System and method for continuous, asynchronous autofocus of optical instruments

摘要

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to autofocus subsystems within optical instruments that continuously monitor the focus of the optical instruments and adjust distances within the optical instrument along the optical axis in order to maintain a precise and stable optical-instrument focus at a particular point or surface on, within, or near a sample. Certain embodiments of the present invention operate asynchronously with respect to operation of other components and subsystems of the optical instrument in which they are embedded.

主权项

1. An autofocus subsystem comprising:
an autofocus light source; optical components that direct light from the autofocus light source into the optical path of an optical instrument; a focusing lens that focuses autofocus light returned to the autofocus system from the optical path of the optical instrument; an autofocus detector arranged to detect the position Zd of the focal point of the autofocus light along the optical-axis; and an autofocus processing component arranged to adjust the focus of the optical instrument in response to Zd; wherein the autofocus detector comprises a fixed photodetector and an optical-axis scan member interposed between the focusing lens and the photodetector, the optical-axis scan member arranged to perform a physical optical-axis scan.