Patent ID: 7180602
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: G01N,G02B,G02F

Abstract:
1. A confocal microscope comprising: a tunable laser source; a polarization controller; an optical circulator; a fiber lens; single mode optical fibers coupling light from the laser source, through the polarization controller and optical circulator to the fiber lens; an acousto-optic tunable filter positioned to receive light emanating from the fiber lens and adapted to produce a diffracted and a non-diffracted light beams; a lens positioned proximate the tunable filter and arranged to direct each of the light beams onto a sample to be viewed; a programmable bias retarder positioned to receive the light beams impinging on the sample; a mirror proximate the retarder for reflecting the light beams passing through the sample and retarder in a reverse direction through each of the retarder, the sample, the tunable filer and the fiber lens to the circulator; and a photodetector coupled to the circulator for providing a signal representative of the reflected light beams.