with the present invention, at least one cavity of the microscope and/or the stand has/have a light source disposed therein whose light can pass outwardly into the room through one or more passage openings. 
         [0022]    It is preferred for the light source to be variable, particularly preferably to be variable over time. 
         [0023]    The passage openings are preferably disposed and configured such that the emerging light indirectly illuminates the exterior of the microscope or its stand, or the room in which it is located. 
         [0024]    It is also preferred that the color and/or intensity of the light be adjustable and/or selectable. 
         [0025]    The microscope is preferably a surgical microscope or a dental microscope. 
         [0026]    Preferably, at least one passage opening (optical passage) has a surface configuration which prevents light from being emitted directly into the room and produces diffuse light emission. This may be achieved, for example, by a special geometric design (e.g., a sheet-metal cover) or optical design of the passage opening (for example, as a plate of milk glass), or by a special arrangement of the light source, or by a suitable surface roughness of, for example, the boundaries of the passage opening, which diffusely scatters the light of the light source provided for external illumination. Techniques for designing diffusely scattering surfaces or diffusely scattering light passage openings are generally known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0027]    The optical passage may, in principle, be disposed anywhere on the microscope or the stand. Preferably, the passage opening is disposed on the microscope body or on a parallelogram linkage support. 
         [0028]    The at least one optical passage is preferably configured as a gap or slot on the microscope body or the stand. Preferably, provision is made for a plurality of narrow slots or gaps. 
         [0029]    Preferably, at least one of the passage openings is closed with a transparent cover so as, for example, to prevent even the smallest quantities of dust particles or other types of air pollution particles from entering the microscope or its components. This may advantageously be achieved by designing the cover itself as a diffuser for homogenizing the emerging light. However, it is also possible to dispose a diffuser inside of the microscope body or the stand in the vicinity of the light source. 
         [0030]    The light sources preferably used for the indirect external illumination include inorganic light-emitting diodes (LED), organic light-emitting films (OLED), or what is known as “nanotubes”. It is also possible to use laser diodes, which may be advantageous because of the spectrum and orientation of their radiation. 
         [0031]    It is preferred that the light color of the one or more light sources used for the external illumination also be variable and/or freely selectable. This is preferably done in an automatically controlled manner. Thus, it is possible, for example, to drive a plurality of different color LEDs alternatively or together to produce specific light colors. 
         [0032]    Preferably, a specific light color and/or light intensity, or the change thereof, is assigned to a specific operating condition of the microscope, or its further above-mentioned mechanical components, and to changes in such an operating condition. Such operating conditions or operating mode indications to be displayed, and their respective changes, may refer, for example, to a magnification setting of the microscope, diopter settings of eyepieces of the microscope, the balancing of a stand of the microscope, the operational readiness of accessories, such as a camera, the making of a video recording, the remaining service life of illumination devices for object illumination, etc. 
         [0033]    The balancing of the stand or microscope, or of other mechanical components or accessories of the microscope, may be accomplished using, for example, force sensors or torque sensors and may be associated with an electronic control system, which is also used to drive the light source(s) for the external illumination. 
         [0034]    The remaining service life of light sources used in a microscope for object illumination may be determined, for example, from a table value read into the electronic control system of the external illumination system, for example, in accordance with a decay curve in tabular form, or based on an intensity value that is actually measured by a light-sensitive sensor and compared with stored reference values. 
         [0035]    The operational readiness of electronic microscope accessories, such as a camera, may be deduced, for example, from an electronic feedback signal provided by such an accessory to the electronic control system. Therefore, the illumination system is advantageously associated with a microprocessor—or computer—controlled electronic control system. 
         [0036]    Among a group of different operating conditions or operating mode indications to be displayed, particular preference is given to the following options:
       the light color is used to indicate a magnification setting of the microscope;   the light color is used to indicate the operating condition of a zoom system or the diopter setting of an eyepiece of the microscope;   in the common case of a microscope having two eyepieces which are individually adjustable to different diopter settings, it is preferred that different light colors be producible on two different exterior sides of the microscope body or the stand.       
 
         [0040]    Particularly advantageous embodiments of the present invention are those in which a plurality of operating conditions or operating mode indications of the microscope can be displayed simultaneously by one or more different light colors. 
         [0041]    It is also advantageous if at least one sensor is provided which measures the color temperature and/or the light intensity of an external room lighting and adapts the color and/or intensity of the light from the light source accordingly via an electronic control system (e.g., chameleon function). 
