Beam alignment in spectroscopic microscopes

A spectrometer comprising:

• a. a sample stage whereupon a sample to be analyzed may be situated;
• b. an alignment unit situated on the sample stage, the alignment unit having an stage entrance aperture and a stage light source, with the stage light source emitting a microscope alignment light signal through the stage entrance aperture;
• c. one or more optical elements spaced from the sample stage, the optical elements receiving the microscope alignment light signal from the stage entrance aperture;
• d. a viewer light sensor receiving the microscope alignment light signal from the optical elements and generating a corresponding viewer light sensor output signal;
• e. a control system receiving the viewer light sensor output signal and repositioning the stage light source in response thereto.

A spectrometer comprising:

• a. a sample stage whereupon a sample to be analyzed may be situated;
• b. an alignment unit situated on the sample stage, the alignment unit including:
• (1) an stage entrance aperture,
• (2) a stage light source actuatable to emit a microscope alignment light signal through the stage entrance aperture, and
• (3) a stage light sensor emitting a stage light sensor output signal in response to light received by the stage light sensor through the stage entrance aperture;
• c. a spectrograph including:
• (1) a spectrograph entrance aperture,
• (2) a detector emitting a detector output signal in response to light received by the detector through the spectrograph entrance aperture, and
• (3) a return light source actuatable to emit a spectrometer alignment light signal through the spectrograph entrance aperture;
• d. a viewer light sensor spaced from the sample stage, the viewer light sensor emitting a viewer light sensor output signal in response to light received by the viewer light sensor;
• e. one or more optical elements spaced from the sample stage:
• (1) from which the microscope alignment light signal is received from the stage entrance aperture and delivered to the viewer light sensor, and
• (2) from which the spectrometer alignment light signal is received from the spectrograph entrance aperture and delivered to the alignment unit;
• f. a control system receiving the viewer light sensor output signal and repositioning the stage light source in response thereto.