Scanning System With Orbiting Objective

A large field, high resolution, high efficiency rotary microscope for generating a magnified image of a sample, the rotary microscope comprising:

• a multiplexed scanning system for transmitting collimated light along a light path including a fixed light path portion and a scanning light path portion, wherein the scanning light path portion is parallel to the fixed light path portion and is spaced from the fixed light path portion by an offset distance, and wherein the scanning system includes:
• a conveyor unit comprising:
• a multifaceted optical element including a plurality of first reflecting surfaces disposed to rotate around a first axis, the first axis being parallel to and non-collinear with the fixed light path portion, and
• a ring structure disposed to rotate around the first axis in a fixed relationship with said multifaceted optical element, said ring structure including a plurality of second reflecting surfaces surrounding said multifaceted optical element and positioned such that each of said first reflecting surfaces is parallel to and faces an associated second reflecting surface of the plurality of second reflecting surfaces, wherein said collimated light reflected by one of said first reflecting surfaces and its associated second reflecting surface between said fixed light path portion and said scanning light path portion;
• and
• a revolver unit comprises a plurality of orbiting microscope objectives disposed in a circular pattern around a second axis, the second axis being collinear with the fixed light path portion, wherein the plurality of orbiting microscope objectives are disposed at said offset distance from the second axis;
• and
• a positioning mechanism for moving the sample under the revolver unit.

A large field, high resolution, high efficiency laser ablation apparatus for ablating material from a surface of a sample, the laser ablation apparatus comprising:

• a laser disposed to direct the collimated light along a fixed light path portion;
• and
• a multiplexed scanning system for transmitting collimated light along a light path from a wherein the scanning system includes:
• a conveyor unit comprising:
• a multifaceted optical element including a plurality of first reflecting surfaces disposed to rotate around a first axis, the first axis being parallel to and non-collinear with the fixed light path portion, and
• a ring structure disposed to rotate around the first axis in a fixed relationship with said multifaceted optical element, said ring structure including a plurality of second reflecting surfaces surrounding said multifaceted optical element and positioned such that each of said first reflecting surfaces is parallel to and faces an associated second reflecting surface of the plurality of second reflecting surfaces, wherein said collimated light directed along the fixed light path portion is reflected by one of said first reflecting surfaces to its associated second reflecting surface, and by said associated second reflecting surface along a scanning light path portion, wherein the scanning light path portion is parallel to the fixed light path portion and is spaced from the fixed light path portion by an offset distance;
• and
• a revolver unit comprises a plurality of orbiting elements that are disposed in a circular pattern around a second axis, the second axis being collinear with the fixed light path portion, wherein the plurality of orbiting elements are disposed at said offset distance from the second axis;
• and
• a positioning mechanism for moving the sample under the revolver unit.