Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, image reconstruction. The method includes first breaking a holographic image into a plurality of interlaced sample sets corresponding to color separation images; and independently sampling, filtering, and reconstructing all sets. The resulting demodulated images contain no fringes. Notably, range-clipped tonal rendering curves are used to choose pixel regions of the demodulated images that will replace saturated regions. The image is reconstructed by integrating all un-saturated images into one.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spectroscopic imaging system using autofluorescence and reflectance images to diagnose tissue. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses a plurality of light sources to illuminate a tissue region to provide the fluorescence and reflectance images, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating holograms includes a laser source configured to emit a laser beam with a frequency of v; an acoustic optical modulator configured to generate, from the laser beam, a first beam with a frequency of v1 and a second beam with a frequency of v2; a first beam splitter configured to split the first beam into a first reference beam and a first object beam, the first object beam being led to a sample; a second beam splitter configured to split the second beam into a second reference beam and a second object beam, the second object beam being led to the sample; and a detector configured to detect an image composed of a first fringe, based on the first reference beam and the first object beam, and a second fringe, based on the second reference beam and the second object beam.

Abstract: An optical system for a holographic microscope includes: a light source configured to emit a light beam; a grating configured to split the light beam into a reference beam and an object beam; a lens unit configured to irradiate a sample by the reference and object beams split by the grating; a spatial filter including a first region for the reference beam and a second region for the object beam; and a detector configured to detect an interference pattern caused by the reference and object beams.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for tomographic imaging of an object. The apparatus includes a light unit configured to generate illumination, which comprises coherent light and has random phase distribution in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis, for illuminating an object, a coupler which combines a reference beam and an object beam for an interference, a shifter configured to shift relative phase difference between the object light and the reference coherent light, a detector configured to detect an interference caused by the reference coherent light and object light for the each phase, and a processor configured to calculate an optical propagation based on the detected interference for the each phase.

Abstract: An interferometric method for detecting information about a sample includes emitting a laser beam; splitting the laser beam into a reference beam and an object beam; transmitting the object beam through the sample in an incident angle; combining the reference beam with the object beam passed through the sample to form an interference pattern; detecting the interference pattern, and non-linearly scanning the object beam in order to detect a plurality of interference patterns.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating holograms includes a laser source configured to emit a laser beam with a frequency of v; an acoustic optical modulator configured to generate, from the laser beam, a first beam with a frequency of v1 and a second beam with a frequency of v2; a first beam splitter configured to split the first beam into a first reference beam and a first object beam, the first object beam being led to a sample; a second beam splitter configured to split the second beam into a second reference beam and a second object beam, the second object beam being led to the sample; and a detector configured to detect an image composed of a first fringe, based on the first reference beam and the first object beam, and a second fringe, based on the second reference beam and the second object beam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring refractive index of an object are disclosed. The method includes, acquiring a number of first fringes of a first interference pattern formed by interference of a first beam of light transmitted through the object with a second beam of light not transmitted through the object; acquiring a number of second fringes of a second interference pattern formed by interference of a third beam of light reflected from a first surface of the object with a fourth beam of light transmitted through the object and reflected from a second surface of the object; and calculating the refractive index of the object based on the number of first fringes and the number of second fringes. The method may further include calculating the Abbe number of the object based on the refractive indices of the object measured at different wavelengths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing speckle noise in an image of an object are disclosed. The method includes, placing the object in an interferometer at a first position along a beam path of an object beam, irradiating the object with the object beam, moving the object from the first position to a second position by longitudinally shifting the object along the beam path of the object beam, irradiating the object with the object beam at the second position. At each of the first and second positions a holographic image formed by interference between the object beam and a reference beam is recorded. An object image with reduced speckle noise is obtained by averaging the holographic images. Either an arithmetic mean or a weighted average may be used in the averaging of the holographic images.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for tomographic imaging of an object. The apparatus includes a light unit configured to generate illumination, which comprises coherent light and has random phase distribution in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis, for illuminating an object, a coupler which combines a reference beam and an object beam for an interference, a shifter configured to shift relative phase difference between the object light and the reference coherent light, a detector configured to detect an interference caused by the reference coherent light and object light for the each phase, and a processor configured to calculate an optical propagation based on the detected interference for the each phase.

