Abstract: The object of the invention relates to a method for scanning with an optical beam (50) using a first acousto-optic deflector (15, 15?) having an optical axis along a Z-axis and at least one acousto-optic crystal layer (14), involving directing the optical beam (50) in the first acousto-optic deflector (15, 15?), and deflecting the optical beam (50) along an X-axis perpendicular to the Z-axis by means of the first acousto-optic deflector (15, 15), during which generating a plurality of acoustic chirp signals (30) in the at least one acousto-optic crystal layer (14) of the acousto-optic deflector (15, 15?) by—generating a first acoustic chirp signal (30a) having a duration of ? in the acousto-optic crystal layer (14), then—generating a second acoustic chirp signal (30b) in the acousto-optic crystal layer (14) within a ? period of time counted from the start of the generation of the first acoustic chirp signal (30a).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for correcting motion artifacts of in vivo fluorescence measurements using a 3D laser scanning microscope containing two pairs of orthogonally arranged acousto-optic deflectors, the method comprising: selecting a region of interest, selecting a plurality of guiding points along the region of interest, extending the guiding points to objects selected from scanning lines and/or surface elements and/or volume elements which, together, substantially cover the region of interest, repeatedly scanning the objects by generating continuous drifts to cover the objects, projecting the obtained scanning data to frames and obtaining a time series of the frames, correcting motion artifacts by shifting the data of the successive frames with respect to each other so as to maximize fluorescence cross correlation between the data of the frames.

Abstract: A method for scanning along a substantially straight line (3D line) lying at an arbitrary direction in a 3D space with a given speed uses a 3D laser scanning microscope having a first pair of acousto-optic deflectors deflecting a laser beam in the x-z plane (x axis deflectors) and a second pair of acousto-optic deflectors deflecting the laser beam in the y-z plane (y axis deflectors) for focusing the laser beam in 3D. Further, a method for scanning a region of interest uses a 3D laser scanning microscope having acousto-optic deflectors for focusing a laser beam within a 3D space defined by an optical axis (Z) of the microscope and X, Y axes that are perpendicular to the optical axis and to each other.

Abstract: The object of the invention relates to a method for scanning with an optical beam (50) using a first acousto-optic deflector (15, 15?) having an optical axis along a Z-axis and at least one acousto-optic crystal layer (14), involving directing the optical beam (50) in the first acousto-optic deflector (15, 15?), and deflecting the optical beam (50) along an X-axis perpendicular to the Z-axis by means of the first acousto-optic deflector (15, 15), during which generating a plurality of acoustic chirp signals (30) in the at least one acousto-optic crystal layer (14) of the acousto-optic deflector (15, 15?) by—generating a first acoustic chirp signal (30a) having a duration of ? in the acousto-optic crystal layer (14), then—generating a second acoustic chirp signal (30b) in the acousto-optic crystal layer (14) within a ? period of time counted from the start of the generation of the first acoustic chirp signal (30a).

Abstract: An acousto-optic deflector with a layered structure (10) comprises at least two acousto-optic crystals (12), to each of which at least one electro-acoustic transducer (14) is connected, and the adjacent crystals (12) are separated by an acoustic isolator (16). A method for deflecting an optical beam using the acousto-optic deflector (10), comprises creating a first acoustic wave (15?) in a first acousto-optic crystal (12?) using a first electro-acoustic transducer (14?) connected to the first acousto-optic crystal (12?), and creating a second acoustic wave (15?) in a second acousto-optic crystal (12?) using a second electro-acoustic transducer (14?) connected to the second acousto-optic crystal (12?) and arranged between the first acousto-optic crystal (12?) and the second acousto-optic crystal (12?).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for scanning along a substantially straight line (3D line) lying at an arbitrary direction in a 3D space with a given speed using a 3D laser scanning microscope having a first pair of acousto-optic deflectors deflecting a laser beam in the x-z plane (x axis deflectors) and a second pair of acousto-optic deflectors deflecting the laser beam in the y-z plane (y axis deflectors) for focusing the laser beam in 3D.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for scanning along a continuous scanning trajectory with a scanner system (100) comprising a first pair of acousto-optic deflectors (10) for deflecting a focal spot of an electromagnetic beam generated by a consecutive lens system (200) defining an optical axis (z) in an x-z plane, and a second pair of acousto-optic deflectors (20) for deflecting the focal spot in a y-z plane being substantially perpendicular to the x-z plane, characterized by changing the acoustic frequency sweeps with time continuously in the deflectors (12, 12?) of the first pair of deflectors (10) and in the deflectors (22, 22?) of the second pair of deflectors (20) so as to cause the focal spot to move continuously along the scanning trajectory.

