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.

Abstract: Optical thin film designs are provided that achieve significantly improved laser damage thresholds and ultra-low-loss. These advances may be achieved by utilizing materials with electronic band gaps and refractive indices that are higher than those that are conventionally used.

Abstract: An optical device includes an optical component (e.g., a polarization volume hologram, a geometric phase device, or a polarization-insensitive diffractive optical element) having a uniform thickness and configured to modify a wavefront of a light beam that includes light in two or more wavelengths visible to human eyes, where the optical component has a chromatic aberration between the two or more wavelengths. The optical device also includes a metasurface on the optical component. The metasurface includes a plurality of nanostructures configured to modify respective phases of incident light at a plurality of regions of the metasurface, where the plurality of nanostructures is configured to, at each region of the plurality of regions, add a respective phase delay for each of the two or more wavelengths to correct the chromatic aberration between the two or more wavelengths.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a signal acquisition unit and a rotation unit. The signal acquisition unit includes an illumination unit including a light source and configured to irradiate a sample with a light beam, a photodetector including a plurality of light-receiving portions two-dimensionally arranged, and a detection optical system configured to guide light having been irradiated from the illumination unit to the sample and passed through the sample, to the photodetector. The rotation unit rotates the sample and the signal acquisition unit relative to each other, about a first axis intersecting an optical axis of the detection optical system in the sample. The illumination unit irradiates the sample with light beams at two or more incident angles in a plane including the optical axis and the first axis.

Abstract: Compact folded camera modules having auto-focus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) capabilities and multi-aperture cameras including such modules. In an embodiment, a folded camera module includes an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path with a first optical axis to a second optical path with a second optical axis perpendicular to the first optical axis, an image sensor and a lens module carrying a lens with a symmetry axis parallel to the second optical axis. The lens module can be actuated to move in first and second orthogonal directions in a plane perpendicular to the first optical axis, the movement in the first direction being for auto-focus and the movement in the second direction being for OIS. The OPFE can be actuated to tilt for OIS.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid immersion objective including an objective lens having a prescribed optical power, and a plurality of planar plates having substantially no optical power and having different thicknesses, and configured to be placed between the objective lens and immersion liquid deposited on a sample to be observed, the planar plates being made of a substantially same material, wherein the planar plates being selected according to a property of the immersion liquid.

Abstract: An optics arrangement for flexible multi-color illumination for a light microscope includes an acousto-optical tunable filter (“AOTF”). The AOTF is set up to diffract two light components from incident illumination light into different order-of-diffraction directions. The two light components differ in their wavelengths and polarizations. Alternatively, an electro-optical modulator (“EOM”) can be used, with which two temporally successive light components of different wavelengths are set to different polarization directions. A polarization beam splitter separates the two light components of different wavelengths and polarizations into reflection light, which is reflected at the polarization beam splitter, and transmission light, which is transmitted at the polarization beam splitter. A light structuring apparatus imprints different structures onto the transmission light and the reflection light.

Abstract: A head worn imaging system includes a light source configured to generate a light beam. The system also includes a light guiding optical element having a thickness between 0.1 and 1.5 mm and configured to propagate at least a portion of the light beam by total internal reflection. The system further includes an entry portion and an exit portion of the light guiding optical element configured to selectively allow light addressing the exit portion to exit the light guiding optical element based on the angle of incidence of the light, the radius of curvature of the light and/or the wavelength of the light.

Abstract: A holographic display system for a portable electronic device. The display system includes a case configured to receive the portable electronic device and a projector coupled to the case by a first hinge element. The projector includes a projector screen for generating images. A reflective element is coupled to the projector by a second hinge element. The reflective element is oriented to reflect light from the images in order to create holographic images perceptible to a user of the portable electronic device. The case may include a connector for receiving, from the portable electronic device, a video signal defining the images. The holographic display system may further include a substantially transparent touch screen attached to the first hinge element.

Abstract: A multilayer Laue lens (MLL) that can be operated over a large range of wavelengths which is achieved by providing a lens blank comprising a substrate element extending in a plane defined by orthogonal axes x, y, z, with a layered structure deposited on the upper surface with at least two different materials that are layered upon one another in an alternating manner, wherein the y-extension of the layered structure is constant along the x-axis and varies along the z-axis within a ramp section where the y-extension of the layered structure increases from a starting point, where first particles of material of the layered structure are deposited on the upper surface of the substrate element, to a saturation point, where a maximum y-extension of the layered structure is reached; and slicing a lens out of the lens blank.

