Abstract: The present invention concerns a microscope having an illuminating beam path (1) of a light source (2), a detected beam path (3) of a detector (4), a component (5) combining the detected beam path (3), and at least two microscope objectives (7, 8) directed onto the specimen (6). In order to achieve enhanced detection efficiency, the present invention is characterized in that an optical component (14) arranged in the beam path (1, 3) has the property of acting on a portion of the illuminating and/or detected beam cross section in such a way that the combined detected light (15, 16) is guided in largely lossless fashion to the detector (4). Alternatively thereto, the microscope according to the present invention is characterized in that a polarizing beam splitter (19), arranged in the beam path (1, 3) and acting on the entirety of the illuminating and/or detected beam cross section, is provided.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for generating a three-dimensional object from a three-dimensional object model, the object model being scanned with a light beam of a light source and the light returning from the object model being detected. The object model is to be scannable with increased resolution and accuracy so that an object can be generated from the object model in a manner largely faithful to the model. The method according to the present invention is characterized in that the scanning optical system operates confocally.

Abstract: For the purpose of calibration which is simple and can also be carried out as often as desired, an arrangement and a method for calibrating a preferably confocal laser scanning microscope, it being possible for an object (1) to be scanned by a scanning beam (2), are defined by calibration means (12) which are arranged in the plane of an intermediate image (11) and can likewise be scanned by the scanning beam (2).

Abstract: A scanning microscope (100) possesses at least one illumination source (4), an objective (10), and at least one detector (12). An optical circulator (14) is arranged between the at least one illumination source (4), the objective (10), and the at least one detector (12). In a further embodiment, the scanning microscope (100) is configured as a confocal scanning microscope.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical arrangement for deflecting a light beam (1, 14), in particular in two substantially mutually perpendicular directions (2, 3), preferably for applying to confocal scanning microscopes, having two mirrors (8, 10) which can be rotated by means of a rotary drive (4, 5) in each case about mutually perpendicular axes—the x-axis (6) and y-axis (7)—one of the two mirrors (8, 10) being assigned a further mirror (9) in a prescribed angular position in a rotationally fixed fashion such that the mutually assigned mirrors (8, 9)—first and second mirrors—rotate jointly about the y-axis (7), and in so doing rotate the light beam (1, 14) about a pivot (11) which lies on the axis of rotation (6)—the x-axis—of the third mirror (10).

Abstract: An optical arrangement, in particular a laser scanning microscope, having a light source, in particular a laser light source, and an interruption device (1) for a light beam (2) of the light source, is configured, in the interest of reliable operation, in such a way that means (3) for monitoring the functioning of the interruption device (1) are associated with the interruption device (1). The invention additionally concerns a shutter (5) for a light beam (2) of a light source, in particular a laser light source, which, again in the interest of reliable operation of an optical arrangement, is characterized by at least two movable components (6, 7) which are configured and arranged such that the mechanical momentum generated by a moving component (6) or by several moving components is compensated for by the motion of the other component (7) or components.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for coupling light (1) of at least one wavelength of a laser light source (2) into an optical assemblage (3), preferably into a confocal scanning microscope, having an optically active component (4) that serves in particular to select the wavelength and to set the power of the coupled-in light (5). To ensure that changes in the power and/or wavelength of the laser light source do not affect the power of the light (5) coupled into the optical assemblage, the apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that in order to influence the coupled-in light (5), the component (4) serves as the adjusting element of a control system (11).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for stabilizing the temperature of optical, in particular optically active, electrooptical, or acoustooptical components, preferably in scanning microscopy, in particular in confocal scanning microscopy, such that the temperature of the component can be held in stable fashion at a constant value in a space-saving manner, as simply as possible, and with as few additional assemblies as possible, and is characterized in that the energy that interacts with the component serves for stabilization.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for scanning a specimen (1) with a light beam (2) of a light source (3), preferably in confocal scanning microscopy, the light beam (2) being deflected with a beam deflection device (4) and the scanning operation being controlled by a control device (5). A specimen can be scanned with the greatest possible timing accuracy in order to trigger a measurement operation, during or shortly after an external influence. The method and the apparatus according to the present invention are characterized in that as a function of at least one definable scan position (10), the control device (5) makes available at least one signal (11) for influencing the specimen (1) and/or for triggering a measurement operation.

