JP2010102095A - Microscope system, control program thereof, and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent vertical illuminating light from a vertical illumination optical system from being radiated to a solid light-emitting element when performing vertical illumination observation by using a microscope system having a transmitted illumination optical system and the vertical illumination optical system and using the solid light-emitting element to which phosphor is imparted as a light source of a transmitted illumination system. <P>SOLUTION: The microscope system includes a stage on which an observation object is placed, the transmitted illumination optical system, the vertical illumination optical system, the solid light-emitting element that is the light source of the transmitted illumination optical system and to which the phosphor is imparted, and a light-shielding means that intercepts radiation of the vertical illuminating light to the solid light-emitting element from the vertical illumination optical system. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a microscope system that includes a plurality of objective lenses and performs various types of optical member driving by a motor for performing magnified observation of a minute sample.

  In the epifluorescence observation, excitation light passes through the subject and enters the transmission illumination optical system. At this time, the transmitted illumination optical system emits autofluorescence due to the incident excitation light, and the contrast of the fluorescent image decreases.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an epi-illumination type fluorescence microscope in which a shutter that shields excitation light caused by epi-illumination that passes through a subject is detachably disposed in an optical path between the subject and a lens of a transmission illumination system.

In recent years, with the improvement of the brightness of white LEDs (light-emitting diodes), cases of using white LEDs as transmission light sources for microscopes are increasing. Except for the pseudo-white light emitting LED such as the three-chip method (LED in which three light emitters of R / G / B are enclosed in the same chip), many white LEDs emit light having an emission spectrum in the vicinity of 400 to 480 nm as an excitation light source. Using the body as an excitation light source, the phosphor provided on the top is excited to produce a pseudo white color by additive color mixture of excitation light and fluorescence (FIG. 17).
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  However, when such a white LED is used as the transmitted illumination of the microscope, the phosphor in the white LED is excited by the excitation light used at the time of epifluorescence. Therefore, although the white LED as the transmission illumination is turned off, the white LED emits fluorescence. This fluorescence is added to the fluorescence emission in the specimen to be observed, and is detected (that is, observed or imaged) as an offset light component (noise) in the specimen image.

  Thus, when excitation light is irradiated to the white LED from the outside, the phosphor deteriorates and the amount of fluorescence from the phosphor decreases. If it does so, the balance of the blue component by the light emission spectrum from LED and the yellow component by the light emission spectrum from fluorescent substance will collapse, and it will become impossible to obtain white light emission.

Further, when the white LED is irradiated with excitation light from the outside, the lens material itself covering the white LED also deteriorates earlier.
In addition, as described above, conventionally, the transmitted illumination optical system emits autofluorescence due to the excitation light caused by incidence from the transmitted illumination optical system, and the autofluorescence has entered the observation optical path as stray light. However, as described above, when a white LED is used as a transmitted illumination light source, the white LED is turned on even though the white LED is turned off. The emitted light is autofluorescence from the light source. Therefore, the influence of the autofluorescence of the light source by the white LED light source is far greater than the autofluorescence of the optical element.

Here, in patent document 1, the kind (halogen, LED, etc.) of a light source is not limited. However, Patent Document 1 aims to block the autofluorescence of the optical element mounted on the transmission illumination system, and not to prevent the autofluorescence of the light source when the LED is mounted on the light source.

  In view of the above problems, in the present invention, epi-illumination observation is performed using a microscope system that includes a transmission illumination optical system and an epi-illumination optical system, and uses a solid-state light emitting element provided with a phosphor as a light source of the transmission illumination system. In this case, it is an object to prevent the incident light from the incident illumination optical system from hitting the solid light emitting element.

  A microscope system according to the present invention includes a stage on which an observation body is placed, a transmission illumination optical system, an epi-illumination optical system, a solid-state light emitting element that is a light source of the transmission illumination system and is provided with a phosphor, A light shielding unit configured to shield irradiation of the incident light from the incident illumination optical system to the solid state light emitting element.

