Abrégé

A method for the optical detection of an illuminated specimen, wherein the illuminating light impinges in a spatially structured manner in at least one plane on the specimen and several images of the specimen are acquired by a detector in different positions of the structure on the specimen. An optical sectional image and/or an image with enhanced resolution is then calculated. The method includes generating a diffraction pattern in the direction of the specimen in or near the pupil of the objective lens or in a plane conjugate to the pupil. A phase plate with regions of varying phase delays is dedicated to the diffraction pattern in or near the pupil of the objective lens or in a plane conjugate to said pupil, and different phase angles of the illuminating light are set.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/14 - Condensateurs donnant un éclairage pour une observation en contraste de phase

Abrégé

An illuminating device for a microscope may include a holder which carries a plurality of lighting units to be positioned in an illuminating target position. It may also include a pivot system with which the holder can be rotated about a pivot axis such that each lighting unit can be positioned selectively in the illuminating target position, wherein the rotational range of the holder about the pivot axis is less than 360°.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 21/16 - Microscopes adaptés pour éclairage ultraviolet
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

A method and arrangement for collimated microscopic imaging, including a first illumination of a sample in at least one region for exciting fluorescence, and a spatially resolving detection of the sample light by detector elements, the detection being associated with the region, wherein by means of a second illumination a sub-division of the region into separate fluorescent partial regions occurs, which are associated with the detector elements. The separation of the partial regions is carried out by the spatial separation of the fluorescent regions by means of intermediate regions having reduced fluorescence or no fluorescence, and/or by means of different spectral properties of the fluorescence from the partial regions.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01J 1/58 - Photométrie, p. ex. posemètres photographiques en utilisant une luminescence produite par la lumière

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope having an illumination beam path with wide field illumination of a sample and a first detection beam path having a spatially resolved surface receiver, which is reached by a first part of the detection light coming from the sample via the first detection beam path, or an image divider assembly for a microscope. In order to lengthen the optical path length, at least a second part of the detection light coming from the sample is masked out of the detection beam path and, via deflection means belonging to the detection beam path, is led into a second detection beam path and, preferably via further deflection means, is deflected back in the direction of the detection in such a way that detection light is applied to at least two partial regions beside one another on the surface receiver. At least the second part of the detection light runs in an optical element having an optical density that is increased as compared with the first detection beam path, in order to lengthen the optical path length, and the optical element is designed to be displaceable at an angle, preferably perpendicular, to the optical axis of the first detection beam path in order to adjust the optical path length, and has flat surfaces, at least on the light entry and light exit side thereof; a prism is provided, preferably a glass prism, preferably at least in the second detection beam path after a first beam deflection, for deflection in a direction parallel to the first detection beam path, in order to increase the path length and for reverse deflection.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/18 - Aménagements avec plus d'un parcours de lumière, p. ex. pour comparer deux échantillons
• G02B 27/14 - Systèmes divisant ou combinant des faisceaux fonctionnant uniquement par réflexion
• G02B 17/02 - Systèmes catoptriques, p. ex. systèmes redressant et renversant une image

Abrégé

The invention relates to a high-resolution microscope and to a method for determining the two- or three-dimensional positions of objects, comprising at least one of the following method steps a) - o) : a) the vertical (Z) position of imaged particles or molecules is determined from the orientation and shape thereof by means of an anamorphic lens, preferably a cylindrical lens, in the imaging, b) the detection beam path is split into at least two partial detection beam paths having different optical path lengths, which are detected at an offset on a detector, c) activation or switchover is performed by means of a multi-photon excitation process, preferably a two-photon excitation, d) a point-scanning activation or switchover occurs, e) a line-scanning activation or switchover occurs, f) the sample is excited and the sample light is detected in the wide-field mode, g) manually or automatically predetermined sample regions are activated or switched over, h) the activation or switchover is performed by means of AOTF or SLM or DMD, i) laser pulses for activating or switching are spectrally split by means of a spectrally splitting element, preferably a grating, j) an SLM or DMD in the beam path after the grating performs a controlled selection of split laser pulse fractions, k) the laser wide-field excitation is guided by SLM or DMD, l) ROIs are selected by SLM or DMD, m) a multi-photon switching or activation is performed by means of a microlens array, preferably a cylindrical lens array, n) switching and/or excitation is performed by means of a line scanner, and o) a line detection is performed by means of a spatially resolved sensor, wherein at least two sensor rows, each comprising a plurality of sensors, are illuminated with sample light by means of a slit diaphragm position.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence

Abrégé

The invention relates to a luminescence microscopy method, including: a sample (P) being used, which comprises a certain substance, or the sample is provided with said certain substance, wherein the certain substance can be converted repeatedly from a first state (A), in which it can be excited into emitting luminescence radiation (3), into a second state (B), in which it cannot be excited into emitting luminescence radiation; the certain substance present in the sample being brought into the first state by irradiating switch radiation (1); the certain substance present in the sample being excited into emitting luminescence radiation by irradiating excitation radiation (2); and the sample emitting luminescence radiation being displayed, wherein a high-resolution selection of sample regions extending perpendicularly to a sample surface is carried out by irradiating either the switch radiation or the excitation radiation as structured illumination (6) of the sample, and wherein a high-resolution selection of the sample surface is carried out by irradiating the switch radiation and/or the excitation radiation as TIRF illumination of the sample.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence
• G02B 21/16 - Microscopes adaptés pour éclairage ultraviolet

Abrégé

1. The invention relates to a ring luminaire, in particular for optical spectrometers. 2.1. Using conventional ring luminaires, the illumination light can only be used with great effort and only limited accuracy as a reference for a measurement. The aim of the invention is to receive reference radiation with less effort. 2.2. For said purpose, inlet ends (3.1) of a plurality of reference optical fibers (3) are arranged additionally in the at least one inlet bundle (4) of the ring luminaire (1), wherein the outlet ends (3.2) thereof are bundled away from the ring (9) to form at least one reference bundle (7). 2.3. The invention further relates to optical spectrometers.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01J 1/02 - Photométrie, p. ex. posemètres photographiques Parties constitutives
• G01J 3/10 - Aménagements de sources lumineuses spécialement adaptées à la spectrométrie ou à la colorimétrie

Abrégé

The invention relates to an image recording unit (10) having an image sensor comprising a recording area (3) having a plurality of light-sensitive pixels (2), each collecting charge carriers generated by impinging light during an exposure period, and a non-light-sensitive readout area (4) into which the collected charge carriers are shifted during a shifting period, and from which the charge carriers are then read out during a readout period for generating image data, and having a control module (9) to which the duration of the exposure period is prescribed and that controls the time sequence of the exposure, shift, and read-out periods so that a new exposure period is begun after the shift period and still during the read-out period, and, if the predefined duration of the exposure period is shorter than the read-out period, an exposure end signal (F3) is output at the end of the new exposure period.

Classes IPC  ?

• H04N 5/235 - Circuits pour la compensation des variations de la luminance de l'objet
• H04N 5/372 - Capteurs à dispositif à couplage de charge [CCD]; Registres d'intégration à temps de retard [TDI] ou registres à décalage spécialement adaptés au capteur SSIS
• H04N 5/376 - Circuits d'adressage

Abrégé

The invention relates to an arrangement for equalizing binocular visual fields for microscopes and other optical instruments, with an eyepiece arranged in each beam path, and with diaphragms serving the purpose of visual field adjustment. According to the invention, the diaphragms (2, 2b, 4, 4b) are fixed or movable in or in immediate proximity to the intermediate image plane in the optical output to the left eye and/or to the right eye, wherein one diaphragm (2b, 4b) is arranged eccentrically or centrically in the installation space of at least one eyepiece or in at least one eyepiece support of the corresponding optical instrument provided therefor, and means are present for positioning and/or adjusting the diaphragms (2, 2b, 4, 4b, 14).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/22 - Aménagements stéréoscopiques

Abrégé

The invention relates to a high resolution microscope for the three-dimensionally determining the position of objects, in particular individual fluorophores, preferably for the high spatial resolution luminescence microscopy of a sample, which is marked with marker molecules that can be activated or switched using a signal such that they can be induced to emit certain luminescent radiation only in the activated state, wherein the object is represented by means of an imaging system, preferably the microscope lens, on a surface detector consisting of individual detector elements, wherein at least one microlens array is located in front of the detector elements, and different, preferably adjacent, detector elements receive light from microlenses having different focal lengths and from different object planes, or wherein by means of at least one microlens array, located in part in front of the detector elements, a different object plane is represented on the detector elements in the direction of the light behind the microlenses than on detector elements having no microlenses in front of the latter.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/16 - Microscopes adaptés pour éclairage ultraviolet
• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence

Abrégé

Using multiple single image acquisitions having various exposure times or excitation intensities, both dark and light image regions having a good signal-to-noise ratio can be measured separately, and can be combined to form a total image having expanded dynamics. The sequential acquisition, however, is elaborate and slow. The aim of the invention is to make it possible, with little expenditure and in a short period of time, to generate images having an expanded dynamic range. For this purpose, for generating the total image (2) for various sample areas (S, T), one of several evaluation methods (SPC1 ADC, 2D-PC) is selected, depending on one of the result signals, and/or depending on an intermediate result signal, one of a plurality of parallel evaluation channels is selected. The region-individual selection from various signal evaluations makes it possible to utilize in each case the signal evaluation having the optimal dynamic range for the corresponding sample region. The resulting image has an expanded dynamic range, which is due to the combined quantities of the dynamic ranges of the individual image elements.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G01J 1/42 - Photométrie, p. ex. posemètres photographiques en utilisant des détecteurs électriques de radiations

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method and a microscope for generating a microscopic image, wherein a) the sample is illuminated in each case by the microscope lens using a TIRF method; and b) the sample is illuminated in a structured fashion in different displacement positions of the structure. The sample light of the method according to a) and b) is detected in each case for generating an image of at least one sample region, wherein the sample images generated according to a) and b) are set off against one another, preferably multiplied, and the result is stored for generating a new sample image.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/36 - Microscopes aménagés pour la photographie ou la projection
• G02B 27/56 - Optique utilisant des ondes évanescentes, c.-à-d. ondes non homogènes
• G02B 27/58 - Optique pour l'apodisation ou la super-résolvanceSystèmes optiques à ouverture synthétisée
• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence

Abrégé

The invention relates to a laser scanning microscope or spectral detector, having a detection beam path and at least one first imaging optics (2, 5), which images spectrally dispersed sample light in a Fourier plane such that in said plane the individual spectral components of the sample light are spatially separated from one another, that in said plane a micro-mirror array (4) is provided, and that by actuating the micro-mirrors a spectrally selective change in direction of the detection radiation takes place, wherein a part of the useful light of the detection radiation reaches a detector. In order to improve the spectral selection, either at least one second micro-mirror array (15) is provided, and 1:1 imaging of the first micro-mirror array in the second micro-mirror array is provided, or the same micro-mirror array is passed through at least twice, wherein in the light path between the first and second passes, a spatial offset of the light radiation of at least the first and second passes is generated on the micro-mirror array by optical means.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01J 3/14 - Production du spectreMonochromateurs en utilisant des éléments réfringents, p. ex. prisme
• G01J 3/18 - Production du spectreMonochromateurs en utilisant des éléments diffractants, p. ex. réseaux
• G01J 3/02 - SpectrométrieSpectrophotométrieMonochromateursMesure de la couleur Parties constitutives