Abstract: An apparatus (e.g., a multi-spectral optical filter array, an optical wafer, an optical component) has an aperture mask printed directly thereon, the aperture mask including a positive or negative photoresist. The apparatus includes a substrate having the aperture mask printed on at least one of a light entrance surface or a light exit surface of the substrate so as to provide an aperture over a portion of the substrate. The photoresist from which the aperture mask is formed is photo-definable or non-photo-definable, and is deposited/printed to form the aperture mask on the substrate.

Abstract: In a method for operating a microscope, a lens unit transmits a first image laser to an object, and acquire a first scan image on the basis of a first reflection signal reflected from a first area included in the object. An ultrasound conversion unit transmits an ultrasound signal to the first area and focuses same so as to form air bubbles in the first area. The lens unit transmits a second image laser to the object, and can acquire a second scan image on the basis of a second reflection signal reflected from the second area included in the object. The ultrasound conversion unit transmits an ultrasound signal to the first area included in the object and focuses same so as to form air bubbles in the first area, thereby enabling an increase in the imageable depth of a microscope.

Abstract: A system and method for generating reflective dark field illumination in an imaging system that includes a set of elementary illuminators, each of the set of elementary illuminators including a light source, a lens assembly and an illuminator aperture; and a bright field/dark field (BD) lens. The set of elementary illuminators are positioned in a ring-like shape to direct light towards a port of the BD lens. Depending on an application of the imaging system, a lens assembly focal distance and a distance between a light source and a lens assembly are determined based on the application.

Abstract: Provide is an ultraviolet ray transmissive filter in which a crystal structure of a hafnium oxide layer is controlled to improve the light resistance of an optical interference film, and which can suppress reduction of the transmissivity in a transmission band even under long-term irradiation with ultraviolet rays. The optical interference film includes the hafnium oxide layer, and in the crystal structure of the hafnium oxide layer, spectral peak intensities from X-ray diffraction which are derived from the orthorhombic crystal structure and a tetragonal crystal structure are lower than a spectral peak intensity from X-ray diffraction which is derived from the monoclinic crystal structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving night vision systems are presented. Broadband multi-level diffractive lenses are used in place of either or both of the objective and eyepiece of traditional night vision systems. By using one or more broadband multi-level diffractive lenses, the size, weight, and weight distribution may be reduced or modified.

Abstract: Methods for visualizing oral biofilm growth and methods for identifying compounds that modulate biofilm growth are provided. Biofilm samples are stained with fluorescent dyes and viewed with a confocal laser scanning microscope. Biofilm samples are in a container with a cover slip configured for viewing the biofilm sample with the confocal laser scanning microscope and the coverslip has a thickness variation of 0.02 mm or less.

Abstract: Exemplary systems are for imaging of samples, for example using an array of micro optical elements. In some embodiments, an optical chip including an array of micro optical elements moves relative to an imaging window and a detector in order to scan over a sample to produce an image. A focal plane can reside within a sample or on its surface during imaging. In some embodiments, detecting optics are used to detect back-emitted light collected by an array of micro optical elements that is generated by an illumination beam impinging on a sample. In some embodiments, an imaging system has a large field of view and a large optical chip such that an entire surface of a sample can be imaged quickly. In some embodiments, a sample is accessible by a user during imaging due to the sample being exposed.

Abstract: Provided is a method of generating a computer-generated hologram (CGH), the method including obtaining complex data including amplitude data of object data and phase data of the object data corresponding to a spatial light modulator (SLM) plane by propagating the object data from an image plane to the SLM plane, encoding the complex data into encoded amplitude data, and generating a CGH based on the object data including the encoded amplitude data.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a plurality of illuminating optical systems, an objective optical system, and an optical-path splitting member. The optical-path splitting member has an optical element which forms a first optical path and a second optical path, and an optical-path length of the first optical path differs from an optical-path length of the second optical path. Illumination light is irradiated to an object from the plurality of illuminating optical systems. The objective optical system has an object-side incidence surface which is located nearest to the object, and each of the plurality of illuminating optical systems has an object-side emergence surface which is located nearest to the object. Each of the object-side emergence surfaces is located on an image side of the object-side incidence surface, and following conditional expression (1) is satisfied: 2.0<Dmin/OPLdiff<50??(1).

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a plurality of lenses including a first lens affixed to an optics mount holder which is adjustably affixed to an alignment channel part. The optical axis of the first lens passes through a hollow area of the alignment channel part. The lens is mounted on the optics mount holder which is adjustably affixed to one end of the alignment channel part with a plurality of adjustable fasteners. A method is provided for aligning the optical apparatus.