Patent ID: 7130042
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: G01N,G02B

Abstract:
1. A dual-beam confocal microscope comprising: a) an optical source assembly providing first and second optical beams having a nonzero coherent frequency difference Δf between said first and second beams; b) a first focusing assembly receiving said first optical beam and providing a first focused beam having a first focal region and illuminating a sample; c) a second focusing assembly receiving said second optical beam and providing a second focused beam having a second focal region and illuminating said sample, wherein said first and second focused beams intersect within a target region in said sample at a beam intersection angle; d) a detector receiving detector input radiation emitted from said sample and providing an electrical signal responsive to an intensity of said detector input radiation, wherein said detector input radiation includes radiation emitted from said target region; e) an electrical filter receiving said electrical signal and providing a filtered electrical signal, wherein said filter has a frequency response H(f) having a pass band including f=Δf and a stop band including f=0; and f) a target region scanner for moving at least one of said first and second focused beams such that said target region is scanned within said sample; whereby said filtered signal is responsive to radiation originating from said target region and is substantially not responsive to radiation originating from outside said target region.