Abrégé

The invention relates to a focusing method for an optical instrument for magnified viewing of an object, wherein the instrument comprises instrument optics, an adjusting unit for adjusting the focal length when viewing the object by means of the instrument optics, and a receiving unit receiving the object by means of the instrument optics, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) generating at least two recordings having different focal lengths, b) applying a plurality of different focusing functions, each comprising an absolute extreme value indicating the optimal focal length to be set for the viewing and located in a close focus range of the focusing function, a far focus range being adjacent thereto on both sides and more sensitive to disturbances in recording than the near focus range and thereby comprising local adjacent extremes, each calculated for each of the at least two recordings and analyses using the focal length as a variable, so that a focusing function directional change of the focal length for each focusing function is calculated in order to achieve the optimal focal length, c) determining a main change direction based on all focusing function change directions, d) using the main change direction so determined for further focusing.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope comprising an illumination device (19) which produces a sheet of light to illuminate a sample region (P), said sheet having an approximately planar extension in the direction of an illumination axis (X) of an illumination beam path (35) and in the direction of a transverse axis (Y) lying at a right angle to the illumination axis (X). The microscope further comprises a detection device (1) used to detect light that is emitted by the sample region (P) along an axis of detection (Z) of a detection beam path, the illumination axis (X) and the axis of detection (Z) as well as the transverse axis (Y) and the axis of detection (Z) being oriented relative each other at an angle unequal zero. The illumination device (19) also comprises means for deflecting illumination light to an additional illumination beam path (36) and for producing an additional sheet of light, the sheet of light and the additional sheet of light illuminating the sample region (P) on the same illumination axis (X) from opposite directions, and switching means for switching the illumination light between the illumination beam path (35) and the additional illumination beam path (36). The detection device (1) also comprises a detection lens system (2) for imaging light reflected by the sample region (P) onto a spatially resolved surface detector (4) for the location-dependent detection of the light. The switching means of the microscope according to the invention comprise a rapidly switchable switching element with a switching time of less than 10 ms, a predetermined integration time of the surface detector (4) and the switching time of the switching element being synchronized such that the sample region (P) is illuminated on the illumination axis (X) at least once from every direction during the integration time.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope comprising an illumination device (19) which produces a sheet of light to illuminate a sample region (P), said sheet having an approximately planar extension in the direction of an illumination axis (X) of an illumination beam path and in the direction of a transverse axis (Y) lying at a right angle to the illumination axis (X). The microscope further comprises a detection device (1) used to detect light that is emitted by the sample region (P) along an axis of detection (Z) of a detection beam path, the illumination axis (X) and the axis of detection (Z) as well as the transverse axis (Y) and the axis of detection (Z) being oriented relative each other at an angle unequal zero and the detection device further comprising a detection lens system (2) in the detection beam path. The detection device (1) of the microscope according to the invention furthermore comprises an optical detection element which is spatially separate from a front lens of the detection lens system (2) and which can be adjusted independently thereof, said optical detection element being used to continuously vary the size of a detection image field, and/or to continuously displace a focal plane of detection in the sample region (P).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/02 - Objectifs
• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif
• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope comprising an illumination device (19) which produces a sheet of light to illuminate a sample region (P), said sheet having an approximately planar extension in the direction of an illumination axis (X) of an illumination beam path and in the direction of a transverse axis (Y) lying at a right angle to the illumination axis (X). The microscope further comprises a detection device (1) used to detect light that is emitted by the sample region (P) along an axis of detection (Z) of a detection beam path, the illumination axis (X) and the axis of detection (Z) as well as the transverse axis (Y) and the axis of detection (Z) being oriented relative each other at an angle unequal zero. The illumination device (19) comprises first sheet of light producing means, which in turn have means for producing a rotationally symmetrical light beam and scanning means for scanning, in the manner of a sheet of light scanner, the sample region (P) along the transverse axis (Y) in a predetermined time interval. The illumination device (19) of the microscope according to the invention comprises second sheet of light producing means, which in turn have a first astigmatically active optical element (27) with at least one astigmatic lens for producing a static sheet of light. The microscope further has selection elements which can be used to select either the first or the second sheet of light producing means or both together to produce the sheet of light.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope comprising an illumination device (19) which produces a sheet of light to illuminate a sample region (P), said sheet having an approximately planar extension in the direction of an illumination axis (X) of an illumination beam path and in the direction of a transverse axis (Y) lying at a right angle to the illumination axis (X). The microscope further comprises a detection device (1) used to detect light that is emitted by the sample region (P) along an axis of detection (Z) of a detection beam path, the illumination axis (X) and the axis of detection (Z) as well as the transverse axis (Y) and the axis of detection (Z) being oriented relative each other at an angle unequal zero. The detection device (1) comprises a detection lens system (2) arranged in the detection beam path and splitting means for splitting the detection beam path into two beam sub-paths (14, 15), spatially resolved surface detectors (4) or (4') being arranged in the respective beam sub-paths (14, 15) onto which surface detectors the light to be detected can be imaged, and the splitting means comprising at least one dichroic beam splitter (13, 40). The dichroic beam splitter (13) of the microscope according to the invention is arranged in the beam path in the close-up to infinity region (12) with respect to the spatially resolved surface detectors (4, 4') and has a thickness of at least 3 mm. Optical imaging elements (5) or (5') for imaging the light to be detected onto the respective surface detector (4) or (4') are arranged in every beam sub-path (14, 15). At least one wobble plate for producing a beam offset along two directions that are orthogonal to each other at a right angle to the detection axis (Z) is arranged in at least one of the two beam sub-paths (14, 15) so that measured values read out from the two surface detectors (4, 4') can be automatically superimposed.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 26/08 - Dispositifs ou dispositions optiques pour la commande de la lumière utilisant des éléments optiques mobiles ou déformables pour commander la direction de la lumière
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G02B 21/36 - Microscopes aménagés pour la photographie ou la projection

Abrégé

The invention relates to an observation and analysis unit comprising means for the magnified depiction of a sample (1) and means for the evaluation and analysis thereof. According to the invention, such an observation and analysis unit comprises - a light microscopic device designed for the magnified depiction and optical evaluation of a sample (1), - means for the analysis of selected regions of the sample (1), comprising - an electron source (3) from which an electron beam (4) can be directed to a region of the sample (1) selected by means of the light microscopic device and comprising - an x-ray detector (6) designed to detect the x-ray radiation (5) occurring due to the interaction of the electron beam (4) with the sample material, - an actuation and evaluation unit (8) which generates position commands for the light microscopic device and the electron source (3) and spectrally analyzes the x-ray radiation (5).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/36 - Microscopes aménagés pour la photographie ou la projection
• G01N 23/225 - Recherche ou analyse des matériaux par l'utilisation de rayonnement [ondes ou particules], p. ex. rayons X ou neutrons, non couvertes par les groupes , ou en mesurant l'émission secondaire de matériaux en utilisant des microsondes électroniques ou ioniques

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for automatically focusing a microscope on a predetermined object in a sample to be examined with a microscope, the method having the steps a) generating a set of criteria to be fulfilled for the predetermined object using at least one training image of the object, b) generating an initial image of the sample to be examined comprising the predetermined object, wherein the microscope is in a first focus position, c) determining the segment or segments of the initial image that fulfill the set of criteria according to step a), and defining each determined segment as an object region of the initial image, d) generating further images of the sample, wherein the microscope is in different focus positions, e) determining the optimal focus position(s) using the further images, wherein only the partial segment(s) that correspond to the object region(s) is/are evaluated in all images, f) focusing the microscope onto at least one of the optimal focus positions determined in step e).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

The invention relates to a stereomicroscope having at least one microscope objective, having a first zoom optical system arranged downstream of the microscope objective and a first imaging lens arranged downstream of the first zoom optical system, wherein the microscope objective, the first zoom optical system and the first imaging lens form a first imaging channel, having a second zoom optical system arranged downstream of the microscope objective and a second imaging lens arranged downstream of the second zoom optical system, wherein the microscope objective, the second zoom optical system and the second imaging lens form a second imaging channel. The stereomicroscope is characterised in that for the first imaging channel and for the second imaging channel a respective separate LED illumination light source is present, in that for the first imaging channel and for the second imaging channel a device for coupling in the illuminating light of the respective associated LED illumination light source is present, in that the light of the first LED illumination light source is directed via the first zoom optical system and the microscope objective onto a sample to be analysed, and the light of the second LED illumination light source is directed via the second zoom optical system and the microscope objective onto the sample.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/22 - Aménagements stéréoscopiques

Abrégé

The invention relates to a lighting device for microscopes and macroscopes, comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in a planar manner. According to the invention, at least four white-light LED elements (I, II, III, IV) are arranged in the form of a matrix lamp (1) in a plane of the entrance pupil or in a plane (2) optically conjugate thereto, wherein each LED element (I, II, III, IV) is connected to an activation unit (3) for the purpose of changing the light intensity of the LED element.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 21/10 - Condensateurs donnant un éclairage sur fond noir
• G02B 21/12 - Condensateurs donnant un éclairage sur fond clair

Abrégé

Currently, relatively weak light sources with low light intensities are used in wide-field microscopes. Inevitably, focusing in the pupil plane thereby results in low light intensities in the sample, since the output of the light source is distributed over a very large sample area. However, there are also wide-field technologies requiring very high intensities, for example, photo-activated localization (PAL) microscopy. It is the object of the invention to allow, with little expenditure, the flexible adjustment of the illumination light intensity in the sample. For this purpose, a laser (2) is used for a light source, and a variable lens (10) is arranged in the illumination beam path thus making a variable adjustment of a beam cross section of the illumination light in an intermediate image plane possible, wherein a divergence of the illumination light is identical for different beam cross sections. In this way, the size of the visual field of the microscope can be flexibly adjusted. Thus, the intensity of the laser illumination light in the sample (5) can be varied in a wide range of values.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 21/16 - Microscopes adaptés pour éclairage ultraviolet
• G02B 27/56 - Optique utilisant des ondes évanescentes, c.-à-d. ondes non homogènes
• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence
• G01N 21/55 - Réflexion spéculaire

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for generating a result image by applying an operator to an input image having n lines, wherein the input image is stored in a first region of a database having n data lines, k + 1 additional lines of a second region of the database are reserved, and the operator comprises an extent of g lines, wherein g is greater than or equal to two lines and less than or equal to 2k + 1 lines, and wherein the operator calculates from each set of g data lines the data for each respective line of the result image or an intermediate image for generating the result image, and stores the same line by line in the data lines and additional lines, so that the calculated data are first stored in the additional lines and then in the data lines that the operator no longer requires for calculating further lines or the result image or the intermediate image.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06T 5/20 - Amélioration ou restauration d'image utilisant des opérateurs locaux

