Patent ID: 7528374

Claim:
A sensing apparatus comprising: a sample holder configured to receive a sample; an optical source configured to emit excitation light; an optical assembly configured to receive the excitation light, the optical assembly being spaced from the sample holder and being rotatable about a first axis; an objective lens; and a detector, wherein the optical assembly is configured to direct the excitation light to a first location on the sample when the optical assembly is in a first position, and to direct the excitation light from the optical source to a second location on the sample when the optical assembly is rotated to a second position, the optical assembly directs the excitation light to the sample along a second axis, the objective lens is configured to collimate light emitted from the first and the second locations on the sample, the detector is configured to receive the collimated light, and a distance from the first axis to the second axis defines a radius of a circle, the circle comprises a first arc and a second arc, and the sensing apparatus is configurable to direct excitation light to the sample while the optical assembly rotates through the first arc and the second arc.