Abstract: A scanning microscope (1) and a scanning method are disclosed. The scanning microscope (1) has, arranged in the illuminating light beam path (3), an outcoupling element (60) that couples out at least a fraction of the illuminating light beam (3) and directs it to a detector (61) that detects the pulse frequency of the light source that generates the illuminating light beam; and the pulse frequency serves as a basic clock frequency for the scanner.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detection with a scanning microscope (1) are disclosed. The scanning microscope (1) encompasses a scanning device (7) that guides an illuminating light beam (3) through a scanning optical system (12) and a microscope optical system (13) and over or through a specimen (15). A digital circuit (30), which periodically interrogates the detected signals within a pixel (Px,y) and calculates an average therefrom, is placed after the detector unit (19).

Abstract: A detection device includes a spectral splitting device located in a detection beam path for spectrally splitting detection light into individual spectral components. A deflection device is located downstream of the spectral splitting device for deflecting the individual spectral components in different deflection directions onto detectors assigned to the individual spectral components. At least one optical element is located in the detection beam path downstream of the spectral splitting device and upstream of the deflection device such that at least one of the individual spectral components incident on the deflection device is collimated.

Abstract: A method for illuminating a specimen or a region of the specimen (region of interest, ROI), the information indicating whether and in what manner a specific point on the specimen is to be illuminated, being stored in a data memory under a specific address. A change in the position, orientation, and/or shape of the specimen is captured, and a transformation of the coordinates of the image points to be illuminated is derived therefrom; memory addresses are uniquely assigned to the transformed coordinates; and, on the basis of the memory addresses, the data memory is accessed, and its contents is read out in order to control the light source.

Abstract: An optical arrangement for deflecting a light beam includes first and second deflection devices, and a coupling mirror. The first deflection device is rotatable about a first axis using a first rotary drive, and includes two mirrors disposed non-rotatably with respect to each other in an angular position so as to rotate jointly about the first axis. The second deflection device is rotatable about a second axis using a second rotary drive, and includes a third mirror. The coupling mirror deflects the light beam onto the first or second mirror at an angle greater than 45° relative to the surface of the mirror. The first and second axes are perpendicular to each other. The first and a second mirrors rotate jointly about the first axis so that the light beam rotates about a center of rotation located on the second axis.

Abstract: A detection device includes a spectral splitting device located in a detection beam path for spectrally splitting detection light into individual spectral components. A deflection device is located downstream of the spectral splitting device for deflecting the individual spectral components in different deflection directions onto detectors assigned to the individual spectral components. At least one optical element is located in the detection beam path downstream of the spectral splitting device and upstream of the deflection device such that at least one of the individual spectral components incident on the deflection device is collimated.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for point-by-point scanning of a specimen (15) are disclosed. The method is characterized by the steps of generation (45) of a nominal signal (10) for each scan point and transfer (47) of the nominal signal to a scanning device (7). In further steps, determination (49) of an actual signal (25) for each scan point from the setting of the scanning device (7), detection (51) of at least one detection signal (21) for each scan point, calculation (53) of a display signal (27) and an image point position (29) from the actual signal (25) and/or the nominal signal (10) and the detection signal (21), and assignment (55) of the display signal (27) to the image point position (29), are performed.

Abstract: A method for operating a positioning apparatus that moves a positioning element comprises the steps of: generating a first and at least one further reference signal, the first reference signal corresponding to a first reference position and the further reference signal to a further reference position; generating a first and at least one further estimated value for the present position of the positioning drive; transferring the first reference signal and the estimated value to the positioning apparatus; establishing the first reference position using the positioning apparatus, and measuring the present position and generating a position signal that corresponds to the measured present position; transferring the further reference signal to the positioning apparatus; generating a further estimated value of the positioning drive position; transferring the further estimated value to the positioning apparatus; establishing the further reference position, and measuring a further present position and generating a furt

Abstract: A scanning microscope is disclosed. The scanning microscope comprises a light source which emits an illuminating light beam for illumination of a specimen, a resonant beam deflection device, for guiding the illuminating light beam over the specimen, which has a resonant frequency and a resonant frequency range, and an independent oscillator with which a drive oscillation, which has a drive frequency within the resonant frequency range can be generated which drives the beam deflection device. Furthermore a method is disclosed for controlling a scanning microscope having a resonant beam deflection.

