Patent attributes
A confocal scanning microscope obtains an observed image of a sample while changing the focal-plane of the sample in the optical axial direction, and generates a three-dimensional image or an image of a large depth of focus of the sample. It includes a capture unit for performing a photoelectric conversion on the light from the sample and outputting a plurality of brightness signals having different wavelength bands of light; a selection unit for selecting a brightness signal having the optimum wavelength band from among the plurality of brightness signals of different wavelength bands of light output from the capture unit; and an image forming unit for generating a three-dimensional image or an image of a large depth of focus of the sample using a brightness signal having the optimum wavelength band selected by the selection unit.
