Abstract: An optical system is for imaging a surface covered with a viscous substance using an illuminating beam having a spectral profile including an imaging waveband to which the viscous substance is transparent. The system includes a support frame, a flattening plate, a light source and a camera. The support frame has a front and a rear end, and has an abutment structure. The flattening plate is transparent to the imaging waveband, and is engageable with the viscous substance to flatten the substance into a substantially flat layer. The light source is operatively coupled to the support frame, and configured to project the illuminating beam towards the surface through the flattening plate. The camera is mounted onto the support frame, is sensitive to light in the imaging waveband, and has a field of view encompassing at least a portion of the surface illuminated by the illuminating beam.

Abstract: A method for optical detection of residual soil in lumens of lumened or cannulated devices such as surgical endoscopes, after undergoing a decontamination process (e.g., a washing or rinsing operation). A soil detection system provides an indication of the presence of residual soil within a lumen by detecting luminescent radiation emanating from the soil on the interior of the lumen in response to excitation light.

Abstract: A sun-tracking light distributor for a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid, comprising: two light distribution walls made of a transparent material, creating an elongated V-shaped channel adapted to receive the sunlight and to be partly immersed in the aqueous liquid, the sun-tracking light distributor has a center of buoyancy, a vertical passing through the center of buoyancy defines an axis of flotation, and a pivot axis of the sun-tracking light distributor is offset relative to the axis of flotation. Owing to the offset pivot axis, the orientation of the light distributor is changed by varying the level of aqueous liquid, thus allowing a tracking of the sun's altitude.

Abstract: There is described a method for remotely monitoring an exhaust plume emitted by an exhaust stack, the method comprising: determining a velocity of a flow of the exhaust plume at an output of the exhaust stack, the exhaust plume comprising one molecule; propagating a first light within the exhaust plume, the first light being propagated in close proximity to the output of the exhaust stack; detecting a second light emitted by the exhaust plume and measuring an energy of the second light, the second light resulting from an interaction of the first light with the exhaust plume; and determining a mass emission rate of the at least one molecule using the measured energy of the detected second light, the velocity, and a surface area of the exhaust plume at the output of the exhaust stack, the surface area being orthogonal to a direction of the flow of the exhaust plume.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the controlled generation of bubbles in a medium having a liquid phase are generally provided. Laser pulses having a time-dependent pulse parameter controllable over their duration are generated. The medium is irradiated with the laser pulses with a radiant exposure sufficient to initiate microcavitation within the medium during each laser pulse. The time-dependent pulse parameter of each laser pulse is controlled according to a generally positive variation over the pulse duration such that the medium absorbs a greater quantity of energy from the laser pulse at an end of the pulse duration than at a beginning thereof. Such methods and systems may be used for various applications such as biology, medicine or material processing.

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: 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: A sun-tracking light distributor system for use in an open-ended photo-bioreactor having an aqueous liquid for a photosynthetic culture, comprising: at least one light distributor each including a concentrator supporting section with a light entry surface adapted to receive sunlight rays, an elongated rod section with a light distribution surface adapted to redirect the received sunlight rays within the aqueous liquid, a light concentrating element provided at the light entry surface which concentrates within the elongated rod at least a portion of the sunlight rays received at the light entry surface; a displacement system operatively connected to the light distributors and adapted to change an orientation of the light entry surface of the light distributors to track a solar position.

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: An optical module for use in a motion responsive system includes a support and a proof mass mechanically coupled and displaceable relative to the support along at least one sensing axis in response to a motion experienced by the support. The module also includes an optical monitoring assembly for monitoring the proof mass with an optical beam impinging on the proof mass, the beam including a plurality of dedicated spectral components. The module further includes an optical spectral filter including a plurality of filtering regions, each being associated with a corresponding dedicated spectral component and having a spectral profile including a distinct dedicated filtering band encompassing the spectral component, such that a displacement of the proof mass along the at least one sensing axis produces, after filtering of the beam, a change in optical power of the spectral components indicative of the motion experienced by the support.

Abstract: Described is a method for the culture of microalgae, comprising: providing a consortium of at least two living species of microalgae; culturing under illumination the consortium in a controllable bioreactor and under non-sterile aqueous culture conditions; and controlling the culture conditions for affecting at least one of the following output: (i) flocculation and/or settling of said consortium of microalgae; and (ii) adhesion of the microalgae to surfaces of the bioreactor; wherein said culture conditions are controlled to promote (i) and/or to minimize (ii), without adversely affecting growth of the consortium of microalgae. It is also possible to control the culture conditions for affecting iii) the protein, carbohydrate, and/or fat content of the said microalgae consortium. A system for carrying out the method is also described.

