Patent ID: 7630538
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A confocal scanning microscope for generating a three-dimensional image or an image having a large depth of focus of a sample by obtaining an observed image of the sample while moving a focal-plane of the sample in an optical axial direction, comprising: a capture means for performing a photoelectric conversion on light from the sample and outputting a plurality of brightness signals of different wavelength bands of light; a selection means for selecting a brightness signal of an optimum wavelength band from among the plurality of brightness signals of different wavelength bands of light output from said capture unit; and an image forming means for generating a three-dimensional image or an image having a large depth of focus of the sample using only the brightness signal of the optimum wavelength band selected by said selection unit; wherein said capture means is a color image pickup device and the selection means generates an I-Z curve for each R, G, and B brightness signal of a predetermined pixel or pixels in a predetermined area of the color image pickup device, and selects any of the R, G, and B brightness signals on the basis of peak brightness of the generated I-Z curve for each of the R, G, and B brightness signals.