Microscope having internal focusing

US8553324B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Joerg Pacholik · Jena, DE
• Marco Hanft · Jena, DE
• Dieter Huhse · Berlin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 6, 2008
• Grant date: Oct 8, 2013
• Expiry date: Oct 12, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B21/241
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a laser scanning microscope with a scanner and a microscope objective, and to a control method for such a microscope. In order to obtain sharp imaging of the sample in a laser scanning microscope, the distance between the microscope objective and the sample is usually varied for adjusting the focus position. However, relative movements between the objective and the sample can be problematic. In view of the costly special objective, internal focusing of the objective is a disadvantageous solution. An improved laser scanning microscope should make it possible to sharply image a sample with standard objectives without relative movement between the microscope objective and sample. According to the invention, a tube lens is provided which is displaceable along the optical axis, and the focus position is adjustable relative to a front optical element of the microscope objective by adjusting the tube lens.