Patent ID: 7629591
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: G01J,G01N,G02B

Abstract:
1. In a system for detecting photons from a sample wherein a first portion of said sample is illuminated by first photons from a photon source whereby an interaction between said first photons and said sample produces second photons, and wherein said second photons are received by substantially all of the optical fibers in a fiber array spectral translator, and wherein said second photons are directed by said substantially all of the optical fibers in said fiber array spectral translator to a photon detector which detects said second photons, the improvement comprising increasing the confocality of said system by directing only said second photons in a predetermined group of said plural fibers to said photon detector, wherein each fiber in said predetermined group is associated with a predetermined different second portion of said sample wherein each of said predetermined different second portions is smaller than said first portion.