Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of pieces of tomographic data indicating tomographic information on substantially the same part of a subject to be inspected, a threshold calculation unit that calculates a threshold from tomographic data associated with a target pixel for which motion contrast data is to be calculated of the plurality of pieces of tomographic data, and a pixel value calculation unit that calculates the pixel value of the target pixel of a motion contrast image based on the threshold and the motion contrast data calculated from the tomographic data associated with the target pixel.

Abstract: An ophthalmic imaging apparatus includes: a detector arranged to detect, as an interference signal, interference light resulting from returning light and reference light, the returning light being light from an object to be inspected to which measurement light is radiated, the reference light corresponding to the measurement light; a converter arranged to convert the detected interference signal that is an analog signal to a digital signal; and an arithmetic processing unit configured to generate a tomographic image of the object to be inspected by using the converted interference signal. The arithmetic processing unit uses a plurality of components obtained from the converted interference signal to generate the tomographic image, the plurality of components including a component having a frequency higher than a Nyquist frequency of the converter and a component having a frequency lower than the Nyquist frequency of the converter.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that processes an image generated using at least one item of three-dimensional tomographic data out of a plurality of items of three-dimensional tomographic data obtained by conducting a plurality of optical coherence tomography scans of a subject at different times using measuring light controlled to scan a same position of the subject includes: a front image generating unit configured to generate a front image of the subject using the at least one item of three-dimensional tomographic data; a motion contrast image generating unit configured to generate a motion contrast image of the subject using the plurality of items of three-dimensional tomographic data; and a display control unit configured to display the front image on a display unit before displaying the motion contrast image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a converter configured to convert an analog signal obtained from detected interference light into a digital signal and a clock generator configured as an interferometer including an optical path through which part of light emitted from a light source passes, the optical path being split into a first optical path and a second optical path having an optical path length difference therebetween, to generate a clock used by the converter sampling the analog signal at a frequency corresponding to the optical path length difference. The converter includes n A/D converters, n being an integer of at least 2, and is configured to change phases of n clocks obtained from the clock to produce a phase difference therebetween, and to generate a clock having an n-times frequency from the n clocks and n analog signals obtained from the analog signal using the n A/D converters.

Abstract: An ophthalmic imaging apparatus that captures a tomographic image of an subject's eye based on light obtained by combining a return light with a reference light, the return light being from the subject's eye when irradiated with a measurement light, the reference light corresponding to the measurement light includes a first optical fiber disposed in an optical path of the reference light and including a light guide portion for guiding the reference light, and a second optical fiber disposed in an optical path of the measurement light and including a light guide portion for guiding the measurement light, wherein a diameter of each of the light guide portions of ejection ends of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber is larger than a diameter of a light guide portion in a position different from a position of each of the ejection ends.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processor that acquires a plurality of sets of tomographic signals acquired by an image sensor, and generates a representative value in each pixel position of the tomographic image, using the plurality of sets of tomographic signals, and generates the tomographic image with the representative value in each pixel position as a pixel value by determining a target region in which contrast is reduced in the tomographic image, using at least one set of tomographic signals, out of the plurality of sets of tomographic signals, and estimating an estimation value, in each pixel position of the target region, by performing statistical processing on a plurality of tomographic signals corresponding to the pixel position, out of the plurality of sets of tomographic signals. The tomographic image is generated with the estimation value as the representative value in the target region.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of pieces of tomographic data indicating tomographic information on substantially the same part of a subject to be inspected, a threshold calculation unit that calculates a threshold from tomographic data associated with a target pixel for which motion contrast data is to be calculated of the plurality of pieces of tomographic data, and a pixel value calculation unit that calculates the pixel value of the target pixel of a motion contrast image based on the threshold and the motion contrast data calculated from the tomographic data associated with the target pixel.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that processes an image generated using at least one item of three-dimensional tomographic data out of a plurality of items of three-dimensional tomographic data obtained by conducting a plurality of optical coherence tomography scans of a subject at different times using measuring light controlled to scan a same position of the subject includes: a front image generating unit configured to generate a front image of the subject using the at least one item of three-dimensional tomographic data; a motion contrast image generating unit configured to generate a motion contrast image of the subject using the plurality of items of three-dimensional tomographic data; and a display control unit configured to display the front image on a display unit before displaying the motion contrast image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that processes a tomographic image generated by using tomographic signals acquired by subjecting a subject to optical coherence tomographic imaging, includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire the tomographic signals, and a generation unit configured to generate a tomographic image based on a representative value in each pixel position of the tomographic image, generated by using the tomographic signals, the generation unit includes a region determination unit configured to determine a target region where contrast is reduced in the tomographic image, by using tomographic signals, and an estimation unit configured to estimate an estimation value, by performing statistical processing on tomographic signals corresponding to a pixel position of the tomographic image out of the tomographic signals, and the generation unit generates the tomographic image with the estimation value as the representative value in the target region.

