Abstract: Apparatus and method for capturing an image having a detection beam path for guiding detection radiation from a sample to a detector having a plurality of detector elements. The detector has no more than ten and, preferably, four or five detector elements; and an evaluation unit, which is configured to carry out an evaluation in accordance with the Airyscan method on the image data captured by means of the detector and which generates a high-resolution image.

Abstract: A microscope system having a plurality of microscope modules connected to one another for data transfer purposes. The microscope system includes a central clock generator, the clock signal of which is provided to all microscope modules. The microscope modules are configured to use the clock signal or a clock derived therefrom as an internal clock. Moreover, a corresponding method for operating such a microscope system is described.

Abstract: A method for timing procedures in a microscope system, which has a plurality of microscope modules configured to carry out various processes, provision is made for a clock signal to be provided to all microscope modules by a central clock generator and for the clock signal to be modulated by a clock modulation circuit in order to produce a defined clock-pulse number. The microscope modules define a start time for carrying out a process by way of the clock-pulse number, carrying out the process as soon as the clock-pulse number is reached. Moreover, a corresponding microscope system is described.

Abstract: An actuator for adjusting a movable element in a beam path of an optical arrangement, includes the movable element, a carrier, and at least one SMA element, said SMA element being connected to the movable element and being designed so as to be supported on the carrier such that when the extension of the SMA element alters, a directed force effect is produced between said movable element and carrier.

Abstract: An actuator for adjusting a movable element in a beam path of an optical arrangement, includes the movable element, a carrier, and at least one SMA element, said SMA element being connected to the movable element and being designed so as to be supported on the carrier such that when the extension of the SMA element alters, a directed force effect is produced between said movable element and carrier.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image capturing apparatus and method having a detection beam path for guiding detection radiation from a sample to a detector having a plurality of detector elements. The detector has no more than ten and, in particular, four or five detector elements; and an evaluation unit is present, which is configured to carry out an evaluation in accordance with the Airyscan method on the image data captured by means of the detector and which generates a high-resolution image.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for acquiring image data, wherein a pixel area of a specimen to be imaged is illuminated in a plurality of illumination events with illumination light of a respective selected intensity, which intensities are different from one another. Subsequently, detection light emanating from the respective pixel area is acquired for each of the intensities as image data of a subpixel and resulting image data of the pixel area are determined from the number of acquired image data of the subpixels. According to the invention, the illumination events are triggered successively. The image data of all subpixels of the pixel area are acquired before a further pixel area is illuminated.

Abstract: A microscope system having a plurality of microscope modules connected to one another for data transfer purposes. The microscope system includes a central clock generator, the clock signal of which is provided to all microscope modules. The microscope modules are configured to use the clock signal or a clock derived therefrom as an internal clock. Moreover, a corresponding method for operating such a microscope system is described.

Abstract: A method for timing procedures in a microscope system, which has a plurality of microscope modules configured to carry out various processes, provision is made for a clock signal to be provided to all microscope modules by a central clock generator and for the clock signal to be modulated by a clock modulation circuit in order to produce a defined clock-pulse number. The microscope modules define a start time for carrying out a process by way of the clock-pulse number, carrying out the process as soon as the clock-pulse number is reached. Moreover, a corresponding microscope system is described.

Abstract: An actuator for adjusting a movable element in a beam path of an optical arrangement, includes the movable element a carrier, and at least one SMA element, said SMA element being connected to the movable element and being designed so as to be supported on the carrier such that when the extension of the SMA element alters, a directed force effect is produced between said movable element and carrier.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for acquiring image data, wherein a pixel area of a specimen to be imaged is illuminated in a plurality of illumination events with illumination light of a respective selected intensity, which intensities are different from one another. Subsequently, detection light emanating from the respective pixel area is acquired for each of the intensities as image data of a subpixel and resulting image data of the pixel area are determined from the number of acquired image data of the subpixels. According to the invention, the illumination events are triggered successively. The image data of all subpixels of the pixel area are acquired before a further pixel area is illuminated.

