Comparison System for Microscope Images

A relatively simple system for the critical comparison of the two microscope images is described below. This system has advantages not offered by the split field optical system normally employed for the comparison of images. The split field system places the images from two microscopes side by side as viewed through a single eyepiece. The system described herein superimposes the two images in a single eyepiece, and displays them alternately in time. Differences and similarities in the two images are readily observed, because those features which are different appear to change at the rate of the alternating display, while those features which are similar do not change. This "blink" display principle has been used for some time in astronomy to compare pictures of the sky taken at different times, but its use is not widely known.