EP-4735943-A1 - REPLACEABLE LIGHT MODULE AND DOCKING STATION FOR IMAGING MICROSCOPE

Abstract

A light module for a microscope includes a housing which includes an exterior surface and a registration element disposed on the exterior surface. A plurality of heat sinks is disposed within the housing. A light source bracket is disposed within a space defined by the plurality of heat sinks. A circuit board is secured to the housing. A light source power port is communicatively coupled to the circuit board. A light source optical port is disposed within the space defined by the plurality of heat sinks. The light source optical port includes a plurality of aligned lenses and an optical port receiver aligned with the plurality of aligned lenses. The optical port receiver defines a light module axis extending along a length of the housing and includes a recess engageably oriented towards a first end of the housing. A plurality of light module electrical connections are secured to the circuit board. Each of the plurality of light module electrical connections includes an engagement feature engageably oriented towards the first end of the housing.

Inventors

• STOECKL, Christoph
• KEIDEL, FRANK
• TOEROEK, TAMAS
• KENDA, ANDREAS

Assignees

• Molecular Devices (Austria) GmbH

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240627

Claims (20)

1. 1. A light module for a microscope, the light module comprising: a housing comprising an exterior surface and a registration element disposed on the exterior surface; a circuit board secured to the housing; a light source power port communicatively coupled to the circuit board; a light source optical port disposed within the space defined by the plurality of heat sinks, wherein the light source optical port comprises a plurality of aligned lenses and an optical port receiver aligned with the plurality of aligned lenses, wherein the optical port receiver defines a light module axis extending along a length of the housing and comprises a recess engageably oriented towards a first end of the housing; and a plurality of light module electrical connections secured to the circuit board, wherein each of the plurality of light module electrical connections comprises an engagement feature engageably oriented towards the first end of the housing.
2. 2. The light module of claim 1, further comprising a lock disposed at a second end of the housing, wherein the lock is positionable in a first position wherein a locking mechanism of the lock is retracted into the exterior surface of the housing and wherein the lock is positionable in a second position where the locking mechanism of the lock is extended from the exterior surface of the housing.
3. 3. The light module of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the plurality of light module electrical connections include a grounding connection and a plurality of other connections, and wherein the grounding connection extends further towards the first end than the plurality of other connections.
4. 4. The light module of any of claims 1-3, further comprising a plurality of light source brackets.
5. 5. The light module of claim 4, further comprising a light source mounted to each of the plurality of light source brackets.
6. 6. The light module of any of claims 1-5, further comprising a mirror disposed within the space defined by a plurality of heat sinks, wherein the mirror is aligned with the light module axis.
7. 7. The light module of claim 4 or 5, further comprising a motor disposed in the space defined by the plurality of heat sinks and operatively coupled to the mirror, wherein the motor is configured to selectively position the mirror to reflectively align the light module axis with each of the plurality of light source brackets.
8. 8. The light module of any preceding claim, further comprising a fan secured to the housing and positioned to direct an airflow substantially along the light module axis.
9. 9. A docking station for engaging a removeable light module with a microscope, the docking station comprising: a base; a plug slider slidably coupled to the base between a first position and a second position, wherein the plug slider defines a central channel having a plug slider axis; a lens disposed at a first end of the plug slider; an optical fiber disposed within the central channel and optically coupled to the lens; and a spring engaged with the plug slider for biasing the plug slider towards the first position.
10. 10. The docking station of claim 9, wherein the base comprises: a throat projecting from the base; and an end cap secured to the throat, wherein the plug slider is slidably disposed in the throat between the first position and the second position and wherein the plug slider is retained in the first position by the end cap.
11. 11. The docking station of claim 10, wherein the plug slider projects from the end cap in the first position and in the second position.
12. 12. The docking station of any of claims 9-11, wherein the optical fiber disposed within the central channel is coupled to an optical fiber disposed within the base, and wherein the optical fiber disposed within the base is communicatively coupled to the microscope.
13. 13. The docking station of claim 12, wherein the optical fiber disposed within the central channel and the optical fiber disposed within the base comprise a unitary part.
14. 14. The docking station of any of claims 9-14, further comprising a plurality of docking station electrical connections disposed parallel to the plug slider axis.
15. 15. The docking station of claim 14, wherein the plurality of docking station electrical connections include a grounding connection and a plurality of other connections, and wherein the grounding connection extends further parallel to the plug slider axis than the plurality of other connections.
16. 16. A method of engaging a light module with a microscope, the method comprising: slidably receiving, along a first axis, the light module in a light module receiver of the microscope, wherein: the light module comprises a housing comprising a registration element, an optical port, a lock, and a plurality of light module electrical connections; the light module receiver comprises a mating element, an opening in an outer housing of the microscope disposed at a first end of the light module receiver, and a docking station at a second end of the light module receiver, the docking station comprising a plug slider comprising an exposed lens on an end cap and a plug slider optical fiber, and a plurality of docking station electrical connections; engaging the registration element with the mating element while slidably receiving the light module in the light module receiver; contacting the plurality of light module electrical connections and the plurality of docking station electrical connections; projecting the plug slider into the optical port; contacting the end cap of the plug slider with a base of the optical port; subsequent to contacting the end cap of the plug slider with the base of the optical port, moving the plug slider from a first projected position to a second projected position; and receiving the lock in the housing.
17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein contacting the plurality of light module electrical connections and the plurality of docking station electrical connections comprises sending an identification signal from the light module to the microscope.
18. 18. The method of claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the optical port comprises an optical port axis and the plug slider comprises a plug slider axis and wherein engaging the registration element with the mating element substantially aligns the optical port axis with the plug slider axis.
19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein moving the plug slider from the first projected position to the second projected position optically aligns the optical port axis with the plug slider axis.
20. 20. The method of any of claims 16-19, wherein moving the plug slider from the first projected position to the second projected position deflects a docking station optical fiber disposed within the docking station that is optically coupled to the plug slider optical fiber.