The light shielding means can be inserted into and removed from an optical path between the observation body and the solid state light emitting device.
The microscope system further includes an optical element switching unit capable of switching a plurality of optical elements inserted in an optical path of the transmission front optical system, and the light shielding unit is the optical element in the optical element switching unit. It is a light-shielding part between elements.

  The optical element switching unit is a transmission filter turret, and the light blocking unit is a light blocking region between filters mounted on the transmission filter turret.

The light shielding means is a shutter that can be inserted into and removed from an optical path between the observation body and the solid state light emitting device.
The light blocking means relatively removes the solid light emitting element from the optical path between the observation body and the solid light emitting element.

The light shielding means includes solid light emitting element moving means for moving the solid light emitting element from an optical path between the observation body and the solid light emitting element.
The microscope system further includes selection means for selecting which of the transmission illumination optical system and the epi-illumination optical system to use for observation, and the selected optical system is the epi-illumination optical system. In some cases, the light emission by the solid state light emitting element is turned off, and the light shielding unit is controlled to control the incident light incident on the solid state light emitting element from the incident illumination optical system. Features.

  A stage on which an observation body is placed according to the present invention, a transmission illumination optical system, an epi-illumination optical system, a solid-state light emitting element that is a light source of the transmission illumination system and is provided with a phosphor, and the epi-illumination A microscope system control program for causing a computer to execute processing for controlling the operation of the microscope system, comprising: a light shielding unit configured to shield irradiation of incident light from the optical system onto the solid-state light emitting element; Acquisition processing for acquiring selection information as to which of the optical systems is used for observation, and when the selected optical system is the epi-illumination optical system, the light emission by the solid state light emitting element is turned off, A control process for controlling the light blocking means to block the irradiation of the incident light from the incident illumination optical system onto the solid state light emitting element. .

  A microscope according to the present invention, comprising a stage on which an observation body is placed, a transmission illumination optical system, an epi-illumination optical system, and a solid-state light emitting element that is a light source of the transmission illumination system and is provided with a phosphor. The system control method is characterized in that the light incident on the solid state light emitting element from the epi-illumination optical system is shielded by the light-shielding means.

  According to the present invention, when an epi-illumination observation is performed using a microscope system that has a transmission illumination optical system and an epi-illumination optical system and uses a solid-state light emitting element provided with a phosphor as a light source of the transmission illumination system, The incident light from the illumination optical system can be prevented from hitting the solid state light emitting device.

  A microscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stage on which an observation body is placed, a transmission illumination optical system, an epi-illumination optical system, a solid-state light emitting element provided with a phosphor, and a light shielding unit. .

The solid-state light emitting element provided with the phosphor is a light source of the transmission illumination system. This solid state light emitting element is, for example, the white LED light sources 22 and 91 in the embodiment of the present invention.
The light shielding means shields the incident light incident on the solid state light emitting element from the incident illumination optical system. Here, the light shielding means can be inserted into and removed from the optical path between the observation body and the solid state light emitting device.

  By configuring in this way, there is a transmission illumination optical system and an epi-illumination optical system, and epi-illumination observation is performed using a microscope system using a solid-state light emitting element provided with a phosphor as a light source of the transmission illumination system The incident light from the incident illumination optical system can be prevented from hitting the solid state light emitting device.

  The microscope system may further include an optical element switching unit capable of switching a plurality of optical elements inserted in the optical path of the transmission front optical system. At this time, the light shielding means is a light shielding portion between the optical elements in the optical element switching means.

  The optical element switching means may be a transmission filter turret. At this time, the light shielding means is a light shielding region between filters mounted on the transmission filter turret. For example, the transmission filter turret corresponds to the transmission filter turret 10 and the transmission filter switching unit 70 in the embodiment of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment of the present invention, the light shielding means corresponds to the inter-hole region 61 of the transmission filter turret and the inter-hole region 72 of the transmission filter switching unit 70.