         [0042]    It may also be advantageous if the light colors produced by the illumination system for the external illumination are complementary to, for example, the color of an external room lighting. 
         [0043]    Preferably, the microscope according to the present invention has an aesthetically appealing and compact design, which advantageously minimizes space requirements. This appearance may be further enhanced by the choice of light. 
         [0044]    In addition to the technical advantages mentioned above, the present invention and the described embodiments provide further advantages for a user:
       The exterior appearance of a microscope according to the present invention may be adapted to the surrounding space, for example, in a dentist&#39;s office. Prior art microscope bodies, stands, and support arms thereof, are known to have either untreated surfaces or surfaces treated with paints or other surface finishes. The use of indirect illumination by light that emerges from the unit through gaps or slots and is emitted indirectly to provide a surface appearance and an exterior appearance that are variable over time and/or variable in color has been unknown.   Unlike conventional microscopes, the visually apparent space requirements of the unit in a doctor&#39;s office or an operating room can be influenced by means of the indirect external illumination. The present invention enables the appearance of a microscope, in particular a dental microscope or a surgical microscope, to be adapted to the needs of the user, or to the conditions of the room, by turning the external illumination on/off, by controlling its brightness and/or by selecting the color of its light.   In an environment with high requirements on cleanliness, such as a doctor&#39;s or dentist&#39;s office, it is preferred to use blue light for the external illumination, because it is known from experience that blue light enhances the impression of hygiene and, in addition, because bacteria avoid blue tones. Blue tones are therefore bacteriophic. Moreover, light having shorter wavelengths down to the UV region has a bactericidal effect and, therefore, allows a microscope equipped in accordance with the present invention to be brought into a bactericidal condition when no people are present.   Accordingly, in addition to the purely technical effects, it is also possible to change the coloring of surfaces without the need to replace components or covers, or apply new paint, which allows microscopes and stands to be dynamically adapted to the requirements of users or facilities.       
 
         [0049]    Further embodiments of the present invention and variants thereof will become apparent from the dependent claims and the Figures. 
         [0050]    The list of reference numerals is part of the disclosure. 
         [0051]    The present invention is schematically described in more detail by way of example and with reference to Figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEWS 
         [0052]    The Figures are described collectively. Identical reference numerals denote identical components; reference numerals having different indices indicate functionally identical or similar components. In the drawing, 
           [0053]      FIG. 1  is a view showing the arrangement of a first exemplary embodiment of a dental microscope which is mounted on a stand in such a way that it can be adjusted in three degrees of freedom, said stand including a base provided with rollers and a vertical pole on which there are arranged three support arms, the dental microscope being mounted on the third support arm, and the entire arrangement being located in a room which can be illuminated; 
           [0054]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the dental microscope shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 3  is a vertical sectional view of the housing body of the dental microscope, taken in the plane of line III-III in  FIG. 2  and showing an open light exit opening on each of the two sides; 
           [0056]      FIG. 4  is a vertical sectional view of the housing body similar to that of  FIG. 3 , but showing an open light exit opening on the left side and a different light exit opening on the right side, the latter being closed dust-tight with a transparent plate as a light-diffusing body; 
           [0057]      FIG. 5  is a vertical sectional view of the housing body similar to those of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , but showing the two light passage openings covered with diffusing glass plates; 
           [0058]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a modified housing body of the dental microscope shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0059]      FIG. 7  is a vertical sectional view of the housing body of the dental microscope, taken in the plane of line VII-VII in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0060]      FIG. 8  is a vertical sectional view similar to  FIG. 7 , showing a further, modified housing body of a dental microscope, in which the light exit openings are provided with light shield sections for adjustment of their width; 
           [0061]      FIG. 9  is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line IX-IX in  FIG. 1  and showing the illumination arrangement on the stand in the region of the second support arm, which is in the form of a parallelogram support arm; 
           [0062]      FIG. 10  is a view of a variant of the upper portion of the stand shown in  FIG. 1 , in which the first support arm, which is pivotally attached to the stand pole, is provided with an indirect illumination system; 
           [0063]      FIG. 11  is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line XI-XI in  FIG. 10  and showing the indirect illumination system in the form of two rows of light sources arranged along the sides; 
           [0064]      FIG. 12  is a view of a variant of the embodiment of  FIG. 11 , showing only a single, central row of light sources; and 
           [0065]      FIG. 13  is a view of the dental microscope corresponding to  FIG. 12 , partially cut away and in cross section, illustrating the light exit at the rear. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0066]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a dental microscope  1  is mounted on a stand  2  in such a way that it can be adjusted in three degrees of freedom. Stand  2  includes a rolling base  3 , a pole  4 , a first support arm  5 , a second support arm  6 , and a third support arm  7 . Support arms  5 ,  6 ,  7  are linked together by joints  8  and  9 . 
