Abstract: Methods for determining a value of an intrinsic geometrical parameter of a geometrical feature characterizing a physical object, and for classifying a scene into at least one geometrical shape, each geometrical shape modeling a luminous object. A singular light distribution characterized by a first wavelength and a position of singularity is projected onto the physical object. Light excited by the singular light distribution that has interacted with the geometrical feature and that impinges upon a detector is detected and a return energy distribution is identified and quantified at one or more positions. A deep learning or neural network layer may be employed, using the detected light as direct input of the neural network layer, adapted to classify the scene, as a plurality of shapes, static or dynamic, the shapes being part of a set of shapes predetermined or acquired by learning.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is operable in a particulate matter concentration mode where the portable electronic device uses a self-mixing interferometry sensor to emit a beam of coherent light from an optical resonant cavity, receive a reflection or backscatter of the beam into the optical resonant cavity, produce a self-mixing signal resulting from a reflection or backscatter of the beam of coherent light, and determine a particle velocity and/or particulate matter concentration using the self-mixing signal. The portable electronic device is also operable in an absolute distance mode where the portable electronic device determines whether or not an absolute distance determined using the self-mixing signal is outside or within a particulate sensing volume associated with the beam of coherent light. If not, the portable electronic device may determine a contamination and/or obstruction is present that may result in inaccurate particle velocity and/or particulate matter concentration determination.

Abstract: A sample slide (100) for use in a spectrometer (501), wherein the sample slide comprises a plurality of sample-receiving portions (111-114) provided on a sample side (115) of the slide, and a plurality of beam-receiving portions (121-124) provided on a beam-receiving side (125) of the slide, each beam-receiving portion being arranged opposite a respective sample-receiving portion, and wherein each beam-receiving portion is configured to act as an internal reflection element (IRE). A device (300) for use with a spectrometer (501) comprises a stage (330) configured to receive a sample slide (100); and a moving mechanism (360) configured to move the sample slide relative to a sample-measuring location (320) of the device. Associated methods for preparing a sample and measuring a sample are also disclosed.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing, such as laser sintering or melting of additive layers, can produce parts rapidly at small volume and in a factory setting. To ensure the additive manufactured parts are of high quality, a real-time non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique is required to detect defects while they are being manufactured. The present invention describes an in-situ (real-time) inspection unit that can be added to an existing additive manufacturing (AM) tool, such as an FDM (fused deposition modeling) machine, or a direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) machine, providing real-time information about the part quality, and detecting flaws as they occur. The information provided by this unit is used to a) qualify the part as it is being made, and b) to provide feedback to the AM tool for correction, or to stop the process if the part will not meet the quality, thus saving time, energy and reduce material loss.

Abstract: Light is projected through a grid (e.g., a Ronchi ruling) and onto a background, where it forms an image of the ruling. The light from this projected image is then reflected back onto the same grid, with a polarizing refractor (e.g., a Rochon polarizing prism) imparting a small offset between the projected and reflected light, and then on to an imaging camera. Thus, a separate source and cutoff grid is not needed, resulting in a focusing schlieren system that is compact and easy to construct and align. In some embodiments, translation of the polarizing refractor along the instrument axis provides a sensitivity adjustment of the resulting schlieren images. Manipulation of the polarization state of the light through the system allows the projected and reflected light to be coincident, maintaining a small footprint for the system, which can be mounted to the front of the imaging camera.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement having a specimen plate (1) for freezing on a sample for processing in a microtome, which has an upper side (4) for freezing on the sample and a lower side (5), and having a transparent marking frame (6), having opaque regions forming a marking, which is arranged on the specimen plate (1); and to a method for assigning a sample after freezing onto that specimen plate; and to a method for identifying a sample that is frozen onto that specimen plate (1), the marking frame being arranged on the lower side (5) of the specimen plate (1) or so as to fit around the specimen plate (1).

