Illuminating optical system

• US 5,142,462 A
• Filed: 04/27/1990
• Issued: 08/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kashima, Shingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US07/515,617
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 362/259, 362/268, 362/331, 362/223, 350/448, 350/449, 350/409, 356/73, 356/318, 356/71, 359/642, 359/738, 359/739
• US Class Current: 362/268
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1434 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0911 Anamorphotic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0966 Cylindrical lenses cylindrical lenses per se G02B3/06

Abstract

The illuminating optical system comprises a light source for emitting a light beam having an elongated sectional shape in parallel with the optical axis thereof, and a condenser lens for focusing said light beam onto a sample. This illuminating optical system permits easily correcting aberrations in the lens system thereof, assures little loss of light amount, has high operability and can easily be manufactured.

Claims

1. An illuminating optical system comprising:

light source means for emitting a light beam having an elongated sectional shape on a common optical axis; and

a condenser lens for focusing said light beam onto a sample to form a diffraction image having an elongated sectional shape.

2. An illuminating optical system according to claim 1 wherein a member having refractive power different between a predetermined direction within a plane perpendicular to said optical axis and a direction perpendicular to said predetermined direction within said plane is interposed between said condenser lens and said sample.

3. An illuminating optical system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a sectional shape of said light beam has a longitudinal length at least twice a lateral length thereof.