Illuminator Patents (Class 359/385)
  • Patent number: 11933960
    Abstract: A microscope system includes: at least one microscope component with electrically adjustable component parameters; a controller for generating electrical signals and transmitting the electrical signals to the at least one microscope component to set the electrically adjustable component parameters; and a computer having at least one display unit, the computer generating an input unit having a graphical user interface on the at least one display unit, at least three setting parameters being adjustable by the graphical user interface. The input unit has an input pointer that is positionable in an input area so as to set a respective value for the at least three setting parameters. A coordinate axis is defined in the input area for each of the at least three setting parameters, with at least one coordinate axis not being perpendicular to another coordinate axis. Values of the at least three setting parameters are determined by the coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Wittke, Patric Pelzer
  • Patent number: 11927533
    Abstract: A multi-mode illumination system, including: a first illumination module; a second illumination module; and a third illumination module, as disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Essenlix Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Qi, Stephen Y. Chou, Wei Ding
  • Patent number: 11920921
    Abstract: An orientation characteristic measurement system (1) includes an irradiation optical system (5), a detection optical system (11), a light detector (13), a rotation mechanism (9) changing an angle (?) between a surface of the sample and an optical axis (L2) of the detection optical system (11), and a computer (15), and the computer (15) includes a rotation mechanism control unit (32) controlling the rotation mechanism (9), a distribution acquisition unit (34) normalizing an angle-dependent distribution of light intensity to acquire an angle-dependent distribution of light intensity, an area specifying unit (35) specifying light intensity in a maximum area on the basis of the angle-dependent distribution of the light intensity, and a parameter calculation unit (36) calculating the orientation parameter (S) on the basis of a linear relationship determined using the film thickness and refractive index of the sample and the light intensity in the maximum area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Kiyotada Hosokawa, Shigeru Eura
  • Patent number: 11910107
    Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus including a multi-band pass filter that selectively transmits band light in a specific band, a color filter that transmits the band light in the specific band per pixel of an image pickup device, the image pickup device that receives light transmitted by the multi-band pass filter and the color filter, and a signal processing section to which a pixel value of the image pickup device is input and which executes a signal process on the pixel value. The multi-band pass filter is configured to selectively transmit band light corresponding to a plurality of color filter elements, and the signal processing section generates a pixel value corresponding to a band, of a pixel to be processed using a raw image base pixel value signal per pixel and a spectral characteristic parameter of the image pickup apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masatoshi Takashima
  • Patent number: 11893719
    Abstract: A single-shot differential phase contrast quantitative phase imaging method based on color multiplexing illumination. A color multiplexing illumination solution is used to realize single-shot differential phase contrast quantitative phase imaging. In the single-shot color multiplexing illumination solution, three illumination wavelengths of red, green, and blue are used to simultaneously illuminate a sample, and the information of the sample in multiple directions is converted into intensity information on different channels of a color image. By performing channel separation on this color image, the information about the sample at different spatial frequencies can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Qian Chen, Yao Fan, Chao Zuo, Jiasong Sun, Xiangpeng Pan, Shijie Feng, Yuzhen Zhang, Guohua Gu, Jiaji Li, Jialin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11885950
    Abstract: A light source module for a microscope, including a light source configured to emit illumination light along an illumination light path, at least one light blocking shutter configured to be moved into and out of the illumination light path, and at least one light sensor configured to detect an intensity of the illumination light propagating along the illumination light path. The at least one light sensor is integrated with the at least one light blocking shutter to be moved therewith into and out of the illumination light path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Weber
  • Patent number: 11885951
    Abstract: Disclosed is a module for efficiently exciting and detecting fluorescence. In a disclosed preferred embodiment, excitation lamp modules with multiple solid-state light sources shone at different oblique angles, such that multiple-beams converge in a single plane, are combined with appropriate emission filters that block the excitation light wavelengths while passing the emission wavelengths. A multitude of such modules can be combined on a slider with precise registration via a mating structure, and can be accurately positioned in front of an observation point, such as a microscope's objective lens, external to the microscope, via a novel magnetic detent system, allowing for the rapid switching between the analysis of different fluorophores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Andrew Papp
