Patent attributes
The present invention relates to an imaging device (1) for imaging microscopic or macroscopic objects (5). The imaging device (1) comprises a light source (2), an illumination beam path (6), an imaging beam path (7) and an imaging optical means (4), in particular in the form of an objective. The illumination beam path (6) extends from the light source (2) to the object (5). The imaging beam path (7) extends from the object (5) to a detector or a tube (3). At least one polarization means (9) is provided in the illumination beam path (6), which polarization means (9) can be used to convert the light of the light source to a prescribable polarization state. An analyzer means (10) is provided in the imaging beam path (7), with the analyzer means (10) and the polarization means (9) being able to be adjusted in relation to one another in such a manner that the light entering the imaging beam path (7) cannot pass through the analyzer means (10). An adjustable optical component (11) is provided in the beam path between the polarization means (9) and the analyzer means (10) for largely suppressing undesired reflections at optical components (4) in the beam path of the imaging device (1), which optical component can be used to either largely depolarize the polarized light serving for the object illumination or to split it into partial beams, depending on its adjustment.