With this configuration, the light shielding area between the filters mounted on the transmission filter turret can be used as a shutter.
Further, the light shielding unit may be a shutter that can be inserted into and removed from an optical path between the observation body and the solid state light emitting device. The light shielding means corresponds to, for example, the stray light prevention shutter 80 in the embodiment of the present invention.

By comprising in this way, incident light can be shielded so that incident light may not irradiate the said solid light emitting element.
The light shielding unit may relatively remove the solid light emitting element from the optical path between the observation body and the solid light emitting element. That is, the light shielding unit may include a solid light emitting element moving unit that moves the solid light emitting element from an optical path between the observation body and the solid light emitting element. In this case, for example, in the embodiment of the present invention, the light shielding means corresponds to the white LED drive motor 92 or the mirror 12 that moves the observation optical path incident on the solid light emitting element.

By comprising in this way, it can prevent that the excitation light component of epi-illumination is irradiated to a solid light emitting element by removing a solid light emitting element from an observation optical path.
The microscope system may further include a selection unit and a control unit.

  The selection means selects which one of the transmission illumination optical system and the epi-illumination optical system is used for observation. For example, the selection means corresponds to the operation unit 40 in the embodiment of the present invention.

  When the selected optical system is the epi-illumination optical system, the control unit turns off the light emitted by the solid light-emitting element and controls the light-shielding unit to transfer the solid-state light-emitting element from the epi-illumination optical system to the solid light-emitting element. The incident light of the incident light is shielded. For example, the control means corresponds to the microscope control unit 30 in the embodiment of the present invention.

With this configuration, it is possible to shield the incident light incident on the solid-state light emitting element from the epi-illumination optical system in conjunction with switching from transmission illumination observation to epi-illumination observation.
The details of the embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
Example 1
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a microscope system 1 in the present embodiment (Example 1). In the microscope apparatus 2, as a transmission observation optical system, a transmission illumination light source (in this embodiment, a white LED light source 22 is used), a collector lens 13 that collects illumination light from the transmission illumination light source 22, and a mirror 12, a transmission filter turret 10 is provided. Further, the epi-illumination observation optical system includes a fluorescent cube 4, an epi-illumination light source 21 a that is a monochromatic LED light source, and a collector lens 14.

  An electric stage 7 on which an observation body (specimen) 50 is placed is provided on the observation optical path where the optical path of the transmission observation optical system and the optical path of the epi-illumination observation optical system overlap. The electric stage 7 is movable in each of up, down, left and right directions.

  The electric stage 7 has an origin detection function (not shown) by an origin sensor. Thereby, movement control by coordinate detection and coordinate designation of the specimen 50 placed on the electric stage 7 can be performed.

  A revolver 5, a fluorescent cube 4, and an eyepiece 3 are provided on the observation optical path. The revolver 5 selects a plurality of mounted objective lenses 6 to be used for observation by rotating operation.

  A transmission filter turret 10 and a transmission filter turret drive motor 11 are provided below the electric stage 7. The transmission filter turret drive motor 11 is power for rotating the transmission filter turret 10. The transmission filter turret 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The microscope control unit 30 has a function of controlling the operation of the entire microscope apparatus 2. The microscope control unit 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device, an operation unit 40, and the like. The CPU controls the operation of the entire microscope system by executing the control program. The storage device may be used as a work memory by the CPU as needed, or may store a program or the like in the present embodiment. The operation unit 40 is an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard that acquires various instructions from the user.

The microscope control unit 30 has a function of changing the spectroscopic method and dimming the transmitted illumination light source 22 and the epi-illumination light source 21 in accordance with a control signal from the operation unit 40. The microscope control unit 30 controls the driving of the electric stage 7 by controlling a stage XY drive control unit (not shown) and a stage Z drive control unit (not shown).

