Abstract: Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecules and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A measurement system includes an optical probe that has a reflective prism structure, an input system, and an output system. The reflective prism structure comprises at least two mirrored surfaces on opposing sides of an axis which extends in a direction towards a target. The input system is positioned to receive and direct source light towards one of the mirrored surfaces which is positioned to reflect the source light towards the target. The output system is positioned to receive and output converging light from reflected light that comprises measurement data related to the target. The reflected light is the source light reflected from the target via the other one of the mirrored surfaces and is without substantial overlap with the source light.

Abstract: A device for measuring a reflectivity of an object at the seabottom, includes a spectral probe, a first white board, a second white board, a distance meter, and a shaft; the first white board and the second white board respectively have a known reflectivity; the first white board and the second white board are connected to the shaft, wherein the first white board and the second white board are spaced along an axial direction of the shaft and staggered from each other along a radial direction of the shaft; the spectral probe is configured to collect spectral data of the first white board, the second white board and the object at the seabottom; the distance meter is configured to collect distance data between the spectral probe and the object at the seabottom.

Abstract: System and method for determining real-time sag and shape information of an electrical power line based on strain distribution along a length of an optical fiber associated with the power line. An embedded fiber coupled to an overhead transmission line measures strain using the backscatter of an optical signal, the optical signal is then interrogated using an interferometer.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a multi-pass gas cell that includes a set of two or more reflectors, an input collimating optical component, and an output focusing optical component. The input and output optical components are integrated with at least one of the two or more reflectors. For example, the input and output optical components may be integrated on opposite ends of a single one of the reflectors or may be integrated on the same end of a single reflector. The input and output optical components may further be integrated with different reflectors. In some examples, the set of reflectors and optical components may be fabricated within the same substrate.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in measuring characteristic(s) of patterned structures. The method utilizes processing of first and second measured data, wherein the first measured data is indicative of at least one Raman spectrum obtained from a patterned structure under measurements using at least one selected optical measurement scheme each with a predetermined configuration of illuminating and/or collected light conditions corresponding to the characteristic(s) to be measured, and the second measured data comprises at least one spectrum obtained from the patterned structure in Optical Critical Dimension (OCD) measurement session. The processing comprises applying model-based analysis to the at least one Raman spectrum and the at least one OCD spectrum, and determining the characteristic(s) of the patterned structure under measurements.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for compact birefringent interferometer and Fourier Transform spectrometer which uses rotating birefringent crystal plate to produce variable optical path difference (OPD) between ordinary and extraordinary rays of the incident light travelling through the birefringent crystal plate. In one aspect, the system includes an optical birefringent interferometer and Fourier Transform spectrometer comprising a polarizing beamsplitter, a reflective mirror, a rotating and a fixed compensating birefringent plate. In another aspect, the interferometer and Fourier Transform spectrometer may further include a photodetector in order to obtain a spectrum of the incoming radiation. In yet another aspect, the interferometer and Fourier Transform spectrometer may further include a one-dimensional or two-dimensional photodetector array or in order to obtain a hyper-spectral image of the radiation source or illuminated object.

Abstract: An image acquisition apparatus includes a light source configured to emit light, a dividing unit configured to divide the light from the light source into reference light and measurement light, an image forming unit configured to form a tomographic image of a subject based on interfered light in which return light from the subject irradiated with the measurement light and the reference light are interfered, a focus adjusting unit configured to adjust a focus of the measurement light, an optical-path-length adjusting unit configured to adjust an optical path length of the reference light, and a control unit configured to adjust the optical path length of the reference light by controlling the optical-path-length adjusting unit according a change in an optical path length of the measurement light caused by adjustment of the focus using the focus adjusting unit.

Abstract: A device for measuring an ionic concentration of an ionic compound in a porous medium solution contained in a porous medium. The device includes a sensing portion, a light source, and a light sensor. The sensing portion is miniaturized and includes a permeable material body defining a measuring cavity therein and is insertable in the porous medium to allow the porous medium solution to diffuse through the permeable material body. The light source illuminates the porous medium solution contained inside the measuring cavity. The light sensor detects a resulting light emanating from the porous medium solution, the resulting light having at least one spectral characteristic indicative of the ionic concentration of the ionic compound in the porous medium solution. There is also provided a method for measuring in situ an ionic concentration of an ionic compound in a porous medium solution contained in a porous medium.

Abstract: A sensor device may determine a first optical sensor value associated with a first displacement and a second optical sensor value associated with a second displacement, wherein the first displacement is between an emitter associated with the first optical sensor value and a sensing location used to determine the first optical sensor value, wherein the second displacement is between an emitter associated with the second optical sensor value and a sensing location used to determine the second optical sensor value, and wherein the first displacement is different from the second displacement. The sensor device may determine one or more measurements using the first optical sensor value and the second optical sensor value, wherein the one or more measurements relate to a first penetration depth associated with the first optical sensor value, and a second penetration depth associated with the second optical sensor value.

Abstract: A catheter system includes an electronic console; a catheter having a proximal end attachable to the console and a distal end configured to house therein an optical probe; an optical fiber configured to transmit from the console to the optical probe excitation radiation of a first wavelength, and configured to return to the console an optical response signal having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength; a detector configured to detect intensity of the optical response signal; and a processor configured to determine, based on the detected intensity of the optical response signal, whether the catheter is properly connected to the console. The optical response signal is generated within the optical fiber itself in response to transmitting the excitation radiation therethrough. The optical response signal is an auto-fluorescence signal and/or Raman scattering signal generated from the optical fiber itself.

