Method and apparatus for observation using quantum dots

An observation apparatus comprising:

• a light source for producing excitation light to excite quantum dots;
• an illumination optical system for collecting excitation light from said light source and for applying the collected excitation light to a sample containing said quantum dots;
• and
• a detection optical system for detecting light emitted from said quantum dots in a plurality of different wavelength bands;
• wherein said illumination optical system has variable filter means for adjusting a wavelength band of said excitation light.

An observation apparatus comprising:

• a light source for producing\excitation light to excite quantum dots;
• an illumination optical system for collecting excitation light from said light source and for applying the collected excitation light to a sample containing said quantum dots;
• and
• a detection optical system for detecting light emitted from said quantum dots in a plurality of different wavelength bands;
• wherein said light source has means for adjusting a wavelength band of light produced therefrom.

An observation apparatus comprising:

• a light source for producing excitation light to excite quantum dots;
• an illumination optical system for applying said excitation light to a sample containing said quantum dots;
• a condenser optical system for collecting light emitted from said quantum dots;
• an observation optical system for observing the light emitted from said quantum dots with a naked eye;
• and
• an image pickup optical system for detecting the light emitted from said quantum dots to perform imaging;
• wherein said illumination optical system includes:
• a variable long-pass filter unit in which a cut-off wavelength for determining a lower limit of a wavelength band of said excitation light to be applied to said quantum dots is variable;
• and
• an excitation filter formed from a short-pass filter having a cut-off wavelength for determining an upper limit of the wavelength band of said excitation light to be applied to said quantum dots;
• said observation optical system including a barrier filter formed from a short-cut filter for cutting off the excitation light;
• said image pickup optical system including a plurality of filter devices different in transmission wavelength band for setting a plurality of different transmission wavelength bands.

An observation apparatus comprising:

• a light source for producing excitation light to excite quantum dots;
• an illumination optical system for applying said excitation light to a sample containing said quantum dots;
• a condenser optical system for collecting light emitted from said quantum dots;
• an observation optical system for observing the light emitted from said quantum dots with a naked eye;
• and
• an image pickup optical system for detecting the light emitted from said quantum dots to perform imaging;
• wherein said illumination optical system includes:
• a long-pass filter unit having a cut-off wavelength for determining a lower limit of a wavelength band of said excitation light to be applied to said quantum dots;
• and
• a variable excitation filter formed from a short-pass filter in which a cut-off wavelength for determining an upper limit of the wavelength band of said excitation light to be applied to said quantum dots is variable;
• said observation optical system including a barrier filter formed from a short-cut filter for cutting off the excitation light;
• said image pickup optical system including a plurality of filter devices different in transmission wavelength band and capable of setting a plurality of different transmission wavelength bands.

An observation apparatus comprising:

• a light source for producing excitation light to excite quantum dots;
• an illumination optical system for applying said excitation light to a sample containing said quantum dots;
• a condenser optical system for collecting light emitted from said quantum dots;
• an observation optical system for observing the light emitted from said quantum dots with a naked eye;
• and
• an image pickup optical system for detecting the light emitted from said quantum dots to perform imaging;
• wherein said illumination optical system includes:
• a variable long-pass filter unit in which a cut-off wavelength for determining a lower limit of a wavelength band of said excitation light to be applied to said quantum dots is variable;
• and
• a variable excitation filter formed from a short-pass filter in which a cut-off wavelength for determining an upper limit of the wavelength band of said excitation light to be applied to said quantum dots is variable;
• said observation optical system including a barrier filter formed from a short-cut filter for cutting off the excitation light;
• said image pickup optical system including a plurality of filter devices different in transmission wavelength band and capable of setting a plurality of different transmission wavelength bands.