  • Patent number: 11880026
    Abstract: A microscope, which includes a color splitter that is reflective to excitation radiation, can switch between a first and a second operating mode. A first apparatus can introduce a first cylindrical optical element into the excitation beam path between a light source and the color splitter, when the microscope is in the first operating mode, and a second apparatus can introduce a second cylindrical optical element into the excitation beam path between the color splitter and a scanning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY GMBH
    Inventors: Tiemo Anhut, Daniel Schwedt, Matthias Wald, Thomas Mehner
  • Patent number: 11860351
    Abstract: Examples relate to an illumination system for a microscope system, and to a system, method and computer program for a microscope system. The illumination system includes an illumination module for providing a spatially modulated illumination of a sample. The illumination system further includes one or more processors configured to determine a depth characteristic of the sample. The one or more processors is configured to control the illumination module based on the depth characteristic of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Gao Yang
  • Patent number: 11774739
    Abstract: A method for regulating a light source of a microscope that illuminates an object, said method including specifying an intended value of an energy parameter of illumination radiation on the object; producing illumination radiation; providing an objective for focusing illumination radiation onto the object; ascertaining a transmission property of the objective for the illumination radiation; output coupling a component of the illumination radiation upstream of the objective as measurement radiation and measuring an actual value of the energy parameter of the measurement radiation; providing a relationship between energy parameters of the measurement radiation and energy parameters of the illumination radiation on the object, and setting the light source in such a way that the actual value of the energy parameter measured for the measurement radiation corresponds to the intended value of the energy parameter according to the relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Gögler, Thomas Ohrt
  • Patent number: 11774738
    Abstract: A Raman analysing apparatus comprises an imaging optical system for imaging an object along an optical path to an optical detector, an irradiation optical system for illuminating the object, and a scanning device comprising a spinning pinhole disk. The irradiation optical system directs light onto the scanning device to illuminate the object at a plurality of illumination points. The imaging optical system images Raman scattered light emitted from the object at the illumination points to an intermediate image plane at which the scanning device is located. The imaging optical system may include a spectral filter and/or at least one optical spectral analyser. The apparatus enables high speed confocal Raman imaging and/or high speed confocal Raman spectography to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ANDOR TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Colm Dennis
  • Patent number: 11709137
    Abstract: A light sheet fluorescence microscope includes a light source configured to emit excitation light suitable for inducing fluorescent light emitted from a specimen, a detector configured to detect the fluorescent light from the specimen, and an optical system configured to illuminate the specimen with a light sheet formed from the excitation light, and to guide the fluorescent light from the illuminated specimen to the detector. The optical system includes an objective facing the specimen, the objective being configured to collect the fluorescent light emitted from the specimen. The light source is further configured to emit manipulation light suitable for photomanipulating the specimen. The optical system is further configured to direct the manipulation light through a spatially limited sub-area of an entrance pupil of the objective onto the specimen along a light propagation direction which is different from a light propagation direction of the light sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventor: Florian Fahrbach
  • Patent number: 11703670
    Abstract: An optical assembly in a laser scanning microscope, having an optical scanning unit providing a first pupil plane, a first beam deflecting device, made of a first scanner arranged on the first pupil plane, for scanning excitation radiation in a first coordinate direction, a first focusing device generating a second pupil plane, optically conjugated to the first pupil plane, and a second beam deflecting device for deflecting the excitation radiation. The second deflecting device is arranged on the second pupil plane. A second focusing device to generate a third pupil plane, is optically conjugated to the first pupil plane and the second pupil plane. A third beam deflecting device is arranged on the third pupil plane, and a variable beam deflecting device is provided to switch an optical beam path between a first beam path and a second beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY GMBH
    Inventors: Tiemo Anhut, Matthias Wald, Daniel Schwedt, Tobias Kaufhold
  • Patent number: 11698519
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Akira Takahashi, Takayuki Kawashima, Jinichi Susuki
