Patent ID: 9170411
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A scanning optical microscope, comprising: a light source; a first beam splitter configured to split light emitted from the light source into irradiation light and reference light; a first objective lens configured to converge the irradiation light on a sample and receive signal light, which occurs as a result of reflecting the converged light off the sample; a second beam splitter configured to split the signal light off from an optical path extending between the light source and the sample; a pin hole positioned on an optical path of the split signal light at a position optically conjugate with an image-forming point of the first objective lens; a condenser lens configured to converge the split signal light on the pin hole; a phase plate configured to output first light including at least four firstly-split light beams having different phases; a third beam splitter configured to multiplex the first light and second light to generate interfering light including at least four secondly-split light beams having different phases; and a light detecting element configured to receive the interfering light and output at least four electric signals, wherein the at least four firstly-split light beams correspond to the at least four secondly-split light beams, wherein intensities of the at least four electric signals correspond one to one to intensities of the at least four secondly-split light beams, wherein a first phase plate or a second phase plate is used as the phase plate, wherein, when the first phase plate is used as the phase plate, the reference light enters the first phase plate and the signal light that has passed through the pin hole serves as the second light, and wherein, when the second phase plate is used as the phase plate, the signal light that has passed through the pin hole enters the second phase plate and the reference light serves as the second light.