Abrégé

Research fields such as system biology depend on quantitative data, which until now were possible to determine only with low accuracy by means of fluorescence microscopy. The invention is to enable a quantitative evaluation of microscopically recorded images having fewer errors and is to be useable in connection with high-resolution methods, in particular with high speed. A microscope image (2) is evaluated, in which the intensity distributions of the fluorescence events in each case have a diffraction-related expansion, which corresponds to an expansion of a dot transmission function of the microscope (1), and are arranged spatially without overlap or at least largely spatially without overlap, in that at least one counter per region (R, R1, R2) of the microscope image (2), which region is predetermined to be evaluated, is initialized, at least one fluorescence event in a region (R, R1, R2) of the microscope image (2), which region is to be evaluated, is identified, and the counter corresponding to the respective region (R, R1, R2) is incrementally increased with each fluorescence event identified in the region (R, R1, R2). By means of counting, the signal-to-noise ratio can be drastically improved at high evaluation speed.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope comprising multiple optical systems in the imaging beam path and at least one subassembly, the optical effect of which in relation to the imaging beam path can be modified by controlling the subassembly, e.g. a group of lenses (ZS1, ZS2, ZS3, ZS4) or a diaphragm that can be moved in the direction of the optical axis, a diaphragm having a variable aperture, a digital zoom device, a shutter, or a focusing device. The microscope of the invention is characterized by a control unit which is designed to generate control signals for the subassembly in a first mode of operation in order to regulate or control the functional parameters exclusively of the imaging optical system with which the subassembly is associated, and additionally in a second mode of operation in order to regulate or control the functional parameters of the entire optical system of the microscope.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif
• G02B 21/36 - Microscopes aménagés pour la photographie ou la projection
• G02B 21/22 - Aménagements stéréoscopiques
• G02B 21/02 - Objectifs

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope, in particular a laser scanning microscope, for optically detecting light radiation excited in a sample, comprising a detection beam passage for detecting spectral components of the light radiation in several detection channels, wherein the light radiation arrives at a variable long or short pass filter, by which reflected and/or transmitted components are reflected with a parallel displacement, and said reflected and/or transmitted components arrive at a detector after at least one such back-reflection.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 27/14 - Systèmes divisant ou combinant des faisceaux fonctionnant uniquement par réflexion
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a telecentric microscope system comprising an objective, an afocal magnifying system arranged downstream from the object, with a continuous variable magnification and an entry pupil in the image-side focal point of the objective, and a tube system arranged downstream from the magnification system. The invention also relates to an afocal magnification system with variable magnification for telecentric microscope systems. According to the invention, the magnification system is designed as an afocal magnification system with negative telescope magnification, the exit pupil (AP) is physically located after the last mobile lens group, and an intermediate image (ZB) is formed in the space between the entrance pupil (EP) and the exit pupil (AP), said image changing position when the magnification is changed.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 13/22 - Objectifs ou systèmes de lentilles télécentriques
• G02B 15/173 - Objectifs optiques avec moyens de faire varier le grossissement par déplacement axial d'au moins une lentille ou de groupes de lentilles relativement au plan de l'image afin de faire varier de façon continue la distance focale équivalente de l'objectif avec des mouvements interdépendants en relation non linéaire entre une lentille ou un groupe de lentilles et une autre lentille ou un autre groupe de lentilles ayant une première lentille mobile ou un groupe de lentilles mobile et une seconde lentille mobile ou un groupe de lentilles mobile, les deux devant une lentille fixe ou un groupe de lentilles fixe ayant une lentille additionnelle frontale fixe ou un groupe de lentilles additionnel frontal fixe disposées + — +
• G02B 21/02 - Objectifs
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a magnifying system which is telecentric on both sides and consists of an optical subsystem on an object side and on an image side, wherein at least one lens group can be moved along the optical axis for varying the focal distance on both sides, while the transmission length of the object plane remains constant up to the image plane. The invention also relates to a magnifying system which is telecentric on both sides and has a fixed, non-variable focal distance. According to the invention, the image-side focal point of the object-side subsystem coincides with the object-side focal point of the image-side subsystem, and said focal point is in the same air space between two lens groups for all magnifications.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 13/22 - Objectifs ou systèmes de lentilles télécentriques
• G02B 15/173 - Objectifs optiques avec moyens de faire varier le grossissement par déplacement axial d'au moins une lentille ou de groupes de lentilles relativement au plan de l'image afin de faire varier de façon continue la distance focale équivalente de l'objectif avec des mouvements interdépendants en relation non linéaire entre une lentille ou un groupe de lentilles et une autre lentille ou un autre groupe de lentilles ayant une première lentille mobile ou un groupe de lentilles mobile et une seconde lentille mobile ou un groupe de lentilles mobile, les deux devant une lentille fixe ou un groupe de lentilles fixe ayant une lentille additionnelle frontale fixe ou un groupe de lentilles additionnel frontal fixe disposées + — +
• G02B 15/28 - Objectifs optiques avec moyens de faire varier le grossissement par déplacement axial d'au moins une lentille ou de groupes de lentilles relativement au plan de l'image afin de faire varier de façon continue la distance focale équivalente de l'objectif avec des lentilles mobiles spécialement adaptées pour la mise au point rapprochée ayant une lentille frontale fixe ou un groupe de lentilles frontal fixe et deux lentilles ou groupes de lentilles mobiles devant une lentille fixe ou un groupe de lentilles fixe disposées + — +

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for equalizing arbitrary parfocal lengths of lenses when focusing stereomicroscopes and macroscopes, comprising a lens changer (4) equipped with differently adjusted and/or not adjusted lenses (5), and focusing devices for automatic focusing when changing an object or lens. Said focusing devices are controlled by control devices according to object and lens changer data and data for the travel path stored previously in a storage device. When changing non-parfocal lenses (5) arranged in a lens changer (4), automatic focusing is carried out. During a lens change, the danger of a crash between lenses (5) arranged in the lens changer (4) and the object or the object carrier (1.1) due to an unfavorable combination of overall length and parfocal length of the lenses (5) with non-parfocal lenses (5) is detected, an error message is output and a parfocality manager is blocked in case of an unfavorable combination in a way, such that automatic refocusing cannot be carried out.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif
• G02B 21/26 - PlatinesMoyens de réglage pour celles-ci

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for PAL microscopy, wherein individual images are combined into a total image and there is a regulation of the exposure of the individual images in that at least a part or a group of the individual images are evaluated and at least one variable of the individual image exposure is modified for subsequent individual image exposures.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/16 - Microscopes adaptés pour éclairage ultraviolet
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for generating an image of a sample by means of a microscopy method comprising varying local resolution, wherein at least two of the following microscopy methods are combined: laser scanning microscopy for generating an LSM microscopy image, a microscopy method wherein the sample is excited to luminescence by structured line or wide area illumination, the structure is rotated and displaced several times for each rotary position, wherein at least three rotary positions and three displacement positions per rotary position are implemented, the luminescent sample is imaged on a surface detector for each position, and a first microscopy image is generated from the images thus obtained, having increased local resolution greater than the optical resolution of the image, a further microscopy method according to the PAL principle, by means of which a second microscopy image is generated, indicating geometric locations of marker molecules emitting luminescent radiation at an increased local resolution relative to the optical resolution, and a further microscopy method, wherein the sample is marked using marking molecules suitable for the STED, ESA, or RESOLFT technique, and a third microscopy image is generated by means of STED, ESA, or RSEOLFT, wherein the obtained microscopy images are superimposed.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G02B 21/36 - Microscopes aménagés pour la photographie ou la projection
• G02B 27/64 - Systèmes pour donner des images utilisant des éléments optiques pour la stabilisation latérale et angulaire de l'image
• G02B 27/58 - Optique pour l'apodisation ou la super-résolvanceSystèmes optiques à ouverture synthétisée

Abrégé

The invention relates to a spectrometric assembly and method for determining a temperature value for a detector of a spectrometer. It is conventional to record the detector temperature in an optoelectronic detector using a thermal temperature sensor in order to compensate for temperature fluctuations. Due to the finite distance between the detector and the temperature sensor, the accuracy of the temperature detection is limited. According to the invention, the detector temperature should be recordable at high accuracy and with little effort. In addition to means for spectral division of incident light and an optical detector for spectrally resolved detection of a spectral range of the divided light, a second optical detector is provided for detection of a partial range of this spectral range as a reference detector, wherein sensitivity of the reference detector is substantially temperature-independent. The ratio of the signals of both detectors is a highly accurate measurement for the relative temperature of the first detector due to the temperature independence of the sensitivity of the reference detector, and can be determined with little effort.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01J 3/02 - SpectrométrieSpectrophotométrieMonochromateursMesure de la couleur Parties constitutives
• G01J 3/28 - Étude du spectre

Abrégé

In structured illumination microscopy, repeatedly capturing individual images at different phase angles of the structuring requires great stability of the optical array and of the sample during the entire measurement. Furthermore, the structuring has to be imaged onto the sample with great homogeneity. During nonlinear fluorescence excitation, the sample and the dyes thereof are subject to bleaching. Also, the nonlinearity depends on the local conditions in the surroundings of the sample in addition to the lighting conditions, potentially resulting in locally different nonlinearities. Said effects negatively affect resolution. The aim of the invention is to make it possible to use the highest possible resolutions. Said aim is achieved by optimizing the process for capturing individual images in order to obtain the best possible resolution in the resulting image also when the samples are problematic. Such an optimization process can be performed in different ways, e.g. by determining an optimal setting for at least one illumination or image-capturing parameter or by means of pulsed illumination such that there is less excitation from one triplet state of the fluorescent dye into a higher triplet state, or by illuminating the sample with absorptive light in order to deplete a triplet state of the fluorescent dye, thus preventing bleaching. The invention can be used in high-resolution fluorescence microscopy.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope having an adjustment device for the focus range, comprising a first objective for transferring the object light of an illuminated object in the direction of a detector, wherein a second objective is provided in the light direction, in front of the detector, a first mirror that is adjustable in the direction of the optical axis being connected downstream thereof, wherein at least one second mirror is provided in the beam path for transferring light from the first objective in the direction of the second objective and from the second objective to the detector, said mirror being designed as a full mirror, or a microscope having an adjusting device for the focus range, comprising a first objective for transferring the object light of an illuminated object in the direction of a detector, wherein a second objective is provided upstream of the detector in the direction of light, said objective having an adjustable first mirror connected downstream thereof in the direction of the optical axis, wherein a polarization splitter for splitting the object light into portions that are orthogonal to each other is disposed between the first and second objective for transferring the light.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

Control data streams for peripheral devices are typically transferred blockwise by means of DMA using peripheral interfaces. In conventional peripheral interfaces, a burdensome real-time operating system must be used on the control computer in order have a sufficiently short reaction time to bring about a continuous, uninterrupted data stream. The invention achieves said object using a non-real-time operating system. A data stream is generated in the control computer, comprising control data (Bn) for the peripheral device (10) and a segment (SOS) having spare control data to be output in case of a break in the data stream, and a leading spare data marking, particularly a jump command (JMP) past the spare control data. The data stream is received in the peripheral interface, and output to the peripheral device, wherein an instruction for a modification of the output of the data stream is identified in the received data stream, and the data stream is modified for output according to the identified instruction.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 13/38 - Transfert d'informations, p. ex. sur un bus

Abrégé

Disclosed is an apparatus, especially a microscope, characterized by a diffraction-limited resolution volume, comprising multiple dye molecules (UF) that can be switched between different states, at least one of which is fluorescent. The fluorescence is focused using an objective (O) and is imaged onto a spatially resolving detector. In at least one portion of the sample, the UF have a distribution density that is greater than the inverse of the diffraction-limited resolution volume. Said apparatus further comprises one or more light sources for emitting a switching radiation in order to switch a first subset of the UF in the sample, and for emitting an excitation radiation in order to excite the first subset of UF. A phase mask which generates a light distribution (PSF) having an at least partially limited local minimum radiation on the detector plane is provided in the beam path, preferably in the detection beam path. Alternatively, an axicon is provided for generating a Bessel distribution (PSF) on the detector plane, a means for structuring the illumination distribution is provided in the illumination beam path, means for spectrally splitting the sample light are provided in the detection beam path, a receiver array composed of position-sensitive receivers (psd) is provided for detection purposes, means causing a color-dependent light distribution (PSF) on the detector plane are provided in the detection beam path, or an achromatic beam splitter is arranged in or near the pupil.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence
• G01B 21/16 - Dispositions pour la mesure ou leurs détails, où la technique de mesure n'est pas couverte par les autres groupes de la présente sous-classe, est non spécifiée ou est non significative pour mesurer la distance ou le jeu entre des objets espacés

Abrégé

2.1. With the different methods of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, physical and biological transport processes in or between cells in the microscopic range, for example diffusion processes, can be analyzed. For this purpose, correlations of the fluorescence measurement data are determined for different sample regions and mathematical transport models are adapted thereto. Erroneous fluorescence correlation analyses were previously identified on the basis of the properties of the adapted model function parameters and were discarded. The a-priori knowledge necessary for the identification had to be obtained in time-consuming series of tests. With the invention, sample properties can be determined in a simpler, quicker and more exact way from fluorescence correlations. 2.2. A suitability degree for one or more regions of the sample is determined for a correlation evaluation, describing quantitatively the information content of the respective region, or the error to be expected from a correlation evaluation, and can thus already be used before a correlation evaluation as a criterion for filtering/selecting the respective region. In this way, elaborate correlation calculations can be dispensed with in non-informative sample regions. 2.3. Fluorescence microscopy.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01J 3/457 - Spectrométrie par corrélation, p. ex. d'intensité
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence
• G01J 3/28 - Étude du spectre

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope having a sample table (2) for carrying a sample (3), a receiving unit (4) having an imaging lens (7) for receiving the sample (3), a movement unit (5), by means of which the distance between the sample table (2) and the imaging lens (7) may be changed for the adjustment of the focal position, and a control module (6) for controlling the receiving unit (4) and the movement unit (5), wherein to start a focal run, the control module (6) actuates the movement unit (5), wherein the movement unit (5) continuously changes the distance between the sample table (2) and the imaging lens (7), and wherein the control module (6) generates a trigger signal upon achieving a predetermined focal position, and applies the trigger signal to the receiving unit (4), which receives the sample (3) during the focal run in response to the trigger signal.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/36 - Microscopes aménagés pour la photographie ou la projection

Abrégé

The aim of the invention is to provide a method for controlling aperture stops for optimizing the viewing parameters of resolution and depth of sharpness of an optical image and a device for setting and controlling the aperture stop, particularly for stereomicroscopy and for macroscopy and endoscopy, by means of which a user of the device obtains optimal images of a section of an object with regard to resolution and depth of sharpness in the quickest amount of time, and wherein the control of the aperture stop is simultaneously easy to handle. To achieve this aim, according to the invention the pixels, which are in a light impermeable state, of the aperture stop (8, 9), which is configured as a variable transmission display, are controlled at a variable frequency approximate to the flicker fusion frequency of the eyes of a user of the device such that the object section to be examined, having optimized depth of sharpness and optimized resolution, is presented to the eyes of the user of the device in quick succession such that both images appear to the user of the device on the retinas of the user of the device chronologically simultaneously, and that subsequently both images fuse into a stationary impression of the image in the brain of the user of the device. By means of a controller (10) the aperture stops (8, 9) disposed in the viewing optical path of a microscope, macroscope, or endoscope can be controlled utilizing the variable frequency approximate to the flicker fusion frequency of the eyes of a user of the device, wherein the apertures of the respectively provided aperture stops (8, 9) to be set are stored in a memory (12), and are provided for retrieval.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/22 - Aménagements stéréoscopiques
• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif
• G02B 23/24 - Instruments pour regarder l'intérieur de corps creux, p. ex. endoscopes à fibres
• G02B 5/00 - Éléments optiques autres que les lentilles
• G02F 1/00 - Dispositifs ou dispositions pour la commande de l'intensité, de la couleur, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction de la lumière arrivant d'une source lumineuse indépendante, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte ou modulationOptique non linéaire
• G03B 9/08 - Obturateurs

Abrégé

The invention relates to a device for holding and positioning a sample (4) in the detection region of the lens (7) of a microscope, wherein the detection region is located in a chamber (8) filled with an immersion fluid (9). According to the invention such a device comprises the following: a sample holder (1), on which the sample (4) is attached overlapping at a point P in a coordinate system X, Y, Z, wherein the coordinate Z is defined by the optical axis of the microscope lens (7), and the coordinate origin is outside of the detection region, a unit, by means of which the position of the point P, including the sample (4) attached to the sample holder (1) can be varied within the coordinate system X, Y, Z, wherein the variation region includes the detection region, and a device for pivoting the sample (4) attached to the sample holder (1) about the point P, wherein a straightedge G, which together with the coordinate Z includes an angle α, the size of which can be changed, is the pivoting axis.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/32 - Micromanipulateurs combinés par construction avec des microscopes
• G02B 21/34 - Lames de microscope, p. ex. montage d'échantillons sur des lames de microscope

Abrégé

2.1. Lighting for a total reflection fluorescence measurement has previously been done by means of a prism on the side facing away from the microscope objective, wherein the sample to be investigated must be prepared with great effort on the prism. TIRF illumination alternatively takes place through the microscope objective, requiring a high numeric aperture, and thus a complex objective, due to the large angle of incidence required. The invention relates to a TIRF illumination having a high axial resolution at low complexity. 2.2. A TIRF lighting device (1) is designed as a module and comprises an optical fiber (2) and a collimating optic (3), wherein the collimating optic is mounted in front of a light discharge opening of the optical fiber, such that it collimates light exiting divergently from the optical fiber into a light bundle, such that the excitation light can be applied to a sample outside of the detection beam path. The numerical aperture of the excitation is thus decoupled from the numerical aperture of detection, such that a standard microscope objective is sufficient for detection. 2.3. Fluorescent microscopy.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G02B 21/16 - Microscopes adaptés pour éclairage ultraviolet

Abrégé

In laser scanning microscopes, the light intensity of a diode laser can be controlled at high accuracy by means of an acoustooptical component. However, the same requires a relatively large installation space, and is cost-intensive. Alternative direct modulation via the diode current has the disadvantage that laser parameters, such as polarization and spectral width, become instable near the laser threshold. Changes in intensity via a modification of the electrical actuation parameters also necessarily entail optical pulse formation changes. The invention aims to facilitate the setting of light intensity at the lowest possible expenditure and at the highest accuracy. A separate acoustooptical component may be omitted in that a light modulation section (15), such as an electroabsorption modulator (EAM) or a semiconductor amplifier (SOA) is disposed directly on the laser diode (13), purposefully on the front sides thereof. The controlling of light intensity is still possible at a low expenditure and at high accuracy because by changing the optical output power using the light modulation section the essential parameters of the laser radiation remain unchanged. Preferably, the light modulation section is integrally configured in one part with the laser diode, at least in a material layer.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for recording pulse signals. According to prior art methods, pulse signals are recorded during the scanning of an input channel of a microscope by storing an actual state of all input channels together with an interval from the previous storage. Due to the intercalation of the states of all input channels the absolute times at which the individual pulses have occurred cannot be reconstructed. The aim of the invention is therefore to devise a method which allows the reconstruction of the time reference. The time of every pulse signal event can be determined by counting the scan result bits preceding the respective scan result bit using the known scanning frequency. For this purpose, every period of the scanning frequency is associated with a bit representing the respective scan result and the scan result bits are stored one by one and per channel in data blocks. The scanning frequency is preferably higher than a dot clock, a scan result bit associated with a flank of the dot clock being marked. The dot clock can thus be synchronized with the individual events exactly per scanning period. The invention further relates to the field of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy using confocal microscopes or laser scanning microscopes.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G01J 3/44 - Spectrométrie RamanSpectrométrie par diffusion

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for positioning and aligning a preferably biological sample (6) in the detection region of the lens of a microscope assembly. According to the invention, the aforementioned method has the following steps: introduction of a sample into a transparent medium that is first in liquid form, preferably an agarose gel (5), conversion of the medium from the liquid to the solid state, the sample (6) being fixed in the medium, whereby the transparency of the medium is maintained, positioning of the solidified medium in the microscope assembly so that the encapsulated sample (6) is located in the detection region of the lens. The invention also discloses a device for positioning and aligning a preferably biological sample (6) in the detection region of the lens of a microscope assembly.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/32 - Micromanipulateurs combinés par construction avec des microscopes
• G02B 21/34 - Lames de microscope, p. ex. montage d'échantillons sur des lames de microscope

Abrégé

In order to create a controller for microscope lenses for correcting spherical aberration and for adjusting particularly difficult to access microscope lenses to an optimum of imaging quality, enabling automatic adjustment of the different actuators of a microscope lens, and therefore a simple, cost-effective, user-friendly, and precise balance, particularly of cover slip deviations and different base thicknesses of Petri dishes for the purposes of increasing imaging quality, it is proposed that at least two actuators (2) of a microscope lens (1), said actuators designed as framed lenses or lens groups, be provided in a movable manner in the axial direction along the optical axis of the microscope lens (1) toward the housing of the microscope lens (1) in a motor-actuated manner by way of respective adjusting rings (3), wherein a controller (15) externally controlled and disposed in the microscope lens (1) is provided for storing different characteristic curves for paths of motion (16) of the actuators (2).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 7/00 - Montures, moyens de réglage ou raccords étanches à la lumière pour éléments optiques
• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope, in the illuminating beam of which a diffraction grating is arranged, through which a structure in the form of a periodic intensity distribution is imposed on the illuminating light. In the case of a microscope of this type, it is provided that - the illuminating light, formed into a line (L), is directed onto the diffraction grating, preferably a transmitting amplitude grating (G), the line (L) having a length l measured in direction X and a width b measured in direction Y, - the periodicity interval of the diffraction grating has a continuous or progressive variation in direction Y, - the diffraction grating is displaceable in direction Y in relation to the line (L) of the illuminating light, and - the width b of the line (L), measured in direction Y, is many times less than the extent of the diffraction grating in the direction Y.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 5/18 - Grilles de diffraction