         [0067]    The entire arrangement is set up in a room  11  which is used as a treatment room and provided with what is referred to as external room lighting  12 . Dental microscope  1  includes a head portion  13  which carries an eyepiece  14  and is mounted on microscope body  15 . 
         [0068]    As is shown particularly in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , light sources  17 , which may be in the form of three LEDs, are arranged in cavity  16  of microscope body  15 , the rays of light from said light sources emerging from the walls in a more or less downward direction through passage openings  18  formed in the sides and being partly reflected at inclined wall sections  19   a.  As a result, both the side walls  19  of microscope body  15  and their surroundings in room  11  are discreetly illuminated, which positively influences the appearance of microscope  1  and affects the treatment environment and the position of the microscope in an ergonomically favorable manner, even in a semi-darkened room  11 . 
         [0069]    A sensor  21  mounted on microscope body  15  measures the light intensity provided in room  11  by external room lighting  12  and is capable of controlling the color and intensity of the light from light source  17  via an electronic control system according to corresponding, predetermined parameters. 
         [0070]    The light intensity of light sources  17  can also be controlled manually, for example, using a rotary knob  22  on microscope body  15 . 
         [0071]    As is shown particularly in  FIG. 3 , light rays  17   a  from light sources  17  emerge downwardly here and are reflected into room  11  by an the inclined section  19   a  of wall  19 , so that they illuminate both microscope body  15  and room  11 . 
         [0072]      FIG. 4  shows two variants of light passage openings. The left side shows the variant of  FIG. 3 , which features an open, slotted opening. This embodiment is suitable, for example, for illuminating room  11  away from the practitioner, making it possible to increase the brightness of the background to maximum levels. Light exit opening  24  shown on the right side is closed dust-tight with a transparent ground glass plate  25  which has light-diffusing properties and is inserted in a pocket or recess  26  flush with the exterior of wall  19 . In this manner, wall  19  of microscope body  15  turns into a large-area luminous element which illuminates room  11  with diffuse, homogenized light, preferably toward the side of the practitioner. Alternatively, it is possible to equip both walls  19 ; i.e., the one on the left and the one on the right in  FIG. 4 , with a ground glass plate  25  as a luminous element having light-diffusing properties. 
         [0073]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment in which light passage openings  27  are closed dust-tight with cover plates  28 . These cover plates may have diffusing properties, and may thus be capable of diverging the light rays into sets of rays  17   c . A portion of rays  17   c  may enter room  11  directly, while another portion is initially reflected at inclined wall sections  19   a.    
         [0074]    Light sources  17  are arranged in a row within cavity  16 , here, for example, along a central line and such that said row of light sources does not extend into the area of the optical path of the microscope. Inner surfaces  29  of walls  19  and  31  of cavity  16  may be provided with reflectors or reflective coatings. 
         [0075]      FIG. 6  shows in greater detail the portion of control panel  32  of microscope body  15 . In particular, for example, reference numeral  33  denotes the adjustment means of objective  37 , numeral  34  designates the control of light sources  17 , and numeral  35  denotes the control of room lighting  12 . Here, opening  18  for the exit of light is in the form of a longitudinal slot extending obliquely and convexly from top left to bottom right. 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , transparent light-guiding elements  36  are inserted in passage openings  18  on both sides between walls  19 ,  19   a.  These light-guiding elements provide a dust-tight seal on the one hand and, on the other hand, produce diverging light rays  17   b,  and thus homogenized illumination, because of their diffusing properties. 
         [0077]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , passage openings  18  may be provided with angle sections  38  to provide a means for adjusting the width B of passage openings  18 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 9 through 12  illustrate the arrangement of light sources  17  for indirect illumination on support arms  6  and  5 . 
         [0079]    Referring in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 9 , support arm  6  is configured as a parallelogram linkage arm which ensures constant vertical guidance during height adjustment of microscope  1 . The parallelogram linkage arm is formed by two arm members arranged parallel to one another. The upper arm member is denoted by  41 , while the lower arm member is denoted by  42 . 
