Abstract: A diffusion sheet includes a first base film, a second base film, and a shielding layer placed between the first base film and the second base film. In this case, the shielding layer includes an air gap and a pattern.

Abstract: A microscope includes an illumination system configured to illuminate a sample chamber with laser pulses. The illumination system includes a control device with stored, modifiable illumination parameters, with trigger outputs, to which at least one externally triggerable laser system is connectable in each case, and with a trigger generator configured to produce temporally successive trigger signals for triggering the at least one laser system. The microscope is configured such that an assignment of the trigger signals to the trigger outputs and/or a time interval between successive ones of the trigger signals depends on the illumination parameters.

Abstract: A localization microscope including an imaging device emitting sample light from a focal plane into an image plane, including an optical-manipulation device for depth-dependent influencing of a point-spread function of the imaging and influencing the point-spread function of the imaging such that a point emitter is imaged in the image plane into an image that is rotationally asymmetrically distorted. A form of the distortion depends on the location of the point emitter with respect to the focal plane and a wavelength of the sample light. The optical manipulation device includes first and second anisotropy elements that anisotropically influence the point spread function to produce rotational asymmetry of the point emitter image. The elements are arranged one behind the other in the imaging direction, with anisotropy axes at an angle to one another. Both elements have differing neutral wavelength at which they do not anisotropically influence the point spread.

Abstract: A method for generating and analyzing an overview contrast image of a specimen carrier and/or of specimens situated on a specimen carrier. A specimen carrier arranged at least partially in the focus of a detection optical unit is illuminated in transmitted light using a two-dimensional, array-like illumination pattern. At least two overview raw images are detected using different illuminations of the specimen carrier, and, according to information to be extracted from the overview contrast image, a combination algorithm is selected by means of which the at least two overview raw images are combined to form the overview contrast image. According to information to be extracted from the overview contrast image, an image evaluation algorithm is selected by means of which the information is extracted.

Abstract: A method for the high-resolution scanning microscopy of a specimen where the specimen is illuminated with illuminating radiation such that the illuminating radiation is focused to a diffraction-limited illuminating spot at a point in or on the specimen. The point is projected in a diffraction-limited manner in a diffraction image onto a flat panel detector having pixels. The flat panel detector, owing to the pixels thereof, have a spatial resolution which resolves a diffraction structure of the diffraction image. The point is shifted relative to the specimen into different scanning positions by an increment which is smaller than the diameter of the illuminating spot and a 3D image is generated. The pixels of the flat panel detector are divided into groups. A pre-calculated raw image is calculated for each group and are unfolded three-dimensionally to generate the image of the specimen.

Abstract: A method for high-resolution scanning microscopy of a sample, wherein the sample is illuminated with illumination light such that the illumination light is focused at a point in or on the sample into an illumination spot. The point is imaged into a diffraction image onto an area detector having detector elements. The area detector has a spatial resolution that resolves a diffraction structure of the diffraction image. The sample is here scanned line-wise in a grid made of rows and columns by displacing the point relative to the sample into different scanning positions with an increment width that is smaller than the diameter of the illumination spot. The area detector is read, and an image of the sample is generated from the data of the area detector and from the scanning positions assigned to said data, said image having a resolution that is increased beyond a resolution limit for imaging.

Abstract: An optical member driving module is provided, including a moving mechanism, a base, a suspension wire, and an electromagnetic driving mechanism for driving the moving mechanism to move relative to the base. The moving mechanism includes an optical member holder, and the base has a first surface, a second surface, and an opening. The second surface faces the optical member holder and is opposite to the first surface. The opening extends from the first surface to the second surface. The suspension wire extends through the opening, and the opposite ends of the suspension wire are respectively affixed to the first surface and the moving mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic focus system for an optical microscope that facilitates faster focusing by using at least two cameras. The first camera can be positioned in a first image forming conjugate plane and receives light from a first illumination source that transmits light in a first wavelength range. The second camera can be positioned at an offset distance from the first image forming conjugate plane and receives light from a second illumination source that transmits light in a second wavelength range.

Abstract: A microscope stage is movably mounted to a base and is movable relative to the base by two separate drive units on separate rail systems situated at an angle relative to one another. The drive units are mechanically isolated from one another and one of the drive units uses a belt drive.

Abstract: A zoom lens forms an intermediate image at a position conjugate to a reduction side imaging plane and forms the intermediate image again on a magnification side imaging plane. The zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups including at least two movable lens groups, which move by changing spacings between the groups adjacent to each other in a direction of an optical axis during zooming, at a position closer to the reduction side than the intermediate image. Among the plurality of lens groups, a final lens group closest to the reduction side has a positive refractive power, and remains stationary with respect to the reduction side imaging plane during zooming. The zoom lens satisfies predetermined conditional expressions (1) and (2) about the focal lengths of the movable lens groups.

