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:
Sep. 18, 2007
Filed:
Mar. 17, 2005
Hisashi Okugawa, Yokosuka, JP;
Naoshi Aikawa, Fujisawa, JP;
Hisashi Okugawa, Yokosuka, JP;
Naoshi Aikawa, Fujisawa, JP;
Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A confocal microscope includes a light source that emits illuminating light beam, an illuminating optical system that irradiates the illuminating light beam onto a specimen, a condensing optical system that condenses the light reflected off the specimen and a light detection unit. The light detection unit includes a mask member, a movable shutter and a light detector. The mask member includes a plurality of reflecting/transmitting surfaces each constituting a light separating surface, and only the central portion of the light flux entering the mask member from the condensing optical system exits through a pinhole. The movable shutter opens or closes off a plurality of pinholes individually, and the light detector detects the light flux having passed through the pinholes.