Illumination and imaging of an object

The optical system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the radiation source is arranged essentially level with the image plane.

An optical system comprising radiation-emitting means, and an optical component which directs incident first radiation from said radiation-emitting means to an object plane and transmits an image of second radiation from the object plane to an image plane, wherein said optical component comprises means for reflecting the incident first radiation from said radiation-emitting means towards the object plane and means for transmitting second radiation from the object plane towards the image plane, said means for transmitting being spatially separate from said means for reflecting.

An optical component comprising a reflective surface portion adapted to reflect incident first radiation from a radiation source onto an object plane in an optical system, and a transparent surface portion which is spatially separate from the reflective surface portion and adapted to transmit second radiation from the object plane to an image plane of the optical system.

An optical component, comprising means for reflecting incident first radiation from a radiation source onto an object plane in an optical system, and means for transmitting second radiation from the object plane towards an image plane in the optical system, wherein said means for transmitting is spatially separate from said means for reflecting.

An optical component, comprising a body which comprises:

• an open front face;
• a front cavity defined by an internal periphery wall portion which extends from the open front face to a back wall portion;
• and an entry opening in the periphery wall portion adjacent to the back wall portion, wherein the back wall portion comprises a reflective surface portion with a transparent surface portion therein wherein first radiation entering the front cavity through the entry opening is reflected on the reflective surface portion towards the front face, and wherein second radiation entering the front cavity through the front face is transmitted through the transparent surface portion.

Method for illuminating an object plane and capturing an image thereof, comprising:

• activating a radiation source to generate radiation, receiving at least part of the generated radiation on a stationary reflective surface portion and redirecting it by reflection towards the object plane, and collecting second radiation from the object plane through a transparent surface portion which is physically connected to, but spatially separate from, the reflective surface portion, so as to form said image in an image plane.