Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical imaging device capable of responding to a writing long-wave radiation (w) emitted by any object or scene.

Abstract: A fast spectral modulator for modulating intensity, phase, and spectrum of light beam, is described in the present invention. The spectral modulator comprises at least one liquid crystal composite and a photonic structure. Said at least one liquid crystal composite is made of a liquid crystal and porous microparticles infiltrated within said liquid crystal, wherein: (i) said porous microparticles have an average refractive index approximately equals to one of the liquid crystal principal refractive indices; and (ii) concentration of said microparticles in said composite is less than 0.1% for avoiding significant light scattering.

Abstract: The present invention describes a liquid crystal composite tuneable device for fast polarisation-independent modulation of an incident light beam comprising: (a) two supporting and functional panels, at least one of them coated with a transparent conductive electrode layer and with optionally at least one additional layer selected from an alignment layer, antireflective coating layer, thermochromic or electrochromic layer, photoconductive or photosensitive layer, and (b) a composite structure sandwiched between said two panels and made of a liquid crystal and porous microparticles infiltrated with said liquid crystal. The porous microparticles have an average refractive index approximately equals to one of the liquid crystal principal refractive indices, matching that of the liquid crystal at one orientational state (for example, parallel n?), and exhibiting large mismatch at another orientational state (for example, perpendicular n?).

Abstract: The present invention describes a liquid crystal composite tuneable device for fast polarisation-independent modulation of an incident light beam comprising: (a) two supporting and functional panels, at least one of them coated with a transparent conductive electrode layer and with optionally at least one additional layer selected from an alignment layer, antireflective coating layer, thermochromic or electrochromic layer, photoconductive or photosensitive layer, and (b) a composite structure sandwiched between said two panels and made of a liquid crystal and porous microparticles infiltrated with said liquid crystal. The porous microparticles have an average refractive index approximately equals to one of the liquid crystal principal refractive indices, matching that of the liquid crystal at one orientational state (for example, parallel n?), and exhibiting large mismatch at another orientational state (for example, perpendicular n?).

Abstract: The present invention describes a liquid crystal composite tunable device for fast polarisation-independent modulation of an incident light beam comprising: (a) two supporting and functional panels, at least one of them coated with a transparent conductive electrode layer and with optionally at least one additional layer selected from an alignment layer, antireflective coating layer, thermochromic or electrochromic layer, photoconductive or photosensitive layer, and (b) a composite structure sandwiched between said two panels and made of a liquid crystal and porous microparticles infiltrated with said liquid crystal. The porous microparticles have an average refractive index approximately equals to one of the liquid crystal principal refractive indices, matching that of the liquid crystal at one orientational state (for example, parallel n?), and exhibiting large mismatch at another orientational state (for example, perpendicular n?).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical imaging device capable of responding to a writing long-wave radiation (w) emitted by any object or scene.

Abstract: The present invention describes a liquid crystal composite tunable device for fast polarisation-independent modulation of an incident light beam comprising: (a) two supporting and functional panels, at least one of them coated with a transparent conductive electrode layer and with optionally at least one additional layer selected from an alignment layer, antireflective coating layer, thermochromic or electrochromic layer, photoconductive or photosensitive layer, and (b) a composite structure sandwiched between said two panels and made of a liquid crystal and porous microparticles infiltrated with said liquid crystal. The porous microparticles have an average refractive index approximately equals to one of the liquid crystal principal refractive indices, matching that of the liquid crystal at one orientational state (for example, parallel n?), and exhibiting large mismatch at another orientational state (for example, perpendicular n?).

Abstract: The present invention describes a liquid crystal composite tunable device for fast polarisation-independent modulation of an incident light beam comprising: (a) two supporting and functional panels, at least one of them coated with a transparent conductive electrode layer and with optionally at least one additional layer selected from an alignment layer, antireflective coating layer, thermochromic or electrochromic layer, photoconductive or photosensitive layer, and (b) a composite structure sandwiched between said two panels and made of a liquid crystal and porous microparticles infiltrated with said liquid crystal. The porous microparticles have an average refractive index approximately equals to one of the liquid crystal principal refractive indices, matching that of the liquid crystal at one orientational state (for example, parallel n?), and exhibiting large mismatch at another orientational state (for example, perpendicular n?).

Abstract: The present invention describes a liquid crystal composite tunable device for fast polarisation-independent modulation of an incident light beam comprising: (a) two supporting and functional panels, at least one of them coated with a transparent conductive electrode layer and with optionally at least one additional layer selected from an alignment layer, antireflective coating layer, thermochromic or electrochromic layer, photoconductive or photosensitive layer, and (b) a composite structure sandwiched between said two panels and made of a liquid crystal and porous microparticles infiltrated with said liquid crystal. The porous microparticles have an average refractive index approximately equals to one of the liquid crystal principal refractive indices, matching that of the liquid crystal at one orientational state (for example, parallel n?), and exhibiting large mismatch at another orientational state (for example, perpendicular n?).

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of surface waves based optical devices particularly tuneable optical filter, optical biosensors and spatial light modulators. An optical sensor and tuneable filter is disclosed based on high contrast periodic structures deposited on a substrate and using a compact reading method for low detection limit using a one dimensionally diverging quasi-monochromatic beam and a camera.