Abstract: A head worn imaging system includes a light source configured to generate a light beam. The system also includes a light guiding optical element having a thickness between 0.1 and 1.5 mm and configured to propagate at least a portion of the light beam by total internal reflection. The system further includes an entry portion and an exit portion of the light guiding optical element configured to selectively allow light addressing the exit portion to exit the light guiding optical element based on the angle of incidence of the light, the radius of curvature of the light and/or the wavelength of the light.

Abstract: In an image acquisition device, when capturing an optical image of a sample S through lane scanning, the number of tile images T included in a tile image row R acquired in one lane is counted, and a determination is made as to whether or not the number of images reaches a planned acquisition count that is set in advance. In a case where it is determined that the number of images does not reach the planned acquisition count, lane scanning with respect to the lane is re-executed. Accordingly, even when a loss of the tile images T occurs due to an environment load, the tile images T are complemented by re-execution of the lane scanning, and thus it is possible to prevent the loss of the tile images T in an observation image.

Abstract: A holographic display method includes calculating a hologram, displaying it on a spatial light modulator (SLM) and illuminating it with coherent light. The hologram includes hologram pixels each having a hologram pixel value. The hologram is calculated using steps including: performing the inverse Fourier transform of the product of an object field and a negative quadratic phase exponential representative of positive optical power; and restricting each calculated hologram pixel value to one of a plurality (greater than two) of allowable pixel values to form a constrained hologram, which is displayed on the SLM. Each light-modulating pixel of the SLM is operable in a plurality of light-modulation levels corresponding to the plurality of allowable pixel values. The SLM is illuminated with coherent light to form a replay field including conjugate images: a real holographic reconstruction and a virtual holographic reconstruction having greater intensity than that of the real holographic reconstruction.

Abstract: An apparatus (e.g., a multi-spectral optical filter array, an optical wafer, an optical component) has an aperture mask printed directly thereon, the aperture mask including a positive or negative photoresist. The apparatus includes a substrate having the aperture mask printed on at least one of a light entrance surface or a light exit surface of the substrate so as to provide an aperture over a portion of the substrate. The photoresist from which the aperture mask is formed is photo-definable or non-photo-definable, and is deposited/printed to form the aperture mask on the substrate.

Abstract: Keeping the excitation light sheet in focus is critical in selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) to ensure its 3D imaging ability. Unfortunately, an effective method that can be used in SPIM on general biological specimens to find the axial position of the excitation light sheet and keep it in focus is barely available. Here, we present a method to solve the problem. We investigate its mechanism and demonstrate its performance on a lattice light sheet microscope.

Abstract: A holographic weapon sight with a housing that has a viewing end and an opposing target end. The viewing path is defined from the viewing end to the target end. The sight has a light source that projects a light beam along a path. The sight also has a diffractive optical element (DOE) disposed in the path of the light beam, and the DOE reconstructs an image of a reticle. The sight includes a parabolic reflector that reflects the image of the reticle. The parabolic reflector may be disposed in the viewing path such that a user views a target along the viewing path through the parabolic reflector from the viewing end.

Abstract: An optical brightness enhancement structure and a manufacturing method thereof and an electronic device are provided. The method for manufacturing an optical brightness enhancement structure includes: providing a light-transmissive carrier, and forming a buffer layer on a first surface of the light-transmissive carrier; forming a plurality of microstructures for converging light on a surface of the buffer layer away from the light-transmissive carrier; and surface energy of each of the microstructures is greater than surface energy of the buffer layer.

Abstract: A holographic display system for a portable electronic device. The display system includes a case configured to receive the portable electronic device and a projector coupled to the case by a first hinge element. The projector includes a projector screen for generating images. A reflective element is coupled to the projector by a second hinge element. The reflective element is oriented to reflect light from the images in order to create holographic images perceptible to a user of the portable electronic device. The case may include a connector for receiving, from the portable electronic device, a video signal defining the images. The holographic display system may further include a substantially transparent touch screen attached to the first hinge element.

Abstract: An optical system includes a scanning unit, a first lens-element group including at least a first lens element, and a focusing unit which is designed to focus beams onto a focus, wherein the focusing unit includes a second lens-element group including at least a second lens element and an imaging lens. The imaging lens further includes a pupil plane and a wavefront manipulator. The wavefront manipulator is arranged in the pupil plane of the imaging lens or in a plane that is conjugate to the pupil plane, or the scanning unit of the optical system is arranged in a plane that is conjugate to the pupil plane and the wavefront manipulator is arranged upstream of the scanning unit in the light direction. The focus of the second lens-element group lies in the pupil plane of the imaging lens in all focal positions of the focusing unit.

Abstract: A method and corresponding optical device to correct spherical aberration in an optical path caused by an electrically tunable lens (ETL) within the optical path. The method includes placing within the optical path and in working relationship with the ETL an aspherical correction lens dimensioned and configured to reduce spherical aberration in a light beam exiting the ETL.