Abstract: An optical system that behaves like an integrated low pass filter with an adjustable optical cutoff frequency. The filter behavior is “integrated” in the sense that the overall design of the optical system results in the low pass filter characteristic, rather than having a separate, discrete component that implements the low pass filtering. The filter behavior is “adjustable” in the sense that the optical system can be adjusted in a manner that changes the optical cutoff frequency of the MTF. For example, moving certain optical components within the optical system may cause the change in cutoff frequency.

Abstract: A superresolution electro-optic imaging system operates in a manner that takes into account the different subsystems. For example, rather than designing the optical subsystem to be diffraction-limited, the optical subsystem can be designed in a manner that is better suited for subsequent superresolution processing and/or that reduces aliasing effects.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus with a flexible probe suitable for determining properties of in vivo tissue from spectral information collected from various tissue sites. An illumination system provides light at a plurality of broadband ranges, which are communicated to a flexible optical probe. Light homogenizers and mode scramblers can be employed to improve the performance in some embodiments. The optical probe in some embodiments physically contacts the tissue, and in some embodiments does not physically contact the tissue. The optical probe receives light from the illumination system and transmits it to tissue, and receives light diffusely reflected in response to the broadband light, emitted from the in vivo tissue by fluorescence thereof in response to the broadband light, or a combination thereof. The optical probe can communicate the light to a spectrograph which produces a signal representative of the spectral properties of the light.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus suitable for determining properties of in vivo tissue from spectral information collected from various tissue sites. An illumination system provides light at a plurality of broadband ranges, which are communicated to an optical probe. The optical probe can be a flexible probe in some embodiments, allowing ease of application. Light homogenizers and mode scramblers can be employed to improve the performance in some embodiments. The optical probe in some embodiments physically contacts the tissue, and in some embodiments does not physically contact the tissue. The optical probe receives light from the illumination system and transmits it to tissue, and receives light diffusely reflected in response to the broadband light, emitted from the in vivo tissue by fluorescence thereof in response to the broadband light, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Metadata is generated for rich media content from a document or workflow that is associated with the rich media content. When rich media content is included in a document or workflow, text is extracted from the document or workflow that is relevant to the rich media content. The text is filtered into keyphrases and added to a metadata file associated with the rich media content.

Abstract: Adjustments to the optical subsystem of an electro-optic imaging system take into account different subsystems within the overall electro-optic imaging system. In one implementation, end-to-end imaging performance is predicted based on determining propagation of a source through the optical subsystem, the detector subsystem and the digital image processing subsystem. The optical subsystem is then adjusted after taking into account these other subsystems. For example, the compensators for the optical subsystem and the digital image processing subsystem may be jointly adjusted based on a post-processing performance metric that takes into account the effects of the image processing. Unlike in conventional approaches, the intermediate optical image produced by the optical subsystem is not required to be high image quality since, for example, the image may be subsequently improved by other adjustments in the digital image processing subsystem.

Abstract: A unified design strategy takes into account different subsystems within an overall electro-optic imaging system. In one implementation, the design methodology predicts end-to-end imaging performance using a spatial model for the source and models for the optical subsystem, the detector subsystem and the digital image processing subsystem. The optical subsystem and digital image processing subsystems are jointly designed taking into account the entire system. The intermediate image produced by the optical subsystem is not required to be high quality since, for example, the quality may be corrected by the digital image processing subsystem.

Abstract: A unified design strategy takes into account different subsystems within an overall electro-optic imaging system. In one implementation, the design methodology predicts end-to-end imaging performance using a spatial model for the source and models for the optical subsystem, the detector subsystem and the digital image processing subsystem. The optical subsystem and digital image processing subsystems are jointly designed taking into account the entire system. The intermediate image produced by the optical subsystem is not required to be high quality since, for example, the quality may be corrected by the digital image processing subsystem.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of optical skin measurements to determine skin properties such as surface topography, hydration, elasticity, pigmentation intensity or uniformity, dermal thickness, dermal perfusion, presence or concentration or composition of oil on or near the surface, and apparent age of the skin. An apparatus according to the present invention can comprise a skin positioning system for positioning the skin relative to other parts of the apparatus. An illumination system, adapted to produce illumination radiation, can mount with the skin positioning system such that illumination radiation impinges on a first portion of the skin at a first determined angle thereto. A detection system can mount with the skin positioning system such that radiation from a second portion of the skin at a second determined angle therefrom impinges on the detector.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for accurate noninvasive determination of tissue properties. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise an optical sampler having an illumination subsystem, adapted to communicate light having a first polarization to a tissue surface; a collection subsystem, adapted to collect light having a second polarization communicated from the tissue after interaction with the tissue; wherein the first polarization is different from the second polarization. The difference in the polarizations can discourage collection of light specularly reflected from the tissue surface, and can encourage preferential collection of light that has interacted with a desired depth of penetration or path length distribution in the tissue. The different polarizations can, as examples, be linear polarizations with an angle between, or elliptical polarizations of different handedness.

Abstract: A preform for preparation of optical fibers is prepared by inserting a rod of a higher index of refraction fluoride glass into the bore of a hollow cylinder of a lower index of refraction fluoride glass fiber. This preform precursor is processed to collapse the hollow cylinder inwardly to form a composite preform having a high-refractive index core and a low-refractive index casing. The preparing of the glasses and processing to a preform are accomplished in a reactive environment that reacts and removes oxygen and hydrogen containing species from the glass, the reactive environment being, for example, Cl.sub.2, CCl.sub.4, SF.sub.6, BF.sub.3, CF.sub.4, or the decomposition products of a liquefied solid fluorocarbon. The preform is then drawn to an optical fiber.