Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy with CCD Sensors Speed by Parallelization, Low Cost by Using More Electronics

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CCD sensors are able to image a few megapixels within one frame. The image is scanned electronically within the semiconductor chip (instead of mechanical-optical scanning with moving mirrors, Nipkow discs or acousto-optical devices). Through parallelization. the novel concept yields speed at an unprecedented degree for confocal imaging Routine applications requiring high speed and low costs will profit from this principle. Thus, confocal imaging technology will take the same path television technology has taken—from mechanical scanning to the broadest possible application of electronics

In order to go this way, a pinhole matrix is used on the illumination side. It has as many pinholes and the same pitch as the pitch and number of pixels of the CCD (Figure 1). In front of the receiver, a second pinhole matrix with the same pitch and number of pinholes is used All pinholes of both matrices and the pixels of the CCD are in confocal position.