Patent ID: 7679045

Claim:
A laser scanning microscope with correctable scanning control, comprising: an illumination device ( 10 ) for illuminating a reference sample ( 2 ; 2 ′) having at least two imageable, predefined structures therein, illumination from the illumination device defining an illumination beam path from the illumination device to the reference sample, detection means ( 7 ) for obtaining at least parts of an image of the reference sample ( 2 ; 2 ′) by detecting detection radiation from the reference sample ( 2 ; 2 ′) propagating along an imaging beam path from the reference sample ( 2 ; 2 ′) to the detection means ( 7 ), and for outputting detection signals, an optical scanner ( 14 ) arranged in at least one of the illumination beam path and the imaging beam path, the scanner having at a transfer function, and the scanner having at least one parameter used for at least one of control and regulation thereof, the scanner comprising: beam deflecting means for guiding a beam path section of at least one of the illumination beam path and the imaging beam path, and controller means ( 8 ) having an input for detecting signals output by the at least one detection means ( 7 ), the controller means generating control signals corresponding to a predefined target test movement, determining from an image of the reference sample ( 2 ; 2 ′) obtained from the detection means ( 7 ) deviations of the actual positions of the predefined structures ( 36 ) from predefined target positions, and correcting at least one of the at least one parameter and the transfer function as a function of the deviations to reduce a deviation in the actual position of at least one of the structures ( 36 ) from the target position, and a drive for driving the beam deflecting means in response to the control signals generated by the controller means.