CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE

摘要

A confocal microscope comprises a light source, focusing means, a detector and an encoded mask (17). The light source illuminates the mask (17) and the encoded light is then focused on a specimen. Light the from the specimen is then decoded, by either the same or a separate complementary mask, before being detected, for example by a camera. The mask (17) is encoded with a pattern which generates a combined confocal and non-confocal image and the confocal image is subsequently extracted from the combined image. This means that confocal images of different regions of the specimen can be produced simultaneously which in turn enables real-time confocal imaging of the specimen. In addition, as the microscope is no longer restricted to delta correlated images, an improvement in the light budget can also be achieved.