Patent ID: 8184364

Claim:
A microscope capable of generating three-dimensional (3-D) images, said microscope comprising: a first light source forming part of a first light path; a second light source and a patterned article forming part of a second light path; a shared set of components for said first and second light paths, said shared set of components including a first beam-splitter, a lens group, and a second beam-splitter connected in series, said first light source directing light onto said first beam-splitter and said second light source directing light via said patterned article onto said first beam-splitter, a patterned surface of said patterned article being located at an effective focal plane of said lens group, and said lens group imaging said first light source and said second light source at an entrance pupil of a microscope objective lens to simultaneously provide uniform illumination at a sample over an extended two-dimensional (2D) field; and a multi-pin connector linking electronically to said first light source and said second light source.