Method and device for illuminating a sample in a laser microscope
AssigneeLeica Microsystems CMS GmbH
InventorsVolker Seyfried, Hilmar Gugel, Carsten L. Thomsen
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a device for illuminating or irradiating an object, a sample (8), or the like, for the purpose of imaging or analysis, particularly for use in a laser microscope (1), preferably in a confocal microscope having a laser light source (2) emitting the illuminating light, the laser light being coupled directly or by means of a glass fiber into an illumination light path (4), characterized in that the laser light source (2) is switched on rapidly upon a trigger signal directly prior to the actual need, for example, directly prior to imaging.
Claims24
A method for illuminating or irradiating an object or a sample for the purpose of imaging or analysis, for use in a laser microscope having a laser light source which emits illuminating laser light, the laser light being coupled directly or via a glass fiber into an illumination beam path,
- wherein the laser light source is turned on rapidly in response to a trigger signal immediately before it is actually needed, including immediately prior to image acquisition,
- wherein turning on the laser light source is accomplished by energizing a pump source of the laser light source,
- wherein a control system having a control loop controls a current of the pump source as a function of an output power of the laser light source, and
- wherein the laser light source of the laser microscope includes a continuously operated or energized seed laser and at least one laser amplifier disposed downstream thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.