Appeal 2006-2726
Application 10/213,507
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Appellants invented a microscope having switchable illumination in at
least two spectral regions. One feature of the invention is that narrow-band
and broad-band filters can be alternately inserted into an illumination beam
path via a positive coupling. Claim 11 is illustrative:
11. A microscope comprising
means for a switchable illumination in at least two spectral regions;
a broad-band light source;
a common illumination beam path for said at least two spectral
regions, said illumination path proceeding from said broad-band light
source;
a narrow-band wavelength-selective filter that can reversibly be
inserted into the illumination beam path at a first position along the beam
path in order to achieve a wavelength-selective illumination in a first of said
at least two spectral regions;
and a broad-band light protection filter, which can reversibly be
inserted into the illumination beam path at a second position along the beam
path alternatively to said wavelength-selective filter;
a motor drive for motorized introducing and then removing the
wavelength-selective filter and/or the light protection filter; and
a positive coupling for the opposite-direction insertion motions of the
wavelength-selective filter and/or of the light protection filter;
wherein the first and second positions are offset from each other along
the beam path.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references to show
unpatentability:
Stankewitz US 3,833,283 Sept. 3, 1974
Hanamura US 5,565,938 Oct. 15, 1996
Atsushi EP 0 896 237 A1 Feb. 10, 1999
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