Abstract: A flow cell can comprise a high-pressure, fluidic, flow-through housing that encloses and auto-aligns a heavy-walled, internally reflective low-cost glass capillary for concentrating and amplifying laser-excited spectra. The containment housing that encloses the capillaries can optionally sustain operational pressures of at least 10,000 psi. The pressure housing can be fitted with transparent optical windows that can accommodate laser-safe injection and spectra collection. The flow-cell design can adaptably accommodate different optical sampling configurations such as transmissive (forward scattering), reflective (backward scattering), or multipass, combined scattering. The flow cell size is scalable (lengthwise) to accommodate different applications or installations such as benchtop (lab), permanent (industrial), and portable (field).

Abstract: A method having the steps of obtaining prepared image data captured by an image sensor receiving light propagated across a sample volume, containing a fluid possibly comprising microscopic objects of foreign origin, while illuminating the sample volume by coherent light. The prepared image data comprising, for a microscopic object, a prepared hologram pattern with prepared spatially alternating intensity formed by the interference fringes; providing filtered image data, comprising automatically filtering the prepared image data by an edge enhancing filter. the filtered image data comprising, for a prepared hologram pattern, a filtered hologram pattern. The presence of the microscopic object associated with the filtered hologram pattern in the sample volume of the fluid is automatically detected on the basis of the filtered hologram pattern.

Abstract: A device for determining a layer thickness in a multilayer film includes a radiation source configured to generate an electromagnetic primary radiation, a detector configured to detect an electromagnetic secondary radiation emitted by the multilayer film, the secondary radiation being induced by an interaction of the primary radiation with the multilayer film, and a first contact block transparent to the electromagnetic primary radiation and having a first contact surface for creating contact with the multilayer film. The radiation source is arranged on the first contact block in such a way that the electromagnetic primary radiation is guided from the first contact block onto the multilayer film.

Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring a component of a drug delivery or storage device are described. The method comprises providing a light source in an opposing relationship with an optical imaging sensor; positioning a sample component on a positioning stage located between the at least one light source and at least one opposing optical imaging sensor; and illuminating, with the at least one light source, the sample component. The controller is operable to capture an image of the component, determine the location of a first outer edge point PI of the captured image; rotate the sample component relative to the optical image sensor, and collect n images separated from each other by x degrees of rotation, wherein n*x is ?360 degrees. The controller may compare a measured position of the at least one outer edge point PI between the captured images to determine a degree or circular runout.

Abstract: A device for detecting particles in air; said device comprising: a flow channel configured to allow a flow of air comprising particles through the flow channel; a light source configured to illuminate the particles, such that an interference pattern is formed by interference between light being scattered by the particles and non-scattered light from the light source; an image sensor configured to detect incident light, detect the interference pattern, and to acquire a time-sequence of image frames, each image frame comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel representing a detected intensity of light; and a frame processor configured to filter information in the time-sequence of image frames, wherein said filtering comprises: identifying pixels of interest in the time-sequence of image frames, said pixels of interest picturing an interference pattern potentially representing a particle in the flow of air, and outputting said identified pixels of interest for performing digital holographic reconstruction

Abstract: A cell area extraction unit (241) extracts a cell area in a phase image that is created based on a hologram obtained by in-line holographic microscope (IHM). A background value acquisition unit (242) obtains a background value from phase values at a plurality of positions outside the cell area. An intracellular phase value acquisition unit (243) averages a plurality of phase values on a sampling line set at a position close to the periphery of a cell, while avoiding a central portion in which the phase value may be lowered in the cell area, to obtain an intracellular phase value. A phase change amount calculation unit (244) obtains the difference between the intracellular phase value and the background value. A phase change amount determination unit (245) compares the value of the difference with thresholds in two levels to determine whether the cell is in an undifferentiated state or an undifferentiation deviant state.

