Patent ID: 6856457

Claim:
A microscope comprising: a light source for emitting an incoming light beam with which a sample to be observed is irradiated, thereby generating a return light beam from the sample; a fixed and immovable aperture plate having an array of apertures defined therein, wherein the aperture plate is disposed in a position within the incoming light beam such that the incoming light beam is spatially filtered as it passes through the array of apertures; and a first means for scanning the spatially-filtered incoming light beam from the aperture plate across the sample and for de-scanning the return light beam from the sample so that the return light beam impinges on the aperture plate; and further comprising photodetection means disposed within the return light beam at a position capable of detecting the return light beam after it has passed through the array of apertures; and further comprising second means for scanning the return light beam, the second means disposed within the return light beam at a point after the return light beam has passed through the array of apertures, but prior to the return light beam reaching the photodetection means.