INFINITY OPTICAL SYSTEM
An optical configuration (in which the specimen is located at
the front focal plane of the objective) gathers light transmitted
through or reflected from the central portion of the specimen
and produces a parallel bundle of rays projected along the opti-
cal axis of the microscope toward the tube lens.
A portion of the light reaching the objective originates from the
periphery of the specimen, and enters the optical system at
oblique angles, moving forward diagonally but still in parallel
bundles toward the tube lens. All of the light gathered by the
tube lens is then focused at the intermediate image plane, and
subsequently enlarged by the eyepiece.
The real merit of the infinity based system lies in its ability
to accommodate modular accessories in the optical path and
produce a flexible design.
Specimen
Objective
Tube lens
Intermediate image plane
