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An optical microscope is provided with an adjustable optical phase ring. The adjustable ring provides a way to compensate for distortion in the visible phase ring before the light reaches the sample. In an inverted microscope, when observing transparent cells under a liquid, the visible light phase

An optical microscope is provided with an adjustable optical phase ring. The adjustable ring provides a way to compensate for distortion in the visible phase ring before the light reaches the sample. In an inverted microscope, when observing transparent cells under a liquid, the visible light phase ring is distorted. By the use of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) in place of a fixed ring, the projected ring is adjusted to realign the light and produce phase. In a typical micro plate, the meniscus formed produces a lens effect that is realigned by providing changes in the position and pattern, to allow phase imaging over a wider portion of the well. The realignment of the ring can be manual or automated and can be dynamically adjusted based upon an observed image of the sample.

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1. An adjustable phase contrast microscope comprising an illuminating optical system including an electrical device for constructing an adjustable visible phase ring, the adjustable visible phase ring being dynamically adjustable based on position, fluid height, and/or viscosity of a sample. 2. The

1. An adjustable phase contrast microscope comprising an illuminating optical system including an electrical device for constructing an adjustable visible phase ring, the adjustable visible phase ring being dynamically adjustable based on position, fluid height, and/or viscosity of a sample. 2. The microscope of claim 1, wherein the electrical device comprises a light source, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a liquid crystal controller for constructing the adjustable visible phase ring. 3. The microscope of claim 2, including a member configured for cooperation with the liquid crystal controller for dynamically adjusting the visible phase ring to compensate for any distortion of the image throughout the life of an experiment or during a predetermined period of observation. 4. The microscope of claim 1, wherein the electrical device is capable of being turned on or off to affect the visible or fluorescent light applied to a sample. 5. The microscope of claim 1, wherein the electrical device is capable of changing the wavelength used to illuminate cells within a sample being viewed. 6. The microscope of claim 1, further comprising a Bertrand lens camera, wherein the electrical device is configured to produce a predetermined pattern and an operator is capable of viewing an image from the Bertrand lens camera. 7. The microscope of claim 6, wherein the electrical device comprises a light source, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a liquid crystal controller for constructing the adjustable visible phase ring. 8. The microscope of claim 7, including a member configured for cooperation with the liquid crystal controller for dynamically adjusting the phase ring to compensate for any distortion of the image throughout the life of an experiment or during a predetermined period of observation. 9. The microscope of claim 6, wherein the electrical device is capable of being turned on or off to affect the visible or fluorescent light applied to a sample. 10. The microscope of claim 6, wherein the electrical device is capable of changing the wavelength used to illuminate cells within a sample. 11. The microscope of claim 1, wherein the electrical device is configured to dynamically and/or continuously adjust a shape or location of the visible phase ring during a period of observation or during the life of an experiment to overcome any distortion of light from the meniscus in the sample and bring the visible phase ring into alignment with a dark ring. 12. An adjustable phase contrast microscope comprising an illuminating optical system including an electrical device for constructing an adjustable visible phase ring, the electrical device comprising a light source, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a liquid crystal controller for constructing the adjustable visible phase ring, the microscope further comprising a member configured for cooperation with the liquid crystal controller for dynamically adjusting the visible phase ring to compensate for any distortion of the image throughout the life of an experiment or during a predetermined period of observation, wherein the member for dynamically adjusting the phase ring comprises an image processing system that is based on a cycle of sending a pattern to the LCD and through a sample to obtain an image and wherein this image is then sent to a memory device, and finally an image processor. 13. The microscope of claim 12, wherein the image processing system is configured to determine if the light provided adds to the phase, based on brightness or contrast in the image. 14. An adjustable phase contrast microscope comprising an illuminating optical system with an electrical device for constructing an adjustable visible phase ring and a Bertrand lens camera, wherein the electrical device is configured to produce a camera, wherein the electrical device comprises a light source, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a liquid crystal controller for constructing the adjustable visible phase ring, the microscope further comprising a member configured for cooperation with the liquid crystal controller for dynamically adjusting the phase ring to compensate for any distortion of the image throughout the life of an experiment or during a predetermined period of observation and wherein the member for dynamically adjusting the phase ring comprises an image processing system that is based on a cycle of sending a pattern to the LCD and through a sample to obtain an image, and wherein this image is then sent to a memory device, and finally an image processor. 15. A method for adjusting phase contrast in an inverted microscope for viewing cells within a sample comprising providing an illuminating optical system with an electrical device for constructing an adjustable visible phase ring, the electrical device being configured to dynamically adjust the visible phase ring based on position, fluid height, and/or viscosity of a sample. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the electrical device comprises a light source, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a liquid crystal controller for constructing the adjustable visible phase ring. 17. The method of claim 15, including turning on or off the electrical device to affect the visible or fluorescent light applied to the sample. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the electrical device can be manipulated to change the wavelength used to illuminate the cells in the sample. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein dynamically adjusting the visible phase ring includes dynamically adjusting the pattern of the LCD based upon an image observed from the sample to compensate for any image distortion caused by a meniscus in a fluid containing the sample. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the electrical device is configured to dynamically and/or continuously adjust a shape or location of the visible phase ring during a period of observation or during the life of an experiment to overcome any distortion of light from the meniscus in the sample and bring the visible phase ring into alignment with a dark ring.