Comparative Analysis of Confocal, Optical, and Measuring Microscopes
The three names' confocal microscope ',' measuring microscope ', and' optical microscope 'describe different aspects of microscope technology and its applications.
Optical microscope: This is a type of microscope that uses optical principles to image, magnifying the image of the sample through a lens system. Optical microscopes are the fundamental category of microscopes, including traditional bright field, dark field, phase contrast microscopes, etc. They mainly rely on visible light for sample observation and imaging.
Confocal microscope: Confocal microscope is a subcategory of optical microscope that uses a special imaging technique to selectively collect only light on the focal plane of the sample through spatial selection, thereby obtaining higher resolution and clearer images than traditional optical microscopes. Confocal microscopy can perform two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging, and is one of the more advanced optical microscopy technologies.
Measurement microscope: This is a classification used for precise measurement of physical properties such as sample size, shape, surface roughness, etc. Measurement microscopes can be optical microscopes, electron microscopes, or other types of microscopes, and the key is that they are equipped with tools and functions for measurement. Confocal microscope is often used as an advanced measurement microscope due to its high-precision three-dimensional imaging capability.
Simply put, "optical microscope" is a broad concept that encompasses all microscopy techniques that utilize optical principles for imaging; Confocal microscope "is a special technique in optical microscopy that provides high-resolution imaging; The "measuring microscope" is named after its application purpose, and it can be any type of microscope as long as it is used to measure the physical properties of a sample. Confocal microscopes are often classified under this category due to their characteristics. These three names are interrelated, but each emphasizes different properties or applications of microscopes.
