Abstract: An apparatus (10) for analyzing a fluid (18) of volume V comprises—a filter (12) having a filter surface (14) or area A, the filter being capable of allowing the fluid to flow through the filter surface, the fluid's volumetric flow density, averaged over the filter surface, being jmean; and—a scanner for scanning the filter surface with a scan rate B; wherein the area A substantially coincides with an optimum area Aopt defined as Formula (I). The sum of a filtering time and a scanning time may thereby be minimized. In another aspect, an apparatus (10) comprises—a set of at least two filters, each filter in the set of filters having a filter surface of area A and being capable of allowing the fluid to flow through the filter surface, the area A having a different value for each of the filters; and—a mechanism for selecting one (12) of the filters and placing the selected filter (12) in an operating position; and—a scanner for scanning the filter surface face (14) of the selected filter (12).

Abstract: A method of determining a colour transformation for images of biological material comprises—preparing a first set (100) of biological test objects (101-105) using a first preparation method, the set comprising at least one test object;—preparing a second set (130) of biological test objects (131-135) using a second preparation method, each test object (131) in the second set of test objects corresponding to a counterpart test object (101) in the first set of test objects, the test object and its counterpart being of the same biological type of material;—for each test object (101) in the first set of test objects, determining a colour (111) of the test object, thereby generating a first set (110) of colours (111-115);—for each test object (131) in the second set of test objects, determining a colour (121) of the test object, thereby generating a second set (120) of colours (121-125),—generating a conversion table (140) indicating a mapping between the colours in the first set (110) of colours and the correspon

Abstract: The invention provides a method of determining the distortion of an imaging system (32), the imaging system having an object plane (40) and an image plane (42). The method comprises the steps of determining (204) the positions of the image light spots (46) on a sensitive area (44) of an image sensor (34) by analyzing the image data; and fitting (205) a mapping function such that the mapping function maps the lattice points of an auxiliary lattice (48) into the positions of the image light spots (46), wherein the auxiliary lattice (48) is geometrically similar to the Bravais lattice (8) of the probe light spots (6).

Abstract: A method of imaging a sample comprises the steps of: -providing S1 a reference array of spots 104, -illuminating the sample 106 with the reference array of spots 104 and acquiring S2 at least one sample image IMSi comprising a sample related array of spots 107 resulting from the reference array of spots interacting with the sample 106, -determining S3 a spot characterizing parameter for each of a plurality of sample related spots, and -constructing S4 an image of the sample IM, By plotting the spot characterizing parameter for each of the plurality of sample related spots at the respective sample related spot position.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical scanning device (10) comprising: a spot generator (20) for generating a two-dimensional array (8) of radiation spots at lattice points Pmn=mT1+nT2 (m=1 to L1, n=1 to L2) where T 1 is a first lattice vector and T2 is a second lattice vector, and scanning means for scanning a sample (26) through the array of radiation spots in a scanning direction such that the radiation spots trace essentially equidistant lines (81, 82, 83) relative to the sample. According to the invention, the angle ? between the scanning direction and the first lattice vector T1 is at most as large as the angle between the scanning direction and the second lattice vector T2, and the ratio L1/L2 is less than 0.6. According to a preferred embodiment, L1 differs from ? by less then 1.0 or L1 equals ? with a tolerance of 10% or, ? being defined by ?2 D/R=(1+?2) ?, D being the length of a lattice diagonal and R being the resolution. The invention further relates to an optical scanning method.

