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US5995281A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for coupling the radiation of short-pulse lasers in an optical beam path of a microscope

Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
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Filing: 1997-10-09
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Granted: 1999-11-30
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Expires: 2017-10-09
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Abstract

Abstract A device for coupling in the radiation from short-pulse lasers into a beam path of a microscope provides that the coupling in is effected by at least one light conducting fiber following the laser. In particular, the device is directed to the coupling in of short-pulse lasers with pulse durations in picoseconds to femtoseconds in a laser scanning microscope by light conducting fibers.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ulrich Simon
  • 👤 Ralf Wolleschensky

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 07:54
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/0004; G02B21/002; G02B21/0024; G02B21/0032; G02B21/008; G02B21/0084

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 101 words
A device for coupling in radiation from a short-pulse laser into a beam path of a microscope, comprising that the coupling in is effected by at least one light-conducting fiber following the laser, wherein an optical arrangement is provided between the laser and the at least one light-conducting fiber for changing laser pulses with respect to time in a wavelength-dependent manner, the optical arrangement containing the combination of a diffraction grating, a reflector system and a mirror or the combination of a diffraction grating and two reflector systems, and a laser beam is guided four times by the same diffraction grating.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 101 words
A device for coupling in radiation from a short-pulse laser into a beam path of a microscope, comprising that the coupling in is effected by at least one light-conducting fiber following the laser, wherein an optical arrangement is provided between the laser and the at least one light-conducting fiber for changing laser pulses with respect to time in a wavelength-dependent manner, the optical arrangement containing the combination of a diffraction grating, a reflector system and a mirror or the combination of a diffraction grating and two reflector systems, and a laser beam is guided four times by the same diffraction grating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling in is effected in a confocal beam path and an end of the fiber is imaged on an object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the microscope is a laser scanning microscope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling in is effected via at least one monomode fiber.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 123 words
A device for coupling in radiation from a short-pulse laser into a beam path of a microscope, comprising that the coupling in is effected by at least one light-conducting fiber following the laser, wherein an optical arrangement is provided between the laser and the at least one light-conducting fiber for changing laser pulses with respect to time in a wavelength-dependent manner, wherein the optical arrangement includes the combination of only one rotatable diffraction grating, a retro-reflector system and a mirror, or includes the combination of a rotatable diffraction grating and two retro-reflector systems, and a beam is guided four times by the same diffraction grating, and the optical arrangement can be adjusted to a desired laser wavelength merely by rotating the one grating.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 123 words
A device for coupling in radiation from a short-pulse laser into a beam path of a microscope, comprising that the coupling in is effected by at least one light-conducting fiber following the laser, wherein an optical arrangement is provided between the laser and the at least one light-conducting fiber for changing laser pulses with respect to time in a wavelength-dependent manner, wherein the optical arrangement includes the combination of only one rotatable diffraction grating, a retro-reflector system and a mirror, or includes the combination of a rotatable diffraction grating and two retro-reflector systems, and a beam is guided four times by the same diffraction grating, and the optical arrangement can be adjusted to a desired laser wavelength merely by rotating the one grating.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 158 words
A device for coupling in radiation from a short-pulse laser into a beam path of a microscope, comprising that the coupling in is effected by at least one light-conducting fiber following the laser, wherein an optical arrangement is provided between the laser and the at least one light-conducting fiber for changing laser pulses with respect to time in a wavelength-dependent manner, wherein the arrangement includes the combination of a diffraction grating, a reflector system and a mirror, wherein a beam is guided four times by the same diffraction grating, and the amount of dispersion is varied by changing a distance between the diffraction grating and the reflector system, or the arrangement includes the combination of a diffraction grating and two reflector systems, and wherein a beam is guided four times by the same diffraction grating, and the amount of dispersion is varied by changing a distance between the diffraction grating and one or both of the reflector systems.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 158 words
A device for coupling in radiation from a short-pulse laser into a beam path of a microscope, comprising that the coupling in is effected by at least one light-conducting fiber following the laser, wherein an optical arrangement is provided between the laser and the at least one light-conducting fiber for changing laser pulses with respect to time in a wavelength-dependent manner, wherein the arrangement includes the combination of a diffraction grating, a reflector system and a mirror, wherein a beam is guided four times by the same diffraction grating, and the amount of dispersion is varied by changing a distance between the diffraction grating and the reflector system, or the arrangement includes the combination of a diffraction grating and two reflector systems, and wherein a beam is guided four times by the same diffraction grating, and the amount of dispersion is varied by changing a distance between the diffraction grating and one or both of the reflector systems.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5161053A Cited
US5034613A Cited
US5132526A Cited
US5101456A Cited
US5835263A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-11-29 2003-05-31 2003-11-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-11-29 2007-05-31 2007-11-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-11-29 2011-05-31 2011-11-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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