Patent ID: 6285019
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical system in a light path of a confocal microscope, said confocal microscope having a light source and a detector, an illumination light path between said light source and an object and a detection light path between said object and said detector, and an illuminating pinhole in the illumination light path and a detecting pinhole in said detection light path, said optical system comprising:a beamsplitter in said illumination optical path between said illuminating pinhole and said object and in said detection optical path between said object and said detecting pinhole;a single magnifying optical system between said beamsplitter and said object, said magnifying optical system being effective for said light source to vary the optically effective pinhole diameter of said illuminating pinhole and effective for said detector to vary the optically effective pinhole diameter of said detecting pinhole.