Abstract: An apparatus for spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE) comprising an illumination element, a detection light guiding element, a rotary element, and a two-dimensional sensor. The illumination element is configured to direct an illumination light beam towards a sample. The detection light guiding element is configured to collect a reflected light beam from the sample. At least one of the illumination element and the detection light guiding element is configured to spectrally dispersed the illumination light beam or the reflected light beam, respectively. The rotary element is configured to rotate or oscillate the reflected light beam. The reflected light beam is guided from the rotary element to the two-dimensional sensor.

Abstract: Exemplary apparatus, systems, methods of making, and methods of using a configuration in an optical arrangement for spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE) probe can be provided. For example, the probe can comprise a fixed guiding portion and a rotatable dispersive portion.

Abstract: A forward-viewing spectrally encoded endoscope (SEE) probe includes a light guiding component, a light focusing component, and a grating component arranged along a longitudinal axis of a drive cable. The SEE probe is configured for guiding light from the light guiding component, through the light focusing component, and to the grating component, and then forwarding a spectrally dispersed light line from the grating component towards an image plane. One or more of the light guiding component, the light focusing component, and the grating component is arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive cable so that at least one wavelength of the spectrally dispersed light line goes to the direction of axis of the drive cable.

Abstract: Exemplary apparatus, systems, methods of making, and methods of using a configuration in an optical arrangement for forward viewing spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE) probe can be provided. For example, the probe can comprise a light focusing component, a light guiding component, a light reflecting component, and a grating component.

Abstract: Exemplary method and system for providing a diffractive configuration in an optical arrangement are provided. For example, a material can be provided with at least one patterned surface having a very high aspect ratio. The material can be connected with at least one portion of a waveguide arrangement using a pre-polymer adhesive composition. Further, the pre-polymer adhesive composition can be caused to polymerize so as to form the diffractive configuration which at least approximately replicates a structure or at least one feature of the patterned surface.

Abstract: Two-dimensional image acquiring apparatuses, systems, methods and storage mediums are provided herein. An apparatus includes a Spectrally Encoded Endoscopy (“SEE”) probe including a diffractive element, the diffractive element operating to separate and diffract a transmitted light into separated light beams such that the diffracted light beams are superposed or substantially superposed on a target region; an image sensor that operates to acquire one or more intensities from a detected light; and an imaging optical system that operates to image light beams separated from the detected light, wherein the diffractive element, the imaging optical system, and the sensor are disposed for each of the light beams separated from the detected light to acquire spectral data of each of the light beams separated from the detected light. The diffractive element operates to rotate such that an image of the image sensor is changed, and a two-dimensional image is acquired.

Abstract: An apparatus for spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE) comprising an illumination element, a detection light guiding element, a rotary element, and a two-dimensional sensor. The illumination element is configured to direct an illumination light beam towards a sample. The detection light guiding element is configured to collect a reflected light beam from the sample. At least one of the illumination element and the detection light guiding element is configured to spectrally dispersed the illumination light beam or the reflected light beam, respectively. The rotary element is configured to rotate or oscillate the reflected light beam. The reflected light beam is guided from the rotary element to the two-dimensional sensor.

Abstract: A probe can be provided having a grating adapted for color spectrally encoded imaging. The probe can include a waveguide configuration, a light focusing configuration, and a grating configuration that can have a first grating pattern and a second grating pattern. The waveguide configuration can be configured and/or structured to cause to propagate a light having a first wavelength and a light having a second wavelength to propagate from the waveguide component, and the light focusing and waveguide configurations can provide the light to be incident on the grating configuration. The grating configuration can be configured and arranged such that the light having the first wavelength is diffracted by the first grating pattern to substantially the same location as the light having the second wavelength is diffracted by the second grating pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least: a first waveguide; a second waveguide; and a diffractive element. The first waveguide guides a first band of onto the diffractive element such that the first band is diffracted at an mth non-zero order over a first range of angles. The second waveguide guides a second band onto the diffractive element such that the second band is diffracted at the mth non-zero over the first range of angles. The second waveguide guides a third band onto the diffractive element such that the third band is diffracted at the nth non-zero order over the first range of angles. Wavelengths of the first band, the second band, and the third band do not overlap with each other. The mth order and the nth order are different from each other.

