Objective carousel   The objective lens is the central part of a microscope, so we have placed it in the center of digital iMIC series. It sticks out when in use and retracts otherwise. It also provides a new degree of water protection.  

Focus drive   The iMIC focuses with the highest possible speed and precision, thanks to the novel one-for-all nanodrive. It combines a piezo-element having 250 µm of fine travel with 25 mm of coarse movement. The drive assembly is connected only to the selected, central objective lens, and it disengages while objectives are being switched.  

Beamsplitter   Beamsplitter cubes usually separate beams into three directions. The novel octo-cube beamsplitter has the potential for up to eight directions! Depending on its configuration, one can select two vertical and up to six horizontal directions and steer them towards objective and sample.  

Multilevel concept   The above beamsplitter concept can also be utilized to distribute light from the sample between several different detector modules such as CCD cameras or PMTs, to switch tube lenses or to change magnifications. This additional level of versatility requires stacking beam multiplexer sliders. The number of multiplexer elements per level is virtually unlimited; in a standard configuration it is three.