Scanning System With Orbiting Objective

1 . A scanning system for transmitting collimated light along a light path including a fixed light path portion and a scanning light path portion, wherein the scanning light path portion is parallel to the fixed light path portion and is spaced from the fixed light path portion by an offset distance, and wherein the scanning system comprises:

a conveyor unit including a first surface and a second surface disposed to rotate in a fixed parallel relationship around a first axis, the first axis being parallel to the fixed light path portion, the first surface and the second surface being spaced apart by a predetermined distance and inclined at an angle relative relative to the first axis such that when said collimated light is directed along said fixed light path portion onto said first surface, said collimated light is redirected by the first surface toward said second surface, and then redirected by said second surface along said scanning light path portion; and

a revolver unit including an orbiting element disposed to orbit around a second axis, the second axis being collinear with the fixed light path portion, and the orbiting element being disposed at said offset distance from the second axis.

2 . The scanning system according to claim 1 , wherein the revolver unit is arranged relative to said conveyor unit such that, when said collimated light is directed along said fixed light path portion onto said first surface, said redirected collimated light on said scanning light path portion intersects said orbiting element.

3 . The scanning system according to claim 2 , further comprising means for rotating the conveyor unit and the revolver unit at a common rotational speed such that, while said collimated light is directed along said fixed light path portion onto said first surface and said conveyor and revolver units are being rotated at said common speed, said collimated light redirected by said second surface along said scanning light path portion remains intersected with said orbiting element.

4 . The scanning system according to claim 1 ,

wherein said orbiting objective comprises a microscope objective having an optical axis, and

wherein the revolver unit is arranged relative to said conveyor unit such that, when said collimated light is directed along said fixed light path portion onto said first surface, said redirected collimated light on said scanning light path portion is collinear with the optical axis of the microscope objective.

5 . The scanning system according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second surfaces comprise transparent surfaces such that when said collimated light is directed along said fixed light path portion onto said first surface, said collimated light is refracted by the first surface toward said second surface, and then refracted by said second surface along said scanning light path portion.

6 . The scanning system according to claim 1 , wherein said conveyor unit comprises at least one solid optical element defining said first and second surfaces and arranged such that an intermediate light path portion between said first and second surfaces at least partially passes through said at least one solid optical element.

7 . The scanning system according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second surfaces comprise reflective surfaces fixedly arranged such that when said collimated light is directed along said fixed light path portion onto said first surface, said collimated light is reflected by the first surface toward said second surface, and then reflected by said second surface along said scanning light path portion.

8 . The scanning system according to claim 1 ,

wherein said conveyor unit comprises:

a multifaceted optical element including a plurality of first reflecting surfaces,

a ring structure including a plurality of second reflecting surfaces surrounding said multifaceted optical element and positioned such that each of said first reflecting surfaces faces an associated second reflecting surface of the plurality of second reflecting surfaces, wherein said multifaceted optical element and said ring structure are disposed to rotate around the first axis in a fixed relationship, and

wherein the revolver unit comprises a plurality of orbiting elements disposed in a circular pattern around said second axis.

9 . The scanning system according to claim 8 , wherein the revolver unit is arranged relative to said conveyor unit such that each orbiting element of said plurality of orbiting elements is operably positioned to receive collimated light from a corresponding first reflecting surface and the associated second reflecting surface of said corresponding first reflecting surface, whereby when said collimated light is directed along said fixed light path portion onto said corresponding first reflecting surface, said collimated light is reflected by the first reflecting surface to said associated second reflecting surface, and then reflected by said second reflecting surface along said scanning light path portion through said each orbiting element.

10 . The scanning system according to claim 9 , further comprising means for rotating the conveyor unit and the revolver unit at a common rotational speed such that, while said collimated light is directed along said fixed light path portion onto said corresponding first reflecting surface and said conveyor and revolver units are being rotated at said common speed, said collimated light redirected by said associated second reflecting surface along said scanning light path portion remains intersected with said each orbiting element.

11 . The scanning system according to claim 10 , wherein each of said plurality of orbiting elements comprises a microscope objective disposed such that each said microscope objective generates a focused light path portion that traces a curved path while said collimated light directed along said scanning light path portion remains intersected with said each microscope objective.

12 . A large field, high resolution, high efficiency rotary microscope for generating a magnified image of a sample, the rotary microscope comprising:

a multiplexed scanning system for transmitting collimated light along a light path including a fixed light path portion and a scanning light path portion, wherein the scanning light path portion is parallel to the fixed light path portion and is spaced from the fixed light path portion by an offset distance, and wherein the scanning system includes:

a conveyor unit comprising:

a multifaceted optical element including a plurality of first reflecting surfaces disposed to rotate around a first axis, the first axis being parallel to and non-collinear with the fixed light path portion, and

a ring structure disposed to rotate around the first axis in a fixed relationship with said multifaceted optical element, said ring structure including a plurality of second reflecting surfaces surrounding said multifaceted optical element and positioned such that each of said first reflecting surfaces is parallel to and faces an associated second reflecting surface of the plurality of second reflecting surfaces, wherein said collimated light reflected by one of said first reflecting surfaces and its associated second reflecting surface between said fixed light path portion and said scanning light path portion; and

a revolver unit comprises a plurality of orbiting microscope objectives disposed in a circular pattern around a second axis, the second axis being collinear with the fixed light path portion, wherein the plurality of orbiting microscope objectives are disposed at said offset distance from the second axis; and

a positioning mechanism for moving the sample under the revolver unit.

13 . A large field, high resolution, high efficiency laser ablation apparatus for ablating material from a surface of a sample, the laser ablation apparatus comprising:

a laser disposed to direct the collimated light along a fixed light path portion; and

a multiplexed scanning system for transmitting collimated light along a light path from a wherein the scanning system includes:

a conveyor unit comprising:

a multifaceted optical element including a plurality of first reflecting surfaces disposed to rotate around a first axis, the first axis being parallel to and non-collinear with the fixed light path portion, and

a ring structure disposed to rotate around the first axis in a fixed relationship with said multifaceted optical element, said ring structure including a plurality of second reflecting surfaces surrounding said multifaceted optical element and positioned such that each of said first reflecting surfaces is parallel to and faces an associated second reflecting surface of the plurality of second reflecting surfaces, wherein said collimated light directed along the fixed light path portion is reflected by one of said first reflecting surfaces to its associated second reflecting surface, and by said associated second reflecting surface along a scanning light path portion, wherein the scanning light path portion is parallel to the fixed light path portion and is spaced from the fixed light path portion by an offset distance; and

a revolver unit comprises a plurality of orbiting elements that are disposed in a circular pattern around a second axis, the second axis being collinear with the fixed light path portion, wherein the plurality of orbiting elements are disposed at said offset distance from the second axis; and

a positioning mechanism for moving the sample under the revolver unit.