Patent ID: 8027030
Filing Date: 2011-09-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A calibration instrument for sampling illumination of an excitation light source of a microscopy system, comprising: a calibration surface positioned along an optical path to substantially uniformly scatter illumination from the excitation light source toward a detection portion of the microscopy system; a dichromatic mirror positioned to reflect illumination from the excitation light source along an optical path through an objective toward a target sample and to transmit at least a portion of illumination from the target sample toward a detection portion of the microscopy system, wherein the calibration surface temporarily blocks the optical path between the dichromatic mirror and the objective during calibration and scatters a substantial portion of the reflected excitation light through the dichromatic mirror toward the detector; and a housing configured to retain the dichromatic mirror and the calibration surface in a fixed relation with respect to each other, wherein the housing is adapted for placement within an interchangeable filter selection mechanism.