Reflectance infrared microscope having high radiation throughput
First Claim
1. In an optical instrument having a sample supported in the instrument, a fully-reflecting objective, means for observing visible radiation at the sample location, a detector of infrared radiation, and means for causing a post-interferometer infrared radiation beam to enter the instrument, an infrared optical system combining transmission mode and reflectance mode functions, comprising:
- transmission mode means for directing the post-interferometer radiation beam into and completely through the objective from one direction for transmission illumination of the sample;
reflectance mode means for directing the post-interferometer infrared radiation beam into and completely through the objective from the opposite direction for reflectance illumination of the sample;
the reflectance mode means including a beamsplitter which (a) incorporates a fully reflecting mirror, (b) is located at a distance from the objective, and (c) causes approximately half of the interferometer infrared radiation beam to pass through the objective to be reflected by the sample; and
means for directing substantially an entire sample-reflected radiation to the detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infrared microscope is disclosed which provides illumination for reflectance by the sample. This illumination follows a path through the objective toward the sample, and again, after reflection, through the objective toward the detector. The reflectance illumination is directed toward the objective and sample by a fully reflective mirror, which injects approximately half of the interferometer beam into the microscope, and permits substantially all of the reflected beam to reach the detector.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. In an optical instrument having a sample supported in the instrument, a fully-reflecting objective, means for observing visible radiation at the sample location, a detector of infrared radiation, and means for causing a post-interferometer infrared radiation beam to enter the instrument, an infrared optical system combining transmission mode and reflectance mode functions, comprising:
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transmission mode means for directing the post-interferometer radiation beam into and completely through the objective from one direction for transmission illumination of the sample; reflectance mode means for directing the post-interferometer infrared radiation beam into and completely through the objective from the opposite direction for reflectance illumination of the sample; the reflectance mode means including a beamsplitter which (a) incorporates a fully reflecting mirror, (b) is located at a distance from the objective, and (c) causes approximately half of the interferometer infrared radiation beam to pass through the objective to be reflected by the sample; and means for directing substantially an entire sample-reflected radiation to the detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An infrared microscope operable in either a transmission mode or a reflectance mode, comprising:
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a source of infrared radiation which supplies a beam entering the microscope; means for supporting a sample in a position to be illuminated by the infrared radiation in either the transmission mode or the reflectance mode; a detector which receives radiation after it has illuminated the sample; an all-reflecting microscope objective whose optical elements are mirrors, and whose location is such that (a) post-sample radiation passes through the objective in the transmission mode, and (b) both pre-sample radiation and post-sample radiation pass through the objective in the reflectance mode; a first focusing reflector which directs source-provided radiation to the sample in the transmission mode; a second focusing reflector which, in the reflectance mode, directs source-provided converging radiation through the objective to focus at the sample, and receives post-sample diverging radiation from the objective and directs it toward the detector; means for directing substantially collimated source-supplied radiation toward the second focusing reflector in the reflectance mode; and a fully-reflecting flat beam-dividing mirror which, in the reflectance mode, causes approximately half of such collimated radiation to be reflected by the second focusing reflector toward the sample, and permits substantially the entire post-sample radiation to travel from the second focusing reflector to the detector. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. In a microscope having a sample located by a supporting member, a fully-reflecting microscope objective, means for observing visible radiation at a sample location, a detector of infrared radiation, and means for causing a post-interferometer infrared radiation beam to enter the microscope, an infrared optical system combining transmission mode and reflectance mode functions, comprising:
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transmission mode means for directing an entering infrared radiation beam into the objective from one direction for transmission illumination of the sample; reflectance mode means for directing the entering infrared radiation beam into the objective from the opposite direction for reflectance illumination of the sample; the reflectance mode means including a beamsplitter which incorporates a fully reflecting mirror and which intersects half of the entering beam so as to cause half of the entering beam to pass to the sample for reflectance; and the reflectance mode means including means for causing half of the entering beam to travel through one half of the objective, then to illuminate the sample, and then to return through the other half of the objective to illuminate the detector. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. In a microscope having a sample supported therein, a detector of infrared radiation, and means for causing a post-interferometer infrared radiation beam to enter the microscope, an infrared optical system combining transmission mode and reflectance mode functions, comprising:
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transmission mode means for causing the post-interferometer radiation beam to provide transmission illumination of the sample; reflectance mode means for causing the post-interferometer infrared radiation beam to provide reflectance illumination of the sample; the reflectance mode means including; (a) a sample image plane at a distance from the sample at which plane the radiation beam focuses before and after illuminating the sample; and (b) a beam divider which receives the radiation beam at a distance ahead of the sample image plane, and which causes half of the radiation beam to be removed from the optical system and the remaining half of the radiation beam to illuminate the sample and then pass to the detector without further obstruction by the beam divider. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification