Programmable illuminating system for an optical microscope

A programmable illuminating system (PIS) uses a commercial multimedia projector together with a suitable optical relay system in order to illuminate specimens under microscope with transmitted light. The theoretical part of the diploma thesis describes some methods used in the optical transmission microscopy. All of these methods employ physical masks placed in the condenser front focal plane. In the case of the traditional methods the masks are used to enhance contrast (e.g. dark-field illumination) and resolution (oblique illumination). One of the methods (a condenser with rotating aperture) provides the information about the three-dimensionality of the specimen. The next part of the thesis contains the theory and the basic classification of the illuminating systems used in the optical transmission microscopy. An optical and mechanical design of the optical relay system used for PIS is introduced. The experimental part shows the results made with two different PIS arrangements. It was shown on two different specimens that the PIS provides the same illumination as the classical methods. It was also proved that the PIS can simulate the rotating aperture in the condenser front focal plane and thus to give the information about the three-dimensionality of the specimen. Some new static and dynamic illuminating methods were introduced