Miniature confocal optical head with integrated scanning and confocal imaging system using same
US8577445B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 2003 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/101
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical head includes: a point source producing an excitation beam, optical elements adapted to converge the optical beam into an excitation point located in a subsurface plane relative to the surface of a sample, the plane being perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical head; and elements for scanning the excitation point so as to define an observation field in the subsurface plane along two perpendicular scanning directions, a rapid online scanning and a slow columnar scanning. The invention includes micro-electrical mechanical systems designed to move in translation along a selected displacement at least one of the optical elements, which is mobile along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis so as to obtain at least one of the scanning directions. The invention provides the advantages of maintaining an axial illumination of the sample and of using a miniature head.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.