  Here, the microscope control unit 30 includes an illumination control unit 31 and a transmission filter turret control unit 32. The illumination control means 31 controls the operations of the monochromatic LED light source 21a and the white LED light source 22. That is, the illumination control means 31 turns ON / OFF the power of the monochromatic LED light source 21a and the white LED light source 22. The transmission filter turret control means 32 controls the operation of the transmission filter turret drive motor 11.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a transmission filter turret in the present embodiment. For example, filters 60a, 60b, 60c, and 60d (collectively referred to as filter 60) such as an ND filter and a correction filter are mounted on the transmission filter turret 10 in a switchable manner. The regions between the filters 60 are referred to as inter-hole regions 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d (collectively referred to as inter-hole regions 61).

  FIG. 3 shows a control flow of the microscope control unit 30 in the present embodiment (Example 1). First, the observer operates the operation unit 40 to specify whether to perform transmitted illumination observation or epi-illumination observation. The instruction signal from the operation unit 40 is sent to the microscope control unit 30.

When the instruction from the operation unit 40 is epi-illumination observation (proceed to “epi-illumination” in S11), the illumination control unit 31 turns off the white LED light source 22 (S12).
Next, the transmission filter turret control means 32 drives the transmission filter turret drive motor 11 so that the position of the observation optical path that passes through the filter 60 of the transmission filter turret becomes the inter-hole region 61. Thereby, the transmission filter turret 10 is rotated so that the observation optical path is positioned in the inter-hole region 61. As a result, the incident light can be shielded so that the incident light does not irradiate the white LED light source 22 (S13). Thereafter, the illumination control means 31 turns on the epi-illumination light source 21a (S14).

If the instruction from the operation unit 40 is transmitted illumination observation (proceed to “transmit” in S11), the illumination control unit 31 turns off the epi-illumination light source 21a (S15).
Here, when the incident light is already shielded so as not to irradiate the white LED light source 22, that is, when the position of the observation optical path is in the inter-hole region 61 of the transmission filter turret 10, the transmission filter turret control means 32. Rotates the transmission filter turret drive motor 11 so that the position of the observation optical path moves from the inter-hole region 61 to the filter 60 (S16). Thereby, it is possible to cancel the state where the incident light is shielded so as not to irradiate the white LED light source 22.

  Thereafter, the illumination control means 31 turns on the white LED light source 22 (S17). S1 to S7 are repeated until the observation is completed ("No" in S18). If the observation is finished (“Yes” in S18), this flow is finished.

  In this embodiment, the transmission filter turret is used as the light shielding means, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the transmission filter turret, a sliding transmission filter switching unit that moves in the one-dimensional direction or the two-dimensional direction of FIG. 4 may be used.

  FIG. 4 shows a slide-type transmission filter switching unit 70 that moves in a one-dimensional direction in the present embodiment. For example, filters 71a, 71b, 71c (collectively referred to as filter 71) such as an ND filter and a correction filter are mounted on the transmission filter switching unit 70 so as to be switchable. The area between the filters 70 is referred to as an inter-hole area 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d (collectively referred to as an inter-hole area 72).

(Example 2)
In the first embodiment, the microscope system using the monochromatic LED as the epi-illumination light source has been described. In contrast, in this embodiment, a microscope system using a mercury lamp, a xenon lamp or the like as an epi-illumination light source will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to Example 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of a microscope system in the present embodiment (Example 2). In the microscope system of the present embodiment, a mercury lamp, a xenon lamp or the like is used as the epi-illumination light source 21b. Since these light sources are usually not suitable for frequent turning on / off, the microscope system of the present embodiment is provided with an epi-illumination shutter 23 and an epi-illumination shutter driving motor 24 for driving the epi-illumination shutter 23. It has been. The epi-illumination light is blocked by the epi-illumination shutter 23 so that the observation body 50 is not illuminated. Except for these, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 shows a control flow of the microscope control unit 30 in the present embodiment (Example 2). Only the differences from FIG. 3 will be described below.
In FIG. 6, the illumination control means 31 drives the epi-illumination shutter 23 by operating the epi-illumination shutter driving motor 24 to block the illumination from the epi-illumination light source 21b in S15-1.