Abstract: A system is described that combines spectropolarimetry with scatterometry. The system uses an annular mirror and liquid crystal devices to control the angle of the incident light cone, the polarization and wavelength, an imaging setup and one or more video cameras so that spectroscopic-polarimetric-scatterometric images can be grabbed rapidly. The system is also designed to incorporate additional imaging modes such as interference, phase contrast, fluorescence and Raman spectropolarimetric imaging.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining an overlay error between at least two layers in a multiple layer sample. An imaging optical system is used to measure multiple measured optical signals from multiple periodic targets on the sample, and the targets each have a first structure in a first layer and a second structure in a second layer. There are predefined offsets between the first and second structures A scatterometry overlay technique is used to analyze the measured optical signals of the periodic targets and the predefined offsets of the first and second structures of the periodic targets to thereby determine an overlay error between the first and second structures of the periodic targets. The scatterometry overlay technique is a phase based technique, and the imaging optical system is configured to have an illumination and/or collection numerical aperture (NA) and/or spectral band selected so that a specific diffraction order is collected and measured for the plurality of measured optical signals.

Abstract: Herein is provided a simplified method for performing multiple wavelength phase shift interferometry measurements that is implemented by modulating each of the monochromatic light sources with a different carrier frequency, combining them to a single beam, detecting all wavelengths simultaneously using the same detectors and separating them via Fourier analysis and demodulation of the data. This approach offers both a simplification to the optical system and reduces the duration of time required to perform the multiple wavelength measurement, based on a simple data extraction algorithm decoding the information for each wavelength. When combined with the parallel phase shift orthogonal polarization interferometric microscopy this method provides fast, stable, high precision 3D imaging and displacements sensing. Also disclosed are embodiments of optical systems designed to carry out the method.

Abstract: A system is described that combines spectropolarimetry with scatterometry. The system uses an annular mirror and liquid crystal devices to control the angle of the incident light cone, the polarization and wavelength, an imaging setup and one or more video cameras so that spectroscopic-polarimetric-scatterometric images can be grabbed rapidly. The system is also designed to incorporate additional imaging modes such as interference, phase contrast, fluorescence and Raman spectropolarimetric imaging.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method that enable obtaining ultra-high resolution interference, phase and OCT images at high speed. The system uses neither mechanical moving elements nor any optical/electro optical modulating means for obtaining the OCT images. Two OCT operating modes are available: for ultra-high resolution the system allows either spatial coherence TD-FF-OCT or temporal coherence TD-FF-OCT imaging, whereas for high resolution and ultra-high speed the system allows FD-FF-OCT imaging with full range imaging. In the TD mode, the OCT enface images are obtained in real time. In the FD mode, the 2D complex signal is reconstructed in real time. In both cases the method has the advantage of very high speed imaging with great immunity to noise.

Abstract: A system is described that combines spectropolarimetry with scatterometry. The system uses an annular mirror and liquid crystal devices to control the angle of the incident light cone, the polarization and wavelength, an imaging setup and one or more video cameras so that spectroseopic-polarimetric-scatterometric images can be grabbed rapidly. The system is also designed to incorporate additional imaging modes such as interference, phase contrast, fluorescence and Raman spectropolarimetric imaging.

Abstract: A method and system to measure misalignment error between two overlying or interlaced periodic structures are proposed. The overlying or interlaced periodic structures are illuminated by incident radiation, and the diffracted radiation of the incident radiation by the overlying or interlaced periodic structures are detected to provide an output signal. The misalignment between the overlying or interlaced periodic structures may then be determined from the output signal.

Abstract: The invention is a tunable achromatic wave plate comprised of two or more retarders made of electrooptic or magnetooptic materials arranged at different orientations with respect to each other and at least one voltage source configured to tune the retardation dispersion of each of the retarders by applying an external electric or magnetic field to each retarder separately. Also described are examples of optical systems in which the invention can be employed.

Abstract: The invention is an optical system for up-conversion of SWIR images into visible images. The optical system of the invention comprises a liquid crystal optically addressed spatial light modulator (LC-OASLM), which acts as an optical valve, and two optionally GRADIUM lenses to reduce the size and complexity of the optical setup. In embodiments of the invention, the photosensitive layer is replaced by a photodiode or array of photodiodes and the liquid crystal layer is replaced by an array (film) of organic light emitting diodes which emit light at the VIS by collecting SWIR light or by a fluorescence layer with sensitivity in the SWIR range.

Abstract: The invention is a SPR sensor that comprises a multi-layered plasmonic structure on a substrate for sensing. The SPR sensor has an enhanced figure of merit and lower limit of detection (system noise divided by the sensitivity) by at least two orders of magnitude than prior art SPR sensors. The plasmonic structure of the invention comprises a Nanostructured Porous Metal Layer (NPML) and at least one of: (a) buried dielectric layer under the nano-porous metal layer; (b) a nano-dimensional high index layer on top of the metal layer; and (c) a molecular layer for bio-functionalization adjacent to an analyte layer. The invention also encompasses many embodiments of measuring systems that comprise the SPR sensors of the invention with improved signal to noise ratio.