Patent ID: 9690085
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: G02B

Claim:
1. A microscope illumination apparatus comprising: an optical conversion unit that is configured to convert incident laser light, which is emitted from a light source and is incident on the optical conversion unit, to laser light that has an NA and whose main optical axis is distributed on a conical surface that widens at a predetermined angle with respect to an incident optical axis of the incident laser light, and from which the laser light exits; and an optical device that has no refractive power and that is configured to deflect the laser light, which has exited the optical conversion unit, in a direction parallel to the incident optical axis, wherein the microscope illumination apparatus is configured to focus laser light that has exited the optical device at a pupil position of a focusing lens for illuminating a specimen or a position that is conjugate with the pupil position, such that the laser light is focused to form a ring-like pattern that is continuous in a circumferential direction or to form a ring-like pattern having plural spots with gaps therebetween in the circumferential direction, and wherein the focused laser light is collimated by the focusing lens and is incident on the specimen at an angle from circumferential directions of the focusing lens.