  • Patent number: 11668916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a beam manipulation device for a scanning microscope, comprising a main colour splitter for coupling excitation light into an illumination beam path and for separating excitation light from detection light of a detection beam path, said device comprising a scanner, preferably positioned on a pupil plane, for scanning the excitation light. The device is characterised in that: an additional optical section is provided comprising optical elements which influence a beam path; at least one pupil plane and/or at least one intermediate image plane is formed in the additional optical section by the optical elements which influence the beam path; and an adjustable selection device is provided for activating either a first beam segment of the illumination and/or detection beam path, or the additional optical section, wherein the first beam segment of the illumination and/or detection beam path does not contain a pupil plane of the illumination and/or detection beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Wald, Tiemo Anhut
  • Patent number: 11663703
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes a specimen stage, one or more imaging devices and a set of lights, all controllable by a control system. By translating or rotating the one or more imaging devices or specimen stage, the inspection apparatus can capture a first image of the specimen that includes a first imaging artifact to a first side of a reference point and then capture a second image of the specimen that includes a second imaging artifact to a second side of the reference point. The first and second imaging artifacts can be cropped from the first image and the second image respectively, and the first image and the second image can be digitally stitched together to generate a composite image of the specimen that lacks the first and second imaging artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Nanotronics Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Putman, John B. Putman, John Moffitt, Michael Moskie, Jeffrey Andresen, Scott Pozzi-Loyola, Julie Orlando
  • Patent number: 11644657
    Abstract: A laser beam delivery apparatus for a microscope comprises first and second optical diffusers that are configured to move in a periodic manner with a respective different frequency. Each optical diffuser may comprise a spinning disk. The laser light is spatially randomized by the first spinning diffuser and its spatial pattern is further randomized by the second diffuser. The second diffuser prevents any spatial pattern from repeating after one revolution of the first diffuser, which prevents beating patterns from forming when the light is imaged through a spinning confocal disk and increases the uniformity in other cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Andor Technology Limited
    Inventor: David Cooper
  • Patent number: 11633805
    Abstract: A system comprising a beam source (110) and an optical system (304) comprising first and second portions. The system further comprises first and second torque motors integrated into respective ones of the first and second portions, The first torque motor (420) is configured to rotate first portion (416) around a first axis (434). The second torque motor (426) is configured to rotate second portion (418) around a second axis (436). The first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Heiko Kiessling, Florian Spaeth, Ralf Joachim Terbrueggen
  • Patent number: 11604341
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed whereby structured illumination microscopy (SIM) is applied to a scanning microscope, such as a confocal laser scanning microscope or sample scanning microscope, in order to improve spatial resolution. Particular aspects of the disclosure relate to the discovery of important advances in the ability to (i) increase light throughput to the sample, thereby increasing the signal/noise ratio and/or decreasing exposure time, as well as (ii) decrease the number of raw images to be processed, thereby decreasing image acquisition time. Both effects give rise to significant improvements in overall performance, to the benefit of users of scanning microscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Georgiadis, Francis J. Deck
  • Patent number: 11562584
    Abstract: Systems and methods herein provide improved, high-throughput multiphoton imaging of thick samples with reduced emission scattering. The systems and methods use structured illumination to modify the excitation light. A reconstruction process can be applied to the resulting images to recover image information free of scattering. The disclosed systems and methods provide high throughput, high signal-to-noise ratio, and high resolution images that are depth selective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jong Kang Park, Dushan Wadduwage, Yi Xue, Elly Nedivi, Peter T. C. So, Christopher Rowlands, Kalen Berry
  • Patent number: 11530990
    Abstract: This disclosure includes an imaging system that is configured to image in parallel multiple focal planes in a sample uniquely onto its corresponding detector while simultaneously reducing blur on adjacent image planes. For example, the focal planes can be staggered such that fluorescence detected by a detector for one of the focal planes is not detected, or is detected with significantly reduced intensity, by a detector for another focal plane. This enables the imaging system to increase the volumetric image acquisition rate without requiring a stronger fluorescence signal. Additionally or alternatively, the imaging system may be operated at a slower volumetric image acquisition rate (e.g., that of a conventional microscope) while providing longer exposure times with lower excitation power. This may reduce or delay photo-bleaching (e.g., a photochemical alteration of the dye that causes it to no longer be able to fluoresce), thereby extending the useful life of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventor: Reto P. Fiolka