Abrégé

The invention relates to a device for the evanescent illumination of a sample, said device comprising an optical illumination element provided with an optical corrective element (3) and an objective (4) arranged downstream from said corrective element, in order to evanescently illuminate the sample with a supplied ray beam containing optical radiation with at least two different wavelengths. The corrective optical element (3) has a transverse chromatic aberration which, during the illumination, leads to the optical radiation penetrating the pupil (14) of the objective (4) at different heights according to the wavelength, and is selected in such a way that the wavelength-related difference of the penetration depths of the radiation into the sample is reduced during the evanescent illumination.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence
• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for calibrating a deflection unit in a TIRF microscope, by means of which an incident angle of excitation light onto a sample is adjusted, wherein a setting of the deflection unit is selected such that the associated incident angle is definitely greater, or definitely smaller, than an anticipated critical angle for the total reflection of the excitation light on a surface of a sample that is utilized, wherein the incident angle is scanned by varying the setting of the deflection unit in the direction of an anticipated critical angle, wherein for each setting of the deflection unit an intensity of an optical response of the sample utilized that is effected by the excitation light is measured, wherein the intensity of the optical response of the sample utilized is measured at least for a number of settings of the deflection unit until the intensity of the optical response of the sample utilized passes through a flank, and wherein the setting of the deflection unit associated with the flank is stored as a setting for the critical angle for the total reflection of the sample utilized.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/16 - Microscopes adaptés pour éclairage ultraviolet
• G01N 21/27 - CouleurPropriétés spectrales, c.-à-d. comparaison de l'effet du matériau sur la lumière pour plusieurs longueurs d'ondes ou plusieurs bandes de longueurs d'ondes différentes en utilisant la détection photo-électrique

Abrégé

Described is a method for the high spatial resolution luminescence microscopy of a sample which is marked with marking molecules which can be activated by way of a switch-over signal such that only then can they be stimulated to emit luminescent radiation, wherein the method has the following steps a) introducing the switch-over signal onto the sample such that only a partial amount of the marking molecules present in the sample are activated, wherein partial regions exist in the sample, in which partial regions only exactly one molecule, which is activated by the switch-over signal, is located inside a volume which is delimited by a diffraction-limited maximum resolution of a detection of luminescent radiation, b)stimulating the activated molecules to emit luminescent radiation, c) detecting the luminescent radiation with diffraction-limited resolution and d) generating image data from the luminescent radiation recorded in step c), wherein the marking molecules, which emit the geometric locations of the luminescent radiation, indicate with a spatial resolution which is increased to above the diffraction limit, wherein e) the detection of the luminescent radiation in step c) or the generation of the image data in step d) comprises a non-linear increase, which prefers higher intensities, of recorded luminescent radiation in order to enhance the spatial resolution to above the diffraction-limited resolution.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence
• H01J 31/50 - Tubes convertisseurs d'image ou amplificateurs d'image, c.-à-d. comprenant un signal d'entrée optique, à rayons X ou analogue, et un signal de sortie optique
• G02B 21/36 - Microscopes aménagés pour la photographie ou la projection

Abrégé

A microscope is provided comprising an imaging optical unit (4), a sample stage (2) for supporting a sample (3) to be examined, a movement unit (9), by which the distance between sample stage (2) and imaging optical unit (4) can be altered, a focus measuring unit (7), which measures the present focus position and outputs a focus measurement signal, a control unit (8) for maintaining a predetermined focus position for examinations of the sample (3) that are separated from one another in time, wherein the control unit (8) for this purpose receives the focus measurement signal and derives therefrom a deviation of the present focus position from the predetermined focus position and, in a manner dependent on the deviation derived, by means of the movement unit (9), changes the distance between sample stage (2) and imaging optical unit (4) in such a way that the predetermined focus position is maintained, wherein the control unit (8) drives the movement unit (9) for maintaining the predetermined focus position only before and/or after at least one of the examinations, but never during the examinations.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif
• G02B 21/36 - Microscopes aménagés pour la photographie ou la projection

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope having a stage (2) for supporting a sample (3) to be examined, a recording sensor (4), an imaging optic (5) for imaging the sample (3) onto the recording sensor (4), a moving unit (6) by means of which the distance between the stage (2) and the imaging optic (5) can be changed, a control unit (9) for controlling an image recording of the sample (3) and a focus-holding unit (11) for maintaining a prescribed focal position for image recording of the sample (3) at temporal intervals, wherein the focus-holding device (11) comprises at least one hardware element (12) and one software module (13), wherein the focus-holding unit (11) is fully integrated in the control unit (9), on both the hardware and software sides.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

A microscopic device, particularly for use with a fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy method, comprises illumination means (1, 3, 4) for creating illumination radiation, an imaging detector (14; 24) for the spatially resolved detection of emission radiation emitted from a test object (8), an illumination beam path (2) between the illumination means (1, 3, 4) and the test object (8), and a detection beam path (10) between the test object (8) and the detector (14; 24). The illumination beam path (2) comprises illumination optics (5, 6), provided for creating a light layer (7) of the illumination radiation, said layer extending transversely to the axis of the illumination beam path (2), wherein the axis of the detection beam path (10) is substantially perpendicular to an intersection plane of the light layer (7) and the test object (8). The illumination means (1, 3, 4) comprise a pulsed laser (1).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to an illumination device for a microscope having an illumination magazine (3) comprising a plurality of luminous units (7). A mechanical illuminant changer (400) can change out the luminous unit (71) active in the operating position. A filter magazine (1) having a plurality of filter units (6) is present, wherein a mechanical filter changer (300) for changing out the filter unit (61) in the operating position is associated with the filter magazine. At least one mechanical coupling means (3) is present and interacting with the filter changer (300) and the illuminant changer (400) and associating each filter unit (6) uniquely with a luminous unit (7).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 21/16 - Microscopes adaptés pour éclairage ultraviolet
• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a solution for time-resolved spectroscopy, wherein the sample to be analyzed is illuminated by a modulated light source, and the spectrum reflected therefrom is recorded in a time-resolved manner and evaluated. In the method according to the invention for time-resolved spectroscopy, a sample to be analyzed is irradiated by a modulated light source having short light pulses, and the radiation emitted by the sample is represented via imaging optical elements and a spectral-selective element on a sensor disposed in the image plane, and the signals thereof are evaluated by a control and regulating unit, and/or stored. The sensor disposed in the image plane is a PMD sensor, which in addition to the intensity values also determines the running times of the radiation emitted by the sample, and forwards the same to the control and regulating unit. Although PMD sensors were originally intended for object recognition, particularly in traffic, the use thereof in many other technical fields is conceivable and advantageous. The solution provided herein describes the use of PMD sensors in spectroscopy, particularly for the time-resolved analysis of samples. However, the use of PMD sensors is also possible in Raman spectrometry, or for the measurement of luminescence, such as for differentiating phosphorescence and fluorescence light.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01J 3/28 - Étude du spectre
• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence

Abrégé

The invention relates to an objective changer having reflected light illumination for light microscopes, having at least two microscope objectives for studying a sample, having a mobile carrier, on which the microscope objectives are mounted, having a fixed carrier, which is set up for mounting on a base body of the microscope, wherein said mobile carrier is set up for defined positioning relative to said fixed carrier, and having at least one illumination means for illuminating the sample. The objective changer is characterized in that at least one transmission interface for transmitting power for illuminating the sample is provided on the fixed carrier, at least one power terminal, which is rigidly connected to the mobile carrier, is provided for receiving power to illuminate the sample, the power terminal is connected to an illumination means, and by positioning the mobile carrier relative to the fixed carrier, a line engagement can be provided between the transmission interface and a power terminal.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/08 - Condensateurs
• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

The application provides a tube unit for microscopes which has a tube lens, comprising two components (2; 3) with an intermediate, large air separation (d2; d3), with an overall positive refractive power, wherein the air separation (d2; d3) is at least half the size of the focal length f of the tube lens (a = d2 + d3 ≥ 0.5 f). Arranged between the two components (2; 3) of the tube lens is a roof-edge mirror (6), which comprises two mirrors (4; 5), which can be tilted with respect to one another, and which is able to be tilted around its roof edge (7), or another suitable deflection element, wherein the tilting movement or the tilting angle of the tiltable mirror (5) or deflection element corresponds to half the tilt or half the tilting angle of the tube or eyepiece viewing system.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif
• G02B 7/24 - Raccords montés sur pivot

Abrégé

Apparatus, in particular a microscope, and method for high spatial resolution imaging of a structure of a sample characterized by a diffraction-limited resolution volume with a plurality of dye molecules (UF) which can be switched between different states, with at least one state being fluorescent, the fluorescence being collected by an objective (O) and imaged on a spatially resolving detector using an optical system, the UF having a distribution density in at least part of the sample which is greater than the inverse of the diffraction-limited resolution volume; one or more light sources for emitting a switching radiation in order to switch a first subset of the UF in the sample and for emitting an excitation radiation in order to excite the first subset of the UF, with at least one of the light sources being arranged such that it transilluminates the sample and the UF in the sample being switched and/or excited to fluoresce at least in one direction which is approximately perpendicular to the optical axis and in particular in the focus of the objective (O), the switching advantageously being a photoactivation or photodeactivation of the UF and provision being made of the light source for switching and/or the light source for exciting, a focusing arrangement for generating a line-like illumination region extending in the direction of the illumination, at least in one direction, at least approximately perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G02B 21/10 - Condensateurs donnant un éclairage sur fond noir
• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence

Abrégé

A fine drive for objectives, in particular for microscopes, is provided, with the objectives (6) being arranged in objective eyes (3) of an objective revolver (2) and having the capability to be placed in the microscope beam path, and with the objective revolver (2) being arranged on a carriage which is mounted such that it can move on the stand of the microscope in the direction of the optical axis (Z-direction) of the microscope beam path. Objective eyes (3) which are mounted in a sprung manner in the Z-direction are provided in the objective revolver (2), in which eyes (3) the objectives (6) are inserted. An actuator base body (8), which can pivot about a rotation axis (7) which runs orthogonally with respect to the optical axis, and which can be moved by a drive (9), is provided on the carriage. An objective transfer unit (10), which is mounted such that it can be moved in the Z‑direction, is arranged on the actuator base body (8) and is operatively connected, in its working position, to the respective sprung objective eye (3) which is located on the optical axis (5) of the microscope beam path. When the objective (6) is changed by movement of the actuator base body (8), the objective transfer unit (10) is removed from the respective objective eye (3).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