         [0080]    A U-shaped covering  43  including a bottom web  44  and two lateral flanges  45  and  46  is mounted to hub  8   a  ( FIG. 1 ) of joint  8  in such a way that bottom web  44  is located under lower arm member  42  at a distance  47  therefrom. 
         [0081]    The resulting clearance  49  accommodates indirect illumination means in the form of light sources  17 , which are arranged in such a way that two rows of light sources  17  direct indirect light radiation  51  upwardly through gaps  48  between support arm  6 , which is formed by arm members  41  and  42 , and lateral flanges  45  and  46 , thereby also illuminating the side surfaces of the two arm members  41  and  42 . 
         [0082]    The indirect illumination means on first support arm  5  are configured similar to those mentioned above. Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , first support arm  5  is provided in its lower region with a U-shaped covering  52  which follows the tapering design of support arm  5 . 
         [0083]    Provided on bottom web  53  are two rows of light sources  17  which emit light upwardly through narrow gaps  54 , respectively. Inner surfaces  55  of the covering are reflective, which enables the sets of indirect light rays  56  to travel upwardly and exit to the outside as multiply reflected rays, thereby also illuminating the side walls of first support arm  5 . At the right end portion ( FIG. 10 ), covering  52  projects beyond support arm  5 , forming a gap  57 , so that indirect light can also exit in this region. 
         [0084]      FIG. 12  is a view of a variant of the embodiment of  FIG. 11 , showing only a single strip of light sources  17  arranged centrally along bottom web  53  of U-shaped covering  52 . Here, the sets of light rays  56  are multiply reflected at underside  58  of support arm  5  and inner upper side  59  of bottom web  53  in directions toward two sides. 
         [0085]    As illustrated in the partially cut away view of  FIG. 13 , a light exit opening  18  is also provided at the rear of the microscope body  15 . In particular, rear walls  61  and  62  are offset from each other, forming and bounding a further slotted opening  63 . Thus, the microscope body is provided on three sides with passage openings  18 ,  63 ,  18  for indirect light exit. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0086]      1  microscope, preferably a dental microscope 
         [0087]      2  stand 
         [0088]      3  base 
         [0089]      4  pole 
         [0090]      5  first support arm 
         [0091]      6  second support arm 
         [0092]      7  third support arm 
         [0093]      8  joint 
         [0094]      8   a  hub of  8   
         [0095]      9  joint 
         [0096]      11  room 
         [0097]      12  room lighting (referred to as external room lighting) 
         [0098]      13  head portion of  1   
         [0099]      14  eyepiece 
         [0100]      15  microscope body 
         [0101]      16  cavity of  15   
         [0102]      17  light sources (LEDs) 
         [0103]      17   a  light rays (direct reflection) 
         [0104]      17   b  light rays (homogenized light) 
         [0105]      17   c  light rays (divergent) 
         [0106]      18  passage openings (in the form of slots in  19 ) 
         [0107]      19  walls 
         [0108]      19   a  inclined wall section 
         [0109]      21  sensor 
         [0110]      22  rotary knob for light control 
         [0111]      24  light exit opening 
         [0112]      25  transparent ground glass plate (having light-diffusing and homogenizing properties) 
         [0113]      26  pocket, recess, retaining receptacle 
         [0114]      27  light passage opening 
         [0115]      28  cover plate 
         [0116]      29  inner surfaces (reflective) 
         [0117]      31  wall of  15  (at the top) 
         [0118]      32  control panel 
         [0119]      33  adjustment means for objective  37   
         [0120]      34  control for light source  17   
         [0121]      35  control for room lighting  12   
         [0122]      36  light-guiding elements (having diffusing properties) 
         [0123]      37  objective 
         [0124]      38  angle section (for the adjustment of B) 
         [0125]      41  upper arm member of  6   
         [0126]      42  lower arm member of  6   
         [0127]      43  U-shaped covering 
         [0128]      44  bottom web of  43   
         [0129]      45  lateral flange of  43   
         [0130]      46  lateral flange of  43   
         [0131]      47  distance 
         [0132]      48  gap 
         [0133]      49  clearance 
         [0134]      51  indirect light radiation 
         [0135]      52  covering 
         [0136]      53  bottom web 
         [0137]      54  gap 
         [0138]      55  surface 
         [0139]      56  sets of light rays 
         [0140]      57  gap 
         [0141]      58  underside 
         [0142]      59  upper side 
         [0143]      61  upper rear wall of  15   
         [0144]      62  lower rear wall of  15   
         [0145]      63  slotted opening 
         [0146]    B width of opening  18  ( FIG. 8 )