Patent ID: 6292287
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A scanning confocal optical device comprising:a light source for emitting light;a light scanning section for focusing a beam of light from the light source on a specimen surface to scan the focused beam of light across the specimen surface, the light scanning section including a condenser for focusing the beam of light on the specimen surface, and scanning means for scanning the beam of light across the specimen surface;a confocal pinhole situated between the light source and the light scanning section, and considered substantially a point light source, a confocal optical system being formed between the confocal pinhole and the specimen surface;polarized-plane modulating means for imparting relatively different polarized states between light returning from the specimen surface and light returning from others;polarizing/separating means for extracting the light returning from the specimen surface on the basis of a difference of the polarized states;a light detecting section for detecting the light returning from the specimen surface and extracted by the polarizing/separating means; anda light transmitting section for transmitting the light from the light source to the light scanning section, and the returning light from the light scanning section to the light detecting section.