1. A laser scanning microscope (LSM) having variable light intensity and a control method for the same. 2.1 The light intensity of a laser beam in an LSM has been controlled to date with high accuracy, but also high costs by means of an acousto-optic component (AOM, AOTF). According to the invention, such a component for beam modulation is to be omitted, without reducing the exposure accuracy of the sample. 2.2 In an LSM, a directly modulated laser diode (10) is used with an electric control (12) for direct modulation. Said laser diode (10) has a turn-on delay of the light intensity that is dependent on the amount of the control variable when subjected to an electric control variable. The control (12) is designed such that the fluctuation width (ΔΔtv) of the occurring turn-on delay (Δtv) is smaller than 1 μs, particularly smaller than 0.5 μs. Thus highly exact modulation without an acousto-optic component is possible. A quick direct modulation is achieved particularly by the following steps: a) identifying that an intensity to be achieved or achieved with the laser diode (10) falls below a lower threshold value or is below the lower threshold value, b) de-energizing the laser diode (10), c) providing an electric intermediate current, d) identifying that the intensity to be achieved exceeds an upper threshold value, e) flowing the intermediate current through the laser diode (10), and f) setting the diode current according to the intensity to be achieved. 2.3 Microscopy

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• H01S 5/042 - Excitation électrique

Abrégé

The invention relates to a microscope, comprising an imaging lens (4) for imaging a sample (3) on a detector and means for illuminating the sample (3) with a light layer (7) in the focus plane of the imaging lens (4), comprising an illumination source (1) emitting coherent light. In a microscope of said kind, the means for illumination comprise a Bessel lens (8, 10), creating at least two plane waves (6) from the light beam (5) and predefining propagation directions for the plane waves (6), wherein the propagation direction of each of the plane waves (6) forms an acute angle with the focus plane, the amount of the angle being the same for each of the plane waves (6), such that the plane waves (6) constructively interfere in the focus plane, thus creating a light layer (7). In a similar way, the means for illumination can also comprise an optical element, with which a rotationally symmetrical Bessel beam is created from the light beam (5), for dynamically creating a light layer (7).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/10 - Condensateurs donnant un éclairage sur fond noir
• G02B 27/58 - Optique pour l'apodisation ou la super-résolvanceSystèmes optiques à ouverture synthétisée
• G02B 21/16 - Microscopes adaptés pour éclairage ultraviolet

Abrégé

The invention relates to an arrangement for measuring the reflectivity of the direct or scattered reflection of a sample (8), having a light source for separately lighting the sample (8) and of comparative surfaces. The arrangement comprises, in addition to the light source, preferably a reflector lamp (2), - a white standard (6), a black standard (7), and the surface of the sample (8) for embodying a measurement surface, wherein the exchange of the white standard (6), the black standard (7) and the sample (8) is provided in a prescribed sequence relative to each other, - means for measuring the intensity of the light reflected from an internal white surface (10) and for measuring the intensity of the light reflected from each measuring surface, and - an evaluation circuit designed for registering the measured intensity values and for linking the same mathematically to the reflectivity.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 21/47 - Dispersion, c.-à-d. réflexion diffuse

Abrégé

The invention relates to an optics changer for arranging an optical element in a target position in a changer chamber of an optical device accessible from the outside via a insertion channel, comprising a base frame (2) and the optical element (3) that is pivotally fastened to the base frame via a swivel mechanism, wherein the swivel mechanism effects a pivoting movement of the optical element (3) when the optics changer (1) is inserted through the insertion channel (9) in the changer chamber (10) starting at a predetermined insertion depth such that after inserting, the optical element (3) is placed and pivoted in the target position.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif
• G02B 21/26 - PlatinesMoyens de réglage pour celles-ci

Abrégé

1.1. The invention relates to a method for configuration of a laser scanning microscope for raster image correlation spectroscopy measurement and a method for conducting and evaluating such a measurement 2.1. The manual adjustment of the scanning parameters for a raster image correlation spectroscopy measurement (RICS) is expensive because the effects of an adjustment of a certain parameter are not obvious due to the complex interaction between the various parameters and also depend on the physical and technical properties of the microscope. Using an improved configuration method, mathematical transport models should be adaptable with a low incidence of errors to correlations determined by means of scanning fluorescence spectroscopy. Using an improved method for conducting or evaluating an RICS measurement, the amount of data to be stored should be reduced and it should be possible to detect RICS correlations with a higher statistical quality in a short time. 2.2. According to the invention, a best value is determined for a scanning parameter for a raster image correlation spectroscopy measurement and simulated to a sample for a later scanning process. In order to conduct or evaluate an RICS measurement, scan values are captured and a correlation is determined, only in a sample area inside which a pixel time (ﶴP) changes along a harmonically controlled scanning axis (X) by less than or at the most by a predetermined or predeterminable value. 2.3. The invention is preferably used in laser scanning microscopes.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for positioning at least one preferably biological sample (2) in the sample space of a microscopic arrangement. The invention further relates to devices for performing said method. The invention proposes methods and devices in which the orientation of the sample (2) may be varied multiple times relative to the optical axis of a detection objective (13) and the sample (2) is held so as to guarantee the most unrestricted possible view of the sample (2) from every detection direction, wherein, in different embodiments, - the sample (2) is held on a support device by adhesion forces, - the sample is held on a support device by a flowing medium, - the sample (2) is held by capillary effect on a capillary opening, or - at least one sample (2) is embedded in a body made of a transparent gel (1) and the gel body is fixed by means of a rotatable holding device (3) in the sample space, wherein the detection direction is altered by a predetermined rotational angle upon rotation of the holding device (3).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/26 - PlatinesMoyens de réglage pour celles-ci

Abrégé

The invention relates to a motorized cross turntable for microscopes, which is supported displaceably and rotatably in a plane located orthogonally in relation to the optical axis (5) of the microscope beam path. The turntable comprises a base plate (1) arranged on the microscope stand (4), wherein a table top (6) is supported on said base plate on trackballs (7; 15 to 18) in a displaceable and rotatable manner. The moveable table top (6) is mechanically coupled to the base plate (1) due to the inherent weight force. A trackball drive system is provided, comprising at least one trackball (7; 15 to 18), driven in the direction of each of the two orthogonal coordinates x and y of the plane, and comprising drive motors driving said at least one trackball (7; 15 to 18) via force-transmitting members. Furthermore, means for delimiting the displacement path of the moveable table top (6) and means for controlling the movement and positioning of the moveable table top (6) relative to the base plate (1) are provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/26 - PlatinesMoyens de réglage pour celles-ci

Abrégé

The invention relates to a mirror cascade for the adjustment-free bundling of a plurality of light sources to be coupled into the beam path of a laser scanning microscope, comprising a housing in which the mirror cascade is located, wherein the housing can be either mounted directly on a scanning head of a laser scanning microscope and has a direct optical connection thereto or can be mounted on a microscope housing and has an optical connection thereto or is directly arranged in the scanning head. The invention further relates to a laser scanning microscope with a mirror cascade of said kind.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to an optical arrangement for photomanipulation of a sample (1). This arrangement comprises a sample mount (2) for receiving the sample (1) and an illumination device, which comprises an illumination light source (3) and an illumination beam path, for illuminating the sample (1) with a light sheet. Moreover, it comprises a detection device for detecting light emitted by the sample (1), and also an imaging optical unit, which images the sample (1) via an imaging objective (7) in an imaging beam path at least partly onto the detection device, wherein the light sheet is substantially planar at the focus of the imaging objective (7), and wherein the imaging objective (7) has an optical axis that intersects the plane of the light sheet at an angle different from zero, preferably perpendicularly. The arrangement furthermore also has a control unit (8) and means for photomanipulation of the sample (1). In the case of such an optical arrangement, the means for photomanipulation comprise a first manipulation optical unit, by means of which light from a first manipulation light source (10) is coupled into the illumination beam path for the shaping of a substantially planar manipulation light sheet.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method and an assembly for analysing a sample (1). The sample (1) can be rotated about a rotational axis and is displaceably mounted in all three dimensions. The sample is illuminated with a light layer parallel to the rotational axis using a first illumination unit. Light emitted from the sample (1) is reproduced on a detection unit as a sectional image by means of an imaging lens (7) comprising an optical axis that perpendicularly intersects the plane of the light layer. Several sectional images of the sample are captured with different settings for the rotational angle, the sample (1) is rotated and/or shifted between shots for part of the sectional images. The captured sectional images are registered and merged to form a first data record of three-dimensional image data of the sample (1). In a method of this type, the sample (1) is illuminated perpendicularly to the rotational axis by means of a second illumination unit, the imaging lens (7) projecting at least part of the sample (1) as a shadow image onto the detection unit. Several shadow images of the sample (1) are captured and the sample is rotated and/or shifted between shots at least for part of the shadow images of the sample (1). A second data record of three-dimensional image data of the sample (1) is constructed from the captured shadow images using a back projection algorithm.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 21/18 - Aménagements avec plus d'un parcours de lumière, p. ex. pour comparer deux échantillons

Abrégé

Method for optically detecting an illuminated sample, wherein the illumination light impinges on the sample in spatially structured fashion in at least one plane and a plurality of images of the sample with different positions of the structure on the sample are recorded by means of a detector, from which images an optical sectional image and/or an image having an increased resolution is calculated, characterized in that a diffraction pattern is generated in the direction of the sample in or in the vicinity of an objective pupil or a conjugate plane with respect to the two and said deflection pattern is assigned in or in the vicinity of the objective pupil or a conjugate plane with respect to the two, a structured phase plate having regions having different phase delays, which is moved in order to set, for at least one diffraction order, different phase angles of the illumination light on the sample, wherein advantageously via a displaceable diaphragm a selection of diffraction orders is effected which is arranged in or in the vicinity of the objective pupil or a conjugate plane with respect to the two.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 27/58 - Optique pour l'apodisation ou la super-résolvanceSystèmes optiques à ouverture synthétisée

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for operating a microscope, wherein excitation light is focused or radiated onto or into different points of a sample, wherein an intensity of the excitation light is varied point-specifically, and wherein an intensity of light reflected from the sample is measured in a point-specific and quantitative manner in at least one spectral region. According to the invention, the method is characterized in that the intensity and/or a spectral composition of the excitation light radiated into a defined point of the sample is automatically adjusted by way of a control device, as a function of information previously provided from measurement data of the sample about an anticipated or actual intensity of the light reflected from said point in the spectral region, such that an integral of the intensity of the light reflected from said point in the spectral region over a pixel dwell time is within a value interval to be determined. The invention further relates to a microscope.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to an arrangement for the optical detection of light radiation excited in and/or scattered back from a sample, wherein the sample illumination has a greater chronological coherence length than the detection radiation, and wherein a substantially cascaded step element having step heights that are greater than the coherence length of the detection light, and less than that of the excitement light is provided, wherein a partial beam of the light is generated at each step, and a change of beam properties of the excitement light occurs by interference of the partial beams of the excitement light, or wherein the probe illumination has a shorter chronological coherence length than the detection radiation, and a substantially cascading step element is provided, having step heights shorter than the coherence length of the detection light, and greater than the excitement light, wherein a partial beam of the light is generated at each step, and a change of the beam properties of the detection light occurs by interference of the partial beams of the detection light.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 27/10 - Systèmes divisant ou combinant des faisceaux
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to methods for the three-dimensional reproduction of a sample, according to which image information from different depth planes of the sample is stored in a locally resolved manner and the three-dimensional image of the sample is then reconstructed from said image information. In a method of this type relating to selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM), a reference structure is applied to the illumination light, at least one fluorescent reference object is positioned next to or in the sample, images of the reference structure for the illumination light, for the reference objects or of a sample structure that is suitable for use as a reference structure are captured from at least one detection direction and evaluated, the light layer is brought into an optimal position using the result, image information for the reference object and for the sample that has been captured from several detection directions is stored, the image information stored for the reference object is used to obtain transformation operators and these form the basis of the reconstruction of the three-dimensional reproduction of the sample from the image information that has been stored for the sample.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif
• G02B 21/36 - Microscopes aménagés pour la photographie ou la projection