  In S14-1, the illumination control means 31 is turned on when the epi-illumination light source 21a is turned off. Alternatively, the illumination control means 31 opens the epi-illumination shutter 23 when the illumination of the epi-illumination light source 21 a is blocked by the epi-illumination shutter 23. The rest is the same as in FIG.

  According to this embodiment, the excitation light component of the epi-illumination irradiated on the white LED light source 22 can be blocked by the inter-hole region of the optical element switching means. Thereby, an unnecessary autofluorescent component of the LED via the transmission illumination system can be eliminated, and a good fluorescent image can be acquired.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the excitation light component of the epi-illumination irradiated on the white LED light source is blocked by the inter-hole region of the optical element switching means. On the other hand, this embodiment demonstrates the microscope system which interrupts | blocks the excitation light component of the epi-illumination irradiated to a white LED light source with a stray light prevention shutter. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

Example 1
FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of a microscope system in the present embodiment (Example 1). 7, the microscope system 1 further includes a stray light prevention shutter 80 and a stray light prevention shutter drive motor 81 in addition to the configuration of FIG.

The stray light prevention shutter 80 shields the observation optical path from the lower surface side of the electric stage 7. The stray light prevention shutter drive motor 81 is power for driving the stray light prevention shutter 80.
The microscope control unit 30 includes illumination control means 31 and shutter control means 33. The shutter control means 33 opens and closes the stray light prevention shutter 80 by controlling the operation of the stray light prevention shutter drive motor 81.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the stray light prevention shutter 80 in the present embodiment. The stray light prevention shutter 80 can be inserted into and removed from the optical axis (observation optical path) by the operation of the stray light prevention shutter drive motor 81.

  FIG. 9 shows a control flow of the microscope control unit 30 in the present embodiment (Example 1). First, the observer operates the operation unit 40 to specify whether to perform transmitted illumination observation or epi-illumination observation. The instruction signal from the operation unit 40 is sent to the microscope control unit 30.

When the instruction from the operation unit 40 is epi-illumination observation (proceed to “epi-illumination” in S21), the illumination control unit 31 turns off the white LED light source 22 (S22).
Next, the shutter control means 33 drives the stray light prevention shutter drive motor 81 to close the stray light prevention shutter 80. Accordingly, it is possible to block the incident light so as not to irradiate the white LED 22 (S23). Thereafter, the illumination control means 31 turns on the epi-illumination light source 21a (S24).

If the instruction from the operation unit 40 is transmitted illumination observation (proceed to “transmit” in S21), the illumination control unit 31 turns off the incident illumination light source 21a (S25).
Here, when the incident light is already shielded so as not to irradiate the white LED light source 22, that is, when the stray light prevention shutter 80 is closed, the shutter control means 33 drives the stray light prevention shutter drive motor 81. Then, the stray light prevention shutter 80 is opened (S26). Thereby, it is possible to cancel the state where the incident light is shielded so as not to irradiate the white LED light source 22.

  Thereafter, the illumination control means 31 turns on the white LED light source 22 (S27). S1 to S7 are repeated until the observation is completed ("No" in S28). If the observation is finished (“Yes” in S28), this flow is finished.

(Example 2)
In the first embodiment, the microscope system using the monochromatic LED as the epi-illumination light source has been described. In contrast, in this embodiment, a microscope system using a mercury lamp, a xenon lamp or the like as an epi-illumination light source will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to Example 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of a microscope system in the present embodiment (Example 2). In the microscope system of the present embodiment, a mercury lamp, a xenon lamp or the like is used as the epi-illumination light source 21b. Since these light sources are usually not suitable for frequent lighting / extinguishing, as in FIG. 5, in the microscope system of the present embodiment, the epi-illumination shutter 23 and the epi-illumination shutter 23 for driving the epi-illumination shutter 23 are used. A shutter drive motor 24 is provided. Except for these, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 11 shows a control flow of the microscope control unit 30 in the present embodiment (Example 2). Only the differences from FIG. 9 will be described below.
In FIG. 11, the illumination control means 31 drives the epi-illumination shutter 23 by operating the epi-illumination shutter drive motor 24 to block the illumination from the epi-illumination light source 21b in S25-1.