Abstract: A device (100) for imaging an object (101), wherein the device (100) comprises an objective lens (102) adapted to manipulate a beam of electromagnetic radiation (103) transmitted through the object (101), a collimator lens (104) adapted to manipulate the beam of electromagnetic radiation (103) transmitted through the objective lens (102), and an actuator (105) adapted for displacing the objective lens (102) in a direction essentially parallel and in a direction essentially perpendicular to a propagation direction of the beam of electromagnetic radiation (103) between the objective lens (102) and the collimator lens (104), wherein the objective lens (102) and the collimator lens (104) are arranged so that the beam of electromagnetic radiation (103) between the objective lens (102) and the collimator lens (104) is essentially parallel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of imaging a sample with a scanning microscope and an imaging system for a scanning microscope, comprising the steps of: initiating an exposure phase of a detector (34) by a pulsed laser source (12); generating an optical image of the sample on the detector with a lens system (32); and terminating the exposure phase. According to the invention, the step of generating the optical image comprises a step of displacing the optical image on the detector with an image displacement means (40) between two consecutive laser pulses. The image displacement means comprise a rotatable mirror (40) situated on an optical path from the sample (26) to the detector (34).

Abstract: An optical system for illuminating a sample with a line beam comprises a light source (24), a beam shaper (30) for transforming the beam of light emitted by the light source into an intermediate astigmatic image and an imaging system for transforming the intermediate astigmatic image into a final astigmatic image and for illuminating the sample. The beam shaper provides different non-unity magnifications in a lateral plane and in a transversal plane, and comprises a toroidal entrance surface for implementing the angular magnification and angular reduction and a toroidal exit surface with finite radii of curvature. The invention enables the use of existing beam shaping apparatus, normally used to make a light output have a more circular cross section, in combination with the imaging system, in order to provide line beam illumination of a sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spot generator (10) having: —an entrysurface (12) for receiving an incident light beam (20) and an exit surface (14) for (22, 24) transmitting the light beam, the entry surface defining an entryside (16) and the exit surface defining an exit side (18). According to the invention, the spot generator is designed to modulate the incident light beam to generate on the exit side a first plurality (22) and a second plurality (24) of separate light spots, each light spot belonging to the first plurality having a first angular spectrum and each light spot belonging to the second plurality having a second angular spectrum different than the first angular spectrum. Advantageously, the spot generator comprises a periodic binary phase structure. The invention further relates to a multi-spot scanning microscope and to a method of imaging a microscopic sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spot-generator (10) having: an entrance surface (12) for receiving an incident light beam (20) and an exit surface (14) for transmitting the light beam, the entrance surface defining an entrance side (16) and the exit surface defining an exit side (18), wherein the spot generator is designed to modulate the incident light beam to generate on the exit side a plurality of separate light spots. According to the invention, the plurality of light spots comprises a first light spot (22) generated in a first focal plane (24) and a second light spot (26) generated in a second focal plane (28), the first focal plane and the second focal plane being essentially perpendicular to the mean propagation direction of the exit light beam, and wherein the first light spot (22) differs from every other light spot generated on the exit side by the spot generator in the projection of its position on a plane essentially perpendicular to the mean propagation direction of the exit light beam.

Abstract: An optical beam shaper comprises a polarization-dependent phase adjustment member which applies a phase pattern of equal magnitude and opposite sign to two orthogonal polarization states. In a preferred embodiment the beamer shaper is a dif tractive element made of a birefringent material, such as a photo-polymerizable liquid crystal polymer frozen in a uniaxial alignment, said dif tractive element comprising a plurality of zones, each zone having a stepped thickness defining a plurality of steps. The beam shaper can be used to introduce astigmatism to a polarized light beam or to undo the astigmatism to a beam with an orthogonal polarization state. The beam shaper is advantageously used within a detection device, such as a fluorescence scanner.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating a polarized light beam to be projected onto an object plane are provided. A converging or diverging light beam (18) is generated. The converging or diverging light beam is projected through a member (22, 52) comprising an uniaxial birefringent material, the uniaxial birefringent material having a symmetry axis essentially parallel to the optical axis (12) of the light beam, and the member being placed at a distance from the object plane. Thereby, it is possible to create, for example a radially polarized beam that can be used for various optical purposes, e.g. for optical data reading/writing or for microscopy.

