Patent ID: 8189191
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: G01J,G02B

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: an objective lens system configured to collect light from a sample; a first aperture positioned to allow a portion of the collected light received from the objective lens system to pass as input light, wherein the input light carries an image of the sample that is defocused as it passes through the first aperture; a first lens positioned to transmit the input light received from the first aperture; a dispersive element configured to spatially disperse the input light received from the first lens in a first plane; a second lens positioned to transmit the spatially dispersed light; a second aperture positioned to allow a portion of the spatially dispersed light received from the second lens to pass as detection light; and a detector positioned to receive the detection light and configured to form at least one image of the sample, wherein the input light is incident on a first surface of the dispersive element, and the spatially dispersed light leaves the dispersive element through the first surface; and wherein an angle, measured in the first plane, between a principal propagation direction of the input light and a normal to the first surface corresponds to a first angle, an angle, measured in the first plane, between a principal propagation direction of the spatially dispersed light and the normal to the first surface corresponds to a second angle, and a difference between the first angle and the second angle is less than 10 degrees.