Abstract: An optically reflective or translucent object (14) can be microscopically imaged in all three dimensions and in true color for observation by a human observer. An interferometric optical setup is employed, using the low temporal coherence of a tunable broad-band light source (10, 20) to resolve the axial dimension, a single opto-mechanical or electronic scanning mechanism for accessing different object depths, and a two-dimensional photo sensor device (15, 34) capable of demodulating the temporally or spatially modulated scanning signals to reconstruct the object's full volume. Three volume scans are carried out sequentially, and the tunable broad-band source (10, 20) is operated in such a way that its spectral distribution for each of the volume scans results in an effective system sensitivity corresponding to one of the three CIE (Commission Internationale d'Éclairage) tristimulus curves, or a linear combination thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for the contact-less, interferometric investigation of a sample object (2), particularly for the determination of sample surface profiles and depth profiles of light scattering properties of the sample (2), comprises a light source (1), able to provide broadband, low-coherence light; a beam splitter (4), arranged to split up a source light beam (11) produced by the light source (1) into a reference light beam (31) and an object light beam (21), and arranged to recombine a reflected reference light beam (31?) and a reflected object light beam (21?) to a detection light beam (51); a reference mirror element (3), arranged to reflect said reference light beam (31) back to the beam splitter (4); and a one- or two-dimensional photo sensor (5), able to convert incident light of said detection light beam (51) to an electric current signal.