Abstract: OBJECT To make an object to be observed observable with high resolution and to make an inclination angle of a surface of the object to be observed recognizable over a wide range. SOLUTION An image observation system 100 provided with a lighting optical system 116 irradiating an object to be observed W with an illumination light and an observation optical system 122 collecting object light from the object to be observed W to guide to a detector 126, the image observation system 100 comprising an objective lens 122A opposed to the object to be observed W, a beam splitter 116B disposed on an opposite side to the object to be observed W with respect to the objective lens 122A, and a relay image RI of the illumination light splitting member 114 for dividing wavelength regions R, G and B of the illumination light into a plurality of different solid angle regions IS1, IS2 and IS3, being disposed in front of the objective lens 122A.

Abstract: In a method for the examination of a sample the sample is illuminated in a sample plane along a sample line with an illuminating light beam. The sample is acted upon by a depletion or switching light beam, which overlaps in the sample plane in an overlap region at least partially spatially with the illuminating light beam and which has at least one wavelength suitable for depletion of the sample. Part of fluorescent light emanating from the sample plane is detected as detection light. The fluorescent light originating from outside a first subregion and a second subregion is at least partially suppressed and not detected.

Abstract: A distance measurement system includes two or more line pattern generators (LPGs), a camera, and a processor. Each LPG emits a line pattern having a first set of dark portions separated by a respective first set of bright portions. A first line pattern has a first angular distance between adjacent bright portions, and a second line pattern has a second angular distance between adjacent bright portions. The camera captures at least one image of the first line pattern and the second line pattern. The camera is a first distance from the first LPG and a second distance from the second LPG. The processor identifies a target object illuminated by the first and second line patterns and determines a distance to the target object based on the appearance of the target object as illuminated by the first and second line patterns.

Abstract: An imaging device of an embodiment comprises an aperture that transmits imaging light applied to a sample, a detector including a linear sensor comprising a linear light receiving surface extending in a first direction, a first image forming element that collects components of the imaging light in the first direction and forms an image on the light receiving surface with a first wave front aberration amount, and a second image forming element that collects components of the imaging light in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and forms an image on the light receiving surface with a second wave front aberration amount smaller than the first wave front aberration amount.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a spectroscopic section disposed on an optical axis of return light from an object irradiated with visible light, first excitation light and second excitation light including a longer wavelength than a wavelength of the first excitation light and configured to separate and emit the light of a second wavelength band other than light of a first wavelength band, a first excitation light cut filter configured to block a wavelength band of one of the first excitation light and the second excitation light included in the return light, and a second excitation light cut filter configured to block a wavelength band of another excitation light of the first excitation light and the second excitation light and a wavelength band of the visible light.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: a light guide fiber having an exit end through which illumination light is emitted; a transparent distal-end element configured to hold the exit end of the light guide fiber and made of a transparent material that allows the illumination light emitted from the exit end to pass therethrough; and an objective optical system inserted through a through-hole provided in the transparent distal-end element, wherein at least a portion of the illumination light enters the objective optical system through a boundary between the transparent distal-end element and the objective optical system, and a refractive index of the transparent material constituting the transparent distal-end element is larger than a refractive index of at least one material in contact with an inner surface of the through-hole.

Abstract: A light sheet microscope or a confocal microscope includes illumination optics configured to transmit light of at least two wavelengths from at least one light source, along respective wavelength-dependent beam paths, from an illumination side of the illumination optics to a specimen side of the illumination optics. A lateral chromatic correction system comprising at least one optical lateral chromatic correction element is configured such that the beam paths of the at least two different wavelengths have, at a specimen-side output of the lateral chromatic correction element, an offset parallel to each other and/or are inclined relative to each other in relation to the illumination side, which, on the specimen side of the illumination optics, results in an offset of the foci of the at least two wavelengths transverse to an optical axis of the illumination optics.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a camera, a dark field illumination source, and a fiber inspection housing including a fiber connector input situated to receive an optical fiber connector so that an optical fiber output end of the optical fiber connector is removably insertable into an interior region of the fiber inspection housing and securable at a predetermined location in the interior region, a camera input situated to receive and secure the camera so that the camera is in optical communication with the interior region and the optical fiber output end, and a dark field illumination source input situated to receive the dark field illumination source so that light emitted from the dark field illumination source is received by the optical fiber output end at a dark field illumination angle and is scattered by contamination or defects associated with the optical fiber output end so as to be detectable by the camera.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-color scanning microscope comprising at least one first light source for emitting a first excitation beam comprising first excitation light having a first wavelength and a second light source for emitting a second excitation beam comprising second excitation light having a second wavelength, which differs from the first wavelength, comprising coupling-in means for coupling the first excitation beam and/or the second excitation beam into an excitation beam path, comprising optical means for guiding the first excitation beam and the second excitation beam to a sample and for guiding detection light emitted by the sample in a detection beam path to a detection unit, wherein the optical means comprise at least the following components: at least one first main color splitter for separating the first excitation light and/or the second excitation light, on the one hand, from the detection light emitted by the sample, on the other hand, a scanner for scanning the sample with at least

Abstract: In a method of monitoring a relative position of a microscope objective with regard to a sample a test beam of light is directed onto at least one at least partially reflective surface connected to the sample, and light of the test beam reflected at the at least one at least partially reflective surface is registered and evaluated. Additionally, the test beam is directed onto a reflective surface of the microscope objective facing the sample, and light of the test beam reflected at the reflective surface of the microscope objective is also registered and evaluated.

Abstract: A laser projector assembly for projecting a template onto an object is provided. The laser projector assembly includes a frame, a laser source for generating a laser beam being affixed to said frame, a sensor assembly, a lens assembly and a galvanometer assembly. The sensor assembly is affixed to said frame for identifying surface locations of three dimensional objects. The lens assembly includes a tunable lens for changing a focus of the laser beam received from said laser source. The galvanometer assembly redirects the laser beam received from said lens assembly along a scanning path. The lens is disposed in a fixed location relative to said sensor assembly and is tunable in response to the surface locations of the three dimensional objects identified along the scanning path of the laser beam by said sensor assembly.

Abstract: The total internal reflection microscope has an illumination optical system that relays light from a light source with a relay optical system, forms an image of the light source on the incident pupil plane of the objective lens and irradiates a sample with the illumination light via an objective lens, has an angle adjustment mirror for changing the position of the image of the light source in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis, an optical detector for detecting the intensity of the returning illumination light reflected by the sample and collected by the objective lens, and a controller for determining the operation amount of the angle adjustment mirror, wherein the controller determines the operation amount of the angle adjustment mirror so that the illumination light is totally reflected at the sample based on the change in intensity of the returning light when the angle adjustment mirror is changed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope slide holder for an optical microscope. The slide holder comprises a base portion, a slide holder portion arranged on the base portion and having a mounting zone capable of receiving microscope slides of one or more slide types, the slide holder portion being movably arranged on the base portion, and a manipulator for moving the slide holder portion with respect to the base portion in three orthogonal dimensions. According to the invention, the base portion is dimensioned to fit into a mounting zone designed for at least one of the one or more microscope slide types. The invention allows for convenient sample movement in microscopes whose sample stage is not inherently designed for scanning microscopy.

Abstract: A fluorescence microscope for obtaining super-resolution images of a sample labeled with at least one fluorescent label by combining localization microscopy and structured illumination microscopy is provided. The fluorescence microscope includes one or more light sources, an illumination system having a structured illumination path for illuminating the sample with structured illumination light and a localization illumination path for illuminating the sample with localization illumination light.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for illuminating a surface to be observed microscopically using a retractable beamsplitter. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of coaxial illumination when the beamsplitter is positioned in the operator's line of sight. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of non-coaxial illumination without reducing the amount of illumination that reaches the operator when the beamsplitter is retracted from the operator's line of sight. As a result a single system can be used effectively to provide various types of illumination.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes a light source unit, an illumination optical system configured to introduce a light from the light source unit onto a plane to be illuminated, a sample stage configured to place an object on the plane to be illuminated, an image pickup optical system configured to form an image of the object placed on the plane to be illuminated, an image pickup element portion configured by disposing a plurality of image pickup elements on an image plane of the image pickup optical system, and a light shielding member configured to reduce entrance of a light to an area where the plurality of image pickup elements of the image pickup element portion are not disposed.

Abstract: A zoom lens substantially consists of, in order from the object side, a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, a positive fourth lens group, and a negative fifth lens group. When varying magnification, the distances between adjacent lens groups) are changed, while all of the lens groups are moved with respect to an image formation position. When focusing, only the fifth lens group is shifted, and the third lens group has a third-a lens group having positive refractive power and a third-b lens group having negative refractive power, which are arranged in this order from the object side, only the third-b lens group is moved in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis to achieve camera shake correction.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed is a compact wavefront sensor module to be attached to or integrated with an ophthalmic instrument for eye examination and/or vision correction procedures. The front lens for relaying the wavefront from the eye to a wavefront sampling plane is positioned at the optical input port of the wavefront sensor module. The front lens is shared by the wavefront sensor and the ophthalmic instrument, and the wavefront sensor module can be made very compact while still being able to cover a large eye wavefront measurement diopter range. Another embodiment disclosed is an ophthalmic device for measuring properties of a subject eye including an ophthalmic instrument integrated with the wavefront sensor module.

Abstract: A spinning-disk confocal unit uses a pair of microlens arrays to create an infinity space directly after the pinhole array. This at least allows flexibility in the confocal unit design and also allows incorporation of superresolution.

Abstract: A chromatic confocal microscope system and signal process method is provided to utilize a first optical fiber module for modulating a light into a detecting light passing through a chromatic dispersion objective and thereby forming a plurality of chromatic dispersion lights to project onto an object. A second optical fiber module conjugated with the first optical fiber module receives a reflected object light for forming a filtered light, which is split into two filtered lights detected by two color sensing units for generating two sets of RGB intensity signals, wherein one set of RGB intensity signals is adjusted relative to the other set of RGB intensity signals. Then two sets of RGB intensity signals are calculated for obtaining a maximum ratio factor. Finally, according to the maximum ratio factor and a depth relation curve, the surface profile of the object can be reconstructed.

Abstract: An autofocus apparatus includes a light source; an optical coupler having a first port, second port and a third port; wherein the optic coupler couples to the light source at the first port; an optical collimator for directing a light output from the second port of the optical coupler onto a sample through a Dichroic mirror and a microscope objective, wherein the sample is placed on a substrate supported by an adjustable microscopy stage; a scanning device for focusing the light at a plurality of focal points along an axis; a photodiode detector for converting a reflected light signal into an intensity signal; a memory device for storing a signal template; and a microprocessor for detecting a peak in the intensity signal by cross-correlating the intensity signal with the signal template; wherein the microprocessor generates a command for moving the position of the adjustable microscopy stage along the axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for illuminating or irradiating an object, a sample (8), or the like, for the purpose of imaging or analysis, particularly for use in a laser microscope (1), preferably in a confocal microscope having a laser light source (2) emitting the illuminating light, the laser light being coupled directly or by means of a glass fiber into an illumination light path (4), characterized in that the laser light source (2) is switched on rapidly upon a trigger signal directly prior to the actual need, for example, directly prior to imaging.

Abstract: Illuminating light is two-dimensionally scanned without changing the ability to focus the illuminating light on a specimen. Provided is a microscope apparatus including a spatial light modulator that modulates the wavefront of illuminating light; a scanner that two-dimensionally scans the illuminating light by pivoting two mirrors; a relay optical system that relays an image in the scanner to a pupil position of an objective optical system; and a beam-shift mechanism that moves rays of the illuminating light between the modulator and the objective optical system in response to pivoting of the mirrors. The beam-shift mechanism moves the rays such that the image at the pupil position, when assuming that the mirrors are stationary, is moved in the direction opposite to the direction in which the image relayed to the pupil position by the relay optical system, when assuming that the mirrors are pivoted with the rays fixed, is moved.

Abstract: An optical system, comprising a microscope housing having a coupling opening for a detachable coupling of an objective lens of the optical system such that the objective lens is arranged in a microscope beam path of the optical system for imaging an object region of the objective lens. The optical system further comprises an assembly. The assembly comprises an assembly housing having a coupling element for the detachable coupling of the coupling element and the coupling opening of the microscope housing; a wavefront analysis system, which provides a wavefront beam path; and a beam splitter, which is arranged in the wavefront beam path. The objective lens, the beam splitter and the wavefront analysis system are arranged such that during the coupling of the coupling opening and the coupling element, the objective lens is arranged in the microscope beam path and the object region is arranged in the wavefront beam path.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image input unit configured to input a plurality of images acquired by imaging a specimen stained with non-fluorescent dye at a plurality of wavelength bands that are different from one another and a characteristic amount calculation unit configured to calculate a characteristic amount representing auto-fluorescence emitted by the specimen based on the plurality of images.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical arrangement (20) and to a method of examining or processing an object (46). Here, a first laser pulse with a first central wavelength and a second laser pulse with a second central wavelength different from the first central wavelength are generated. Both pulses are superimposed in or on the object (46) such that multi-photon absorption takes place there with the involvement of at least one photon of the first laser pulse and at least one photon of the second laser pulse.

Abstract: Microscopy instruments with detectors located on one side of the instruments are disclosed. The microscopy instruments include a splitting system and an array of detectors disposed on one side of the instrument. A beam composed of two or more separate emission channels is separated by the splitting system into two or more beams that travel along separate paths so that each beam reaches a different detector in the array of detectors. Each beam is a different emission channel and the beams are substantially parallel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a scanning device for focusing a beam of rays in defined regions of a defined volume, comprising an input optics wherein the beam of rays penetrates first, having at least one first optical element; a focusing optics for focusing the beam of rays exiting from the input optics; and a deflecting device arranged between the first optical element and the focusing optics, for deflecting the beam of rays after it has passed through the first optical element, based on a position of the focus to be adjusted in lateral direction. In order to adjust the position of the focus of the beam of rays in the direction of the beam of rays, and optical element of the input optics can be displaced relative to the deflecting device.

Abstract: A hand-held microscope includes a rigid tripod stand with adjustable legs, a visual display component, an imaging detector and an optical assembly comprising an imaging lens and an objective lens housed within an imaging tube. Multiple illumination sources can be used in the microscope, including LED or laser diode sources. The microscope can also include interchangeable imaging tubes that enable bright field, dark field, fluorescence and other imaging modalities.

Abstract: Illumination phase controls that provide precise and fast phase control of structured illumination patterns used in structure illumination microscopy are described. A coherent light source is used to generate a beam of coherent light that is split into at least three coherent beams of light. In one aspect, an illumination phase control is composed of at least one pair of rotatable windows to apply at least one phase shift to at least one of the beams. An objective lens is to receive the beams and focus the at least three beams to form an interference pattern. The phase control can be used to change the position of the interference pattern by changing the at least one phase shift applied to the at least one beam.

Abstract: An autofocus apparatus includes, in one embodiment, a light source; a splitter; a fiber optic circulator; an optical collimator; a balance detector; and a microprocessor. The fiber optic circulator couples one of the split light signals at a first port, to the optical collimator at a second port, and to the balance detector at the third port. The optical collimator directs the light beam from the fiber optic circulator onto a sample through a Dichroic mirror and a microscope objective. The balance detector uses another one of the split light signals as an input, and converts a light signal, reflected off of a substrate the sample is placed on, into an analog voltage signal. The microprocessor processes the output of the balance detector and position feedbacks from an adjustable microscopy stage to generate a command for moving the position of the adjustable microscopy stage to achieve a desired focus.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for illuminating a surface to be observed microscopically using a retractable beamsplitter. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of coaxial illumination when the beamsplitter is positioned in the operator's line of sight. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of non-coaxial illumination without reducing the amount of illumination that reaches the operator when the beamsplitter is retracted from the operator's line of sight. As a result a single system can be used effectively to provide various types of illumination.

Abstract: A microscope cube includes a housing including a first opening on a first wall of the housing and a second opening on a second wall of the housing, the first wall adjacent to the second wall; an excitation filter disposed within the first opening; an emission filter disposed within the second opening; and a dichroic mirror positioned within the housing. In one aspect, the dichroic mirror has a thickness greater than or equal to 1.5 mm. In another aspect, the excitation filter is positioned at an angle relative to the first wall of the housing.

Abstract: A microscope apparatus includes an illumination optical system that illuminates a sample with illumination light from a light source; an imaging optical system that converges light emitted from the sample to form a sample image by an objective lens; an aperture member disposed in the illumination optical system in the vicinity of a conjugate plane of a rear focal plane of the objective lens and having an aperture for limiting illumination light; and a filter member that includes a phase plate disposed in the imaging optical system in the vicinity of the objective lens rear focal plane or in the vicinity of the conjugate plane of the objective lens rear focal plane and having first and second phase areas introducing a 180-degree phase difference into the light from the sample; a phase boundary portion between the first and second phase areas being disposed in a conjugate aperture of the aperture.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a lamp mount including a first mount and a second mount. The first mount has a first cavity to mount an observation module. The second mount has a second cavity to mount an image capture module. The measurement apparatus further includes a plurality of light modules mounted on an undersurface of the lamp mount. The second mount is disposed with an included angle relative to a first axis of the first cavity so that a second axis of the second cavity and the first axis converge on a point. The undersurface of the lamp mount is concave so that light from the light modules tilts toward the first axis, and the light and the first axis also converge on the point.

Abstract: A modular laser objective for use with a microscope is provided. A mounting modular body permits the modular objective to be releasably mounted to the turret of a microscope. The objective has an optical axis that permits an image beam to be emitted through the objective toward the eyepiece of a microscope. The modular body supports a mirror positioned at an angle to the optical axis of the objective. A modular laser assembly is mounted on the modular body on a first side of the mirror for directing a laser beam toward the mirror so that the energy is reflected off the mirror and through the objective in a direction that is substantially aligned with the optical axis of the objective.

Abstract: The observing apparatus is being equipped with an image-forming optical system which forms an image of light emitted from a specimen, an imaging unit which picks up the image of the specimen formed by the image-forming optical system, and an illuminating unit which illuminates the specimen with a surface illuminant in which bright areas and dark areas are arranged alternately in order to provide an observing apparatus suitable to observe a transparent specimen with a wide field of view. If the position of the surface illuminant and the pitch of contrasting are set properly, each partial area of the specimen is illuminated obliquely at a small angle by each bright area of the surface illuminant. Therefore, the imaging unit can acquire a dark-field observation image of each partial area.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: a first illumination optical system which emits illuminating light in a first linear polarization direction to an object from a distal end face of an insertion portion; and a first objective optical system which allows return light from the object to enter through an objective window provided in the distal end face; wherein the first illumination optical system and the first objective optical system are placed in a positional relationship such that on the distal end face, a line segment connecting an optical axis of the first illumination optical system and an optical axis of the first objective optical system is parallel or perpendicular to a polarization direction which results when the illuminating light emitted from the first illumination optical system is projected to the distal end face, and no polarizing element is provided between the object and the objective window.

Abstract: The automatic adjustment method of a microscopic image for automatically adjusting an image on the basis of the lightness of the microscopic image includes distinguishing an observation pixel being an observation target in the image from a non-observation pixel not being an observation target on the basis of the lightness of each pixel of the image, determining a representative value for representing the lightness of the image on the basis of the lightness of a selection pixel identified as the observation pixel and adjusting the lightness of the image on the basis of the representative value.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for illuminating a surface to be observed microscopically using a retractable beamsplitter. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of coaxial illumination when the beamsplitter is positioned in the operator's line of sight. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of non-coaxial illumination without reducing the amount of illumination that reaches the operator when the beamsplitter is retracted from the operator's line of sight. As a result a single system can be used effectively to provide various types of illumination.

Abstract: A method for conducting FCS measurements includes providing a sample volume, emitting a target light having a first wavelength from a target light source, and marking an FCS volume in the sample volume with the target light by directing the target light onto the sample volume. An illuminating light having a second wavelength is emitted from an illuminating light source, the second wavelength being different than the first wavelength, and the illuminating light is directed onto the sample volume.

Abstract: Observation is performed using bright, clear multiphoton fluorescence images produced by efficiently generating a multiphoton excitation effect, without the need for a complex interference film structure. The invention employs a laser microscope apparatus including a first dichroic mirror that reflects visible laser light guided via a first light path and that transmits IR pulsed laser light guided via a second light path to combine the first light path and the second light path; an XY galvanometer mirror that scans the laser light from the first dichroic mirror on a specimen; an objective lens that irradiates the specimen with the scanned laser light and that collects fluorescence produced in the specimen; a second dichroic mirror that reflects the visible laser light and transmits the fluorescence from the specimen; and a detection unit that detects the fluorescence transmitted through the second dichroic mirror.

Abstract: A microscope, which moves an objective lens along an observation optical axis with respect to a specimen, includes an imaging unit and a supporting unit. The imaging unit has an imaging lens, which is arranged on the observation optical axis and forms an observation image of the specimen, and an imaging element, which is arranged on the observation optical axis and takes the observation image, and is optically connected to the objective lens by a parallel light flux. The supporting unit fixedly supports the imaging unit, and movably supports the objective lens.

Abstract: An illumination optical system which irradiates a sample surface with light through an illuminating lens includes: a light source; a condensing optical system receiving the light emitted from the light source; and a lens array optical system including a first lens array surface and a second lens array surface each formed by a plurality of lens elements. The first lens array surface has a conjugate relation with a back focal position of the illuminating lens. The second lens array surface is placed at a back focal position of the lens array optical system, has a conjugate relation with a pupil position of the illuminating lens, and the light source and the condensing optical system are arranged to form an image of the light source on the first lens array surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluorescent microscope and a remote control system thereof. The present invention reduces the size of the fluorescent microscope to facilitate transportation and management and be disposed in a narrow place such as the inside of the incubator or the clean bench, etc. and observes the samples through a remote control, thereby making it possible to improve the user convenience.

Abstract: A multi-mode optical fiber delivers light from a radiation source to a multi-focal confocal microscope with reasonable efficiency. A core diameter of the multi-mode fiber is selected such that an etendue of light emitted from the fiber is not substantially greater than a total etendue of light passing through a plurality of pinholes in a pinhole array of the multi-focal confocal microscope. The core diameter may be selected taking into account a specific optical geometry of the multi-focal confocal microscope, including pinhole diameter and focal lengths of relevant optical elements. For coherent radiation sources, phase randomization may be included. A multi-mode fiber enables the use of a variety of radiation sources and wavelengths in a multi-focal confocal microscope, since the coupling of the radiation source to the multi-mode fiber is less sensitive to mechanical and temperature influences than coupling the radiation source to a single mode fiber.

Abstract: A microscope image processing method includes applying a computing operation to at least one part of a microscope image, having the following steps: (a) providing the image in the mass storage device, (b) breaking down the microscope image into at least two image segments that can be loaded into the working memory and that have a dimension m, where m?n, (c) for one image segment, determining all pixels that are located in the image segment and in at least one of the partial images, so that a filled image segment results, (d) providing the filled image segment in the working memory, (e) applying the computing operation to the pixels located in the filled image segment so that an image segment result is created, (f) repeating steps (c), (d), and (e) for all image segments, and (g) combining all image segment results to create an overall result.

Abstract: A method of performing 3D photoactivation microscope imaging includes providing a sample having a plurality of probes, each of the plurality of probes including a photo-activatable material. Probes from the plurality of probes are activated to form a sparse subset of probes, the sparse subset of probes having probes that are spatially separated by at least a microscope resolution. The sample is illuminated with a readout light source, and light emitted from activated probes is detected. Based on the light emission detected from the activated probes, localized three-dimensional positions of the activated probes are obtained.

Abstract: An optical system, comprising a microscope housing having a coupling opening for a detachable coupling of an objective lens of the optical system such that the objective lens is arranged in a microscope beam path of the optical system for imaging an object region of the objective lens. The optical system further comprises an assembly. The assembly comprises an assembly housing having a coupling element for the detachable coupling of the coupling element and the coupling opening of the microscope housing; a wavefront analysis system, which provides a wavefront beam path; and a beam splitter, which is arranged in the wavefront beam path. The objective lens, the beam splitter and the wavefront analysis system are arranged such that during the coupling of the coupling opening and the coupling element, the objective lens is arranged in the microscope beam path and the object region is arranged in the wavefront beam path.

Abstract: An interferometric mask covering a reflective conductive ribbon that electrically interconnects a plurality of photovoltaic cells is disclosed. Such an interferometric mask may reduce reflections of incident light from the conductors. In various embodiments, the mask reduces reflections, so that a front and back electrode pattern appears black or similar in color to surrounding features of the device. In other embodiments, the mask may modulate reflections of light such that the electrode pattern matches a color in the visible spectrum.