  Moreover, the illumination control means 31 is lighted when the epi-illumination light source 21a is in the extinguished state in S24-1. Alternatively, the illumination control means 31 opens the epi-illumination shutter 23 when the illumination from the epi-illumination light source 21 a is blocked by the epi-illumination shutter 23. Other than this, since it is the same as that of FIG. 9, its description is omitted.

According to this embodiment, the excitation light component of epi-illumination irradiated on the white LED light source 22 can be blocked by the stray light prevention shutter. Thereby, an unnecessary autofluorescent component of the LED via the transmission illumination system can be eliminated, and a good fluorescent image can be acquired.

<Third Embodiment>
In the first and second embodiments, the microscope system that blocks the excitation light component of the epi-illumination light irradiated on the white LED light source 22 by arranging an obstacle on the observation optical axis has been described. In contrast, in this embodiment, a microscope system in which the white LED light source 22 is removed from the observation optical axis so that the white LED light source 22 is not irradiated with the excitation light component of the epi-illumination will be described. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first or second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

Example 1
FIG. 12 shows a configuration example of the microscope system in the present embodiment (Example 1). In FIG. 12, the microscope system 1 is obtained by removing the transmission filter turret control means 32 from FIG. 1 and replacing the white LED light source 22 with a white LED light source 90.

  FIG. 13 shows a white LED light source 90 (90a, 90b) as a transmitted illumination light source in the present embodiment. In the white LED light source 90a of FIG. 12A, the white LED drive motor 92a is driven based on the control signal from the illumination control means 31, and the white LED 91a moves in the direction perpendicular to the observation optical path.

  In the white LED light source 90b of FIG. 12B, the white LED drive motor 92b is driven based on the control signal from the illumination control means 31, and the white LED 91b rotates so as to leave the observation optical path.

  Hereinafter, the white LED light sources 90a and 90b are collectively referred to as a white LED light source 90. Further, the white LEDs 91a and 91b are collectively referred to as a white LED 91. The white LED drive motors 92a and 92b are collectively referred to as a white LED drive motor 92.

  FIG. 14 shows a control flow of the microscope control unit 30 in the present embodiment. First, the observer operates the operation unit 40 to specify whether to perform transmitted illumination observation or epi-illumination observation. The instruction signal from the operation unit 40 is sent to the microscope control unit 30.

When the instruction from the operation unit 40 is epi-illumination observation (proceed to “epi-illumination” in S31), the illumination control unit 31 turns off the white LED light source 90 (S32).
Next, the illumination control means 31 drives the white LED drive motor 92 to remove the white LED 91 from the observation optical path. Thereby, it can shield, so that incident light may not irradiate the white LED light source 22 (S33). Thereafter, the illumination control means 31 turns on the epi-illumination light source 21a (S34).

If the instruction from the operation unit 40 is transmitted illumination observation (proceed to “transmit” in S31), the illumination control unit 31 turns off the epi-illumination light source 21a (S35).
Here, when the white LED 91 has already been removed from the observation optical path, the illumination control means 31 returns the white LED 91 to its original position (S36).

  Thereafter, the illumination control means 31 turns on the white LED light source 90 (S37). S31 to S37 are repeated until the observation is completed ("No" in S38). If the observation is finished (“Yes” in S38), this flow is finished.

(Example 2)
In the first embodiment, the microscope system using the monochromatic LED as the epi-illumination light source has been described. In contrast, in this embodiment, a microscope system using a mercury lamp, a xenon lamp or the like as an epi-illumination light source will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to Example 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 15 shows a configuration example of a microscope system in the present embodiment (Example 2). In the microscope system of the present embodiment, a mercury lamp, a xenon lamp or the like is used as the epi-illumination light source 21b. Since these light sources are usually not suitable for frequent lighting / extinguishing, as in FIG. 5, in the microscope system of the present embodiment, the epi-illumination shutter 23 and the epi-illumination shutter 23 for driving the epi-illumination shutter 23 are used. A shutter drive motor 24 is provided. Except for these, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 16 shows a control flow of the microscope control unit 30 in the present embodiment (Example 2). Only the differences from FIG. 14 will be described below.
In FIG. 16, in S35-1, the illumination control means 31 drives the epi-illumination shutter 23 by operating the epi-illumination shutter drive motor 24 to block the illumination from the epi-illumination light source 21b.