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method and an assembly for the depth-resolved optical recording of a sample (29). According to said method: a sample or a portion thereof is scanned using linear illumination; the illumination of the sample at the focal point is periodically structured in at least one spatial direction; light originating from the sample is detected and images of the sample are generated; at least one sectional image and/or an image with an increased resolution through the sample is or are calculated from said images; images are acquired and the sectional image is calculated repeatedly by changing the orientation of the linear illumination of the sample and/or intervals are created on a flat panel detector (15) or a camera between lines in the illuminated sample area that is illuminated by the detection light, for line-by line non-descanned detection; and/or during a scanning operation a further light deviation across the line occurs in front of the detector in the scanning direction of the sample.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 27/60 - Systèmes utilisant les franges moirées
• G02B 27/58 - Optique pour l'apodisation ou la super-résolvanceSystèmes optiques à ouverture synthétisée

Abrégé

Provided is a transmitted light microscope having a stand base (3), an object stage (13) arranged above the stand base (3), an observation lens (15) arranged above the object stage, an illumination module (6) which is arranged at least partially inside the stand base (3), has, inside the stand base (3) a deflection element (11) and the illumination beam path of which in the stand base (3) extends horizontally up to the deflection element (11) and is deflected by the latter vertically upwards in the direction of the object stage (13), and having a changer (10; 20) in the stand base (3), which changer can be rotated about a rotational axis (18) and carries a plurality of optical elements (9; 21), wherein the individual optical elements (9, 21) can be selectively inserted into the illumination beam path inside the stand base (3) by rotating the changer (10, 20) about the rotational axis (18), wherein the changer (10, 20) is arranged in the stand base (3) such that the rotational axis (18) of the changer (10, 20) extends vertically.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 7/16 - Tourelles rotatives
• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

1.1. The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for outputting residual errors (R) for a function (G) customized to a set of points. In the prior art, the residual errors are output in addition to the function graph in a separate graph. In this case, an observer is barely able to tell the quality of the customization of the function to the data points. An improved method and an improved arrangement are intended to allow simple and accurate visual assessment of the quality of the customization. 1.2. In line with the invention, the customized function (G) or the data points (P) in the set of points is/are assigned visual codes section by section or point by point on the basis of the residual errors (R), and the customized function (G) is graphically output on an interface, the customized function (G) being shown section by section or point by point in the form of the assigned visual codes. 1.3. The invention is preferably used for raster scanning spectroscopy using laser scanning microscopes.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06T 11/20 - Traçage à partir d'éléments de base, p. ex. de lignes ou de cercles

Abrégé

The invention relates to an operating device (1) for the focusing operation of a microscope, equipped with rotary knobs (3, 4) which take up the motion of the fingers or of the hand (7) of an operator and convert it, via gear members, into a change in the focus position relative to a sample under observation. It is provided in an operating device (1) of this type that - both rotary knobs (3, 4) are arranged on a common shaft such that they are coaxial with respect to their rotational axis (5) and cannot be rotated against one another, and are connected via this shaft to a position encoder, and - a changeover switch which is connected to the drive circuit and can be actuated by touching or moving one or both rotary knobs (3, 4) is provided, wherein the drive circuit is configured such that it generates, as a function of the rotational angle predetermined by the two rotary knobs (3, 4) and as a function of the actuation of the changeover switch, a rough or fine adjustment of the focus position relative to the sample under observation.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

In order to provide a method and an apparatus for automatic specimen supply for microscope-like measuring or preparation apparatuses, with which in particular plate-like slide-form samples are automatically supplied to a holder, and removed again, in order for it to be possible for them to be measured optically in the transmitted light, or by the evaluation of fluorescence radiation, in a microscope-like measuring apparatus, or to be manipulated in a preparation apparatus, it is proposed that the slides (2) arranged in a slide box (3) can be moved by a carry-along device (4) and positioned by a positioning device (1), and are picked up by a controllable specimen gripper (5) and then can be supplied, by means of a displacement device (6), to a slide holder (18), provided on a microscope stage (17), for measurement in fixed positions, wherein, prior to the slides (2) being deposited on the microscope stage (17), a digital camera (21) provides a general image. In order for the slides (2) to be measured, the microscope stage (17) can be displaced by the power of a motor in a stepwise and continuous manner into predetermined desired positions. Once the optical measurement of the slide (2) has been carried out, finally, the slide (2) is picked up again by the sample gripper (5) and deposited in the slide box (3).

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 1/31 - Appareils à cet effet

Abrégé

A method for laser scanning microscopy, characterized by the use of thin-film technology from the telecommunications field during the beam splitting into different wavelengths in the detection beam path of a laser scanning microscope and an encapsulated beam distributor for a laser scanning microscope, comprising thin-film filters for beam splitting into a plurality of wavelengths.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a laser scanning microscope (100) having a scanner (23) and a microscope lens (4). The invention further relates to a control method for such a microscope. In order to obtain a sharp image of the sample in a laser scanning microscope the distance between the microscope lens and the sample is usually varied for adjusting the focus position. However, the relative movements between the lens and the sample may pose a problem. Due to the extensive special lens the internal focusing of the lens is an unfavorable solution. The invention provides an improved laser scanning microscope enabling a sharp image of the sample without any relative movements of the microscope lens and the sample, even utilizing a standard lens. According to the invention a tubular lens (9) is provided, which can be adjusted lengthwise along the optical axis, by means of the adjustment thereof the focus position (E1, E2) can be adjusted relative to an optical front element of the microscope lens (4).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

Provided are a method and an apparatus for treating a biological object (30, 32). Here, the object (32) is irradiated with a laser beam (31) and the laser beam is focused onto at least two different focal planes (35, 36, 37), wherein during the irradiation, the focus of the laser beam is located at least approximately inside the object (32).

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 1/06 - Dispositifs pour prélever des échantillons à l'état solide, p. ex. par coupe à l'outil procurant une tranche mince, p. ex. "microtome"

Abrégé

Described is a device for changing an objective, in particular for microscope objectives, comprising a holder (3) which is arranged at the microscope body (1) or microscope stand. The holder (3) carries a revolver arrangement (4) for placing objectives (5; 6) to be changed into a work position in the optical axis (2) of the beam path of the microscope. The revolver arrangement (4) comprises a lockable revolver body (9) which is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation (8) which is parallel to the optical axis (2) of the beam path or extends at an angle and in which at least two objective receptacles (10; 11) are arranged which are mounted such that they can move in the direction of the optical axis (2) and in which the objectives (5; 6) to be changed are inserted. Provision is made for actuating means (12 to 15) which can be used to move an objective receptacle (10 or 11) substantially in the direction of the optical axis (2) after said objective receptacle (10 or 11), which carries an objective (5 or 6), has been positioned in the optical axis (2) of the beam path.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for the temporal adjustment of the pulses of a short pulse laser, particularly having pulse durations in picoseconds and/or in the sub-picosecond range, wherein at least one dispersive element and at least one optic is provided for the spectral splitting and spatial separation of the wavelength proportions, wherein transmittive or reflective optical elements are provided for the adjustment of the spectral phase distribution that are exchangeable and/or adjustable with respect to their shape, or pre-formed, and an exchange and/or change in shape occurs.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• H01S 3/10 - Commande de l'intensité, de la fréquence, de la phase, de la polarisation ou de la direction du rayonnement, p. ex. commutation, ouverture de porte, modulation ou démodulation
• G02B 26/06 - Dispositifs ou dispositions optiques pour la commande de la lumière utilisant des éléments optiques mobiles ou déformables pour commander la phase de la lumière

Abrégé

The invention relates to a sample holder for a microscope, comprising a sample chamber (1) which has an upper opening and is filled with an immersion liquid, and in which a sample (3) embedded in a transparent embedding compound is placed in a holder. The sample holder also comprises means for the translatory movement of the sample in relation to a detection objective of the microscope, and means for rotating the sample about an essentially vertical rotational axis in a plane forming an angle different from zero with the optical axis of the detection objective. The means for rotating the sample in such a sample holder comprise a rotational drive (4) provided with a magnetic coupling (5, 6) or a belt drive and/or toothed wheel rotational drive arranged above the sample chamber, said drives transmitting the rotational movement to the holder, or the rotational movement is generated directly by the movement of the entire sample chamber.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/26 - PlatinesMoyens de réglage pour celles-ci

Abrégé

The invention relates to an objective replacement device for a microscope, wherein the sample (1) is located in a sample chamber (4) and surrounded by an immersion medium within the sample chamber (4), means for positioning and aligning the sample (1) relative to the focus of an objective (8, 9) being present, wherein the detection beam path is aligned horizontally, which is to say perpendicular to the direction of action of gravity. For an objective replacement device for a microscope of the type described above, according to the invention a device is provided for exchanging the objective (9), at the focus of which the sample (1) is positioned and aligned, with at least another objective (8), the position and alignment of the sample (1) within the sample chamber (4) remaining the same.

Classes IPC  ?

• C12M 1/00 - Appareillage pour l'enzymologie ou la microbiologie
• G02B 21/33 - Huiles d'immersion

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for positioning a light sheet (10) in the focal plane (7) when analyzing a sample according to the method of selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM). The following process steps are provided according to the invention: - mapping a second focal plane (17) forming an angle 0° ឬ α ឬ 90° with the light sheet (10) on a spatially resolving detector (15), - determining the current position of maximum contrast or maximum intensity in the mapping of the second focal plane (17), wherein the current position corresponds to the intersecting point of the light sheet (10) and the second focal plane (17), - determining the distance a' between the actual position and the target position of maximum contrast or maximum intensity in said mapping, wherein the target position corresponds to the intersecting point of the two focal planes (7, 17), and - displacing the light sheet (10) or the detection optic (1) until the distance a' between the actual position and the target position is equal to zero.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

The invention relates to a sample holder for a microscope. The sample holder comprises a sample chamber (3) filled with an immersion fluid, in which a sample is located, said sample chamber (3) having an upper opening. It further comprises means for translating the sample relative to a detection lens (2) of the microscope, and means for rotating the sample about an axis of rotation (6) lying in a substantially horizontal plane and forming an angle with the optical axis (7) of the detection lens (2) that is different from zero. In a sample holder according to the invention, the sample is embedded in a transparent embedding medium having at least partially a greater solidity than the immersion fluid. The sample chamber (3) further has means for horizontally supporting the embedded sample against the effect of gravity.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 1/00 - ÉchantillonnagePréparation des éprouvettes pour la recherche
• G02B 21/33 - Huiles d'immersion
• G02B 21/34 - Lames de microscope, p. ex. montage d'échantillons sur des lames de microscope
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a confocal laser microscope, comprising at least one laser, the illuminating light of which is transmitted via at least one fiber optical waveguide in the direction of the microscope lens, wherein the fiber optical waveguide can be connected to a housing, which preferably comprises the scanning head of the microscope, and wherein a mounting that can be connected to the housing is provided. The fiber optical waveguide extends into the mounting and the mounting, at the end thereof facing away from the fiber, is provided with a first lens for transmitting the laser light emerging divergently from the waveguide in the direction of a collimation lens, which is at least partially displaceable in the housing, wherein advantageously at least one second lens is disposed between the first lens and the collimation lens.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G02B 6/32 - Moyens de couplage optique ayant des moyens de focalisation par lentilles
• G02B 6/26 - Moyens de couplage optique

Abrégé

The invention relates to an arrangement for filling a container (5) with bulk material (3), comprising a filling device with an outflow opening (6) for the bulk material (3) and a container (5) with a filling opening, through which the bulk material (3) passes into the container (5). According to the invention, an arrangement of the abovementioned type is equipped with a measuring device (13) for the repeated detection of image data from the surface (7) of the bulk material (3) in the container (5) during filling and for the repeated determination of filling state values h which are equivalent to the level of the filled bulk material in predefined regions of the bulk material surface, and with a signal processing device for generating control commands from the filling state values h for positioning the outflow opening (6) and the filling opening relative to one another and/or for influencing the quantity of bulk material (3) which flows out of the outflow opening (6) per unit time.

