Patent ID: 8469572

Claim:
A flat panel light source ( 100 ; 200 ; 300 ) for a transillumination device of a microscope, for viewing a sample ( 1 ) in the microscope, the flat panel light source ( 100 ; 200 ; 300 ) comprising: a plate-shaped light guide ( 110 ; 210 ; 310 ) having a lower boundary surface ( 111 ), an upper boundary surface ( 112 ), and at least one lateral surface ( 113 to 116 ); at least one light-emitting means ( 120 , 122 ) arranged to radiate light ( 130 ) into the light guide ( 110 ; 210 ; 310 ) from at least two different directions, via at least one lateral surface serving as a light entrance surface, wherein the light propagates in the light guide ( 110 ; 210 ; 310 ) as a result of total reflection; and an element ( 140 ; 440 ) abutting against a contact surface at the lower boundary surface ( 111 ) of the light guide, wherein the element disrupts the total reflection such that an outcoupling of light occurs through the upper boundary surface ( 112 ) of the light guide ( 110 ; 210 ; 310 ); wherein a planar area of the contact surface is less than a planar area of the lower boundary surface ( 111 ), and wherein the element ( 140 ) that disrupts total reflection produces a directed reflection of the light ( 130 ) propagating in the light guide ( 110 ; 210 ; 310 ).