Abstract: Synthetic aperture (SA) imaging methods and systems are assisted by three-dimensional (3D) beam scanning imaging, for example scanning lidar. The methods can include concurrently acquiring an SA image and a 3D scanning image of a target region, determining an elevation map of the target region from the 3D scanning image, and processing the SA image based on the elevation map to provide or enhance 3D imaging capabilities in the SA image. In some implementations, the SA image is a two-dimensional (2D) SA image and the elevation map is used to orthorectify the 2D SA image. In other implementations, the SA image is a phase-wrapped 3D SA image resulting from the combination of two or more 2D SA images and the elevation map is used to perform phase unwrapping on the phase-wrapped 3D SA image.

Abstract: An optical assembly generally having a substrate; a photonic-integrated circuit (PIC) mounted on the substrate, the PIC having a plurality of optical ports; a first structure having a bottom surface connected to the substrate, and a first planar surface extending perpendicularly to the substrate; a second structure having a second planar surface being connected to the first planar surface of the first structure via an adhesive, and a support surface; and a waveguide array having a support surface being connected to the support surface of the second structure, the waveguide array having a plurality of waveguides each defining an optical path, with the optical paths lying in a waveguide plane, the waveguide plane being perpendicular to the first and second planar surfaces, the optical paths being maintained in optical alignment with corresponding ones of the optical ports via the adhered first and second planar surfaces.

Abstract: The auto-centering of an optical element within a barrel is provided. The optical element is mounted in a cavity of the barrel. A first surface of the optical element engages a seat provided in the cavity. A retaining ring is threaded on the barrel, through complementary barrel and ring threads. The retaining ring engages a peripheral region of a second surface of the optical element, thereby securing the optical element between the seat and the retaining ring. The profile of the barrel threads and the spatial profile of the peripheral region of the second surface are selected in view of an auto-centering condition whereby any decentering of the retaining ring and a corresponding tilt of the retaining ring have counterbalancing effects on the centering of the optical element. Optical assemblies and a mounting method are provided.

Abstract: An optical component for transforming an input light beam having a Gaussian irradiance distribution into an output light sheet is provided. The optical component includes a first reflective surface extending around the central optical axis of the optical component and across an input light path of the input light beam, and reflects input light rays into transitional light rays defining a transitional light cone. A second reflective surface extends around the central optical axis and across a light path of the transitional light cone, reflecting the transitional light rays outwardly into output light rays defining the output light sheet. The first and second reflective surfaces are configured to distribute optical power within the output light sheet according to a Gaussian irradiance distribution transversally to the output light sheet. The output light sheet may be planar or conical.

Abstract: An optical assembly has an optical element mounted in the cavity of a barrel. A flexible ring is in contact with one of the surfaces of the optical element. The flexible ring has ring threads engaging barrel threads within the cavity. The flexible ring has a biased state in which the ring threads press against the barrel threads, and is resiliently deformable to a compressed state allowing screwing of the flexible ring within the cavity. In one variant, multiple subassemblies each having an optical element and a flexible ring are provided in the cavity of a barrel. The optical elements of subassemblies subsequent to the first one are supported by the flexible ring of the previous subassembly. The pressing of the ring threads against the barrel threads prevents a lateral shift of the flexible ring within the cavity, eliminating the decentering observed with conventional retaining rings.

Abstract: A composite material for sensing a chemical species in a medium is provided. The composite material includes a polymer having a glass transition temperature, a porosity promoter dispersed in the polymer in an amount such that the chemical species is transportable from the medium into the composite material at a temperature below the glass transition temperature, and a chemical indicator dispersed in the composite material, the chemical indicator providing an optical response varying with a concentration of the chemical species in the composite material.

Abstract: There is described a method for processing data generated by a synthetic aperture imaging system, comprising: receiving raw data representative of electromagnetic signals reflected by a target area to be imaged; receiving a parameter change for the synthetic aperture imaging system; digitally correcting the raw data in accordance with the parameter change, thereby compensating for the parameter change in order to obtain corrected data; and generating an image of the target area using the corrected data.

Abstract: A laser system based on nonlinear pulse compression and a LMA optical fiber therefor are provided. The LMA optical fiber is configured to amplify seed light pulses and promote the onset of nonlinear spectral broadening. The LMA optical fiber includes a first section having constant core and cladding diameters and receiving and supporting propagation of the light pulses in multiple transversal modes. The first section is configured to suppress high order modes propagating therealong. The LMA optical fiber further includes a tapered second section receiving the fundamental mode from the first section, the core and cladding diameters increasing gradually along said second section so as to provide an adiabatic transition of the fundamental mode. The LMA optical fiber further includes an optional third section having constant core and cladding diameters. Dispersive compression of the light pulses outputted by the LMA optical fiber provides excellent beam quality and high peak powers.

Abstract: A multicore optical fiber includes a cladding and multiple cores disposed in the cladding. Each core has a light-guiding path and follows a helical trajectory about a fiber axis. The multicore fiber also includes a set of discrete lateral coupling zones, which are longitudinally distributed and azimuthally aligned with respect to the fiber axis. Each lateral coupling zone forms an optical coupling path, which enables at least one of lateral in-coupling and out-coupling of light between a corresponding one of the cores and an exterior of the multicore fiber. An optical probing system for light delivery to and/or light collection from a probed region includes a multicore optical fiber to enable coupling of guided light out of the cores for delivery to the probed region and/or collection of light from the probed region for coupling into one of the cores.