  • Patent number: 11506877
    Abstract: Light Sheet Theta (LS-0) Microscopy achieves large sample imaging capabilities without affecting the imaging depth or the image quality. An optical layout places a detection objective normal to the sample surface, while placing the illumination objectives that generate light sheets at an angle (theta) significantly smaller than 90 degrees. In this configuration, the light sheets enter from same side of the sample as the detection objective. The intersection of the light-sheet and the detection focal plane results in a line illumination-detection profile that is discriminated by a camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventor: Raju Tomer
  • Patent number: 11487095
    Abstract: An optical microscope device includes: a first illumination optical system including a light source that emits illumination light for illuminating a specimen an LCOS spatial light modulation element that controls a polarization state of the illumination light, a first illumination optical member that uniformly illuminates the LCOS spatial light modulation element, and a polarization optical element that controls a transmission state of the illumination light directed to the specimen from the LCOS spatial light modulation element in response to the polarization state of the illumination light; a second illumination optical system including a second illumination optical member that images a light flux from the first illumination optical system on a specimen surface; and an imaging optical system for imaging the specimen surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Suguru Dowaki
  • Patent number: 11460405
    Abstract: Provided are methods, devices, assemblies, and systems for dispensing into the wells of a multi-well device and imaging such wells from multiple Z-planes. Multi-Z imaging of the present methods and systems may allow for the detection of wells of a multi-well device that contain a desired number of cells. Also provided are methods, devices, assemblies, and systems for processing cell-containing wells of a multi-well device identified through the use of multi-Z imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Takara Bio USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricio A. Espinoza Vallejos, Syed A. Husain, Chun-Wah Lin, Hermann Hubschle
  • Patent number: 11443470
    Abstract: Systems and methods for simulating animation of an object are provided. Such systems and methods include capturing a first sequence of images of the object with a camera while in an activated lighting apparatus, importing the first sequence of images into a first stage video file having a preconfigured size and masked off such that the first surface appears over a first background, and incorporating the first stage video file into a template of a three-dimensional (3D) model by aligning the first surface with a video mask of the template such that the video mask obscures the first background of the first stage video file and superimposes a location of the first surface in the first stage video file onto a virtual surface of the 3D model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Stack's-Bowers Numismatics, LLC
    Inventor: Larry J. Stendebach
  • Patent number: 11428916
    Abstract: A light sheet microscope includes an illuminator having a beam source which is designed to direct an illumination beam propagating along an illumination axis onto a sample. A light-sheet generator is designed to generate a light-sheet-like illumination light distribution illuminating the sample in a partial area from the illumination beam. A detection unit has a detector which is designed to capture detection light originating from the partial area of the sample illuminated with the illumination light distribution. The illuminator comprises a beam modulator adapted to modulate the illumination beam along the illumination axis in such a way that light exposure of the partial area of the sample illuminated by the illumination light distribution varies along the illumination axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventor: Florian Fahrbach
  • Patent number: 11409095
    Abstract: A microscope including an illumination assembly, an image capture device and a processor can be configured to selectively identify regions of a sample including artifacts or empty space. By selectively identifying regions of the sample that have artifacts or empty space, the amount of time to generate an image of the sample and resources used to generate the image can be decreased substantially while providing high resolution for appropriate regions of the computational image. The processor can be configured to change the imaging process in response to regions of the sample that includes artifacts or empty space. The imaging process may include a higher resolution process to output higher resolution portions of the computational image for sample regions including valid sample material, and a lower resolution process to output lower resolution portions of the computational image for sample regions including valid sample material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SCOPIO LABS LTD.