  Moreover, the illumination control means 31 is lighted, when the epi-illumination light source 21a is a light extinction state in S34-1. Alternatively, the illumination control means 31 opens the epi-illumination shutter 23 when the illumination from the epi-illumination light source 21 a is blocked by the epi-illumination shutter 23. Except this, it is the same as FIG. 14, and the description thereof is omitted.

  According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the white LED light source 22 from being irradiated with the excitation light component of the epi-illumination by removing the white LED light source 90 from the observation optical path. Thereby, an unnecessary autofluorescent component of the LED via the transmission illumination system can be eliminated, and a good fluorescent image can be acquired.

  In the present embodiment, the white LED light source 90 is removed from the observation light path, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the observation light path itself irradiated to the white LED light source 90 may be moved by adjusting the mirror 12. Good.

  A control program for the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, and 16 may be created and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. In this case, the present invention can be implemented by reading the program from a recording medium into a computer and executing it by a CPU.

  As a recording medium from which the recorded control program can be read by a computer, for example, a storage device such as a ROM or a hard disk device provided as an internal or external accessory device in the computer, or a medium driving device provided in the computer is inserted. A portable recording medium such as a flexible disk, MO (magneto-optical disk), CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or the like from which the control program recorded can be read out can be used.

  The recording medium may be a storage device provided in a computer system functioning as a program server connected to a computer via a communication line. In this case, a transmission signal obtained by modulating a carrier wave with a data signal representing a control program is transmitted from the program server to a computer through a communication line as a transmission medium, and the computer demodulates the received transmission signal. By replaying the control program, the control program can be executed by the CPU of the computer.

  According to the first to third embodiments, in a microscope that uses a white LED as a transmitted illumination light source, the self-fluorescence of the LED during epi-illumination fluorescence is avoided, and the background noise (offset component) of the observation (imaging) image ) Can be avoided.

  In addition, since the excitation light is not irradiated to the white LED from the outside, it is possible to prevent the phosphor constituting the white LED from being deteriorated. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the amount of fluorescent light and to use the white LED for a longer time. Moreover, deterioration of the lens material covering the white LED can be prevented.

  In the first to third embodiments, the white LED is used as the light source of the transmission illumination system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an LED provided with a phosphor, a semiconductor laser provided with a phosphor, or the like. Any solid-state light emitting element to which a phosphor is applied may be used.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to each embodiment mentioned above, A various improvement and change are possible within the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

