Back to results
US 7,626,706 B2Granted
Polarization interference microscope
AssigneeLeica Microsystems CMS GmbH
InventorsRalf Krüger, Christian Schulz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeLeica Microsystems CMS GmbH
InventorsRalf Krüger, Christian Schulz
Estimating the term…
The present invention relates to a polarization interference microscope (1) for imaging objects (5). The polarization interference microscope (1) comprises a light source (2), an illumination beam path (6), an imaging beam path (7) and an objective (4). The illumination beam path (6) extends from the light source (2) to the object (5). The imaging beam path (7) extends from the object (5) to a detector or a tube (3). At least one polarization means (9) is provided in the illumination beam path (6) and/or in the imaging beam path (7), by which at least one polarization means the light of the respective beam path (6, 7) can be converted into a predeterminable polarization state. An analyzer means (10) is provided in the imaging beam path (7). A birefringent component is provided between the polarization means (9) and the analyzer means (10), by which birefringent component the light polarized by the polarization means (9) can be divided into two partial beams (13, 14) having different polarization directions. The component can produce a splitting between the two partial beams (13, 14). The present invention furthermore relates to a retrofit kit for a conventional microscope and for a conventional polarization interference microscope, respectively, and a method for imaging objects. In order to enable variable contrasting of the interference contrast, the polarization interference microscope (1) according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the component has a liquid crystal element (11, 21, 23) formed in such a way that the value of the splitting between the two partial beams (13, 14) is settable in a variable manner thereby.
A polarization interference microscope for imaging objects, comprising a light source, an illumination beam path, an imaging beam path and an objective, wherein the illumination beam path extends from the light source to the object, wherein the imaging beam path extends from the object to a detector or a tube, wherein at least one polarization means is provided in the illumination beam path and/or in the imaging beam path, by which at least one polarization means the light of the respective beam path can be converted into a predeterminable polarization state, wherein an analyzer means is provided in the imaging beam path, and wherein a birefringent component is provided between the polarization means and the analyzer means by which birefringent component the light polarized by the polarization means can be divided into two partial beams having different polarization directions and by which birefringent component a splitting between the two partial beams can be produced, wherein
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.