    Inventors: Ittai Madar, Eran Small, Itai Hayut, Erez Na'aman
  • Patent number: 11366300
    Abstract: A STED super-resolution microscope capable of quick beam combination is disclosed, which includes a STED imaging unit and a beam combination test unit. The excitation light and the depletion light are accurately combined by the beam combination test unit, so that the imaging light spots of the two light beams passing through the STED imaging unit can accurately coincide with each other, thereby obtaining a better super-resolution imaging effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignees: SUZHOU INSTITUTE OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, SUZHOU GUOKE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (GROUP) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yuguo Tang, Yunhai Zhang, Tongda Wei, Jian Chang, Haomin Yang, Lin Ji
  • Patent number: 11327288
    Abstract: A method is useful for generating an overview image using a high-aperture objective. An optical detection beam path with the objective is provided. The path is transferred into a second operating state via a first depth of field increased to a second depth of field. Detection radiation is captured in the second operating state. Detection radiation coming from the sample space is collected by the objective, guided along the path, and captured by a detector sensitive to detection radiation as an image with a lateral image field, which is the same in the first and second operating states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Jakob Haarstrich, Jörg Siebenmorgen, Helge Eggert, Martin Beck
  • Patent number: 11330093
    Abstract: Finger grip and connector for portable electronics, in particular cell phones. The grip includes a metallic ring. The ring adheres to the back of a cell phone, or case. The grip includes a corresponding ring of magnets for a grip assembly to magnetically attach to the metal ring adhered to the cell phone. The grip design provides infinite rotation of the grip assembly relative to the phone for holding the phone in various positions. The grip provides a support for viewing content on the electronic device at different angles and orientations. The grip provides a means of magnetically attaching a cell phone to metallic surfaces, chargers, mounts, and other devices. The grip can allow for wireless charging, which is optimized and enabled by a relatively large open inner diameter of the metallic ring and corresponding magnets. The grip can retract to be less than 3 millimeters in total thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ohSnap, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale Backus
  • Patent number: 11320640
    Abstract: A sample is imaged using light-sheet imaging. The light-sheet imaging includes generating light, forming one or more light sheets from the light at one or more positions within the sample along respective illumination directions that are parallel with an illumination axis, and recording images of fluorescence emitted along a detection direction from the sample due to the optical interaction between the one or more light sheets and the sample. One or more properties relating to the light-sheet imaging are measured; the one or more measured properties are analyzed; and one or more operating parameters associated with the light-sheet imaging are adjusted based on the analysis of the one or more measured properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
    Inventors: Philipp Johannes Keller, Raghav Kumar Chhetri, Loïc Alain Royer
  • Patent number: 11307397
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bathe, Stanislav Kalinin
  • Patent number: 11300800
    Abstract: A pseudo speckle pattern generation apparatus includes a first spatial light modulator, a first lens, a second spatial light modulator, a second lens and the like. The first spatial light modulator has a first intensity modulation distribution based on a pseudo random number pattern, and spatially modulates intensity of light output from a light source and increased in beam diameter by a beam expander. The second spatial light modulator has a second intensity modulation distribution based on a filter function, is provided on a plane where a Fourier transformed pattern is generated by the first lens, and spatially modulates intensity of the light reached through the first lens. The second lens optically Fourier transforms a pattern of the light output from the second spatial light modulator to generate a Fourier transformed pattern as a pseudo speckle pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroto Sakai, Taro Ando, Haruyoshi Toyoda, Yoshiyuki Ohtake, Yuu Takiguchi, Tomoko Hyodo
