Nikon
LV100ND
What it is
The Nikon LV100ND is an upright optical microscope for industrial and materials inspection. The Nikon LV100ND is designed for episcopic and diascopic optical contrast techniques and can be supplied with digital imaging camera accessories. The Nikon LV100ND is used at Stanford in metrology and inspection areas within the Nanopatterning Cleanroom and the Flexible Cleanroom.[3][1][5][6]
How it works
The Nikon LV100ND supports both top and bottom LED white-light illumination with adjustable intensity. The Nikon LV100ND at Stanford is equipped with brightfield and darkfield observation on all five installed lenses, selectable Nomarski differential interference contrast for top-down lighting, polarizer and analyzer sliders for episcopic illumination, and a simple polarizer for diascopic illumination. The Stanford configuration includes 5X, 10X, 20X, 50X, and 100X Plan Fluor high numerical aperture lenses, a 10X ultra wide field, an Abbe condenser, a 6 inch by 4 inch XY stage with glass plate, and a smart turret that communicates the objective in use to the computer. The Stanford configuration also includes Nikon NIS-Elements D software, calibrated camera imaging for point-to-point distance measurement, and storage of image metadata with the image.[1]
Where it fits in the process flow
General reference — not yet source-verifiedOptical inspection microscopes are used throughout microfabrication and lab workflows wherever a sample needs rapid noncontact visual review between process steps. Such microscopes commonly appear after lithography, etch, deposition, cleaning, dicing, or sample preparation to verify pattern presence, alignment condition, surface defects, edge quality, and general workmanship before a sample moves to the next tool.
Applications
The Nikon LV100ND is intended for material inspection in industrial applications. The Nikon LV100ND at Stanford supports accurate point-to-point distance measurements through calibrated camera imaging and provides brightfield, darkfield, and Nomarski differential interference contrast observation modes for reviewing sample features.[3][1]
- Optical inspection
- Brightfield imaging
- Darkfield imaging
- Differential interference contrast imaging
- Point-to-point distance measurement
What do the numbers mean?
Power & electrical1
- Illumination
- New illuminator with 12 V-50 W halogen lamp, 12 V-50 W DC transformer built in, precentered lamphouse with rear mirror, Fly-eye lens built in, and detachable ND8 and NCB11 filters[2]
Optics & imaging9
- Camera
- DS-Ri2 (18 Megapixel) on some configurations; also DS-Fi3 (5.9 Megapixel) and Digital Sight 10 (23.9 Megapixel) on others[1]
- Objectives
- Polarizing: CFI Achromat P 4X, P 10X, LWD P 20X, P 40X, P 100X; Oil Dispersion: CFI Achromat R-DS 10X, CFI Plan Achromat C-DS 10X, CFI Plan Fluor R-DS 40X[2]
Performance1
- Stage
- High-precision circular graduated stage, rotatable 360° horizontally, fixed at a specific position, graduated in 1° increments with 0.1° sub scale readings, and 45° click stops[2]
Control & software2
Configuration & options15
- Brightfield / darkfield
- 10X Ultra Wide Field brightfield and darkfield for all five lenses[1]
- Instrument count and locations
- Two microscopes in the Flexible Cleanroom and two in the Nanopatterning Cleanroom[1]
- DIC
- Selectable Nomarski Differential Interference Contrast (for top down lighting only) on some configurations[1]
- Focusing
- Coaxial coarse/fine focus knob; focus stroke 30 mm; coarse 14 mm per rotation; fine 0.1 mm per rotation; minimum reading in 1 μm increments[2]
- Tube
- P-TT3 trinocular tube for polarizing microscopy with eyepiece rotation prevention protrusions on the right side[2]
Vintage & configurations
Documented models & variants
| Designation | Generation | Vintage | Changes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECLIPSE LV100NDA LED | — | — | LED illumination variant in the same LV100NDA/LV100ND series. | industry.nikon.com[3] |
| ECLIPSE LV100ND POL/DS | — | — | Polarized light/dispersion microscope configuration with accessories for dispersion staining observation. | microscope.healthcare.nikon.com[4] |
What does it need to run?
Site utility requirements, footprint, and infrastructure needed to install and operate this tool. Sourced from public records.
- IlluminationNew illuminator with 12 V-50 W halogen lamp, 12 V-50 W DC transformer built in, precentered lamphouse with rear mirror, Fly-eye lens built in, and detachable ND8 and NCB11 filters[2]
Where are the manuals?
Generated from public-source data on file. Enter your email to access — nothing is published; details are routed privately.
Not publicly documented
Field notes
No research found yet — worked with this tool? Share what you know.
Frequently asked questions
What stage size is provided on the Stanford Nikon LV100ND configuration?
The Stanford Nikon LV100ND configuration includes a 6 inch by 4 inch XY stage with glass plate.[1]
Does the Nikon LV100ND support camera-based measurement and metadata capture?
The Stanford Nikon LV100ND setup includes Nikon NIS-Elements D software. The camera image is calibrated so the software can take accurate point-to-point distance measurements, and metadata from the image can be stored along with the image.[1]
Not publicly documented
The following facts about the LV100ND are absent from this record as of this revision. First-hand knowledge or a citation closes a gap; every submission is reviewed before publication.
No publicly documented production dates or lifecycle milestones (introduction, end of production, EOL) for the LV100ND are on record.
Answerable by: OEM historical records or a trade-press announcement
The control-system platform and OS era of the LV100ND are not on record.
Answerable by: an engineer who operated it or OEM installation records
No publicly documented failure modes or field errata for the LV100ND are on record.
Answerable by: a field service engineer, process engineer, or maintenance technician
The process node or technology generation of the LV100ND is not on record.
Answerable by: an OEM datasheet or a fab qualification report
No publicly documented compatible parts, consumables, or accessories for the LV100ND are on record.
Answerable by: an OEM parts catalog or a service engineer
No research found yet — worked with this tool? Share what you know.
Sources & citations
Sources (6)Every fact above is drawn from these public sources
- [1]snsf.stanford.edu — snsf.stanford.edusnsf.stanford.edu
- [2]microscope.healthcare.nikon.commicroscope.healthcare.nikon.com
- [3]industry.nikon.com — industry.nikon.comindustry.nikon.com
- [4]microscope.healthcare.nikon.com — microscope.healthcare.nikon.commicroscope.healthcare.nikon.com
- [5]nano@stanford Equipment | nano@stanford — snf.stanford.edusnf.stanford.edu
- [6]Nanopatterning Cleanroom (NPC) | Stanford Nano Shared Facilities — snsf.stanford.edusnsf.stanford.edu
Last updated Oct 17, 2026.
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