Abstract: A method includes determining a fielded color measurement instrument is not calibrated to measure light emitted by a fielded light emitting device, assembling a calibration matrix, such that a product of the calibration matrix multiplied by a response of the fielded color measurement instrument to the light emitted by the fielded light emitting device is a triplet that corresponds to a Commission Internationale de L'éclairage XYZ color space, wherein the calibration matrix contains measurements made by the fielded color measurement instrument of a first plurality of lights emitted by the fielded light emitting device and measurements made by a spectroradiometer of a second plurality of lights emitted by a reference light emitting device of a same make and model as the fielded light emitting device, wherein the spectroradiometer is located remotely from the fielded color measurement instrument, and storing the calibration matrix on the fielded color measurement instrument.

Abstract: Provided is a method of aligning a gas turbine shaft. The method includes securing a laser sensor to a first shaft of a first rotary component axially connected to a rotor of a gas turbine, and securing a laser generating device to a second shaft of a second rotary component. The second shaft is axially coupled to the first shaft and has a central axis misaligned with respect to a central axis of the first shaft. A jogging assembly coupled to the first rotary component is actuated to rotate the first shaft and the second shaft. Measurements representative of a misalignment of the first shaft and the second shaft are received from the laser sensor, and based on the measurements, a central axis of the first shaft can be aligned with respect to a central axis of the second shaft.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method for restricting laser beams entering an aperture to a chosen dyad and measuring their separation; the method works with frequency-modulated coherent light, and one embodiment uses a moveable, variable-aperture apparatus (FIG. 1) in conjunction with a converging lens (6) and a detector (7); and key elements of other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A parameter-stable misregistration measurement amelioration system and method including providing a wafer, including a plurality of multilayered semiconductor devices formed thereon, selected from a batch wafers intended to be identical, using a misregistration metrology tool to measure misregistration at multiple sites between at least a first layer and a second layer of the wafer, using a plurality of sets of measurement parameters, thereby generating measured misregistration data for each of the sets of measurement parameters, identifying and removing a parameter-dependent portion and a mean error portion from the measured misregistration data for the wafer for each of the sets of measurement parameters, thereby generating ameliorated parameter-stable ameliorated misregistration data for the wafer.

Abstract: Systems for coherent light detection are provided, including a system comprising a light source configured to generate light; a first optical assembly configured to split the light into a reference arm and a sample arm; a second optical assembly configured to illuminate a sample with light of the sample arm, thereby generating a sample signal; a third optical assembly configured to combine the sample signal with light of the reference arm, thereby generating an interference signal; and a detector assembly comprising an array of carrier injection photodetectors, the array arranged to collect the interference signal. Methods of using the systems are also provided.

Abstract: An imaging spectro-polarimetry system includes a polarizer, a tunable laser, a number of optical nodes and an image processing circuit. The polarizer produces polarized light using light received from an object. The tunable laser generates optical local oscillator (LO) signals. Each optical node receives the polarized light and an optical LO signal, performs a heterodyne mixing and generates a digital signal. The image processing circuit receives digital signals from the optical nodes and generates a magnetogram of the object. The polarizer, the tunable laser, the plurality of optical nodes and the image processing circuit are implemented on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), and the polarized light includes right and left circularly polarized light.

Abstract: A diagnosis assistance device assists a diagnosis of an optical characteristic measurement device which operates on the basis of the content of setting stored in a setting storage unit of an optical characteristic measurement device, and includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit, a processing unit, a first command unit, a diagnosis unit, and a second command unit. The first storage unit stores in advance first setting information which indicates the content of setting at the time of diagnosis. The processing unit performs processing of acquiring, from the setting storage unit, second setting information which is stored in advance in the setting storage unit and indicates the content of setting at the time of use, and storing the acquired second setting information in the second storage unit. The first command unit issues a command to store the first setting information stored in the first storage unit in the setting storage unit.

Abstract: A porous mirror (1) for detection of an analyte (96) in a fluid (99) by optical probing, comprising a translucent slab (2) with a front side (3), and a backside (4) facing away from the front side (3), wherein the front side (3) is adapted for being contacted with a fluid (99), and a reflective layer (5) at the front side (3) of the translucent slab (2), the reflective layer (5) being adapted to reflect light reaching the reflective layer from the backside (4) of the translucent slab (2), wherein the translucent slab (2) comprises pores (6), wherein the pores (6) are dead end pores (6) extending from respective openings (7) at the front side (3) into the translucent slab (2), through the reflective layer (5), wherein a cross-sectional dimension of the openings (7) of the pores (6) is dimensioned so as to prevent larger particles or debris, if any included the fluid, from entering the pores (6), while allowing the analyte (96) in the fluid (99) to enter the pores (6) via diffusion.

Abstract: Sensor for the optical detection of free hemoglobin (96) in a whole blood sample (99), the sensor comprising a translucent slab (2) with a front side (3) and a back side (4) facing away from the front side (3), wherein the front side (3) is adapted for being contacted with a whole blood sample (99); a reflective layer (5) at the front side (3) of the translucent slab (2), the reflective layer (5) being adapted to reflect light reaching the reflective layer (5) from the translucent slab (2); an optical probing device comprising a light source (10) and a detector (20), wherein the light source (10) is adapted to illuminate at least pores in the translucent slab, wherein the detector (20) is arranged to receive light (21) emerging from the pores (6) in response to an illumination (11) by the light source (10), and wherein the detector (20) is adapted to generate a signal representative of the detected light.