# US 7,466,885 B2 · Light source comprising a plurality of microstructured optical elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,466,885 B2 - Document ID: US7466885B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/570,486 - Filed: 2004-09-06 - Published: 2007-02-01 - Granted: 2008-12-16 - Earliest claimed: 2003-09-05 - Assignees: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH - Inventors: Hilmar Gugel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7466885B2 ## CPC - G02B 21/0076: {arrangements using fluorescence or luminescence} - G02B 21/0032: {Optical details of illumination, e.g. light-sources, pinholes, beam splitters, slits, fibers (G02B21/0036 - G02B21/008; means for illumination of specimens in general G02B21/06)} - G02F 1/3528: {for producing a supercontinuum} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract The invention relates to a light source comprising a microstructured optical element (11) that receives and spectrally spreads the light from a primary light source (3). The inventive light source is characterized in that the spectrally spread light penetrates at least one other microstructured optical element (15, 19, 21). Said light source can be efficiently used in scanning microscopy and especially in STED microscopy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for generating illuminating light, comprising: generating spectrally spread light with the aid of a light source, the light source comprising: a first microstructured optical element that receives and spectrally spreads the light from a primary light source; and at least one further microstructured optical element that receives the spectrally spread light from the first microstructured optical element and further spreads the spectrally spread light selecting at least one illuminating light wavelength and/or at least one illuminating light wavelength region from the further spectrally spread light, and splitting off the illuminating light of the at least one illuminating light wavelength and/or of the at least one illuminating light wavelength region from the further spectrally spread light. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first microstructured optical element and/or the at least one further microstructured optical element contains photonic band gap material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first microstructured optical element and/or the at least one further microstructured optical element are/is designed as optical fiber(s). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the first microstructured optical element and/or the at least one further microstructured optical element have/has a taper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the first microstructured optical element and/or the at least one further microstructured optical element merge into one another continuously. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first microstructured optical element and/or the at least one further microstructured optical element are/is a photonic crystal fiber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first microstructured optical element and/or the at least one further microstructured optical element are spliced together. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the light that emerges from the first microstructured optical element is coupled into the at least one further microstructured optical element with the aid of a lens arrangement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary light source comprises a pulsed laser. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the light from the primary light source repeatedly traverses the first microstructured optical element and/or the at least one further microstructured optical element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing means for selecting light components over at least one wavelength and/or at least one wavelength region. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the light source is a component of a flow cytometer or an endoscope or a chromatograph or a lithography apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the light source is a component of a microscope. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the light source is a component of a scanning microscope. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the scanning microscope is a confocal scanning microscope and/or a double confocal scanning microscope and/or an STED scanning microscope and/or an STED-4Pi scanning microscope and/or a CARS scanning microscope. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: optically exciting a sample with the illuminating light. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: selecting at least one further illuminating light wavelength and/or at least one further illuminating light wavelength region from the further spectrally spread light; and splitting off further illuminating light of the at least one further illuminating light wavelength and/or of the at least one further illuminating light wavelength region from the further spectrally spread light. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the further illuminating light effects a stimulated emission. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: optically exciting a sample with the illuminating light; selecting at least one further illuminating light wavelength and/or at least one further illuminating light wavelength region from the further spectrally spread light; and splitting off further illuminating light of the at least one further illuminating light wavelength and/or of the at least one further illuminating light wavelength region from the further spectrally spread light, wherein the further illuminating light effects a stimulated emission. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: optically pumping a sample with the illuminating light; selecting at least one further illuminating light wavelength and/or at least one further illuminating light wavelength region from the further spectrally spread light; and splitting off further illuminating light of the at least one further illuminating light wavelength and/or of the at least one further illuminating light wavelength region from the further spectrally spread light; and optically probing the optically pumped sample with the further illuminating light.