Patent ID: 6882473

Claim:
A microscope arrangement for generating a stereoscopic image of an object for viewing by an observer through left and right oculars of a microscope at a frequency greater than a flicker frequency of the human eye, the microscope arrangement comprising: a single microscope objective for imaging said object and defining an imaging beam path as well as an entry pupil and an exit pupil along a single optical channel; illuminating optics for illuminating said object by providing an imaging beam coming from said object and passing through said objective and along said imaging beam path; means for alternately blocking a section of said imaging beam in said imaging beam path on said single optical channel to form two component beams at a clock frequency greater than said flicker frequency of the human eye with said blocking means being disposed at or near said exit pupil or at a position along said imaging beam path which is optically conjugated to said exit pupil, thereby forming a left image and a right image for a stereo pair; means for transmitting said left and right images to said left and right oculars of said microscope for viewing by said observer; and, said blocking means including a DMD mirror arrangement for forming said left image and said right image for said stereo pair.