Olympus History

MMSP (1971)

When research started to focus on quantifying cell contents, researchers turned to spectrophotometry to identify the substances involved. The Mirror Objective (MO) Lens was developed for such spectrophotometric applications. The MSP Microspectrophotometer using an MO Lens was launched by Olympus in 1954. The company also launched the DMSP Double-beam Microspectrophotometer that could simultaneously correct and measure optical wavelength characteristics. Both the MSP and DMSP were used in cutting-edge biological and medical research.
Olympus then started working on microscopes for spectrophotometric applications in industry, as well as biology and medicine. The company launched the MMSP Multiphotometric Microscope in 1971. The MMSP was used for medical applications such as DNA quantification within the cell or industrial applications such as evaluating spectral characteristics of stripe filters used in color TVs. The subsequent OSP Series used the BH2 and IMT2 basic microscope body and was launched in 1989.
Today, Olympus does not market spectrophotometric or photometric microscopes. However, the company's expertise accumulated in its development work—in weak light detectors and spectral characteristic evaluation—is used in its cutting-edge hemoanalyzers, LCD glass test systems, and laser microscopes.

LSM Series (1990, 1992)

Scanning microscopes have long been researched because their superior resolution and contrast allows for the construction of optical cross-sectional images (3D images). Moreover, the models are unique in that a light stimulus can be applied to the specimen. In the 1970s, Olympus announced a semiconductor-testing device that used photoexcited current observations. The company also continued developing laser technologies. After a period when this work was suspended, Olympus, in 1983, engineered a confocal microscope capable of constructing 3D images.
The company then ran repeated tests on its prototype laser scanning microscope. In 1990, Olympus developed the Upright LSM-GB and the Inverted LSM-GI for biology applications. The upgraded LSM-GB200 was launched in 1992. All these microscopes used the BHS microscope body. The LSM-GB featured an image memory capacity that could hold two 640x480 pixel 8-bit images.
Confocal laser scanning microscopes were supported by cutting-edge technologies, including rapid optical scanning, weak light detection and photoelectric conversion (photon counting), as well as an optical glass filter with accurate wavelength selectivity (precise, multilayer film coating technology). These microscope products are the embodiment of "Opto-Digital Technology", the core competence of Olympus in the field of microscopy. Even today, laser scanning microscopes are becoming faster and producing higher resolution images as computers become more advanced.

FV500/300 (1998)

Olympus launched the FV500/300 laser scanning biological microscopes in 1998, shortly after releasing the AX, BX, and IX series of microscopes that featured UIS optics (infinity correction). The FV500/300 produce 2048x2048 pixel images.

FV1000 (2004)

The FV1000 Confocal Laser Scanning Biological Microscope was released in 2004.
This model featured the world's first twin scan system. This system enabled time-resolved spectroscopy of living intercellular contents and also made it possible to analyze objects down to a 2nm wavelength resolution. Image size was increased to 4096x4096 pixels.
Olympus has also developed laser scanning microscopes for industrial applications, launching the LEXT series.