Pending Patents Filed to US Patent & Trademark Office

A fluorescence optical pickup unit (FOPU) for reading fluorescence images of biological media from solid substrates on a rotating stage is herein disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the FOPU consists of a semiconductor laser as an excitation source, a mini-scanner to distribute the excitation light over the media, a color optical fiber as a filter, and a photodetector for detecting fluorescence. It is also disclosed that the FOPU can be further miniaturized through the incorporation of optical pickup units used in compact disk players.