Patent ID: 6963398

Claim:
A laser scanning microscope comprising: an objective for focusing a laser beam on a sample, and for transmitting light from the sample; optical scanning means for two-dimensionally scanning the laser beam on the sample; an acousto-optic device which is arranged on a detection optical path of the light from the sample and which selectably deflects only light with a wavelength corresponding to a frequency of an applied high frequency voltage; an optical detector for detecting light from the acousto-optic device; frequency scanning means for switching and setting a frequency of the applied high frequency voltage; and a beam splitter which is arranged between the objective and the acousto-optic device to divide an optical path of the laser beam from the detection optical path of the light from the sample; wherein the light detected by the optical detector is a first-order diffracted light beam deflected by the acousto-optic device; and wherein the frequency scanning means switches and sets the frequency of the high frequency voltage by synchronizing with the scanning of the optical scanning means to detect spectrum characteristic data for each pixel.