Abstract: A cuvette with at least one side having materials with thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/m-K, such as sapphire, for holding contact lenses or intra-ocular lenses during optical measurements. The cuvette may further include a backstop to ensure consistent measurements and a pedestal to minimize optical measurement variations.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe Rayleigh fading mitigation via short pulse coherent distributed acoustic sensing with multi-location beating-term combination. In illustrative configurations, systems, methods, and structures according to the present disclosure employ a two stage modulation arrangement providing short interrogator pulses resulting in a greater number of sensing data points and reduced effective sectional length. The increased number of data points are used to mitigate Rayleigh fading via a spatial combining process, multi-location-beating combining (MLBC) which uses weighted complex-valued DAS beating results from neighboring locations and aligns phase signals of each of the locations, before combining them to produce a final DAS phase measurement. Since Rayleigh scattering is a random statistic, the MLBC process allows capture of different statics from neighboring locations with correlated vibration/acoustic signal.

Abstract: A high spatial and temporal resolution synthetic aperture phase microscopy (HISTR-SAPM) system and methods are provided for sample imaging and metrology. The HISTR-SAPM system includes a sample-illumination path along which a first illumination beam propagates and a reference-beam path along which a second illumination beam propagates. A first digital micromirror device (DMD), a second DMD, and a first scanning objective lens are disposed in the sample-illumination path and at a first side adjacent to the sample. A second scanning objective lens passes the sample information to a beam splitter (BS), where the sample illumination beam and the reference-beam are combined to form an interferogram at a final image plane for imaging the sample. A Fourier spatial spectrum analysis and a synthetic aperture are then used to reconstruct a quantitative phase map of the sample with a high resolution and at a high-speed.

Abstract: A microfluidic chip configuration wherein injection occurs in an upwards vertical direction, and fluid vessels are located below the chip in order to minimize particle settling before and at the analysis portion of the chip's channels. The input and fluid flow up through the bottom of the chip, in one aspect using a manifold, which avoids orthogonal re-orientation of fluid dynamics. The contents of the vial are located below the chip and pumped upwards and vertically directly into the first channel of the chip. A long channel extends from the bottom of the chip to near the top of the chip. Then the channel takes a short horizontal turn that nearly negates any influence of cell settling due to gravity and zero flow velocity at the walls. The fluid is pumped up to a horizontal analysis portion that is the highest channel/fluidic point in the chip and thus close to the top of the chip, which results in clearer imaging.

Abstract: Method for simultaneously compensating pupil coordinate distortion and shear amount change in a process of wavefront reconstruction in grating transverse shear interference. Where a wavefront is diffracted by a grating, the shapes and light paths of the diffracted wavefronts of all the orders are different, so that on one hand, a coordinate system detected by a detector plane is distorted relative to a pupil coordinate system, and on the other hand, a shear amount changes along with a coordinate position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device for examining the coating of a disc as part of a coating process. The sensor device comprises a first optical sensor system for determining the layer thickness of the coating applied to the disc, and comprises a rotation apparatus. The invention is characterized in that the first optical sensor system is designed to simultaneously identify at least one first position-based measured value and one second position-based measured value, the first and the second position-based measured value describing the distance between the sensor systems and the surface of the disc. As a result of this, the sensor system is configured such that the first position-based measured value of a coated region of the disc and the second position-based measured value of an uncoated region of the disc are identified. Furthermore, the first optical sensor system comprises at least one linear guide, which extends from the central region to the edge.

Abstract: Platelet cell data may be obtained from analysis of a blood sample by a hematology analyzer or like device. Systems and apparatus may process the platelet cell data in accordance with platelet parameter thresholds selected by a user. The platelet cell data may then be categorized and displayed in one or more useful forms for medical diagnostic and/or research purposes. The platelet cell data may be categorized and displayed in, e.g., tabular and/or graphical form based on the user-selected platelet parameter thresholds. Methods of processing platelet cell data for categorizing and displaying the platelet cell data in one or more useful forms are also provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using optical interferometry in the context of material modification processes such as surgical laser or welding applications. An imaging optical source that produces imaging light. A feedback controller controls at least one processing parameter of the material modification process based on an interferometry output generated using the imaging light. A method of processing interferograms is provided based on homodyne filtering. A method of generating a record of a material modification process using an interferometry output is provided.