The structural example of the microscope system in 1st Embodiment (Example 1) is shown. 1 shows an example of a transmission filter turret in a first embodiment. The control flow of the microscope control part 30 in 1st Embodiment (Example 1) is shown. 1 shows a sliding transmission filter switching unit 70 that moves in a one-dimensional direction in the first embodiment. The structural example of the microscope system in 1st Embodiment (Example 2) is shown. The control flow of the microscope control part 30 in 1st Embodiment (Example 2) is shown. The structural example of the microscope system in 2nd Embodiment (Example 1) is shown. An example of the stray light prevention shutter 80 in 2nd Embodiment is shown. The control flow of the microscope control part 30 in 2nd Embodiment (Example 1) is shown. The structural example of the microscope system in 2nd Embodiment (Example 2) is shown. The control flow of the microscope control part 30 in 2nd Embodiment (Example 2) is shown. The structural example of the microscope system in 3rd Embodiment (Example 1) is shown. The white LED light source 90 (90a, 90b) as a transmission illumination light source in 3rd Embodiment is shown. The control flow of the microscope control part 30 in 3rd Embodiment is shown. The structural example of the microscope system in 3rd Embodiment (Example 2) is shown. The control flow of the microscope control part 30 in 3rd Embodiment (Example 2) is shown. It is a figure for demonstrating general white LED.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Microscope system 2 Microscope apparatus 3 Eyepiece 4 Fluorescent cube 5 Revolver 6 Objective lens 7 Electric stage 10 Transmission filter turret 11 Transmission filter turret drive motor 12 Mirror 13, 14 Collector lens 21a Light source for epi-illumination (monochromatic LED light source)
21b Epi-illumination light source (Hg / Xe lamp)
22 White LED light source 23 Epi-illumination shutter 24 Epi-illumination shutter drive motor 30 Microscope control unit 31 Illumination control means 32 Transmission filter turret control means 40 Operation unit 50 Observation object 60 (60a, 60b, 60c, 60d) Filter 61 ( 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d) Hole-to-hole area 70 Transmission filter switching unit 71 (71a, 71b, 71c) Filter 72 (72a, 72b, 72c, 72d) Hole-to-hole area 80 Stray light prevention shutter 81 Stray light prevention shutter drive motor 90 White LED light source 91 (91a, 91b) White LED
92 (92a, 92b) White LED drive motor

Claims (10)

A stage on which the observation body is placed;
A transmission illumination optical system;
Epi-illumination optics,
A solid state light emitting device that is a light source of the transmission illumination system and is provided with a phosphor;
A light shielding means for shielding irradiation of the incident light from the incident illumination optical system to the solid state light emitting element;
A microscope system comprising: The microscope system according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding unit is insertable / removable with respect to an optical path between the observation body and the solid state light emitting device. The microscope system further includes:
An optical element switching means capable of switching a plurality of optical elements inserted in the optical path of the transmission front optical system,
The microscope system according to claim 2, wherein the light shielding unit is a light shielding part between the optical elements in the optical element switching unit. The optical element switching means is a transmission filter turret,
The microscope system according to claim 3, wherein the light shielding unit is a light shielding region between filters mounted on the transmission filter turret. The microscope system according to claim 2, wherein the light shielding unit is a shutter that can be inserted into and removed from an optical path between the observation body and the solid state light emitting device. The microscope system according to claim 2, wherein the light shielding unit relatively removes the solid light emitting element from an optical path between the observation body and the solid light emitting element. The microscope system according to claim 6, wherein the light shielding unit includes a solid light emitting element moving unit that moves the solid light emitting element from an optical path between the observation body and the solid light emitting element. The microscope system further includes:
A selection means for selecting which of the transmission illumination optical system and the epi-illumination optical system is used for observation;
When the selected optical system is the epi-illumination optical system, the light emitted from the solid-state light-emitting element is turned off and the light-shielding unit is controlled to reduce the incident light from the epi-illumination optical system to the solid-state light-emitting element. Control means for shielding the irradiation;
The microscope system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: A stage on which the observation body is placed;
A transmission illumination optical system;
Epi-illumination optics,
A solid state light emitting device that is a light source of the transmission illumination system and is provided with a phosphor;
A light shielding means for shielding irradiation of the incident light from the incident illumination optical system to the solid state light emitting element;
A microscope system control program for causing a computer to execute processing for controlling the operation of a microscope system comprising:
An acquisition process for acquiring selection information as to which of the transmission illumination optical system and the epi-illumination optical system is used for observation, and
When the selected optical system is the epi-illumination optical system, the light emitted from the solid-state light-emitting element is turned off and the light-shielding unit is controlled to reduce the incident light from the epi-illumination optical system to the solid-state light-emitting element. A control process to block the irradiation,
Is a microscope system control program that causes a computer to execute. A stage on which the observation body is placed;
A transmission illumination optical system;
Epi-illumination optics,
A solid state light emitting device that is a light source of the transmission illumination system and is provided with a phosphor;
A method for controlling a microscope system comprising:
A method for controlling a microscope system, characterized in that the light incident on the solid state light emitting element from the epi-illumination optical system is shielded by a light-shielding means.