Abstract: The subject of the invention relates to an acousto-optic deflector with a layered structure (10), the essence of which is it comprises at least two acousto-optic crystals (12), to each of which at least one electro-acoustic transducer (14) is connected, and the adjacent crystals (12) are separated by an acoustic isolator (16).

Abstract: The invention relates to a compensator system adapted to compensate for the angular dispersion of electromagnetic beams deflected by at least one acousto-optic deflector of an optical system, wherein the angular dispersion of each deflected beam is dependent on the deflection angle obtained by the deflecting acoustic frequency of the acousto-optic deflector, characterized in that the compensator system comprises: —a first lens group for spatially separating the deflected beams of different deflection angle and angular dispersion by focusing the beams substantially into the focal plane, —a compensator element having a first surface and a second surface, and being arranged such that the first surface of the compensator element lies substantially in the focal plane of the first lens group, and the first and second surfaces of the compensator element have nominal radiuses R1 and R2 that together work as prisms with tilt angles ? and prism opening angles ?p that vary with the distance from the optical axis so as t

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for scanning along a continuous scanning trajectory with a scanner system (100) comprising a first pair of acousto-optic deflectors (10) for deflecting a focal spot of an electromagnetic beam generated by a consecutive lens system (200) defining an optical axis (z) in an x-z plane, and a second pair of acousto-optic deflectors (20) for deflecting the focal spot in a y-z plane being substantially perpendicular to the x-z plane, characterised by changing the acoustic frequency sweeps with time continuously in the deflectors (12, 12?) of the first pair of deflectors (10) and in the deflectors (22, 22?) of the second pair of deflectors (20) so as to cause the focal spot to move continuously along the scanning trajectory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compensator system adapted to compensate for the angular dispersion of electromagnetic beams deflected by at least one acousto-optic deflector of an optical system, wherein the angular dispersion of each deflected beam is dependent on the deflection angle obtained by the deflecting acoustic frequency of the acousto-optic deflector, characterised in that the compensator system comprises: —a first lens group for spatially separating the deflected beams of different deflection angle and angular dispersion by focusing the beams substantially into the focal plane, —a compensator element having a first surface and a second surface, and being arranged such that the first surface of the compensator element lies substantially in the focal plane of the first lens group, and the first and second surfaces of the compensator element have nominal radiuses R1 and R2 that together work as prisms with tilt angles ? and prism opening angles ?p that vary with the distance from the optical axis so as t

Abstract: A focusing system for focusing an electromagnetic beam for three-dimensional random access applications comprises a first pair of acousto-optic deflectors for focusing an electromagnetic beam in an X-Z plane, and a second pair of acousto-optic deflectors for focusing an electromagnetic beam in a Y-Z plane substantially perpendicular to the X-Z plane. The second pair of acousto-optic deflectors is arranged between the acousto-optic deflectors of the first pair of acousto-optic deflectors such that the first and fourth acousto-optic deflectors of the system belong to the first pair of acousto-optic deflectors and the second and third acousto-optic deflectors of the system belong to the second pair of acousto-optic deflectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a focusing system (100) for focusing an electromagnetic beam for three-dimensional random access applications, the system comprising a first pair of acousto-optic deflectors (10) for focusing an electromagnetic beam in an X-Z plane, and a second pair of acousto-optic deflectors (20) for focusing an electromagnetic beam in a Y-Z plane being substantially perpendicular to the X-Z plane, characterised in that the second pair of acousto-optic deflectors (20) are arranged between the acousto-optic deflectors (12, 12?) of the first pair of acousto-optic deflectors (10), such that the first and fourth acousto-optic deflectors (12, 12?) of the system belong to the first pair of acousto-optic deflectors (10) and the second and third acousto-optic deflectors (22, 22?) of the system belong to the second pair of acousto-optic deflectors (20).