Patent ID: 8537462

Claim:
A microscope stage ( 14 ), comprising: a platform ( 16 ); a specimen holder ( 18 ) resting on the platform ( 16 ); a positioning device ( 20 ) for moving the specimen holder ( 18 ) in a plane of displacement that is parallel to the platform ( 16 ); wherein the positioning device ( 20 ) includes a first displacing device ( 34 ) and a second displacing device ( 36 ) that is mechanically decoupled from the first displacing device ( 34 ), the first displacing device ( 34 ) is configured to move the specimen holder ( 18 ) along a first axis in the plane of displacement, the second displacing device ( 36 ) is configured to move the specimen holder ( 18 ) along a second axis in the plane of displacement, the second axis being transverse to the first axis; wherein the first displacing device ( 34 ) includes a first slider ( 38 ) having two first leg portions ( 42 , 44 ) which are arranged transversely to the first axis and can be brought into contact the specimen holder ( 18 ) for moving the specimen holder, a first linear guide ( 48 ) for guiding the first slider ( 38 ) along the first axis, and a first drive ( 56 ) for moving the first slider ( 38 ) along the first axis; wherein the second displacing device ( 36 ) includes a second slider ( 46 ) having two second leg portions ( 50 , 52 ) which are arranged transversely to the second axis and can be brought into contact with the specimen holder ( 18 ) for moving the specimen holder, a second linear guide ( 62 ) for guiding the second slider ( 46 ) along the second axis, and a second drive ( 60 ) for moving the second slider ( 46 ) along the second axis; wherein one of the two second leg portions ( 50 , 52 ) of the second slider ( 46 ) has an elongated recess ( 54 ) extending parallel to the first axis, and one of the two first leg portions of the first slider ( 38 ) passes through the recess parallel to the second axis.