Patent ID: 6825977
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A fixture for use in the alignment of optical components of a microscope having an objective lens plane, an objective lens port and a sample plane distally spaced from the objective lens plane, said fixture comprising:a base defining a mounting region for mounting the fixture to the objective lens plane at the objective lens port, said base having an optical port for receiving light from the microscope through the objective lens port and for passing light to the microscope through the objective lens port; a side wall connected to said base and extending away from said base toward the sample plane when said fixture is mounted to the objective lens plane; and a reference optical element mount positioned on an inner side of said side wall for releasably securing a reference optical element to receive light from the objective lens port and to reflect the received light back to the objective lens port, so that when said fixture is mounted to the objective lens plane, the reflected light is used to align optical components of the microscope.