Patent ID: 7586677

Claim:
A stereomicroscope system comprising: a base having a specimen plane; a focusing column fixed to the base; a focusing arm adjustably mounted on the focusing column, the focusing arm including a receiving opening adjacent a front end of the focusing arm and an arcuate underside portion extending in an arc substantially from the receiving opening to a rear end of the focusing arm; a stereomicroscope carried by the focusing arm, the stereomicroscope being received in the receiving opening and having a device axis; a first group of light-emitting diodes arranged on the focusing arm around the receiving opening to provide vertical illumination of a specimen observed through the stereomicroscope; and a second group of light-emitting diodes arranged on the arcuate underside portion of the focusing arm to each emit light along a respective illumination axis extending in a generally radial direction of the arc to provide oblique illumination of a specimen observed through the stereomicroscope, wherein the second group of light emitting diodes includes a light-emitting diode arranged to emit light along an illumination axis intersecting the specimen plane at an angle of 15 degrees relative to the specimen plane.