Apparatus for coupling light into an optical assemblage and confocal scanning microscope
AssigneeLeica Mircrosystems Heidelberg GmbH
InventorJohann Engelhardt
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Abstract
The present invention concerns an apparatus for coupling light (1) of at least one wavelength of a laser light source (2) into an optical assemblage (3), preferably into a confocal scanning microscope, having an optically active component (4) that serves in particular to select the wavelength and to set the power of the coupled-in light (5). To ensure that changes in the power and/or wavelength of the laser light source do not affect the power of the light (5) coupled into the optical assemblage, the apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that in order to influence the coupled-in light (5), the component (4) serves as the adjusting element of a control system (11).
Claims15
A confocal scanning microscope comprising:
- a laser light source defining at least one wavelength, an apparatus for coupling light of the laser light source directly into the confocal scanning microscope, an optically active component being arranged in the apparatus for coupling light of the laser light source into the confocal scanning microscope, wherein the optically active component serves to select the wavelength and to set the power of the light to be coupled-in, a control system of the apparatus for influencing the component in order to minimize fluctuation in the light output of the light to be coupled-in, wherein at least one detector is arranged prior to the optically active component and connected to a controlling element which is part of the control system.
A confocal scanning microscope comprising:
- a laser light source defining at least one wavelength, an apparatus for coupling light of the laser light source directly into the confocal scanning microscope, an optically active component being arranged in the apparatus for coupling light of the laser light source into the confocal scanning microscope, wherein the optically active component serves to select the wavelength and to set the power of the light to be coupled-in, a control system for influencing the component in order to minimize fluctuations in the light output of the light to be coupled-in, and a first detector arranged before the optically active component and a second detector arranged after the optically active component, wherein the readings of the first and second detector are detected simultaneously, and the quotient of those readings is conveyed to a controlling element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.