Patent ID: 6459490
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: G01B,G02B

Abstract:
A dual field of view optical system in a microscope comprising: (1) an illuminator arm with an illumination source, (2) a beam splitter, (3) an objective, (4) a sample plane for location of a sample to be observed, (5) a detector arm including a detector located at an image plane, and either (6a) a field stop in the illumination arm or (6b) a field stop at the image plane with additional relay optics, with the illuminator arm configured to illuminate the sample plane through the beam splitter and the objective and with the detector arm configured to receive an image of the sample and including the dual field of view optical system, the dual field of view optical system comprising two beam splitters, two mirrors and the detector, the two beam splitters in the same plane and the mirrors disposed on either side of the beam splitters, an entrance portion for receiving the image from the sample and an exit portion for directing the image onto the detector, wherein light from the sample is incident on the first beam splitter, which splits into two portions, each portion of the light being directed to a said mirror, thereby forming two light paths, and wherein each mirror in turn directs the light to the second beam splitter, the second beam splitter directing a portion of the light from each of the two paths to the detector such that the two light paths each produce an image on the detector that is displaced from the other.