Abstract: An interferometric method for detecting information about a sample includes emitting a laser beam; splitting the laser beam into a reference beam and an object beam; transmitting the object beam through the sample in an incident angle; combining the reference beam with the object beam passed through the sample to form an interference pattern; detecting the interference pattern, and non-linearly scanning the object beam in order to detect a plurality of interference patterns.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing speckle noise in an image of an object are disclosed. The method includes, placing the object in an interferometer at a first position along a beam path of an object beam, irradiating the object with the object beam, moving the object from the first position to a second position by longitudinally shifting the object along the beam path of the object beam, irradiating the object with the object beam at the second position. At each of the first and second positions a holographic image formed by interference between the object beam and a reference beam is recorded. An object image with reduced speckle noise is obtained by averaging the holographic images. Either an arithmetic mean or a weighted average may be used in the averaging of the holographic images.

Abstract: An optical system for a holographic microscope includes: a light source configured to emit a light beam; a grating configured to split the light beam into a reference beam and an object beam; a lens unit configured to irradiate a sample by the reference and object beams split by the grating; a spatial filter including a first region for the reference beam and a second region for the object beam; and a detector configured to detect an interference pattern caused by the reference and object beams.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spectroscopic imaging system using autofluorescence and reflectance images to diagnose tissue. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses a plurality of light sources to illuminate a tissue region to provide the fluorescence and reflectance images, respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring refractive index of an object are disclosed. The method includes, acquiring a number of first fringes of a first interference pattern formed by interference of a first beam of light transmitted through the object with a second beam of light not transmitted through the object; acquiring a number of second fringes of a second interference pattern formed by interference of a third beam of light reflected from a first surface of the object with a fourth beam of light transmitted through the object and reflected from a second surface of the object; and calculating the refractive index of the object based on the number of first fringes and the number of second fringes. The method may further include calculating the Abbe number of the object based on the refractive indices of the object measured at different wavelengths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fully quantitative spectroscopy imaging instrument for wide area detection of early cancer (dysplasia). This instrument provides quantitative maps of tissue biochemistry and morphology, making it a powerful surveillance tool for objective early cancer detection. The design, construction, calibration, and diagnostics applications of this system is described with the use of physical tissue models. Measurements were conducted on a resected colon adenoma, and the system can be used for vivo imaging in the oral cavity.

Abstract: A laser diode is employed to output light. A laser driver is employed to drive the laser diode. A laser driver control unit is employed to control the driving, such that carrier concentration of the laser is substantially forced to a desired concentration as photon level of the laser initially arrives at a desired level. In one embodiment, the laser driver outputs a drive pulse to drive the laser diode, with the drive pulse having a complex waveform. In one embodiment, the complex waveform includes different transition time periods, and transient rates to raise the drive pulse from an initial level to a peak level. In another embodiment, the complex waveform includes different transition time periods and transient rates to raise the drive pulse from an initial level to a transition peak level and then drop the drive pulse back to an intermediate low level and then finally transition to a final peak level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spectroscopic imaging system using autofluorescence and reflectance images to diagnose tissue. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses a plurality of light sources to illuminate a tissue region to provide the fluorescence and reflectance images, respectively.

Abstract: A laser diode is employed to output light. A laser driver is employed to drive the laser diode. A laser driver control unit is employed to control the driving, such that carrier concentration of the laser is substantially forced to a desired concentration as photon level of the laser initially arrives at a desired level. In one embodiment, the laser driver outputs a drive pulse to drive the laser diode, with the drive pulse having a complex waveform. In one embodiment, the complex waveform includes different transition time periods, and transient rates to raise the drive pulse from an initial level to a peak level. In another embodiment, the complex waveform includes different transition time periods and transient rates to raise the drive pulse from an initial level to a transition peak level and then drop the drive pulse back to an intermediate low level and then finally transition to a final peak level.