Abstract: An optical microscope is provided with an aperture element 13 and an optical modulation element 14 that creates an image having the detecting sensitivity of the phase contrast imaging technique while simultaneously realizing an image having the three-dimensional sense provided by the modulation contrast imaging technique. There are four regions (two of which may have the same transmittance value and be contiguous in portions of the optical modulation element), are provided on a single optical modulation element 14, these regions including a first light absorbing region 14a having transmittance Ta, a second light absorbing region 14b having transmittance Tb and positioned adjacent to the first light absorbing region, a first light transmitting region 14c having a transmittance Tc and positioned adjacent to the first light absorbing region 14a, and a second light transmitting region 14d having a transmittance Td, wherein Ta is greater than Tb and less than Tc, Ta is less than Td, Tc is greater than 0.

Abstract: A method for improving the resolution and contrast of images associated with coherent recording is presented, which includes conventional reconstruction with a reference wave followed by re-imaging the intermediately formed image through a system based on techniques from confocal microscopy. This method provides the opportunity to bring the benefits of the optical confocal microscope, namely resolution, contrast improvement, and the accompanying three-dimensional visualization, to such diverse imaging regimes as infrared, X-ray, ultraviolet, as well as other wave propagation systems such as seismic, sonar and ultrasound imaging. In addition, through snap-shot acquisition of said coherent recordings, the capability of time resolution may be added, thus adding functionality in wavelength regions where the confocal microscope currently operates.

Abstract: A low-magnification interference microscope objective is rendered parfocal with a high-magnification objective by folding the light beam to the side of the optical axis of the objective, thereby maintaining the original optical path length while shortening the mechanical length of the objective. The beam is reflected by a mirror, causing it to travel some distance out to the side, and then it is reflected back toward the beamsplitter by an additional pair of mirrors. After a final reflection within the beamsplitter, the resulting beam is coaxial with the original optical axis, while the physical length of the objective has been substantially reduced. This approach makes it possible to obtain a desired distance from the mounting shoulder of the objective to the focal point.

Abstract: An exchangeable condenser system for a phase-contrast illuminating system (12) for microscopes has a plurality of different light rings (5), arranged on a nosepiece plate (4), assigned to the condenser optical system (6). The condenser optical system (6) can be exchanged independently of the light rings (5), the focal lengths F.sub.n of the exchangeable condenser optical systems (6) being selected relative to one another in the ratio F.sub.n =F.sub.0 *X.sup.n and the average diameters D.sub.n of the light rings (5) being selected relative to one another in the ratio D.sub.n =D.sub.0 *X.sup.n, where X>0, n=0,1,2,3, . . . .

Abstract: A spectral imaging method for simultaneous detection of multiple fluorophores aimed at detecting and analyzing fluorescent in situ hybridizations employing numerous chromosome paints and/or loci specific probes each labeled with a different fluorophore or a combination of fluorophores for color karyotyping, and at multicolor chromosome banding, wherein each chromosome acquires a specifying banding pattern, which pattern is established using groups of chromosome fragments labeled with various fluorophore or combinations of fluorophores.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for three dimensional optical microscopy is disclosed which employs dual opposing objective lenses about a sample and extended incoherent illumination to provide enhanced depth or Z direction resolution. In a first embodiment, observed light from both objective lenses are brought into coincidence on an image detector and caused to interfere thereon by optical path length adjustment. In a second embodiment, illuminating light from an extended incoherent light source is detected to the sample though both objective lenses and caused to interfere with a section of the sample by adjusting optical path lengths. Observed light from one objective lens is then recorded. In a third embodiment, which combines the first two embodiments, illuminating light from an extended incoherent light source is detected to the sample through both objective lenses and caused to interfere with a section of the sample by adjusting optical path lengths.