  • Patent number: 11300768
    Abstract: An optical inspection apparatus includes: a first filter having a plurality of passbands; a first beam splitter to reflect a first light that exits from the first filter to transfer the first light to an inspection target; a second beam splitter to split a second light, which is provided by reflecting the first light by the inspection target, into a first split light and a second split light; a second filter to receive the first split light, and having a passband different from the passbands of the first filter; a fluorescence microscope to generate a fluorescence image from a third light that exits from the second filter; and a first imaging module to generate a first image from the second split light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Woon Lim
  • Patent number: 11300771
    Abstract: A method for operating a microscopy arrangement, and a microscopy arrangement, having a first microscope and at least one further microscope, wherein each of the microscopes have a respective optical axis. The respective optical axes do not coincide. The method provides a three-dimensional reference coordinate system being set; a carrier apparatus, that is embodied in the arrangement to receive and hold a specimen carrier is introduced into a specimen plane of the first microscope that is intersected by the optical axis and onto the optical axis of the first microscope; a reference point is set on the optical axis of the first microscope; the carrier apparatus is delivered to the further microscope, wherein the current coordinates of the reference point are continuously captured and compared to the coordinates of the optical axis of the at least one further microscope; and the reference point is brought onto the optical axis of the at least one further microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kalkbrenner, Saskia Pergande, Jörg Siebenmorgen, Helmut Lippert
  • Patent number: 11249294
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignees: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH, Carl Zeiss SMS Ltd.
    Inventors: Markus Seesselberg, Vladimir Dmitriev, Joachim Welte, Uri Stern, Tomer Cohen, Erez Graitzer
  • Patent number: 11215804
    Abstract: A microscope for imaging a sample includes an illumination unit for emitting illumination light to the sample; a detector for capturing a detection light originating from the sample; an optical system for focusing the illumination light onto the sample and focusing the detection light onto the detector; and a scanning unit for scanning the sample using the illumination light. The illumination unit emits the illumination light as separate illumination light beams which can be focused on spatially mutually separated, strip-like sample regions simultaneously. The detector captures the detection light in the form of separate detection light beams originating from the sample regions simultaneously and in a spatially mutually separated manner. The sample regions are in sample planes, and the detector having sub-detectors, which are each assigned to a sample plane and capture a detection light beam that originates from a respective sample plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Knebel, Florian Fahrbach
  • Patent number: 11209636
    Abstract: A method for high-resolution scanning microscopy of a sample in which a sample is illuminated at a point in or on the sample by means of illumination radiation. The point is imaged along an optical axis and according to a point spread function into a diffraction image on a spatially resolving surface detector that comprises detector pixels in which a diffraction structure of the diffraction image is resolved. The point is displaced relative to the sample in at least two scanning directions and pixel signals are read from the detector pixels in various scanning posi- tions, wherein the pixel signals are respectively assigned to that scanning position at which they were read out and adjacent scanning positions overlap one another and are disposed according to a scanning increment. An image of the sample having a resolution that is increased beyond a resolution limit of the imaging is generated from the read pixel signals and the assigned scanning positions, wherein a deconvolution is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Kleppe, Yauheni Novikau
  • Patent number: 11194142
