The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
May. 15, 1997
Applicant:
Inventor:
Matthew R Atkinson, Cottage Grove, MN (US);
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B / ; G02B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
359389 ; 359368 ; 359385 ;
Abstract
A confocal scanning microscope includes a light source which provides a light beam and scanning optics which sweep the light beam across the surface of a sample. Light from the surface or interior of the sample passes through a pinhole lens which focuses the light on a pinhole for detection by an optical detector. An image of the surface may be scanned using the optical detector. An optical element is inserted in a detection arm of the confocal microscope. The optical element provides angular magnification and natural divergence to the beam from the surface of the sample.