Abstract: A wavefront sensor includes a mask and a sensor utilized to capture a diffraction pattern generated by light incident to the mask. A reference image is captured in response to a plane wavefront incident on the mask, and another measurement image is captured in response to a distorted wavefront incident on the mask. The distorted wavefront is reconstructed based on differences between the reference image and the measurement image.

Abstract: A plasmonic sensor with gradient nanostructures and a method of use thereof is provided. The gradient of shapes will induce different spectral responses at different region of the sensor and show different colors. When there is a change in the environment properties of a substance, such as refractive index, gas concentration or ion density changes, the sensor displays different images, e.g., redial intensity displays and radial color displays. An image recognition based method can be used to extract the environment property with high accuracy according to the sensor image.

Abstract: Compact spectrometer modules include an illumination channel and a detection channel. The illumination channel includes an illumination source operable to generate a broad spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. The detection channel includes an illumination detector and a Fabry-Perot component. The Fabry-Perot component is operable to pass a narrow spectrum of wavelengths to the illumination detector. Further, the Fabry-Perot component can be actuatable such that the Fabry-Perot component is operable to pass a plurality of narrow spectrums of wavelengths to the illumination detector.

Abstract: There is provided an optical loss testing system for multi-fiber array cables an optical loss test method and a reference method therefor which overcomes at least part of the multi-powermeter uncertainty. A prior calibration step serves to characterize the relative difference in optical power response of the multiple power meters. This relative difference can then be used to correct the optical loss measurement so as to eliminate its effect.

Abstract: A bio-chip package comprises a substrate a first layer over the substrate comprising an image sensor. The bio-chip package also comprises a second layer over the first layer. The second layer comprises a waveguide system a grating coupler. The bio-chip package also comprises a third layer arranged to accommodate a fluid between a first-third layer portion and a second-third layer portion, and to allow the fluid to pass from a first side of the third layer to a second side of the third layer. The third layer comprises a material having a predetermined transparency with respect to a wavelength of a received source light, the waveguide system is configured to direct the received source light to the grating coupler, and the image sensor is configured to determine a change in the wavelength of the source light caused by a coupling between the source light and the fluid.

Abstract: A spectrometer is provided which comprises a Virtually Imaged Phased Array member configured to receive an electromagnetic input radiation and to generate an electromagnetic output radiation, in which a spectrum of the electromagnetic output radiation is dispersed along a dispersion axis (x) transverse to an optical axis (z) of propagation of the electromagnetic output radiation; a Fourier lens adapted to convert the output electromagnetic radiation into a spectral pattern; an image sensor adapted to detect the spectral pattern; and at least one diffraction mask arranged along the optical axis (z) for propagating the output electromagnetic radiation, in a position not coincident with a spectral plane of the spectrometer. Through the diffraction mask, which comprises a material blocking the transmission of the output electromagnetic radiation, an aperture is obtained which allows the transmission of the output electromagnetic radiation, and whose edge comprises at least one inclined segment.

Abstract: An ATR scanner and method for calibrating the same are disclosed. The scanner includes an ATR objective having a reflecting face and an optical port adapted to receive a first light beam, and to focus the first light beam to a point, at a location on the reflecting face such that the first light beam is reflected by the reflecting face and no portion of the first light beam strikes the reflecting face at an angle greater than the critical angle. A detector measures an intensity of light reflected from the reflecting face. A controller controls the location of the focal point and determines an intensity of light that was incident on the reflecting face as a function of the position on the reflecting face and an intensity of light that was reflected from the reflecting face as a function of position on the reflecting face.

Abstract: (Object) To enable to provide a small-scale and low-cost spectrometer (Means of Achieving the Object) A spectrometer includes: a light incidence unit configured to allow incidence of light from outside; a diffraction grating configured to disperse, according to wavelength, the light that is incident through the light incidence unit; and a reflection unit including a reflection surface for reflecting the light that has been dispersed according to wavelength by the diffraction grating. Tilt of the reflection surface is changeable.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical filter. The optical filter comprises first and second optical elements, and one or more expansion elements. The first and second optical elements are arranged along a common axis, each terminates in a flat surface perpendicular to the axis. The flat surfaces are separated by a gap having a width d, such that the flat surfaces form a Fabry-Perot etalon and light is transmittable along an optical path through the elements and the etalon. The one or more expansion elements are connected to the optical elements, located outside the optical path and extend parallel to the axis with a length greater than the width of the gap.

Abstract: An optical fiber interrogator for interrogating optical fiber that includes fiber Bragg gratings (“FBGs”). The interrogator includes a light source operable to emit phase coherent light, amplitude modulation circuitry optically coupled to the light source and operable to generate pulses from the light, and control circuitry communicatively coupled to the amplitude modulation circuitry that is configured to perform a method for interrogating the optical fiber. The method includes generating a pair of light pulses by using the amplitude modulation circuitry to modulate light output by the light source without splitting the light.