    Abstract: A microscope having three-dimensional imaging capability and a three-dimensional microscopic imaging method are provided, the microscope including: at least one excitation device configured to generate a detectable contrast in a detection target region of a sample which is to be detected, in an excitation principal axis direction; at least one detection device, configured to detect the contrast as generated from the detection target region of the sample in a detection principal axis; and at least one movement mechanism, configured to generate a relative movement of the sample relative to the excitation device and the detection device; the relative movement is in a direction neither parallel to nor perpendicular to the excitation principal axis direction or the detection principal axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: University of Science and Technology of China
    Inventors: Qingyuan Zhu, Guoqiang Bi, Hao Wang, Pak-Ming Lau, Lufeng Ding, Chaoyu Yang, Qianru Yang, Dasheng Bi, Qi Xin
  • Patent number: 11187659
    Abstract: Systems for allowing adjustable imaging of specimens of various sizes in solutions of various refractive indices, such as those with a refractive index of at least 1.45, for use in microscopes such as fluorescent light sheet microscopes. The systems allow for imaging large specimens in various refractive indices while maintaining the highest optical sectioning provided by the objectives used across the full range of microscope stage travel. The systems also allow the use of a wider range of optics, such as low magnification 2.5× detection objectives, allowing for increased imaging speed and field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, TRANSLUCENCE BIOSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Sunil Gandhi, Ricardo R. Azevedo, Damian Wheeler
  • Patent number: 11086114
    Abstract: A light-scanning microscope including a scan optics for generating a pupil plane conjugate to the pupil plane of the microscope objective, and a variably adjustable beam deflection unit in the conjugate pupil plane. An intermediate image lies between the microscope objective and the scan optics. The scan optics image a second intermediate image (Zb2) into the first intermediate image via the beam deflection unit, wherein the second intermediate image is spatially curved. The deflection unit is not arranged in a collimated section of the beam path, but is instead arranged in a convergent section. Then, in terms of the optical properties and quality thereof, the scan optics needs rather to correspond merely to an eyepiece instead of a conventional scanner objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH, Carl Zeiss AG
    Inventors: Matthias Wald, Beate Böhme, Daniel Schwedt, Tiemo Anhut
  • Patent number: 11074520
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for preparing and evolving atomic defects in diamond. Silicon vacancy spins may be cooled to temperatures equal to or below 500 mK to reduce the influence of phonons. The cooling, manipulation, and observation systems may be designed to minimize added heat into the system. A CPMG sequence may be applied to extend coherence times. Coherence times may be extended, for example, to 13 ms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Denis D. Sukachev, Alp Sipahigil, Christian Thieu Nguyen, Mihir Keshav Bhaskar, Ruffin E. Evans, Mikhail D. Lukin
  • Patent number: 11033210
    Abstract: Optical coherence tomography (herein “OCT”) based analyte monitoring systems are disclosed. In one aspect, techniques are disclosed that can identify fluid flow in vivo (e.g., blood flow), which can act as a metric for gauging the extent of blood perfusion in tissue. For instance, if OCT is to be used to estimate the level of an analyte (e.g., glucose) in tissue, a measure of the extent of blood flow can potentially indicate the presence of an analyte correlating region, which would be suitable for analyte level estimation with OCT. Another aspect is related to systems and methods for scanning multiple regions. An optical beam is moved across the surface of the tissue in two distinct manners. The first can be a coarse scan, moving the beam to provide distinct scanning positions on the skin. The second can be a fine scan where the beam is applied for more detailed analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Masimo Corporation
    Inventors: Walter J. Shakespeare, William Henry Bennett, Jason T. Iceman, Howard P. Apple, Phillip William Wallace, Matthew J. Schurman
  • Patent number: 11029506
    Abstract: A scanning microscope multiplexes illumination light beams at different optical wavelengths (e.g., from different light sources) by placing illumination light beams non-coaxially to create separate focuses at specimen. Reflected or fluorescent light generated by the different illumination light beams is recorded simultaneously while scanning the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: COLUXA INC.
