Confocal imaging methods and apparatus
US7589315B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 2007 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/6421
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention provides imaging apparatus and methods useful for obtaining a high resolution image of a sample at rapid scan rates. A rectangular detector array having a horizontal dimension that is longer than the vertical dimension can be used along with imaging optics positioned to direct a rectangular image of a portion of a sample to the rectangular detector array. A scanning device can be configured to scan the sample in a scan-axis dimension, wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array and the shorter of the two rectangular dimensions for the image are in the scan-axis dimension, and wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array is short enough to achieve confocality in a single axis.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.