Abstract: A detection device, in particular for use in a laser scanning microscope, includes a means (2) located in a detection beam path (1) to spectrally split detection light into individual spectral components (3, 4), and further includes a deflection device (5) located downstream of the means (2) for spectral splitting to deflect the individual spectral components (3, 4) in different deflection directions onto detectors (6) assigned to the individual spectral components (3, 4). With a view to reliable separation of the individual spectral components (3, 4) deflected by deflection device (5), the detection device is built and further refined in such a way that at least one optical element (7) is arranged in the detection beam path (1) downstream of the means (2) for spectral splitting and upstream of the deflection device such that at least one spectral component (3, 4) of the light incident on the deflection device (5) is collimated in at least one spatial direction.

Abstract: A method for operating a positioning apparatus that moves a positioning element comprises the steps of: generating a first and at least one further reference signal, the first reference signal corresponding to a first reference position and the further reference signal to a further reference position; generating a first and at least one further estimated value for the present position of the positioning drive; transferring the first reference signal and the estimated value to the positioning apparatus; establishing the first reference position using the positioning apparatus, and measuring the present position and generating a position signal that corresponds to the measured present position; transferring the further reference signal to the positioning apparatus; generating a further estimated value of the positioning drive position; transferring the further estimated value to the positioning apparatus; establishing the further reference position, and measuring a further present position and generating a furt

Abstract: A scanning microscope is disclosed. The scanning microscope comprises a light source which emits an illuminating light beam for illumination of a specimen, a resonant beam deflection device, for guiding the illuminating light beam over the specimen, which has a resonant frequency and a resonant frequency range, and an independent oscillator with which a drive oscillation, which has a drive frequency within the resonant frequency range can be generated which drives the beam deflection device. Furthermore a method is disclosed for controlling a scanning microscope having a resonant beam deflection.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for point-by-point scanning of a specimen (15) are disclosed. The method is characterized by the steps of generation (45) of a nominal signal (10) for each scan point and transfer (47) of the nominal signal to a scanning device (7). In further steps, determination (49) of an actual signal (25) for each scan point from the setting of the scanning device (7), detection (51) of at least one detection signal (21) for each scan point, calculation (53) of a display signal (27) and an image point position (29) from the actual signal (25) and/or the nominal signal (10) and the detection signal (21), and assignment (55) of the display signal (27) to the image point position (29), are performed.

Abstract: A method and system for compensating intensity fluctuations of an illumination system in a confocal microscope comprise a first and a second analog-to-digital converters for digitizing a first electrical signal corresponding to the light reflected from a specimen, and for digitizing a second electrical signal corresponding to an illumination reference, respectively. The digitized signals are sent to a first and a second look up tables carrying out a log conversion of the first and second electrical signals, respectively. Also provided is a calculator for correcting the first electrical signal for intensity fluctuations of the second electrical signal. The corrected electrical signal is sent to a third look up table for converting the corrected electric signal. The conversion is done by exponentiation of the corrected electrical signal.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and system for processing scan signals from a confocal microscope. The confocal microscope comprises an illumination source and a scanning device with a scanning mirror system. A control and processing unit is provided, which unit uses a plurality of programmable devices for the real time processing of digital signals. The control and processing unit has at least three input ports and one output port. A first detector generates analog signals corresponding to the light reflected from a specimen within the microscope and a second detector generates analog signals corresponding to the intensity of the light from the illumination source. In addition, a position signal of the scanning laser beam is provided to the control and processing unit. Analog-to-digital converters receive the analog signals, generate digital signals and provide the digital signals to the input ports of the control and processing unit.