Method and an apparatus for generating reflective dark field illumination for a microscope

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for generating reflective dark field (RDF) illumination for a microscope are provided. The apparatus may include: one or more RDF illumination light sources positioned to emit light beams substantially orthogonal to a microscope optical axis; and multiple beam directing assemblies positioned at substantially identical optical axis distances from an RDF port of a bright field/dark field (BD) objective lens of the microscope. The multiple beam directing assemblies may be positioned to redirect emitted light received from the RDF illumination light sources into the RDF port to form a hollow light cylinder around the microscope optical axis, wherein the hollow light cylinder is diverted towards a microscope field of view (FOV) by an internal light diverting element (ILDE) of the microscope positioned within the RDF port.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.