JPH05210051A - Confocal optical scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a confocal optical scanner whose size is small and whose operability is good without the need of installing a driving part. CONSTITUTION:As to the confocal optical scanner used for a confocal microscope, etc., for scanning a sample with a focused light spot by using laser light as an illuminating means and detecting the light reflected on the sample 3 so as to display it as an image, this confocal optical scanner is provided with a liquid crystal cell 1 having picture elements which are arranged in close formation so that the aperture of the liquid crystal where the light outgoing from a laser light source is made incident may be positioned on the intermediate image spot of an objective lens 2, the objective lens 2 for converging the light outgoing from the liquid crystal cell 1 on the sample 3 and optical parts arranged between the laser light source and the liquid crystal cell 1 and for branching the return light from the sample 3 from the light outgoing from the laser light source. And also, the confocal optical scanner is provided with a liquid crystal microlens array which is installed on a position where the preceding stage of and also the focus of the liquid crystal cell 1 agree with the aperture of the liquid crystal cell 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a confocal light used for a confocal microscope or the like which uses a laser beam for illumination to scan a sample with a focused light spot and displays an enlarged image of the sample as an image. The present invention relates to improving the scannability of a scanner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 4A and 4B show a conventional example of a confocal optical scanner used in such a confocal microscope. In FIG. 4A, light emitted from a laser light source (not shown) is incident on the pinhole substrate. A plurality of pinholes are spirally formed on this pinhole substrate. The light that has passed through the pinhole substrate is condensed by the objective lens and is applied to the sample. The return light from the sample is condensed by the objective lens and passes through the pinhole substrate to form an image on a camera (not shown) (the image of the sample can be caught by the eye through the camera). In this case, the pinhole substrate is rotated by a motor at a constant speed, and the focused light spot on the sample is scanned by the movement of the pinhole accompanying the rotation of the pinhole substrate. Further, in FIG. 4B, a galvanometer mirror and a telecentric relay lens are combined and the galvanometer mirror is driven to scan the focused light spot on the sample.

[0003]

However, the confocal optical scanner shown in the above-mentioned prior art requires a drive unit for rotating the pinhole substrate and moving the galvanometer mirror, and therefore the operability by drive is high. However, it has caused problems such as inconvenience, vibration, and system complexity and size.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and by using a liquid crystal cell as an optical scanner, a compact, easy-to-use confocal optical scanner that does not require a drive unit is provided. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

The structure of the present invention for solving the above problems uses a laser beam for illumination to scan a sample with a focused light spot and detect reflected light from the sample. In a confocal optical scanner used for a confocal microscope that displays an image as an image, the apertures of the liquid crystal on which the light emitted from the laser light source is incident are densely arranged so as to be the intermediate image point of the objective lens described later. And a liquid crystal cell with pixels lined up,
An objective lens that focuses the light emitted from the liquid crystal cell on the sample;
It is characterized by including an optical component arranged between the laser light source and the liquid crystal cell for branching the return light from the sample with the emitted light of the laser light source. The liquid crystal cell is characterized in that a microlens array of liquid crystal is provided in the front stage of the liquid crystal cell and at a position where the focal point thereof coincides with the opening of the liquid crystal cell.

[0006]

According to the present invention, light can be scanned without driving the liquid crystal cell due to the light transmission-blocking effect of the liquid crystal cell.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a confocal microscope using the confocal optical scanner of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a liquid crystal cell in which openings (pixels) are closely arranged and 2 is a liquid crystal cell 1.
The liquid crystal cell 1 and the objective lens 2 are arranged so that the aperture of the liquid crystal cell 1 serves as an intermediate image point of the objective lens 2 for collecting the light passing through. 3 is a sample. Reference numeral 4 is a beam splitter for splitting the return light from the sample 3 and the light emitted from a laser light source (not shown). Reference numeral 5 is an imaging lens, and 6 is a camera for displaying the return light from the sample 3 as an image. The beam splitter 4 is generally a combination of a polarization beam splitter and a quarter-wave plate for reflected light measurement, and a dichroic mirror for fluorescence measurement.

