Patent ID: 7227113
Filing Date: 2007-06-05
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A confocal laser scanning microscope comprising: a laser beam source for outputting a laser beam; a laser optical system which irradiates a sample with the laser beam output by the laser beam source and which detects a measurement beam coming from the sample so as to acquire a confocal image of the sample; a light source which emits illumination light having an arbitrary wavelength; an optical element switching section including: a brightfield prism which enables the illumination light emitted from the light source to be guided to the laser optical system; and a darkfield annular mirror which shapes the illumination light emitted from the light source to have a ring shape to the laser optically system, the optical element switching section selectively arranging in the brightfield prism and the darkfield annular mirror at a position where the illumination light emitted from the light source is guided to the laser optical system; an optical-microscope optical system which directs the illumination light emitted from the light through the brightfield prism or the darkfield annular mirror to the laser optical system to illuminate the sample and which measures illumination light coming from the sample, thereby obtaining a non-confocal image of the sample, the optical-microscope optical system including optical systems corresponding to at least two observation methods, one of which is selected during use.