3D microscopy

US11454798B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Ingo Kleppe · Jena, DE
• Matthias Wald · Jena, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 1, 2018
• Grant date: Sep 27, 2022
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2207/10056
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A microscopy method for three-dimensionally imaging an object, including imaging the object along a beam path into a first image on a first image plane. A first microlens array is arranged on the first image plane, and a second microlens array with the same pitch is arranged downstream of the first array. The two arrays laterally segment the first image and image same into a second image in which the segments are spaced apart and separated by gaps. On a pupil plane downstream of the microlens array, a provided phase mask generates a spot for each segment of the second image according to a pixel diffusion function. A detector detects the shape and structure of the spot, and a controller ascertains a lateral intensity distribution and depth specification from the shape and/or structure of the spot for each segment and generates a depth-resolved image of the object therefrom.