In such a structure, the laser beam emitted from the laser light source (not shown) is beam splitter 4
And is incident on the liquid crystal cell 1. In the liquid crystal cell 1, by utilizing the light transmission / blocking effect of liquid crystal, light is transmitted only through a very small area (opening), and the position is scanned xy. Therefore, the xy-scanned light with the point of transmitting the liquid crystal as a point light source is incident on the objective lens 2 on which the light transmitted through the opening of the liquid crystal cell 1 is incident, and the light focused by the objective lens 2 is incident. Can be scanned xy on sample 3. The return light from the sample 3 is collected again by the objective lens 2, passes through the opening of the liquid crystal cell 1, enters the beam splitter 4, and is reflected. The reflected light is formed by the imaging lens 5
An image is formed on the camera 6 by. (Thus, the confocal effect can be obtained.)

As described above, according to the present invention, light can be scanned by the light transmission-blocking effect of a small liquid crystal cell that does not require a driving unit, and the operability of a system such as a confocal microscope is improved, It can be downsized.

FIG. 2 shows a second confocal optical scanner according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial configuration diagram showing an embodiment of FIG. In FIG. 2, a liquid crystal microlens array 7 is provided in front of the liquid crystal cell 1 of FIG. In this case, the liquid crystal cell 1 and the liquid crystal microlens array 7 perform xy optical axis alignment so that the focal points of the microlenses formed by the liquid crystal microlens array 7 coincide with the openings of the liquid crystal cell 1. It is arranged. Further, the microlenses of the liquid crystal microlens array 7 are synchronized so as to be scanned in the xy direction at the pitch p in accordance with the opening of the liquid crystal cell 1 which is scanned in the xy direction at the pitch p. There is. The liquid crystal microlens array 7 can be realized by displaying a pattern such as a Fresnel zone plate as a combination pattern of pixels or an analog lens by utilizing the change in the intensity and phase of the liquid crystal cell. With such a configuration, more light can be collected in the opening of the liquid crystal cell 1 as compared with the device of FIG. 1, so that the light utilization efficiency can be improved.

Further, if one pixel is used to form one opening, the scanning pitch p cannot be set to a pitch equal to or smaller than the diameter of the opening of the liquid crystal cell 1 even if the scanning pitch p is minimum. In order to make this finer, it suffices to operate the liquid crystal cell 1 xy in a stroke equal to or smaller than the scanning pitch p. The operating means in this case can be easily realized by providing the liquid crystal cell 1 with a piezoelectric element such as a PZT actuator for operating in xy, as shown in FIG. In the case of the configuration in which the liquid crystal microlens array 7 is provided as in the device of FIG. 2, a piezoelectric element such as a PZT actuator is provided so that the liquid crystal cell 1 and the liquid crystal microlens array 7 are integrally operated. good.

Further, the liquid crystal cell 1 may have only one opening for transmitting light at a time, and a plurality of openings may be formed at the same time so as not to lose the confocal effect.
With the configuration in which one opening is configured, scanning can be performed at a pitch equal to or smaller than the diameter of the opening of the liquid crystal cell 1.

[0013]

As described above in detail with reference to the embodiments, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a compact confocal optical scanner which does not require a drive section and has good operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a confocal microscope using a confocal optical scanner of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the confocal optical scanner of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the confocal optical scanner of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conventional example of a confocal optical scanner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Liquid crystal cell 2 Objective lens 3 Sample 4 Beam splitter 5 Imaging lens 6 Camera 7 Liquid crystal microlens array

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A confocal optical scanner used for a confocal microscope or the like, which uses a laser beam for illumination to scan a sample with a focused light spot, detects reflected light from the sample, and displays it as an image. , The liquid crystal cells in which the apertures of the liquid crystal into which the light emitted from the laser light source is made incident are the intermediate image points of the objective lens described later, and the light emitted from the liquid crystal cells A configuration comprising an objective lens for focusing and an optical component arranged between the laser light source and a liquid crystal cell for branching the return light from the sample with the emitted light of the laser light source. Optical scanner for focus. 2. The confocal optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein a liquid crystal microlens array is provided in a front stage of the liquid crystal cell and at a position where a focal point of the liquid crystal cell coincides with an opening of the liquid crystal cell. Characteristic confocal optical scanner.