Abstract: A confocal optical apparatus comprising a light source, a first aperture portion for passing light emitted from the light source and obtaining a point source, an objective lens for causing the light that has passed through the first aperture portion to converge on a measurement object, a second aperture portion located on a plane conjugate with the convergence surface on the measurement object, and light detectors for detecting light that has passed through the second aperture portion, wherein placing the first and second aperture portions in the same position and using them as the same aperture portion, as well as positioning the detection surfaces of the light detectors substantially on the same surfaces as the conjointly used identical aperture portions make it possible to reduce the size and weight of the apparatus, to perform three-dimensional shape measurements rapidly and accurately, and to facilitate the alignment of each portion.

Abstract: An optical system and method for data reading in which a light source generates an optical beam directed toward an object to be read and a variable aperture mechanism positioned in the outgoing light path establishes at least two separate focal planes. The variable aperture device may comprise a variable aperture system in which the size of the aperture is selectively varied about a range within the diffractive limit of the light beam. A preferred aperture mechanism is a liquid crystal aperture with one or more aperture regions which are selectively or consecutively activated. The optical system therefore establishes two or more separate waist locations from a single light source resulting in greater depth of field or multiple depths of field.

Abstract: A broad-bandwidth interferometric device is adapted for longitudinal insertion into a cylinder cavity to produce irradiance signals at multiple vertical-scanning positions as a function of optical path differences between a reference mirror incorporated in the probe and the cylinder-wall surface. The light-source beam is passed through an objective lens placed longitudinally in the cylinder and then divided by a beam splitter disposed in fixed relation to the cylinder wall to produce a test beam directed radially to the wall and a reference beam directed axially to a reference mirror disposed in fixed relation to the lens. During scanning, the objective lens and reference mirror are translated together, while the beam splitter remains stationary with respect to the cylinder wall, thereby varying the position of the focal point of the test beam and providing the vertical-scanning effect required to produce interference fringes and a corresponding map of the tested cylinder surface.

Abstract: A high speed, high sensitivity inspection system (10) is provided, which is substantially impervious to external factors such as vibration. The inspection system is an optical system which employs phase contrast interferometry to achieve the desired results. The systems makes use of a "black beam" at the optical axis of the system, and uses at least two detectors to determine the intensity of the light beam after passing through a work piece.

Abstract: A confocal optical scanner which realizes optical scanning without nonuniformity of brightness at the inside and outside periperies of the pinhole disk by arraying the pinholes along spiral tracks at the same pitch; which allows adjustment of decentering to be readily performed by disposing pinholes so that stripes do not occur even when decentering is large; which allows more incident light to be collected at the pinholes through a plurality of collector means by disposing the pinholes at focal points of the collector means; which improves luminous utilization efficacy by reducing the illumination area of light by adopting the collector means to focus outside of the aperture pupil; which prevents decrease of confocal resolution due to pinhole diameter by causing the light reflected from the sample to not enter a collector disk; and which reduces stray light from the pinhole disk by covering non-collector portions of the collector disk with a shading film.

Abstract: Phase-contrasting elements are arranged in the viewing beam paths of a stereomicroscope to make transparent media visible with rich contrast such as in the area of ophthalmologic surgery. The phase-contrasting elements make the transparent media visible as phase objects in the amplitude contrast. The phase-contrasting elements are selected in dependence upon the light source diaphragm which is used.

Abstract: This laser scanning microscope has a second light source for emitting second light into one of branch channel waveguides, and a third photodetector for detecting a light intensity distribution formed on the end face of the trunk channel waveguide based on the second light, and a controller for controlling the voltage to be applied from a voltage application unit to electrode on the waveguide in accordance with the output signal from the third photodetector.

Abstract: An image display apparatus comprises an image display unit capable of generating and displaying a plurality of coherent point light source pairs, a light transmission unit for focusing the point light source pairs on the pupil plane of an observer's eye so that an image is formed on the retina of the eye by the effect of optical interference, a visual axis detector for monitoring the movements of the eye and detecting the visual axis direction thereof, and an image display correcting unit for restricting a distortion of the image, caused by the eye movements, within its tolerance in accordance with data detected by the visual axis detector. The image display correcting unit includes an optical member set in an optical path between the image display unit and a lens, and an optical member drive unit for tilting the optical member for a given angle in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: The contrast chamber for spotlighting bacterial colonies with respecto to their culture medium performs the automatic counting, through the use of an automatic processor connected to a reading head (7), of bacterial colonies which develop in the capsules wherein the culture takes place; additionally, it also provides for the automatic introduction of the capsules (5) inside the contrast chamber The contrast chamber is provided with lateral lighting means, using the light reflected by a reflection tube (2) and emitted by a lighting source (1) postioned above the capsule (5) which has been closed by a lid provided with an opaque disc (3). The reading head (7) is positioned under the capsule (5) and is associated to a second light source (8) which moves together with the reading head and which is inclined with respect to the surface of the capsule (5), so that the light beams do not impinge on the reading head (7).

