Patent ID: 6548796
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An imaging system comprising:an x stage movable on an x-axis; a source of a collimated excitation beam centered on a beam axis and defining infinity space; a scan-head comprising a deflector mirror to bounce the collimated excitation beam normal to the respective x stage and an objective lens, the objective lens having a central axis aligned coaxial with the beam axis of the collimated excitation beam, the scan-head being movably positioned to stretch the infinity space and to focus the collimated excitation beam on a focal point in an object plane over the x stage and to receive light emitted or reflected from the object plane, the objective lens being movable along a z-axis by a focus mechanism and the scan-head being movable upon a y-axis orthogonal to the x and z-axes and relative to the x stage and relative to the source while the central axis of the objective lens remains coaxial with the beam axis of the collimated excitation beam; a detector pinhole to receive light emanating from the focal point in the object plane; and a photodetector behind the detector pinhole to receive the light and to generate a signal based on the light.