Description

REPLACEABLE LIGHT MODULE AND DOCKING STATION FOR IMAGING MICROSCOPE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/511,223, filed June 30, 2023, titled “REPLACEABLE LIGHT MODULE AND DOCKING STATION FOR IMAGING MICROSCOPE,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. INTRODUCTION Highly integrated imaging systems, referred to also herein as “imagers” or “imaging microscopes,” are very complex and include lens systems, light sources, cameras, and other components as required or desired to image the contents of the microplates presented to the imager. The light sources of these imagers are often difficult to access and subject to failure (e.g., burnout of the light source). Replacement of the light source requires calibrations after exchange. Such replacement typically requires system downtime and is costly, since it usually must be performed by a technician. SUMMARY In one aspect, the technology relates to a light module for a microscope, the light module includes: a housing which includes an exterior surface and a registration element disposed on the exterior surface; a plurality of heat sinks disposed within the housing; a light source bracket disposed within a space defined by the plurality of heat sinks; a circuit board secured to the housing; a light source power port communicatively coupled to the circuit board; a light source optical port disposed within the space defined by the plurality of heat sinks, wherein the light source optical port includes a plurality of aligned lenses and an optical port receiver aligned with the plurality of aligned lenses, wherein the optical port receiver defines a light module axis extending along a length of the housing and includes a recess engageably oriented towards a first end of the housing; and a plurality of light module electrical connections secured to the circuit board, wherein each of the plurality of light module electrical connections includes an engagement feature engageably oriented towards the first end of the housing. In an example, the light module further includes a lock disposed at a second end of the housing, wherein the lock is positionable in a first position wherein a connector of the lock is retracted into the exterior surface of the housing and wherein the lock is positionable in a second position where the connector of the lock is extended from the exterior surface of the housing. In another example, the light module electrical connections include a grounding connection and a plurality of other connections, and wherein the grounding connection extends further towards the first end than the plurality of other connections. In yet another example, the light source bracket includes a plurality of light source brackets. In still another example, the light module further includes a light source mounted to each of the plurality of light source brackets. In another example of the above aspect, the light module further includes a mirror disposed within the space defined by the plurality of heat sinks, wherein the mirror is aligned with the light module axis. In an example, the light module further includes a motor disposed in the space defined by the plurality of heat sinks and operatively coupled to the mirror, wherein the motor is configured to selectively position the mirror to reflectively align the light module axis with each of the plurality of light source brackets. In another example, the light module further includes a fan secured to the housing and positioned to direct an airflow substantially along the light module axis. In another aspect, the technology relates to a docking station for engaging a removeable light module with a microscope, the docking station includes: a base; a plug slider slidably coupled to the base between a first position and a second position, wherein the plug slider defines a central channel having a plug slider axis; a lens disposed at a first end of the plug slider; an optical fiber disposed within the central channel and optically coupled to the lens; and a spring engaged with the plug slider for biasing the plug slider towards the first position. In an example, the base includes: a throat projecting from the base; and an end cap secured to the throat, wherein the plug slider is slidably disposed in the throat between the first position and the second position and wherein the plug slider is retained in the first position by the end cap. In another example, the plug slider projects from the end cap in the first position and in the second position. In yet another example, the optical fiber disposed within the central channel is coupled to an optical fiber disposed within the base, and wherein the optical fiber disposed within the base is communicatively coupled to the microscope. In still another example, the optical fiber disposed within the central channel and the optical fiber disposed within the base includes a unitary