Abstract: A switch which reduces the voltage between the photocathode and the first dynode in the activated switching state compared to the deactivated switching state and a control unit which is adapted to move a target spot, which can be illuminated by means of the light source, over a scanning field by means of a deflecting unit. The control unit activates the switch when the target spot enters a given region of the scanning field and deactivates the switch when the target spot exits the region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a microscope in which excitation light is focused on, or beamed to, different points of a specimen, in which an intensity of the excitation light is point-specifically varied and in which an intensity of the light reflected by said specimen in at least one spectral range is measured point-specifically and quantitatively. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the intensity and/or a spectral composition of the excitation light beamed to a specific point of said specimen is automatically adjusted by a regulating device on the basis of information previously gained from measured data of said specimen concerning an estimated or actual intensity of the light reflected in the spectral range by said point such that an integral of the intensity of the light reflected in the spectral range by this point during a pixel dwell time is within a predefined value interval. The invention also relates to a microscope.

Abstract: A method for recording pulse signals which allows the reconstruction of a time reference. The time of every pulse signal event can be determined by counting sampling result bits preceding the respective sampling result bit using the known sampling frequency. For this purpose, every period of the sampling frequency is associated with a bit representing the respective sampling result and the sampling result bits are stored one by one and per channel in data blocks. The sampling frequency is preferably higher than a pixel clock, a sampling result bit associated with a flank of the pixel clock being marked. The pixel clock can thus be synchronized with the individual events exactly per sampling period. The invention further relates to the field of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy using confocal microscopes or laser scanning microscopes.

Abstract: A switch which reduces the voltage between the photocathode and the first dynode in the activated switching state compared to the deactivated switching state and a control unit which is adapted to move a target spot, which can be illuminated by means of the light source, over a scanning field by means of a deflecting unit. The control unit activates the switch when the target spot enters a given region of the scanning field and deactivates the switch when the target spot exits the region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a microscope in which excitation light is focused on, or beamed to, different points of a specimen, in which an intensity of the excitation light is point-specifically varied and in which an intensity of the light reflected by said specimen in at least one spectral range is measured point-specifically and quantitatively. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the intensity and/or a spectral composition of the excitation light beamed to a specific point of said specimen is automatically adjusted by a regulating device on the basis of information previously gained from measured data of said specimen concerning an estimated or actual intensity of the light reflected in the spectral range by said point such that an integral of the intensity of the light reflected in the spectral range by this point during a pixel dwell time is within a predefined value interval. The invention also relates to a microscope.

Abstract: To increase the sensitivity of detector arrangements, it is known that light deflection elements in the form of a line arrays having spherical elements may be used to focus incident light onto light-sensitive regions of the detector. Manufacturing such line arrays is complex and cost intensive, especially in small lot numbers. The increased sensitivity of the detector array can be achieved easily and inexpensively by using a novel light deflection element. The detector arrangement therefore has a light deflection element having light entrance surfaces, deflecting incident light by refraction onto light-sensitive regions of the detector. Light entrance surfaces of the light deflection element are inclined with respect to one another and are designed as planar surfaces. The detector arrangement is suitable in particular for detection of light emanating from a specimen in a microscope, preferably in a laser-scanning microscope.

Abstract: An optoelectronic detector and method of using same. In order to avoid any condensation on a surface, it has been known to heat such a surface. However, heating an optoelectronic detector will create a stronger hissing noise due to the greater dark current that is caused thereby. The invention is intended to avoid any condensation on an optoelectronic detector without airtight encapsulation. To this end, the detector is cooled and equipped with a sensor for the determination of a current value of one of the variables ambient humidity and ambient dew point temperature and a control unit that is connected with the sensor and designed to control the cooling device in dependence of such a value. By taking into account the ambient humidity or, respectively, the dew point temperature in the control of the cooling device, condensation on the detector can be avoided. An airtight encapsulation of the detector and the cooling device is not required.

Abstract: A laser scanning microscope comprising having a light source, an illuminating beam for illuminating a specimen with a spatially limited, preferably point-shaped, illuminating light spot via a scanning device and an objective lens, and a detection beam for detecting the specimen light that reaches the detection beam via the objective lens and the scanning device. Focusing means that are disposed in the detection beam and focus the light from the specimen to form a spatially limited detection light spot in a plane. Receiver elements are distributed in the spot in a matrix-like manner and can be individually read out. These are located in order to simulate an adjustable pinhole aperture.

Abstract: An arrangement for signal processing at the output of a multichannel detector in the spectrally resolved acquisition of time-variable fluorescence phenomena in a microscope, particularly lifetime measurements, is characterized in that an FPGA (free programmable gate array) is arranged downstream of the output of the multichannel detector.