Abstract: The invention relates to applications of optical interference. It is already known to reduce speckle contrast by introducing arbitrary phase shifts in the reference light beam. According to the invention, such phase shifts are not introduced arbitrarily, but systematically whereby the phase changes are synchronised with the acquisition time intervals in such a way that interference fringes can be washed out in selected regions of the beam diameter maintaining high contrast of interference fringes in the desired regions at the same time. This technique can be used for enhancing the lateral resolution in imaging techniques and the bandwidth in optical communications.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomographic imaging apparatus capable of shortening the time required for focus adjustment and reducing the burden on an object is provided. The apparatus includes a first focus unit that moves a first optical focus member disposed in a light-receiving optical system of an optical observation system that obtains an observed image of an object, and a second focus unit that moves a second optical focus member disposed in an optical interference system that acquires a tomographic image of the object in conjunction with a movement of the first optical focus member.

Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first fundus image of an eye and a second fundus image of the eye; a first generation unit configured to generate, by performing processing of enhancing contrast of a first characteristic region of a part of the first fundus image, an image which corresponds to the first characteristic region; a second generation unit configured to generate, by performing processing of enhancing contrast of a second characteristic region of a part of the second fundus image which corresponds to the first characteristic region, an image which corresponds to the second characteristic region; and a correction unit configured to correct an acquisition position of a tomographic image of the eye based on a positional displacement between the images which respectively correspond to the first and second characteristic regions.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomographic imaging apparatus capable of shortening the time required for focus adjustment and reducing the burden on an object is provided. The apparatus includes a first focus unit that moves a first optical focus member disposed in a light-receiving optical system of an optical observation system that obtains an observed image of an object, and a second focus unit that moves a second optical focus member disposed in an optical interference system that acquires a tomographic image of the object in conjunction with a movement of the first optical focus member.

Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first fundus image of an eye and a second fundus image of the eye; a first generation unit configured to generate, by performing processing of enhancing contrast of a first, characteristic region of a part of the first fundus image, an image which corresponds to the first characteristic region; a second generation unit configured to generate, by performing processing of enhancing contrast of a second characteristic region of a part of the second fundus image which corresponds to the first characteristic region, an image which corresponds to the second characteristic region; and a correction unit configured to correct an acquisition position of a tomographic image of the eye based, on a positional displacement between the images which respectively correspond to the first and second characteristic regions.