Abstract: A system and a method for measuring the focus state of an optical instrument are described. The system and the method provide for forming an image of the exit pupil of the objective of the optical instrument. Where the image of the exit pupil is formed, one or more optical elements are placed, deviating at least part of the rays coming from the exit pupil, so that rays coming from different non-overlapping portions of the pupil follow separate optical paths. The rays coming from the two portions of the pupil are then focused, in order to obtain two bidimensional images. A computer determines the mutual distance between these two bidimensional images as a mutual rigid lateral displacement between the two and, based on this distance, determines the corresponding defocus of the optical instrument.

Abstract: A system and a method for measuring the focus state of an optical instrument are described. The system and the method provide for forming an image of the exit pupil of the objective of the optical instrument. Where the image of the exit pupil is formed, one or more optical elements are placed, deviating at least part of the rays coming from the exit pupil, so that rays coming from different non-overlapping portions of the pupil follow separate optical paths. The rays coming from the two portions of the pupil are then focused, in order to obtain two bidimensional images. A computer determines the mutual distance between these two bidimensional images as a mutual rigid lateral displacement between the two and, based on this distance, determines the corresponding defocus of the optical instrument.

Abstract: A device to illuminate a object, to excite its fluorescence light emission, and detect the emitted fluorescence spectrum, comprising: at least one illumination system (13), adapted to receive light from a light source (11), to select at least one wavelength bands of light spectrum of the source (11), to illuminate a object (15) with light filtered in that way (14); and a detection system (17), adapted to detect fluorescence light (16) emitted by the object (15), to select at least one wavelength bands of fluorescence, light spectrum (16), to record the spectrum of the filtered light; characterized in that said illumination system (13) comprises: at least one first dispersive element (41), at least one focusing optics (43), at least one spatial fitter of excitation (44), at least one collimating optics (45) and at least one second dispersive element (47), wherein said detection system (17) comprises: at least one dispersive element (81), at least one focusing optics (83), at least one spatial filter of detecti

Abstract: Apparatus for real-time three-dimensional laser scanning microscopy, where single-photon fluorescence light, multi-photon fluorescence light, and higher order harmonics generated in the sample are detected. The excitation light is focused into the sample in a three-dimensional matrix of focal points. Real-time three-dimensional image acquisition is obtained by fast scanning in the xy plane only.