摘要 |
A microscope (5) or other observational apparatus comprises a hollow tube (40), a lens (30) mounted to the tube, a light source (70) and at least one flexible optical fiber (60) having an input end positioned to receive light from the light source and an output end positioned within the tube so as to project light along a straight path to the lens illuminating an object (20). The projected light's path is uninterrupted and free of light-deflecting elements. By passing the light through the lens, the light can be diffused or otherwise defocused to provide more uniform illumination across the surface of the object, increasing the quality of the image of the object seen by the viewer. The direct undeflected and uninterrupted projection of light, without change of direction, eliminates the need for light-deflecting elements, such as beam-splitters, mirrors, prisms, or the like, to direct the projected light towards the object.
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