Patent ID: 6898004

Claim:
A microscope system for observing a specimen, comprising: an objective lens facing the specimen; an illuminating unit configured to emit illumination light rays; a first optical element array including a plurality of first micro deflection elements, each configured to deflect the illumination light rays emitted from the illumination unit and to selectively direct the illumination light rays in one of first and second directions, the optical element array being located at a first conjugate position with respect to the specimen; a second optical element array including a plurality of second micro deflection elements, each configured to deflect the illumination light rays emitted from the illumination unit and to selectively direct the illumination light rays to the first optical element array, the second optical element array being located at one of an aperture stop position and a second conjugate position with respect to the aperture stop position; a control section configured to control the first and second micro deflection elements, individually, to form a pattern of the illumination light rays directed to the first direction; and a transfer optical system configured to transfer the pattern of the illumination liqht rays to the specimen through the lens.