METHOD AND OPTICAL ARRANGEMENT FOR ASCERTAINING A RESULTANT POWER OF RADIATION IN A SAMPLE PLANE

Abstract

A method and an optical arrangement for ascertaining a resultant power of radiation in a sample plane (8) of an optical arrangement. In a step A, a current configuration of optical elements in a beam path of the optical arrangement is captured. In a step B, radiation is provided and directed into the sample plane (8) along the beam path. At least one measured value of the power of the radiation in the sample plane (8) is captured as resultant power in step C and the measured values in respect of the respectively current configuration are stored in a step D. Steps A to D are repeated for at least one further current configuration.

Claims

1. Method for ascertaining a resultant power of radiation in a sample plane of an optical arrangement, comprising: (A) capturing a current configuration of optical elements in a beam path of the optical arrangement; (B) providing radiation and directing the radiation along the beam path into the sample plane; (C) capturing at least one measured value of the power of the radiation in the sample plane as resultant power; (D) storing the measured value in relation to the current configuration; and (E) repeating steps A to D for at least one further current configuration.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein a relationship between the resultant power and an output power of the radiation is ascertained on the basis of the stored measured values and said relationship is stored assigned to the at least one configuration.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein a desired resultant power in the sample plane of a configuration to be used is selected and an output power of the radiation is set by means of appropriately generated control commands on the basis of the stored measured values or on the basis of the relationship, by virtue of a radiation source of the radiation and/or an attenuator disposed in the beam path being driven in such a way that the selected desired resultant power is brought about in the sample plane.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein a selection of optical elements of a current configuration is made and steps A to D are carried out for the selected optical elements.

5. Optical arrangement for ascertaining a resultant power of radiation in a sample plane with a beam path along which radiation can be directed to a sample plane, comprising at least one light source for providing the radiation; optical elements for guiding and influencing the radiation in the beam path; a measuring apparatus for capturing a resultant power of the radiation in a sample plane; a control unit which is embodied to drive the at least one light source and/or at least one of the optical elements, H wherein the measuring apparatus is connected to the control unit in a form suitable for the transmission of data; and the control unit is configured to capture a current configuration of optical elements in the beam path of the optical arrangement, to store the measured value in relation to the current configuration, to ascertain a relationship between the resultant power and an output power of the radiation on the basis of the stored measured values; and to generate control commands for setting an output power of the radiation on the basis of the stored measured values or on the basis of the relationship.

6. Optical arrangement according to claim 5, wherein it is a constituent part of a scanning laser microscope.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of figures and exemplary embodiments. In detail:

[0051] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a microscope according to the prior art;

[0052] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a power meter according to the prior art;

[0053] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an optical arrangement according to the invention; and

[0054] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0055] The reference signs specified for the prior art disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 also apply accordingly to the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3.

[0056] The microscope 10 comprises a light source 1a, an attenuator 2a, a collimator lens 3a and an objective 7 along an indicated beam path. Further optical elements may be present. A measuring head 20 of a power meter 15 (surrounded by a broken solid line) is disposed in a sample plane 8. The measuring head 20 is used to capture a resultant power of radiation directed from the light source 1a into the sample plane 8. The measured values are transmitted via a line 21a to a display and operating unit 22 of the power meter 15. There, the measured value can be presented on a display 23. The power meter 15 can be operated by means of the operator control elements 24.

[0057] The measured values are transmitted further to a control unit 30. The latter is configured to capture a current configuration of optical elements in the beam path of the optical arrangement, to store the measured value in relation to the current configuration, to ascertain a relationship between the resultant power and an output power of the radiation on the basis of the stored measured values; and to generate control commands for setting an output power of the radiation on the basis of the stored measured values or on the basis of the relationship. For the purposes of storing the measured values in relation to the current configuration and for the purposes of storing the ascertained mathematical relationships, the control unit 30 has a memory unit 31 with a database.

[0058] The control commands can be transmitted via a further line 21b to the microscope 10 or to individual optical elements, more precisely to the drives or actuators thereof.

[0059] The flowchart of FIG. 4 presents an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0060] In a step A, a current configuration of optical elements in a beam path of the optical arrangement is captured. Provided radiation is directed along the beam path into the sample plane 8 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) (step B) and captured there as resultant power (measured value) (step C). The captured measured value is stored in relation to the current configuration of the optical arrangement (step D). Steps A to D are repeated for at least one further current configuration.

[0061] In a further embodiment of these fundamental steps for the invention, a mathematical relationship between the resultant power and an output power of the radiation and at least one configuration are ascertained on the basis of the measured values and said relationship is stored assigned to the relevant configuration. If the user desires a certain resultant power of a configuration of the sample plane, an output power of the radiation can be chosen and set accordingly on the basis of the mathematical relationship. Here, the desired resultant power need not correspond to the originally measured resultant power. The ascertained mathematical relationship allows the selection of a desired resultant power from a large value range. Corresponding control commands are generated and transmitted to the light source 1a, for example.

[0062] While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0063] 1a to 1d Light source/laser source [0064] 2a, 2b Attenuators [0065] 3a, 3b Collimator lenses [0066] 4 Main color splitter [0067] 5 Reflector turret [0068] 6 Output coupling means/secondary beam splitter [0069] 7 Objective [0070] 8 Sample/sample plane [0071] 10 Microscope [0072] 15 Power meter [0073] 20 Measuring head [0074] 21a Line [0075] 21b Further line [0076] 22 Display and operating unit [0077] 23 Display [0078] 24 Operator control element [0079] 25 Connector [0080] 30 Computer/control unit