Mode-switchable illumination system for a microscope
US9507136B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 2012 |
| Grant date | Nov 29, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B21/16
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Illumination system for a microscope system capable of being mode-switchable between a first and a second illumination mode, comprising one source of light for providing a collimated beam of light, at least one selector mirror capable of being positioned in at least two positions to redirect the beam of light in two different beam paths, the first beam path being a direct exit beam path wherein the selector mirror redirects the beam of light along an exit beam path to provide a first illumination mode, the second beam path is a mirror loop path comprising two or more mirrors arranged to redirect the beam of light onto the selector mirror such that it is redirected by the selector mirror a second time along the exit beam path, and wherein mirror loop path comprises at least one optical element arranged to optically alter the beam of light to provide the second illumination mode. According to one embodiment, the first illumination mode is Total Internal Reflection (TIRF) and the second illumination mode is Photokinetics (PK) illumination.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.