Abstract: An optical apparatus has an OCT imaging apparatus with a first light source for low coherence light of wavelengths above a threshold wavelength and a signal detector that obtains an interference signal between low coherence light from the sample and low coherence light reflected from a reference. A surface contour imaging apparatus has a second light source that emits one or more wavelengths of surface illumination below the threshold wavelength, a camera to acquire images from illumination reflected from the sample and a probe that has a raster scanner wherein the low coherence light and the surface illumination share the same path from the raster scanner to the sample. A processor coordinates activation of the light sources, actuation of the scanner, and acquisition of data and the camera and follows instructions to display, store, or transfer images from the acquired data.

Abstract: A programmable light source has a broadband light emitter disposed to direct light to an optical filter. The optical filter has a collimator lens in the path of the directed light from the emitter, a dispersion optic in the path of incident light from the collimator lens and angularly disposed to form a spectrally dispersed output beam from the incident beam, a focusing lens in the path of the spectrally dispersed output beam, and a spatial light modulator in the focal region of the focusing lens, the spatial light modulator disposed to reflect sequential spectral portions of the spectrally dispersed output beam back toward the focusing lens.

Abstract: Exemplary method and apparatus embodiments according to the applications can provide calibration of a dental scanning device. An exemplary dental apparatus can include a sensing apparatus including at least one lens and a sensor that is configured to obtain one or more images of at least one surface position, and a calibration target including a spatial light modulator configured to form a prescribed set of calibration patterns, and whose display plane corresponds to the at least one surface position.

Abstract: An apparatus for intraoral imaging has an intraoral camera that defines a field of view with a first dimension and a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension. A projector has a laser diode energizable to emit a light beam; a collimator in the path of the emitted light beam; first beam-shaping optics disposed to shape the collimated light beam in the second dimension to form a linear light pattern; focusing optics disposed to focus the shaped collimated beam at a focal plane; and a scanner that is disposed substantially at the focal plane and that is energizable to scan the formed linear light pattern along the second dimension to successive positions of the field of view. A control logic processor coordinates energizing the laser diode and scanner with image capture by the intraoral camera.

Abstract: Embodiments include apparatuses and methods for spectral domain polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography including a reference assembly for detection of the polarization sensitive spectral interferograms formed by vertically and horizontally polarized beam components. Interference signals between the reference and sample beams may be modulated at a constant frequency.

Abstract: Embodiments include apparatuses and methods for spectral domain polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography including a reference assembly for detection of the polarization sensitive spectral interferograms formed by vertically and horizontally polarized beam components. Interference signals between the reference and sample beams may be modulated at a constant frequency.