    Inventor: Heng Xu
  • Patent number: 10996453
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for structured illumination microscopy (SIM) imaging systems. In one set of implementations, a SIM imaging system may be implemented as a multi-arm SIM imaging system, whereby each arm of the system includes a light emitter and a beam splitter (e.g., a transmissive diffraction grating) having a specific, fixed orientation with respect to the system's optical axis. In a second set of implementations, a SIM imaging system may be implemented as a multiple beam splitter slide SIM imaging system, where one linear motion stage is mounted with multiple beam splitters having a corresponding, fixed orientation with respect to the system's optical axis. In a third set of implementations, a SIM imaging system may be implemented as a pattern angle spatial selection SIM imaging system, whereby a fixed two-dimensional diffraction grating is used in combination with a spatial filter wheel to project one-dimensional fringe patterns on a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Clarke Newman, Danilo Condello, Shaoping Lu, Simon Prince, Merek C. Siu, Stanley S. Hong, Aaron Liu
  • Patent number: 10996159
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for analysis of nano-objects using wide-field bright field transmission techniques are described. Such methods may comprise acquiring a plurality of images of a sample comprising a plurality of nano-objects using bright field illumination via a continuously variable spectral filter, and identifying a nano-object within the sample in the plurality of images, wherein the position of the nano-object changes between images. Using data extracted from the plurality of images, an extinction cross-section of the identified nano-object may be quantitatively determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: University College Cardiff Consultants Limited
    Inventors: Paola Borri, Wolfgang Werner Langbein, Attilio Zilli, Lukas Menezes Payne
  • Patent number: 10976532
    Abstract: Presented are a structured illumination microscopy system using a digital micromirror device and a time-complex structured illumination, and an operation method therefor. A structured illumination microscopy system using a digital micromirror device and a time-complex structured illumination according to an embodiment may comprise: a light source; a digital micromirror device (DMD) for receiving light irradiated from the light source, implementing a time-complex structured illumination, and causing a controlled structured illumination to enter a sample; and a fluorescence image measurement unit for extracting a high-resolution 3D fluorescence image of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: Tomocube, Inc., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventor: YongKeun Park
  • Patent number: 10955652
    Abstract: In a first SCAPE imaging system, a Powell lens (105) is used to expand light from a light source (100) into a sheet of illumination light. An optical system (125,131,132,140) sweeps the sheet of illumination light through a sample (145), and forms an image at a tilted intermediate image plane (170) from detected return light. A camera (190) captures images of the intermediate image plane. In a second SCAPE imaging system, an optical system (125,131,132,140) sweeps the sheet of illumination light through a sample (145), and forms an image at a tilted intermediate image plane (170) from detected return light. A camera (190) captures images of the intermediate image plane. The detection optics are deliberately misaligned with respect to a true alignment position so that a significant portion of light that would be lost at the true alignment position will arrive at the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Elizabeth M. C. Hillman, Venkatakaushik Voleti
  • Patent number: 10948410
    Abstract: A method of imaging a sample containing a target mineral species is provided. The method includes probing the sample with a pump beam and a Stokes beam having a tunable frequency difference, and detecting an optical response of the sample resulting from a transfer of said modulation between the pump beam and the Stokes beam. The probing is scanned spatially and spectrally, thereby obtaining hyperspectral data. Correlation with a known Raman resonance of the mineral species and with anon Raman-resonant contribution to said optical response allows building an image of the sample mapping different species within the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: Albert Stolow, Patrick H. J. Mercier, Andrew Ridsdale
  • Patent number: 10942086
    Abstract: Techniques are described for inspecting optical devices, such as eyepieces, to determine whether they exhibit light leakage through an edge sealant that has been applied to the device. Embodiments provide an inspection apparatus that can be employed to detect the leakage of light through an edge sealant of an optical device, where the edge sealant is applied to prevent, or at least reduce, the leakage of light from the optical device. Light from a light source is projected into the optical device. The light can travel along one or more wave guides within the device, until reaching an edge of the device. Light that is able to leak through an edge sealant can be reflected, using mirror(s) in the apparatus, and detected by a camera. Image(s) captured by the camera can be analyzed to determine the performance of the optical device with respect to edge leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Yang, Wendong Xing, Eric C. Browy, William Hudson Welch, Thomas Mercier