Abstract: A high speed, high sensitivity inspection system (10) is provided, which is substantially impervious to external factors such as vibration. The inspection system is an optical system which employs phase contrast interferometry to achieve the desired results.

Abstract: A phase-contrast microscope with a quarter-wave plate in a pupil plane with a thickness of .lambda..theta./2.pi. is provided for the inspection of a phase-shifting mask. The angle .theta. and the wavelength .lambda. are adjustable to optimize the phase detection sensitivity. A similar .theta. and .lambda. optimization scheme is applied to an interference microscope assembly wherein an inspection beam is split into two beams by a beam splitter to be reflected by mirrors and then recombined at a second beam splitter. A mirror in one of the beams can be moved to change .theta. to its optimum value at a given .lambda. which can be changed by light source selection or by filter change.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing method for enhancing the digitised optical image section of a (e.g. substantially transparent biological) specimen and in a particular aspect the boundary outline of a specimen in such an image section thereof. In accordance with the invention a Nomarski image section is smoothed and a gradient of image pixel intensity determined for each pixel thereof. Thereafter each pixel of the smoothed Nomarski image which has an intensity gradient within a reference range is set to zero intensity so as to provide a processed image section.

Abstract: A high resolution optical microscope consists of an irradiation spot beam-forming mask which is disposed in a dark or a bright field, whereby a diameter of each of a plurality of irradiation spot beams onto an object to be measured is made smaller than a size of the object, beyond Rayleigh's resolution limit. In the irradiation spot beam-forming mask, a phase array is regularly disposed in a two-dimensional direction so that neighboring portions of each of the irradiation spot beams are optically phase-shifted from one another at 180.degree.. Thus, a wide observation surface and a prompt measurement can be performed with a high resolution of 0.1 .mu.m or less, far beyond Rayleigh's resolution limit.

Abstract: An illumination optical arrangement which uses a laser light source to produce a uniform illumination which is high in brightness and substantially free of interference patterns. The illumination optical arrangement includes light source means for emitting a coherent light beam, optical illuminance distribution uniformizing means for making substantially uniform the intensity distribution in a beam cross-section of illumination by the coherent light beam on a plane to be illuminated, and optical polarizing means for producing from the coherent light beam a plurality of polarized light components which are different in polarized state from each other in such a manner that wavefronts of incident light beams of the polarized light components to the optical illuminance distribution uniformizing means are inclined relative to each other whereby interference patterns produced by the polarized light components are relatively shifted in position in the illuminated plane.

Abstract: A scanning type microscope includes a coherent light source, a condenser for condensing rays of light supplied from the coherent light source on an object, and a phase member disposed between the coherent light source and the condenser, the phase member having first and second phase areas to provide a desired phase difference on the wave front of the rays of light reaching the object. The microscope further includes an objective for guiding the rays of light coming from the object, a photodetector arrangement which separately detects light from a first of two optical path areas respectively corresponding to the first phase area of the phase member and the second phase area of the phase member, and a scanning arrangement for relatively moving the object and the position at which the rays of light are condensed by the condenser. A phase pattern on the object diffracts light from the second phase area into the optical path area corresponding to the first phase area.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a microscope equipped with neutral filters adapted to the objectives thereof. These neutral filters are introduced into the imaging beam path of the particular objective in an objective turret of the microscope in order to obtain an image brightness equalization when switching the objectives. The neutral filters are arranged on respective sliders and can be easily removed from the objective turret.