Abstract: A method for detecting coherent light that includes configuring a spatial interferometer, receiving the coherent light through the spatial interferometer, and disposing a photo detector adjacent to the spatial interferometer. The spatial interferometer is configured such that a coherent light passing through the spatial interferometer interferes with itself. The interference of the coherent light with itself creates a light fringe. The light fringe projects onto the photo detector. The photo detector has an array of pixels operable to detect an intensity of coherent light. The array of pixels provides a plurality of outputs corresponding to coherent light received by discrete pixels of the array of pixels. The method includes determining an interference pattern of the light fringe based on the plurality of outputs of the array of pixels, and determining one or more wavelengths of the coherent light from the interference pattern.

Abstract: An optically detectable marker having a matrix material, which is doped with individual luminescent dopants, including a first luminescent dopant and a second luminescent dopant. The first luminescent dopant includes a first unique absorption band such that the first dopant may be excited by illumination of a first wavelength. The first dopant is distributed in the matrix material so as to form a first spatial pattern in the matrix material, which pattern may be optically detected by illuminating the marker by a light source illuminating light of the first wavelength. The second luminescent dopant includes a second unique absorption band such that the second dopant may be excited by illumination of a second wavelength, different from the first. The second dopant is distributed in the matrix material so as to form a second spatial pattern in the matrix material, which pattern may be optically detected by illuminating the marker by a light source illuminating light of the second wavelength.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring one or more properties of a sample are disclosed. The methods and systems can include multiplexing measurements of signals associated with a plurality of wavelengths without adding any signal independent noise and without increasing the total measurement time. One or more levels of encoding, where, in some examples, a level of encoding can be nested within one or more other levels of encoding. Multiplexing can include wavelength, position, and detector state multiplexing. In some examples, SNR can be enhanced by grouping together one or more signals based on one or more properties including, but not limited to, signal intensity, drift properties, optical power detected, wavelength, location within one or more components, material properties of the light sources, and electrical power. In some examples, the system can be configured for optimizing the conditions of each group individually based on the properties of a given group.

Abstract: The present inventive concepts comprises linearly polarizing light, splitting the linearly polarized light into a first light and a second light, modulating the first light and the second light to have a phase difference to produce an output wave light, converting the output wave light to have a linear shape in a first direction to radiate the converted output wave light to a measured object, receiving a measurement light coming out of the measured object and linearly polarizing the first light and the second light of the measurement light to generate an interference light, and obtaining from the interference light an image of the measured object. The measured object can be scanned in a second direction intersecting the first direction or may be scanned rotationally about an axis in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and system for characterization and compression of ultrashort pulses. It is described a flexible self-calibrating dispersion-scan technique and respective system to characterize and compress ultrashort laser pulses over a broad range of pulse parameters, where previous knowledge of the amount of dispersion introduced for each position or step of the compressor is not required. The self-calibrating d-scan operation is based on the numerical retrieval of the spectral phase of the pulses using an optimization algorithm, where the spectral phase is treated as a multi-parameter unknown variable, and where the unknown dispersion of the dispersion scanning system is described by a theoretical model of its functional dependence on the compressor position.

Abstract: Interleaved data acquisition in optical spectroscopy is used to provide interference correction for time-varying interference. Measurements at a reference frequency are used to provide an estimate of the interference. These reference measurements are interleaved with the remaining measurements in order to provide estimates of the interference vs. time at relevant times. The interference being corrected can be spectrally structured or unstructured.

Abstract: A data collection device for attachment to an injection device, such as an injector pen, includes a sensor arrangement to detect movement of a movable component of the injection device relative to the data collection device during delivery of a medicament by the injection device, and a processor arrangement configured to, based on said detected movement, determine a medicament dosage administered by the injection device. The processor arrangement may monitor the time that has elapsed since the medicament dosage was administered, and control a display to show the medicament dosage and elapsed time to provide a memory aid to the user. In an example embodiment, the sensor arrangement includes an optical encoder and the movable component includes a plurality of light barrier formations. The movable component may be a number sleeve that provides a visual indication of a dose programmed into the injection device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a distributed optical fibre sensing system in which the sensor fibre comprises at least first and second waveguides used for separate sensing operations. The sensor fibre may be, for example, a double clad fibre having a monomode core and a multimode inner cladding.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an all-digital phase and timing correction procedure for coherent averaging in dual-comb and multiheterodyne spectroscopy—applicable to any dual-comb spectroscopy setup. It can account for large frequency/phase instabilities of the used sources, yielding a significant reduction of the noise pedestal and an increase in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the radio frequency (RF) beat notes. This technique is computationally efficient and can be conveniently implemented either as a post-processing algorithm or in a real-time data acquisition and processing platform without the necessity of adding any additional optical elements to the dual-comb spectroscopy system. By implementing this technique, the performance of any comb- or comb-like-source-based DCS system with a sufficient degree of mutual coherence between the optical modes can be improved in terms of SNR and number of spectroscopically-usable RF beat notes.

Abstract: An exemplary optical apparatus has an OCT imaging apparatus with a first light source for low coherence light of wavelengths above a threshold wavelength and a signal detector that obtains an interference signal between low coherence light from the sample and low coherence light reflected from a reference. A surface contour imaging apparatus has a second light source that emits one or more wavelengths of surface illumination below the threshold wavelength, a camera to acquire images from illumination reflected from the sample. The exemplary optical apparatus and/or exemplary methods for using the same can provide reduced errors in generating a dental 3D surface mesh.