Abstract: A rotary scanner is described. The rotary scanner includes a housing; a motor fixedly mounted relative to the housing; a structure mounted to the housing so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis by the motor; and a reflector assembly mounted to the structure via a pivot joint so as to be pivotable around a pivot axis between a rest angle and at least one other angle. The reflector assembly is biased to the rest angle and has a reflector plane parallel to the pivot axis. The rotary scanner also includes an optical source fixedly mounted relative to the housing and operable to emit an optical beam along the rotation axis and towards the reflector assembly during use; and a control interface allowing to control the rotation speed of the motor between a first rotation speed and at least one other rotation speed.

Abstract: Methods and systems enabling the real-time monitoring of a light-induced procedure in a biological medium, and/or the acquisition of information related to this biological medium are provided. In some implementations, the light beam used for the procedure is modulated at a modulation frequency selected in view of the photoacoustic frequency response associated with the procedure. The photoacoustic feedback signal from the medium during the procedure is then monitored. This monitoring may involve filtering the photoacoustic feedback signal around the selected feedback modulation frequency. Ratiometric comparisons of the contribution of different frequencies to the photoacoustic feedback signal are also considered.

Abstract: A particle sizing system is provided that includes an optical source generating a light beam for illuminating particles in a monitored volume, a plurality of light deflectors, each positioned to receive and deflect light scattered by the particles, and an image capture device collecting scattered light deflected by each light deflector. The image capture device outputs an image including a plurality of sub-images, each generated from the collected light deflected from a respective one of the light deflectors. Each particle is imaged as a spot in each sub-image, the plurality of spots associated with each particle corresponding to a plurality of scattering angles. The system also includes a processing unit configured to identify the spots associated with the each particle in the sub-images, compute a spot parameter associated with each spot, and determine the size of each particle from its related spot parameters. A particle sizing method is also provided.

Abstract: The coaxial cable assembly generally has a coaxial cable; and a connector assembled to an end of the coaxial cable, the connector having a dielectric body having a connecting surface, a longitudinal groove recessed in the connecting surface and having a groove end spaced from an edge of the connecting surface, and a coplanar waveguide along the connecting surface, the coplanar waveguide having a signal conductor extending from the groove end to the edge and between ground conductors each extending from a respective lateral side of the longitudinal groove to the edge; the end of the coaxial cable being received in the longitudinal groove and having an inner conductor electrically connected to the signal conductor and an outer conductor electrically connected to the ground conductors in a manner allowing connection of the coaxial cable with another coplanar waveguide of an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method for optical detection of residual soil on articles (such as medical instruments and equipment), after completion of a washing or a rinsing operation by a washer. A soil detection system provides an indication of soil on the articles by detecting luminescent radiation emanating from the soil in the presence of ambient light.

Abstract: There is described a method for processing data generated by a synthetic aperture imaging system, comprising: receiving raw data representative of electromagnetic signals reflected by a target area to be imaged; receiving a parameter change for the synthetic aperture imaging system; digitally correcting the raw data in accordance with the parameter change, thereby compensating for the parameter change in order to obtain corrected data; and generating an image of the target area using the corrected data.

Abstract: A beam conditioning device includes a coherence-breaking module and a beam transforming module. The coherence-breaking module is configured to break a spatial coherence between beam components of the light beam and may include coherence-breaking mirrors having a structured pattern on their reflective surfaces. The beam transforming module may include a primary optical element and a secondary optical element and is configured to transform the spatial energy distribution and the footprint of the light beam. The beam conditioning device may be used to transform a Gaussian light beam into a flat-top light beam suitable for terahertz imaging applications, although other initial and/or final energy distributions may be considered.

Abstract: A method for optical detection of residual soil on articles (such as medical instruments and equipment), after completion of a washing or a rinsing operation by a washer. A soil detection system provides an indication of soil on the articles by detecting luminescent radiation emanating from the soil in the presence of ambient light.

Abstract: Calibration methods use a calibration target for obtaining the intrinsic and extrinsic camera parameters of one or more cameras are. The methods can include acquiring, with each camera, a sequence of target images representing the calibration target in different target poses and at different acquisition times. The methods can include identifying reference images from the target images, and defining volume bins, angle bins and multi-camera bins into which the reference images are stored. The reference images can be used to determine the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of the one or more cameras. In some implementations, the calibration methods can enable a user to monitor the progress of the calibration process, for example by providing an interactive calibration target including an input/output user interface to guide the user in real-time during the acquisition of the target images and/or sensors to provide positional information about the target poses.

Abstract: The infrared scene projector has a support structure having an airtight chamber; an image projector secured to the support structure; a conversion chip having a substrate secured to the support structure, and an array of conversion units received on a face of the substrate, the array of conversion units being enclosed inside the airtight chamber and being optically coupled to the image projector, each one of the conversion units having at least one supporting post secured to the face of the substrate and a suspended platform held spaced apart from the face of the substrate by the at least one supporting post, the conversion chip being adapted to convert at least one of visible and near-infrared light received from the image projector into infrared radiation; and an infrared beam path extending away from the array of conversion units.

Abstract: Optical assemblies include a barrel defining a cavity having a center axis, a sleeve inserted in the cavity, one or more optical elements mounted within the sleeve and a retaining ring inserted into the cavity and securing the sleeve. The sleeve engages the barrel inner wall through a thread engagement allowing a longitudinal displacement of the sleeve within the cavity. The retaining ring is also threadably engaged within the barrel, and the profile of the corresponding threads, as well as the spatial profile of a peripheral transversal surface of the sleeve engaging the retaining ring, are selected to provide centering of the sleeve with respect to the center axis of the cavity throughout the longitudinal displacement of the sleeve.