Orthogonal light beam splitting for microscopes

Abstract

A system comprises a first beamsplitter module and a second beamsplitter module aligned with the first beamsplitter module along an alignment line. In certain embodiments, each beamsplitter module can split a beam traveling along a first optical path into a first split beam and a second split beam within a spectral range. Each beamsplitter module can transmit the first split beam along the first optical path and direct the second split beam along a second optical path substantially orthogonal to the first optical path and to the alignment line. In certain embodiments, each beamsplitter module can receive a first beam traveling along a first optical path and a second beam traveling along a second optical path that is substantially orthogonal to the first optical path and to the alignment line. Each beamsplitter module can combine the second beam with the first beam to yield a combined beam and transmit the combined beam along the first optical path.

1 . A system comprising:
 a first beamsplitter module; and   a second beamsplitter module aligned with the first beamsplitter module along an alignment line, each beamsplitter module configured to:
 receive a beam traveling along a first optical path; 
 split the beam into a first split beam and a second split beam; 
 transmit the first split beam along the first optical path; and 
 direct the second split beam along a second optical path substantially orthogonal to the first optical path and to the alignment line. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , each beamsplitter module configured to direct the first split beam along the first optical path by:
 directing the first split beam towards an eyepiece of a set of eyepieces.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an image capture module configured to receive the second split beam and generate one or more images from the second split beam. 
     
     
         4 . A system comprising:
 a first beamsplitter module; and   a second beamsplitter module aligned with the first beamsplitter module along an alignment line, each beamsplitter module configured to:
 receive a first beam traveling along a first optical path; 
 receive a second beam traveling along a second optical path that is substantially orthogonal to the first optical path and to the alignment line; 
 combine the first beam and the second beam to yield a combined beam; and 
 transmit the combined beam along the first optical path. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , each beamsplitter module configured to transmit the combined beam by:
 directing the combined beam towards an eyepiece of a set of eyepieces.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , each beamsplitter module configured to combine the first beam and the second beam by:
 combining the first beam and the second beam to inject one or more images of the second beam into the first beam.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , the second beam received from an image display. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , each beamsplitter module operating in a narrow spectral range. 
     
     
         9 - 16 . (canceled)