Patent ID: 7324272

Claim:
A spectroscopic microscope comprising: a. a light source; b. a sample stage suitable for bearing a sample for spectrometric analysis; c. a detector receiving light from the sample stage; d. a Koehler optical system situated between the light source and the sample stage, wherein the Koehler optical system disperses light rays from each point on the light source across an area on the sample stage, the Koehler optical system having at least four optical elements therein, the optical elements including, in series: i. a collector element adjacent the light source; ii. first and second condenser elements; and iii. an objective element adjacent the sample, wherein: (1) the collector element and the first condenser element are situated in fixed relationship with respect to each other during operation of the microscope; and (2) the second condenser element is adjustably repositionable with respect to both the collector element and the first condenser element during operation of the microscope, whereby the Koehler optical system may be adjusted to focus light rays from each point on the light source to a corresponding point on the sample stage.