Abstract: Optical fiber assemblies for filtering of higher-order modes include a winding support and an optical fiber wound along a winding path on the winding support. The optical fiber is configured to support a fundamental transverse mode and one or more higher-order transverse modes. The optical fiber has a longitudinal fiber axis, a core, a cladding surrounding the core, a transverse cross-section lacking circular symmetry, and a rotation imparted thereto about the longitudinal fiber axis. The rotation and winding of the optical fiber provide stronger attenuation of the one or more higher-order transverse modes as compared to the fundamental transverse mode. In some implementations, the winding path has a non-constant radius of curvature. In other implementations, the optical fiber has a diameter larger than 10 micrometers and at least one stress-applying part arranged in the cladding about the core. Methods perform higher-order-mode filtering.

Abstract: The active optical coupling system generally has: a photonic die having a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) waveguide element disposed thereon, the PIC waveguide element having an intermediate coupling element disposed on the PIC waveguide element; a liquid crystal refractive element (LCRE) being optically coupled to the PIC waveguide element of the photonic die via the intermediate coupling element, the LCRE having a first face for receiving light, a second face opposite the first face for outputting the received light, a liquid crystal layer between the first and second faces, and an electrode system arranged to act on the liquid crystal layer; and a controller being electrically connected to the electrode system of the LCRE and being operable to actively control the propagation of the outputted light upon action of the electrode system, said active control allowing coupling of the outputted light into the PIC waveguide element.

Abstract: There is described an optical system for sensing the surface of an object. The system comprises: a light source for emitting at least one light beam centered on the optical axis of the system; a light reflector for reflecting the at least one incident light beam to generate at least two hollow conical light beams centered on the optical axis and having different opening angles, the at least two reflected hollow conical light beams for illuminating the surface; and an image capture device for imaging the illuminated surface.

Abstract: A method for phase error correction in a synthetic aperture (SA) imaging system is configured to image a target region of a scene from a platform in relative movement with respect to the scene. The method includes acquiring target SA data from the target region and reference SA data from a reference region of the scene, using a SA acquisition unit. One or more phase correction factors are determined from the reference SA data based on an assumption that the reference region has a known topography. The phase correction factors are representative of uncompensated optical-path-length fluctuations along the optical path between the reference region and the SA acquisition unit mounted on the platform. A phase correction is applied to the target SA data based on the phase correction factors so as to obtain phase-corrected target SA data. A SA imaging system implementing the method is also disclosed.

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: An uncooled microbolometer pixel for detection of electromagnetic radiation is provided that includes a substrate, a thermistor assembly and an absorber assembly. The thermistor assembly includes a thermistor platform suspended above the substrate, one or more thermistors on the thermistor platform, and an electrode structure electrically connecting the thermistors to the substrate. The absorber assembly includes an optical absorber over the thermistor assembly and a reflector provided under and forming a resonant cavity with the optical absorber. The optical absorber is in thermal contact with the thermistors and exposed to the electromagnetic radiation. The optical absorber includes a set of elongated resonators determining an absorption spectrum of the optical absorber.

Abstract: Optical assemblies have one or more optical elements mounted in the cavity of a barrel. The optical element has a curved abutment surface engaging a seat provided in the cavity. The barrel has an inner wall provided with a set of internal threads. External threads are provided on a peripheral wall of the optical element or on a perimeter wall of a retaining ring securing the optical element within the cavity. The internal and external threads have a thread profile including a load-bearing thread face perpendicular to the center axis of the cavity. The thread profile may define a Buttress thread profile or a square thread profile.

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: A sun-tracking light distributor system for use in one of an open-ended system and a closed photo-bioreactor for a photosynthetic culture having an aqueous liquid is described. The system comprises: two light distribution walls made of a transparent material allowing sunlight to pass therethrough, the two light distribution walls creating an elongated channel with an interior space adapted to receive the sunlight and an exterior surface adapted to be partly immersed in the aqueous liquid in use; and a displacement system operatively connected to at least one of the two light distribution walls, the displacement system being adapted to change an orientation of the at least one of the two light distribution walls to track a solar position with respect to at least one axis.