Abstract: A first stepped structure configured to apply a reflectance difference and a second stepped structure configured to change a far field light intensity distribution are provided. A region in which a level difference of the first stepped structure is formed has a predetermined relationship with a region in which a level difference of the second stepped structure is formed.

Abstract: A spectrally encoded endoscopic probe. The probe has a light guiding component, a light focusing component, and a grating component. The probe is configured such that a set of light beams of multiple wavelengths are diffracted by the grating component in different orders at substantially the same angle. The set of light beams includes at least 3 light beams. Each light beam among the set of light beams is associated with a different wavelength.

Abstract: Exemplary apparatus, systems, methods of making, and methods of using a configuration in an optical arrangement for spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE) probe can be provided. For example, the probe can comprise a fixed guiding portion and a rotatable dispersive portion.

Abstract: Exemplary spectrally encoded probes are provided having forward view capabilities. These probes are configured such that the detection element comprises a plurality of light collecting components, where the distal ends at least partially surround the illumination element and the proximal ends form a linear array that is optically connected to a dispersive component.

Abstract: A probe can be provided having a grating adapted for color spectrally encoded imaging. The probe can include a waveguide configuration, a light focusing configuration, and a grating configuration that can have a first grating pattern and a second grating pattern. The waveguide configuration can be configured and/or structured to cause to propagate a light having a first wavelength and a light having a second wavelength to propagate from the waveguide component, and the light focusing and waveguide configurations can provide the light to be incident on the grating configuration. The grating configuration can be configured and arranged such that the light having the first wavelength is diffracted by the first grating pattern to substantially the same location as the light having the second wavelength is diffracted by the second grating pattern.

Abstract: Exemplary method and system for providing a diffractive configuration in an optical arrangement are provided. For example, a material can be provided with at least one patterned surface having a very high aspect ratio. The material can be connected with at least one portion of a waveguide arrangement using a pre-polymer adhesive composition. Further, the pre-polymer adhesive composition can be caused to polymerize so as to form the diffractive configuration which at least approximately replicates a structure or at least one feature of the patterned surface.

Abstract: Exemplary apparatus, systems, methods of making, and methods of using a configuration in an optical arrangement for forward viewing spectrally encoded endoscopy (SEE) probe can be provided. For example, the probe can comprise a light focusing component, a light guiding component, a light reflecting component, and a grating component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surface emitting laser that provides a sufficient optical output and is suitable as a light source intended for electrophotographic apparatuses, and a surface-emitting-laser array and an image forming apparatus each including the surface emitting laser. The surface emitting laser includes a first stepped structure on a front surface of a front mirror. In the first stepped structure, a difference L between an optical path length in a first area and an optical path length in a second area satisfies the following expression: (¼+N)?<|L|<(¾+N)? where N is an integer.

Abstract: A surface emitting laser includes a stepped structure including portions having different thicknesses. The optical path length from a plane defined above the stepped structure and extending parallel to a base substrate to an interface between a front mirror and the stepped structure is set to a specific value in each of the portions of the stepped structure.

Abstract: There is provided a surface emitting laser allowing a direction of a far-field pattern (FFP) centroid to be inclined from a normal direction of a substrate providing the surface emitting laser, comprising: a substrate; a lower reflecting mirror, an active layer, an upper reflecting mirror stacked on the substrate; and a surface relief structure located in an upper portion of a light emitting surface of the upper reflecting mirror, the surface relief structure being made of a material allowing at least some beams emitted from the surface emitting laser to be transmitted therethrough, a plurality of regions having a predetermined optical thickness in a normal direction of the substrate being formed in contact with other region in an in-plane direction of the substrate, and a distribution of the optical thickness in the in-plane direction of the substrate is asymmetric to a central axis of the light emitting regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surface emitting laser that provides a sufficient optical output and is suitable as a light source intended for electrophotographic apparatuses, and a surface-emitting-laser array and an image forming apparatus each including the surface emitting laser. The surface emitting laser includes a first stepped structure on a front surface of a front mirror. In the first stepped structure, a difference L between an optical path length in a first area and an optical path length in a second area satisfies the following expression: (¼+N)?<|L|<(¾+N)? where N is an integer.