Abstract: An ophthalmic imaging apparatus that captures a tomographic image of an subject's eye based on light obtained by combining a return light with a reference light, the return light being from the subject's eye when irradiated with a measurement light, the reference light corresponding to the measurement light includes a first optical fiber disposed in an optical path of the reference light and including a light guide portion for guiding the reference light, and a second optical fiber disposed in an optical path of the measurement light and including a light guide portion for guiding the measurement light, wherein a diameter of each of the light guide portions of ejection ends of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber is larger than a diameter of a light guide portion in a position different from a position of each of the ejection ends.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a converter configured to convert an analog signal obtained from detected interference light into a digital signal and a clock generator configured as an interferometer including an optical path through which part of light emitted from a light source passes, the optical path being split into a first optical path and a second optical path having an optical path length difference therebetween, to generate a clock used by the converter sampling the analog signal at a frequency corresponding to the optical path length difference. The converter includes n A/D converters, n being an integer of at least 2, and is configured to change phases of n clocks obtained from the clock to produce a phase difference therebetween, and to generate a clock having an n-times frequency from the n clocks and n analog signals obtained from the analog signal using the n A/D converters.

Abstract: A surface emitting laser is provided which requires a smaller number of components, and which can reduce the cost. A surface emitting laser includes a cavity constituted by a first reflecting mirror and a second reflecting mirror, and having a resonant wavelength that is changed by changing a cavity length with movement of the first reflecting mirror in a direction facing the second reflecting mirror. The surface emitting laser further includes an active layer arranged in the cavity and emitting light, a third reflecting mirror arranged on the opposite side of the active layer with respect to the second reflecting mirror, and a light receiving element arranged to receive light passing through the third reflecting mirror.

Abstract: A surface emitting laser having a mesa structure includes an off-orientation substrate, a bottom reflection mirror, an active layer, a current confinement layer, a top reflection mirror, and a surface-relief structure. The central axis of a high-reflectivity region of the surface-relief structure and the central axis of the mesa structure do not coincide with each other.

Abstract: A surface-emitting laser that can prevent delamination at the interface of a selective oxidation layer and a spacer layer, while suppressing any rise of voltage, to improve the reliability of operation.

Abstract: An optical filter that transmits light of the visible light region includes a dielectric substrate; a dielectric layer that is formed on a surface of the dielectric substrate; and a first metal structure group in which a plurality of first metal structures are arranged two-dimensionally in an isolated state in the in-plane direction of the dielectric substrate, that is provided between the dielectric substrate and the dielectric layer, comprising: the first metal structures having first and second lengths in first and second directions orthogonal to each other, which lengths are equal to or less than a first wavelength in the visible light region; and a transmittance of the first wavelength being reduced or a reflectance being increased by surface plasmons induced on a surface of the first metal structures by resonance between light incident on the dielectric substrate or the dielectric layer and the first metal structures.

Abstract: A surface emitting laser includes a first laser, and a second laser, wherein each of the first laser and the second laser includes a light resonant cavity including a pair of reflecting mirrors, and a semiconductor layer configured to emit light and arranged inside the light resonant cavity, an oscillation wavelength of light varied by displacing a location of the reflecting mirror in a thickness direction of the semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layer is shared by the first laser and the second laser, the first laser has a resonant cavity length for oscillating with (n+1)th order (n is an integer of 1 or more) of a longitudinal mode, the second laser has a resonant cavity length for oscillating with nth order of a longitudinal mode, and respective wavelength bands of light oscillated by the first laser the second laser are different.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a surface-emitting laser capable of preventing characteristics fluctuations within the plane and among wafers and oscillating in a single fundamental transverse mode. The method includes after performing selective oxidation: exposing a bottom face of a surface relief structure by etching a second semiconductor layer with a first semiconductor layer where a pattern of the surface relief structure has been formed as an etching mask and a third semiconductor layer as an etching stop layer; and exposing a top face of the surface relief structure by etching the first semiconductor layer where the pattern of the surface relief structure has been formed, with the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer as etching stop layer.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor optical integrated device, formed by arranging a light emitting element and a light detecting element in a plane of the same substrate, each formed by laminating layers which at least include a first clad layer of a first conductive type, an active layer and a second clad layer of a second conductive type on a substrate, wherein the active layer has a structure where a second active area of a conductive type and an undoped first active area are laminated, and the second active area has the same conductive type as that of the first or second clad layer laminated in the closest position to the second active area. This device suppresses heat generation due to increased operating current and unnecessary light generation at an operation of the light emitting element, and enhancing light absorption efficiency at the an operation of the light emitting element.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a surface-emitting laser capable of preventing characteristics fluctuations within the plane and among wafers and oscillating in a single fundamental transverse mode. The method includes after performing selective oxidation: exposing a bottom face of a surface relief structure by etching a second semiconductor layer with a first semiconductor layer where a pattern of the surface relief structure has been formed as an etching mask and a third semiconductor layer as an etching stop layer; and exposing a top face of the surface relief structure by etching the first semiconductor layer where the pattern of the surface relief structure has been formed, with the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer as etching stop layer.

Abstract: An optical filter that transmits light of the visible light region includes a dielectric substrate; a dielectric layer that is formed on a surface of the dielectric substrate; and a first metal structure group in which a plurality of first metal structures are arranged two-dimensionally in an isolated state in the in-plane direction of the dielectric substrate, that is provided between the dielectric substrate and the dielectric layer, comprising: the first metal structures having first and second lengths in first and second directions orthogonal to each other, which lengths are equal to or less than a first wavelength in the visible light region; and a transmittance of the first wavelength being reduced or a reflectance being increased by surface plasmons induced on a surface of the first metal structures by resonance between light incident on the dielectric substrate or the dielectric layer and the first metal structures.