US 7,321,462 B2
Fluorescence microscope
Syohei Yamamoto, Osaka (Japan)
Assigned to Keyence Corporation, Osaka (Japan)
Filed on May 20, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/133,705.
Claims priority of application No. 2004-351358 (JP), filed on Dec. 03, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2006/0119935 A1, Jun. 08, 2006
Int. Cl. G02B 21/06 (2006.01); G02B 21/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 359—390  [359/368; 359/385] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluorescence microscope having an illuminating system for irradiating an excitation light onto a sample for observation of a fluorescent image of the sample, comprising:
(a) a transmissive illumination light source, which is arranged above a stage for placing the sample and said transmissive illumination light source is arranged facing a horizontal direction;
(b) a tilt mirror, which reflects light from the transmissive illumination source and illuminates the sample on the stage from above;
(c) a transmissive illumination optical unit including at least the tilt mirror is disposed so as to move in a direction in which said transmissive illumination optical unit is brought away from the stage from a normal position; and
(d) a sample cover for shielding a light from said stage, wherein said sample cover is displaceable downward so as to expose said stage.