CRYSTAL OBSERVATION DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a crystal observation device which easily extracts an image of liquid drops even when the luminance difference between the liquid drops and the background is small, and can efficiently obtain an enlarged image of liquid drops. SOLUTION: The crystal observation device has a light-shielding plate 20 disposed between a crystallization plate 12 and an illumination device 14 that illuminates surfaces of liquid drops in a well 13 of the crystallization plate 12. The light-shielding plate 20 is disposed to produce a bright part and a darker part on the surfaces of liquid drops. The liquid drop has a plano-convex lens form with the center portion thicker than the perimeter portion. Thereby, a part with high illuminance produced by refraction by the lens effect of the liquid drop is projected onto a part with low illuminance on the liquid drop surface by the light-shielding plate 20, which sharpens the outline of the liquid drop. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT