Automated surface acquisition for a confocal microscope

Details Automated surface acquisition for a confocal microscope Automated surface acquisition for a confocal microscope

1995-06-07

1997-01-14

Allen, Stephone

Radiant energy

Photocells; circuits and apparatus

Photocell controls its own optical systems

250216, 359368, 359813, G01J 120

Patent

active

055942350

ABSTRACT:
A method is described for obtaining an image of a target surface with a confocal microscope. The surface to be imaged is represented by a number of points on the surface, each of which has a unique location represented by X, Y, and Z Cartesian coordinates. The microscope selects a starting position for an objective lens of the microscope along a Z vector substantially normal to the surface. The objective lens has a preselected range of travel along the Z vector that is divided into a number of Z positions. Next, the objective lens is positioned and the surface scanned at each of the Z positions. The scan at each Z position provides signals, one for each point on the surface, representing the reflected intensity of laser light. Then, for each point on the surface, the microscope finds the Z coordinate of the point by determining which Z position resulted in the greatest return intensity of reflected laser light. From this information the Z coordinate of any particular point may be determined because the maximum reflected intensity for a given point, when correlated to the Z position of the objective lens, gives the Z location of that point on the surface. Having determined the Z locations for each point on the surface, the Z locations are compared to determine the low and high points on the surface. A second scan is then set up using the low and high points on the surface to determine the optimal scan parameters.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4863252 (1989-09-01), McCarthy et al.
patent: 5084612 (1992-01-01), Iwashi et al.
patent: 5479252 (1995-12-01), Worster et al.
patent: 5483055 (1996-01-01), Thompson et al.

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