Abstract: In an optical scanning device (10) capable of scanning an information plane of an optical record carrier (5) of different types such as BD, DVD and CD, the diameter of the radiation spot on the detector (7) is dependent on the numerical aperture of the objective system (4) that is used for scanning the record carrier An optimal design of the optical detection system for scanning a BD, result in a small radiation spot for the other types such as DVD and CD.

Abstract: A method for radial tracking in an optical disc drive (1) is described. A DTD tracking error signal (S3) is derived from the wobble-induced signal components (WA, WB, WC, WD) of the optical detector signal (SR). This tracking error signal is relatively insensitive to beamlanding errors, and to differences in the signal amplitudes K of the output signal of individual detector segments. Further, the need for a 3-spot grating is eliminated. A distinction is made between on the one hand a situation where the track being followed is empty and on the other hand a situation where the track being followed is written. In case the track being followed is empty, a DTD tracking error signal is derived from the wobble-induced signal components of the optical detector signal, whereas, in case the track being followed is written, a DTD tracking error signal is derived from the data-induced signal components of the optical detector signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector configuration, pickup device and driving device for multi-layer record carriers, wherein main beam detector means and two pairs of side-beam detector means disposed on opposite sides of the main beam detector means are provided for suppressing crosstalk effects. As an example, the two three-spot systems obtained can be used for focus error signals and tracking error signals, respectively, wherein satellite spots can be controlled to have a desired fringe pattern either in-phase or anti-phase with that of the main beam. Besides the reduction of focusing and tracking errors, the above measure allows to reduce spacer layer thickness.

Abstract: An optical disc drive uses a tracking error signal derived from the wobble-induced signal components of the optical detector signal. This tracking error signal is relatively insensitive to beamlanding errors, and to differences in the signal amplitudes of the output signal of individual detector segments. Further, the need for a 3-spot grating is eliminated. A distinction is made between a situation where the track being followed is empty, and a situation where the track being followed is written. In case the track being followed is empty, a tracking error signal is derived from the wobble-induced signal components of the optical detector signal, whereas, in case the track being followed is written, a tracking error signal is derived from the data-induced signal components of the optical detector signal.

Abstract: Multi layer near-field optical recording using a moderate numerical aperture (NA) is superior to the high-NA (NA=2.0) first-surface single-layer technique. The use of very flat and thin spacer layers limits spherical aberration due to difference in layer depth. The thin spacer layers may have a high refractive index because their thickness allow for a relatively high absorption constant. This makes possible in principle an m-layer system, e.g. m=4, with NA=1.6 which may include a flat, protective cover layer. Further a medium for use in such a system is described.

Abstract: An optical identifier (1) can be used as a Physical Unclonable Function for producing a speckle pattern, as a response, upon being challenged with a light beam, as a challenge. This property can be used for identification of the optical identifier or of an object attached thereto, for the authentication of an information carrier or for generation of transaction keys. Since the response obtained in response to given challenge is highly sensitive to the relative position of the optical identifier, light beam source and detector for the speckle pattern, this relative position has to be accurately adjusted to reliably obtain the same response to a given challenge. To this aim, an optical identifier is proposed having an alignment area (3) for splitting an incident beam into distinct beams (6, 7) which can be detected as alignment signals (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) on a detector (8) and used for the monitoring and for the adjustment of said relative position.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a lens system. More specifically, it concerns a lens system comprising a first lens (3), a deflection element (5) and a second lens (6), wherein the deflection element (5) is arranged between the first lens (3) and the second lens (6). The deflection element comprises at least a first annular zone and a second annular zone, the annular zones being arranged in a concentric fashion and wherein the deflection angle of each annular zone is different from the deflection angle of every other annular zone. Furthermore, the present invention concerns a temperature analysis system comprising a lens system and the use of a temperature analysis system.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for scanning an information carrier. The device includes an array optical element arranged to generate an array of radiation spots from an incident radiation beam, for the scanning of the information carrier. The device further includes an aberration optical element arranged to apply a predetermined optical aberration to the radiation for correction of optical aberration in the radiation spots.