Abstract: An optical arrangement for at least partial spectral selection of light components from a polychromatic light beam (1) is configured, in the interest of multifarious spectral selection capabilities, with means of simple design in such a way that a dispersive medium (2) for spatial spectral spreading of the polychromatic light beam (1) into individual light bundles (3), and an attenuation means (5, 6) for at least partial attenuation of the intensity of one or more light bundles (3), are provided.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for illuminating a specimen (1), preferably in confocal fluorescence scanning microscopy, having one illumination beam path (2) of one light source (3) and at least one further illumination beam path (4) of a further light source (5), the illumination beam paths (2, 4) being at least partially superimposable on one another, and in order to simplify alignment and reduce the optical components in the illumination beam path, is characterized in that at least one optical component (7) is arranged at least in one of the illumination beam paths (2, 4) and modifies the light; and that the optical properties of the component (7) can be influenced or modified in such a way that the illumination pattern of the illumination beam path (2, 4) in the specimen region changes shape.

Abstract: A device for fine positioning of a component (1), especially for vertical fine positioning of an objective or revolving objective nosepiece (1) of a microscope, with a lever system (3) and a drive (4) for the lever system, is characterized in that the lever system (3) acts directly on a rotating part (5); that the component (1) is flexibly connected to the rotating part (5); and that the connection (6) acts such that rotation of the rotating part (5) changes the position of component (1) by unrolling the flexible connection (6) on the rotating part (5), thus causing a lifting movement of the component (1).

Abstract: A confocal scanning microscope, having a light source (1) for illuminating an object (6), which is to be investigated, with exciting light (2), at least two detection channels exhibiting detection light (8, 9) being produced, is configured with regard to a high signal yield and a high signal-to-noise ratio in such a way that at least two detection channels can be optically superimposed by means of a superimposing device (11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a double confocal scanning microscope (1) having an illuminating beam path (2) of at least one light source (3), and a detected beam path (4) of at least one detector (5), and in order to achieve almost the theoretically possible resolution capability, in particular in the context of multi-color fluorescence applications, is characterized in that the optical properties in particular of the components (6, 10, 13, 14) arranged in the beam path are coordinated with one another in such a way that the accumulated aberrations, with respect to the optical axis (33) and/or at least one surface (18, 19, 20) in the specimen region, are at least of the order of magnitude of the theoretically achievable resolution capability.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the detection and analysis of a specimen in confocal fluorescent scanning microscopy (1), the specimen being detected at a definable system parameter setting (2), and for an optimum system parameter setting (2) and for optimum setting of the detection wavelength regions (21, 22) in consideration of the specimen being detected, is characterized in that the detected specimen data (3) are processed according to a definable algorithm (4); and that for further data detection, the system parameter setting (2) is improved on the basis of the processed specimen data (3).

Abstract: A microscope, in particular for confocal scanning microscopy, having a light source (1) for illuminating an object (6) to be investigated. An optical device (9, 12) is provided for splitting transmitted light (15) passing through the object (6) and fluorescent light (10, 13) produced in the object (6). A segmenting device (17) acting on the transmitted light (15) is configured with regard to a detection-light path which is as short as possible in such a way that the segmenting device (17) is arranged between the object (6) and the light-splitting device (9, 12).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for illuminating a transparent specimen (1), in particular for use in double confocal scanning microscopy, wherein for illumination of a point of the specimen (1), two light waves of a coherent light source (4) focused from opposite directions (2, 3) onto the point interfere to form an illumination pattern, and in order to eliminate the causes of the problems of the reconstruction method is characterized in that at least two additional coherent light waves traveling toward one another are superimposed in order to minimize the secondary maxima (11, 12) of the illumination pattern.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical arrangement disposed in the beam path of a microscope, in particular a confocal scanning microscope, an illuminating pinhole diaphragm (6) and a detection pinhole diaphragm (7) being disposed in the illuminating beam path (1) between the light source (2) and object (3) and in the detection beam path (4) between the detector (5) and the object (3), respectively. In order to be able to carry out continuous depth discrimination and adapt itself optimally to lenses, wavelengths and efficiency, the optical arrangement is designed and developed such that a verifocal lens system (8) for varying the optically effective pinhole diaphragm diameter is provided at least between one of the pinhole diaphragms (6, 7) and the object (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring surfaces by confocal microscopy using the reflection method, specially to measure the superficial profiles (1) of treated or drilled teeth (2). The invention seeks to eliminate mistakes occurring when very inclined areas are measured. To this end, the method disclosed is characterized by a confocal representation with enhanced dynamics (relative sensitivity) enabling it to project both the retro-reflections and the weak scattered light (3) or fluorescent light of each focal plane (8).

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the confocal measuring of surfaces inside cavities of the body, specially to measure the surface profile (1) of teeth (2) in the mouth cavity. Said device has a probe (3) that can be introduced into the cavity of the body, a light source feeding the probe (3), a detector picking up a light signal (5) and a processor (6) to digitalize the detected signal transforming it into a tridimensional representation. The device is designed using a simple construction and enabling an error free scanning of the surfaces.