Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed for multi-mode spectral imaging. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises the steps of illuminating an object with a modified illumination profile, producing a reflected, transmitted or fluorescence image of the illuminated object, scanning the object, and re-imaging the reflected, transmitted or fluorescence light after modifying the light's optical state. The present invention preferably works in conjunction with other imaging systems to provide both high-spectral resolution images with lower temporal resolution and multiple image acquisition with high temporal resolution.
Abstract:
An optical system for analyzing light from a plurality of samples is provided. The optical system includes a plurality of holders adapted to have samples located therein, a collection lens, a transmission grating, and a reimaging lens. The collection lens is configured to receive and substantially collimate light from the samples. The transmission grating is configured to spectrally disperse the substantially collimated light from the collection lens. The reimaging lens is configured to receive the light from the light dispersing element and direct the light onto a light detection device. A method of optically analyzing at least one sample is also provided.
Abstract:
An optical measurement device capable of improving optical spectrum measurement accuracy without the need to structurally decrease a slit width. A diffraction grating for dispersing measurement light into respective different wavelengths is rotated in a given direction to produce diffracted light of selected wavelengths. A focusing lens converges the diffracted light to produce a converged beam. A slit control section varies the slit width at a constant scan speed to open or close the slit, thereby varying the passing bandwidth for the converged beam. A light receiving/measuring section receives the light passed through the slit, obtains a level function indicative of the power level of the received light that varies with change in optical frequency, and differentiates the level function by the scan speed to reproduce the spectrum profile of the measurement light.
Abstract:
A scalable imaging spectrometer, using anamorphic optical elements to form an intermediate focus in only one dimension. Light reflects off an object to form an incident beam. The beam reflects off an anamorphic objective mirror to form a line focus at a slit. At the slit, the beam is focused along the spectral dimension, but remains substantially collimated along the spatial dimension. The beam is then recollimated in the spectral dimension by a second anamorphic mirror, reflects off a diffraction grating, passes through a lens, and is brought to focus on a two dimensional detector, which produces both spectral and spatial information about the object. Because there is no intermediate focus in the spatial dimension, there are no off-axis aberrations from the anamorphic mirrors, and the field of view may be substantially increased over prior art spectrometers in the spatial dimension.
Abstract:
A spectral measurement device comprising an entrance aperture for receiving an electromagnetic energy and a mask located at the entrance aperture in the form of a two-dimensional encodement pattern. An optical element conditions the electromagnetic energy received from the mask for presentation to the spectral dispersion element and the and a spectral dispersion element disperses the electromagnetic energy in one or more dimensions. Additionally, the optical element conditions the dispersed electromagnetic energy onto an array of detector elements.
Abstract:
Color measuring systems and methods are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic and receive light reflected from the surface of the object being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object being measured. Under processor control, the color measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention.
Abstract:
An interferometry system including: a first imaging system that directs a measurement beam at an object to produce a return measurement beam from the object, that directs the return measurement beam onto an image plane, and that delivers a reference beam to the image plane; and a beam combining element in the image plane, said beam combining element comprising a first layer containing an array of sagittal slits and a second layer containing an array of tangential slits, wherein each slit of the array of sagittal slits is aligned with a corresponding different slit of the array of tangential slits, wherein the beam combining element combines the return measurement beam with the reference beam to produce an array of interference beams.
Abstract:
A multi-spectrum, multi-channel imaging spectrometer includes two or more input slits or other light input devices, one for each of two or more input channels. The input slits are vertically and horizontally displaced, with respect to each other. The vertical displacements cause spectra from the two channels to be vertically displaced, with respect to each other, on a single image sensor on a stationary image plane. The horizontal displacements cause incident light beams from the respective input channels to strike a convex grating at different respective incidence angles and produce separate spectra having different respective spectral ranges. A retroflective spectrometer includes a convex grating that, by diffraction, disperses wavelengths of light at different angles and orders approximately back along an incident light beam. A single concave mirror reflects both the input channel and the dispersed spectrum. A prism, set of mirrors, beam splitters or other optical element(s) folds the input channel(s) of a spectrometer to enable the input(s) to be moved away from the plane of the image sensor, thereby enabling a large camera or other device to be attached to the spectrometer without blocking the input(s). A mounting mechanism enables a curved optical element to be adjusted through lateral and transverse translations, without requiring a gimbal mount.
Abstract:
A spectral measurement device comprising an entrance aperture for receiving an electromagnetic energy and a mask located at the entrance aperture in the form of a two-dimensional encodement pattern. An optical element conditions the electromagnetic energy received from the mask for presentation to the spectral dispersion element and the and a spectral dispersion element disperses the electromagnetic energy in one or more dimensions. Additionally, the optical element conditions the dispersed electromagnetic energy onto an array of detector elements.
Abstract:
There is provided a variable width optical slit mechanism capable of controlling the width of a slit with high accuracy in wide range of temperatures. A pair of conductive carriages is movably mounted on a conductive guide rail in the state that the carriages are not in contact with the guide rail by use of insulative rolling elements, or alternatively, a pair of conductive carriages is movably mounted on an insulative guide rail by use of conductive rolling elements. A pair of slit forming members is mounted to the pair of carriages, respectively. An elastic force is given to the carriages for energizing them such that they move toward each other, thereby to always bring the slit forming members into contact with each other to make the width of a slit zero. When a slit is formed, the carriages move away from each other against the elastic force.