Apparatus and process for changing the illumination power in a microscope
AssigneeLeica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
InventorsVolker Leimbach, Heinrich Ulrich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
To weaken the light beam (12) in a microscope (100), especially in a scanning microscope, we propose an apparatus for the variable change of the illumination power that is arranged so that a light beam of zero diffraction order (17) emanating from a modulator (13) can be used directly for the purposes of microscopy. The acusto optical modulator (13) is the only element in the microscope influencing the power of light in a variable way.
Claims13
An apparatus for changing the illumination power in a microscope comprising:
- a light source producing a light beam which defines a beam path in the microscope;
- a plurality of other components;
- and
- an acusto optical modulator in the beam path as a single element which influences the illumination power, wherein the acusto optical modulator is arranged such that a light beam of zero diffraction order emanating from the accusto optical modulator, is immediately directed to other components of the microscope.
A process for changing of the illumination power in a microscope comprises the steps of:
- providing a light beam emanating from a light source of the microscope and thereby defining a beam path;
- providing an acusto optical modulator in the beam path, wherein the acusto optical modulator is a single element which influences the power light beam;
- diffracting with the acusto optical modulator an incident light beam into a light beam of zero diffraction order and into light beams of higher diffraction order;
- and
- directing the diffracted light beam of zero diffraction order essentially without any additional weakening of the power to other components of the microscope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.