Outline
The assembly for switching optical paths comprises multiple optical channels for guiding an illuminating light to a specimen and for guiding the light coming from the specimen to an image recording unit, the assembly further comprising a plurality of light guiding mirrors and at least one light modifying element in each optical channel for directing the illuminating light and the light coming from the specimen. In each of the multiple optical channels the at least one light modifying element comprises a stationary dichroic mirror. The light guiding mirrors include the following mirrors: a first rotatable light guiding mirror for directing the illuminating light ray to a selected dichroic mirror; a second rotatable light guiding mirror for guiding a light ray reflected by the dichroic mirror to the specimen and for directing a light ray coming from the specimen to the dichroic mirror; a third stationary light guiding mirror and a fourth rotatable light guiding mirror, wherein the third light guiding mirror directs a light ray passed by the dichroic mirror to the fourth light guiding mirror, wherein a rotating unit is coupled to the first, second and fourth light guiding mirrors, and the rotational axis of said light guiding mirrors align with a common geometric axis. The dichroic mirrors associated with the respective optical channels and the third light guiding mirror are arranged at a predefined angular distance from each other around said geometric axis.