SCANNING OPTICAL MICROSCOPE

• US 3,643,015 A
• Filed: 06/19/1970
• Issued: 02/15/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maurice David Egger, Paul Davidovits
• Original Assignee: Maurice David Egger, Paul Davidovits
• Inventors: Davidovits, Paul, Egger, Maurice David
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US05/047,717
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 178/6.8,7.6,7.1,7.2,DIG.1,DIG.27,DIG.35,6 250/49.5A 350/86,91
• US Class Current: 348/79
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/5911 of the scanning type scanning per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/002 Scanning microscopes scanning near field optical microscopes G01Q60/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/30 Transforming light or analogous information into electric information scanning details H04N3/00; cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00; circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS] or control thereof H04N25/00

Abstract

An optical microscope suitable for scanning below the surface of specimens of low optical contrast and particularly for scanning buried tissues and cells. Optical means focus a beam of parallel light within the object and means are provided to scan by moving an objective lens system along to axes orthogonal to the optical axis. An image is generated in a cathode-ray tube.

Claims

1. A scanning optical microscope, comprising in combination a. a source of parallel radiant energy;

b. optical focusing means including objective lens means adapted to focus said radiant energy as a point source within an object to be scanned;

c. scanning means adapted for reciprocally moving said objective lens means of said optical focusing means along two axes orthogonal to the optical axis;

d. radiant energy-detecting means adapted to produce electrical signals proportional to radiant energy received thereby;

e. optical transmission means including objective lens means adapted to transmit radiant energy from within said object to said radiant energy-detecting means, the principal axis of said objective lens means of said optical transmission means being parallel to the principal axis of said objective lens means of said optical focusing means;

whereby only radiant energy reflected at the focal point of said objective lens means of said optical focusing means is detected; and

f. three-axes display means adapted to generate a visual image, the z-axis being connected to said radiant energy-detecting means thereby to control the light intensity of said image, and the x- and y-axes being connected to said scanning means thereby to synchronize the x and y motions of said display means with the motion of said objective lens means of said optical focusing means.

2. beam-splitting means,

3. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source of parallel radiant energy is a laser.

4. focusing lens means;

c. scanning means for imparting scanning motions to said lens means along two axes orthogonal to the optical axis;

d. radiant energy-detecting means adapted to produce electrical signals proportional to radiant energy received;

e. optical means adapted to reflect radiant energy from within said object to said radiant energy-detecting means and comprising

5. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 4 wherein said optical focusing means also includes a lambda /4 plate interposed between said lens system and said object.

6. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 1 including means to move said object along the axis of the optical path of said radiant energy, whereby the depth of scan within said object may be adjusted.

7. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 1 including means to move said object with respect to said scanning means.

8. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 1 wherein said objective lens means of said optical focusing means comprises two objective lenses held in spaced apart relationship.

9. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 8 wherein said scanning means comprises separate transducer means associated with each of said lenses.

10. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 8 wherein said scanning means comprises transducer means associated with one of said lenses and means to move the other of said lenses in slow mode.

11. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 1 including means to move said optical focusing means along the optical axis of said lens system.

12. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 1 wherein said radiant energy is reflected from said object to said radiant energy-detecting means and said optical transmission means comprises beam-splitting means, beam-compensating means, and objective lens.

13. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 12 in which said optical transmission means also includes an optical interference filter and an optical analyzer.

14. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 1 wherein said three-axis display means comprises a cathode-ray tube.

15. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 1 wherein said x-axis and y-axis of said display means are connected to said scanning means through phase-shifter means adapted to achieve precise synchronization between the motions of said lens means and the x and y motions of said display means.

16. A scanning optical microscope, comprising in combination a. a laser as a source of parallel radiant energy;

b. optical means adapted to focus radiant energy as a point source within an object to be scanned and comprising in combination

17. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 16 wherein said focusing lens means of (b.) comprises two objective lenses held in spaced apart relationship and said scanning means comprises separate transducer means associated with each of said lenses.

18. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 16 including means to move said object along the axis of the optical path of said radiant energy, whereby the depth of scan within said object may be adjusted.

19. A scanning optical microscope in accordance with claim 16 including means to move said focusing lens means along the axis of the optical path of said radiant energy striking said object.