Classes IPC  ?

• A01D 43/073 - Faucheuses combinées avec des appareils permettant d'effectuer des opérations supplémentaires pendant le fauchage avec des moyens pour collecter, ramasser ou charger les produits fauchés dans une remorque avec une goulotte de décharge qui peut être commandée

Abrégé

Provided is an apparatus for illuminating an object, comprising illuminating optics (8), a module (3) which is arranged upstream of the illuminating optics (8) and has at least two nonlinear optical elements (4; 5; 6) which are arranged one behind the other, and a laser (2) which is arranged upstream of the module (3) and outputs laser radiation (L1) to the module (3), which laser radiation travels sequentially through the elements (4-6), which are arranged one behind the other, and is output to the illuminating optics (8) which can use the laser radiation (L4) coming from the module (3) to illuminate the object, wherein each nonlinear element (4; 5; 6) effects, due to its nonlinear action, that the spectral bandwidth of the laser radiation (L2; L3; L4) output by the nonlinear element (4; 5; 6) is greater than the spectral bandwidth of the laser radiation (L1; L2; L3) which is coupled into the nonlinear element (4; 5; 6), and wherein the apparatus has a control circuit which measures intensity fluctuations of the laser radiation (L4) coming from the module (3) and drives, as a function of the measured intensity fluctuations, a controllable component of the apparatus such that the intensity fluctuations are at least partially compensated for.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/06 - Moyens pour éclairer un échantillon
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G02F 1/35 - Optique non linéaire
• G01J 3/10 - Aménagements de sources lumineuses spécialement adaptées à la spectrométrie ou à la colorimétrie
• G02B 6/122 - Éléments optiques de base, p. ex. voies de guidage de la lumière

Abrégé

The object of the invention is to configure the uniting of the laser beams of a laser scanning microscope into a single beam path such that the performance and polarization parameters of the received beam remain substantially unaffected by the influence of environmental factors. The laser scanning microscope comprises an illumination device (20) with a plurality of lasers (15, 16, 17) emitting at different wavelengths. Optical fibers (9) are provided on the lasers on the side of the beam exit. Said fibers are coupled via a polarization-maintaining fiber optic coupling device (18) designed for the visible spectral region to a further optical fiber (11), which is coupled to the illumination beam path of the laser scanning microscope (19).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 6/28 - Moyens de couplage optique ayant des bus de données, c.-à-d. plusieurs guides d'ondes interconnectés et assurant un système bidirectionnel par nature en mélangeant et divisant les signaux
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a stage DRIVE (4) for microscopes for displacing a microscope table designed as a cross-table, comprising a first drive element (5), which is operationally connected to a first driven element (6), and a second drive element (7), which is operationally connected to a second driven element (8). The first driven element (6) is operationally connected to a first stage element (1) and the second driven element (8) is operationally connected to a second stage element (2) of the cross-table supported on the first stage element by first and second transmission means (11, 12). The stage elements (1) and (2) are displaceably mounted in orthogonal directions X; Y in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the microscope beam path in relation to a fixed base element (3). The at least one stage (4) comprises at least one drive element (5; 7) and at least one driven element (6; 8) and is displaceably arranged in the base element (3) in the X-direction and/or Y-direction within an adjusting range and can also be fixed.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/26 - PlatinesMoyens de réglage pour celles-ci

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method by which image data from the terrain lying in front of a vehicle (1) in the direction of travel are detected, and from which data steering commands to influence the direction and/or the speed of travel are generated. The invention relates further to an arrangement for steering an agricultural vehicle (1) according to this method. According to the invention, the problem is solved in that prominent objects (3) are selected by means of the image data, the distance between the vehicle (1) and the prominent objects (3) is determined, and the steering commands are generated from the image data which correspond to the objects and from the changes of distance between the vehicle (1) and the objects (3).

Classes IPC  ?

• A01B 69/00 - Direction des machines ou instruments agricolesGuidage des machines ou instruments agricoles selon un parcours déterminé

Abrégé

The aim of the invention is to provide a method and an assembly for focussing optics, objects and condensers in different types of microscopes, said method and assembly achieving optimal illumination and reproduction conditions for the object planes to be analysed by the optimal tracking of the condenser when the optics or object is or are moved, in particular for analysing thick samples. This is achieved by a method, according to which the focus on an object plane (3) in the object (1) to be analysed remains constant by means of the coupled focussing movement of optics (2) and a condenser or an object (1) to be analysed and the condenser (5), thus illuminating object details on all object planes (3) of the object (1) and matching the illumination and reproduction optical path to one another. The coupled focussing movement for focussing the optics (2) and the condenser (5) or the object (1) and the condenser (5) is maintained either by the decoupling of the condenser movement from the microscope stage or by the decoupling of the condenser movement from the movement of the optics, taking into consideration refractive indices, sample thickness and focus depth in the object (1).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/08 - Condensateurs
• G02B 21/24 - Structure du bâti ou statif

Abrégé

Laser scanning microscopy requires high-quality light sources that have high-ratio output dynamics. Typically, the requirement for the output dynamics of the illumination system in a laser scanning microscope is 1000:1. According to the invention, the power is reduced by the pivoting of an optical attenuator, such as a filter (grey filter) into the path of the light source. Preferably, in a laser scanning microscope, the filter is pivoted into the microscope downstream of the coupling fibre optic. According to the invention, this simple measure assumes one function of the AOTF that is otherwise provided to control the power (and adjust the wavelength). This leads to reduced costs, a simplification of the optical path and reduced noise and heat generation.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a highly sensitive spectroscopic unit comprising a diffraction grating, wherein a parallel light beam (1, 2, 3) having a certain wavelength range is incident on a diffraction grating (13) which splits the different wavelengths into spectra by diffraction in first directions and wavelength ranges of the split light bundle (1', 1', 1'', 2', 2', 2'', 3', 3', 3'') can be focused onto a detector line by means of camera optics (14) and evaluation electronics (17) are connected to the detector line (15) and retrieve the produced spectrum as a piece of information and display it. The invention is characterized in that the light bundle (1, 2, 3) passes through a first optical element (11, 20), wavelength ranges of a split light bundle (1', 1', 1'', 2', 2', 2'', 3', 3', 3'') are incident on respective sections (13', 13'', 13''') of a diffraction grating (13), the diffraction grating (13) having the same grating constant across all sections and a changing profile shape, the profile shapes producing different blaze wavelengths that lie in the respective wavelength range.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01J 3/18 - Production du spectreMonochromateurs en utilisant des éléments diffractants, p. ex. réseaux
• G01J 3/36 - Étude de plusieurs bandes d’un spectre à l’aide de détecteurs distincts

Abrégé

The invention relates to a system for dividing the detection light in a laser scanning microscope, the separation into spectra of different spectral components being carried out into transmitted and extracted components. The invention is characterized in that the division is carried out by at least one coated filter that is tilted in relation to the optical axis at an angle unequal 90 and zero degrees, the angle in relation to the optical axis deviating less than 20 degrees, preferably less than 10 degrees from the optical axis.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G02B 27/14 - Systèmes divisant ou combinant des faisceaux fonctionnant uniquement par réflexion

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method and arrangement for collimated microscopic imaging, including a first illumination of a sample in at least one region for exciting fluorescence, and a local resolution detection of the sample light by detector elements, the detection being associated with the region, wherein by means of a second illumination a sub-division of the region into separate, fluorescent partial regions occurs, which are associated with the detector elements. The separation of the partial regions is carried out by the spatial separation of the fluorescent regions by means of intermediate regions having reduced or no fluorescence, and/or by means of different spectral properties of the fluorescence from the partial regions.

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/16 - Microscopes adaptés pour éclairage ultraviolet
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes
• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence

Abrégé

The invention relates to a multispectral lighting apparatus for a microscope or a reader. According to the invention, the lighting apparatus comprises at least three receiving positions for lighting modules (22) and at least one receiving position for coupling modules (23), wherein the mechanical devices for connecting the lighting modules (2) or coupling modules (4) to the receiving positions (22, 23) of the lighting apparatus (1) are configured such that the lighting modules (2) or coupling modules (4) can be easily replaced. Furthermore, the receiving positions (22, 23) are disposed such that, with appropriate selection of the lighting modules (2) and coupling modules (4), all single spectra (3) of the lighting modules are simultaneously available in an overall spectrum (6) at the output of the lighting apparatus (5).

Classes IPC  ?

• G02B 21/16 - Microscopes adaptés pour éclairage ultraviolet
• G02B 27/14 - Systèmes divisant ou combinant des faisceaux fonctionnant uniquement par réflexion

Abrégé

The invention relates to a luminescence microscopy method with enhanced resolution, according to which a sample is excited by excitation radiation (4, 5) for the emission of luminescence radiation and an image of the luminescent sample (10) is obtained. According to the invention, a first laser radiation field (5) of the excitation radiation is irradiated in a first partial volume of the sample (10) and a second laser radiation field (4) of the excitation radiation is irradiated in a second partial volume of the sample (10), the first and second partial volumes of the sample overlapping themselves partially, but not fully. Only the first laser radiation field (5) is modulated with a first frequency and luminescent radiation originating from the first partial volume of the sample is detected in a modulation-filtering manner so that the luminescent radiation of the second partial volume of the sample is suppressed.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01N 21/64 - FluorescencePhosphorescence
• G01N 21/62 - Systèmes dans lesquels le matériau analysé est excité de façon à ce qu'il émette de la lumière ou qu'il produise un changement de la longueur d'onde de la lumière incidente
• G02B 21/00 - Microscopes