• Laser & Optoelectronics Progress
  • Vol. 60, Issue 8, 0811007 (2023)
Yueying Wang1,2, Xu Liu1,**, and Xiang Hao1,2,*
Author Affiliations
  • 1College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China
  • 2Intelligence Optics and Photonics Research Center, Jiaxing Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Jiaxing 314000, Zhejiang, China
  • show less
    DOI: 10.3788/LOP230533 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Yueying Wang, Xu Liu, Xiang Hao. Advances of Confocal Microscopy in Three-Dimensional Surface Topography Measurement[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2023, 60(8): 0811007 Copy Citation Text show less
    Imaging schematic of wide field microscope and confocal microscope. (a) Wide field microscope; (b) confocal microscope
    Fig. 1. Imaging schematic of wide field microscope and confocal microscope. (a) Wide field microscope; (b) confocal microscope
    Schematic of the Nipkow disk[17]
    Fig. 2. Schematic of the Nipkow disk[17]
    Different confocal scanning methods and scanning schematic on the sample plane. (a) (e) Single point scanning confocal microscopy based on GM; (b) (f) confocal microscopy using Nipkow disk; (c) (g) parallel scanning confocal microscopy based on SLM; (d) (h) line scanning confocal microscopy
    Fig. 3. Different confocal scanning methods and scanning schematic on the sample plane. (a) (e) Single point scanning confocal microscopy based on GM; (b) (f) confocal microscopy using Nipkow disk; (c) (g) parallel scanning confocal microscopy based on SLM; (d) (h) line scanning confocal microscopy
    Laser differential confocal for axial localization. (a) Laser differential confocal[37]; (b) divided-aperture differential confocal[45]
    Fig. 4. Laser differential confocal for axial localization. (a) Laser differential confocal[37]; (b) divided-aperture differential confocal[45]
    Dual-detection confocal for axial localization[49]
    Fig. 5. Dual-detection confocal for axial localization[49]
    Spectrally encoded confocal microscopy[53]
    Fig. 6. Spectrally encoded confocal microscopy[53]
    Confocal imaging system. (a) Schematic of dispersion confocal imaging system[59]; (b) principle of dispersion confocal fast detection based on transmission detection[60]
    Fig. 7. Confocal imaging system. (a) Schematic of dispersion confocal imaging system[59]; (b) principle of dispersion confocal fast detection based on transmission detection[60]
    StrategyTechniqueAdvantageLimitationReference

    method

    Scanning

    Point scanning confocal microscopy

    High light efficiency,

    variable scanning range

    Slow frame rate513
    Parallel scanning confocal microscopyFast frame rateLow light efficiency,fixed field of view17202325
    Line scanning confocal microscopyFast frame rate,no fast-axis scanning device neededLow light efficiency,fixed scanning range,poor fast-axis resolution32-34

    method

    Detection

    Laser differential confocal microscopyFast frame rate,high axial resolution,no axial scanning device neededLow detection efficiency,limited axial localization range with high resolution3745
    Dual-detection confocal microscopyFast frame rate,simple data processing,no axial scanning device needed

    Low detection efficiency,

    poor axial resolution

    49-50
    Spectral based methodSpectrally encoded microscopyNo fast-axis scanning device neededSlow frame rate5355
    Chromatic confocal microscopy

    High axial resolution,

    large axial localization range,

    no axial scanning device needed

    Slow frame rate57-59
    Table 1. Comparison of different confocal methods for 3D topography measurement
    Yueying Wang, Xu Liu, Xiang Hao. Advances of Confocal Microscopy in Three-Dimensional Surface Topography Measurement[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2023, 60(8): 0811007
    Download Citation