Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided, in which an observation volume is defined by a volume where light from illumination means and a field of view of detection means overlap. The central axes of said light from the illumination means and said field of view of the detection means are non-parallel, and the sample is transported through the observation volume during imaging, preferably by rotation of a sample container holding the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a includes an light source for illuminating the sample simultaneously in a line focus or an array of foci; and a sensor for detecting photons emitted or scattered from the sample simultaneously in an array of fields of view. An array of sub-observation volumes in the sample, from which photons are emitted or scattered during imaging, is defined by the volumes in space where the line focus or array of foci from the light source overlap with the corresponding array of field of views of the sensor. A cylindrical sample holder holds the sample at a surface and is rotatably arranged such that at least a portion of the sample can be transported through at least one of the sub-observation volumes by rotating the sample holder. The apparatus can be used in a high-throughput method of imaging.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a includes an light source for illuminating the sample simultaneously in a line focus or an array of foci; and a sensor for detecting photons emitted or scattered from the sample simultaneously in an array of fields of view. An array of sub-observation volumes in the sample, from which photons are emitted or scattered during imaging, is defined by the volumes in space where the line focus or array of foci from the light source overlap with the corresponding array of field of views of the sensor. A cylindrical sample holder holds the sample at a surface and is rotatably arranged such that at least a portion of the sample can be transported through at least one of the sub-observation volumes by rotating the sample holder. The apparatus can be used in a high-throughput method of imaging.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided, in which an observation volume is defined by a volume where light from illumination means and a field of view of detection means overlap. The central axes of said light from the illumination means and said field of view of the detection means are non-parallel, and the sample is transported through the observation volume during imaging, preferably by rotation of a sample container holding the sample.

Abstract: The invention is a spectrally selective optical coupler with a new geometry and a new principle of action. An optical coupler according to the invention comprises an optical fiber and an external lightguide. In the fiber there is provided a deflector that is operative to deflect light of a predetermined wavelength into a propagating mode of said lightguide. The outcoupled light is transferred to a region remote from the outcoupling portion of the fiber. The invention can be used to couple light from a first to a second optical fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the topography, shape, or form of (machined) objects is disclosed. The apparatus operative to perform consecutive measurements of the optical path difference (OPD) between a reference surface on one hand and a series of laterally displaced points on one or more partially reflecting surfaces of an object on the other hand. The inventive apparatus comprises light source means for emitting light that is swept in optical frequency; means for exposing said surfaces to light from said light source means; means for combining and detecting the light reflected back by said surfaces; means for performing a frequency analysis of the detected signal; and means for calculating OPD from the obtained frequencies. The speed of the frequency sweep is preferably above 50 GHz/?s.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and arrangements for channel balancing of a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal. Channel balancing according to the invention is performed by using a resonator that provides a selection region in which a selected channel has a substantially increased poser density relative to channels out of resonance. The selected channel is attenuated a desired amount, i.e. a desired amount of power is removed therefrom, by adjusting the properties of the selection region. In a preferred embodiment, attenuation is achieved by adjusting the selection region such that destructive interference is obtained for the selected channel in a fiber carrying tile multiplexed optical signal.

Abstract: The invention is a spectrally selective optical coupler with a new geometry and a new principle of action. An optical coupler according to the invention comprises an optical fiber and an external lightguide. In the fiber there is provided a deflector that is operative to deflect light of a predetermined wavelength into a propagating mode of said lightguide. The outcoupled light is transferred to a region remote from the outcoupling portion of the fiber. The invention can be used to couple light from a first to a second optical fiber.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and arrangements for channel balancing of a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal. Channel balancing according to the invention is performed by using a resonator that provides a selection region in which a selected channel has a substantially increased poser density relative to channels out of resonance. The selected channel is attenuated a desired amount, i.e. a desired amount of power is removed therefrom, by adjusting the properties of the selection region. In a preferred embodiment, attenuation is achieved by adjusting the selection region such that destructive interference is obtained for the selected channel in a fibre carrying tile multiplexed optical signal.

Abstract: A method of establishing transmission of light through a chirped Bragg-reflector, a method of analyzing the power spectrum of a light signal using a chirped Bragg-reflector, and an arrangement for analyzing the power spectrum of a light signal. The Bragg-reflector reflects, in an unperturbed state, essentially all incident light within a predefined wavelength range. The methods include the steps of directing the light to be analyzed into an input end of a light guiding structure, such as an optical fiber, which light guiding structure is provided with a Bragg-reflector, and sending an acoustic pulse along the light guiding structure, thereby effectively lowering the reflectance of the Bragg-reflector for a certain wavelength at a certain time. By monitoring the light thus transmitted through the Bragg-reflector, a power spectrum analysis of the incident light is obtained.

Abstract: The invention is a spectrally selective optical coupler with a new geometry and a new principle of action. An optical coupler according to the invention includes an optical waveguide and an external resonator. In the waveguide, there is provided a deflector that is operative to deflect light of a predetermined wavelength into the external resonator. Coupling is enhanced by the deflected wavelength being resonant in the external resonator.

Abstract: A method of establishing transmission of light through a chirped Bragg-reflector, a method of analyzing the power spectrum of a light signal using a chirped Bragg-reflector, and an arrangement for analyzing the power spectrum of a light signal. The Bragg-reflector reflects, in an unperturbed state, essentially all incident light within a predefined wavelength range. The methods include the steps of directing the light to be analyzed into an input end of a light-guiding structure, such as an optical fiber, which light-guiding structure is provided with a Bragg-reflector, and sending an acoustic pulse along the light-guiding structure, thereby effectively lowering the reflectance of the Bragg-reflector for a certain wavelength at a certain time. By monitoring the light thus transmitted through the Bragg-reflector, a power spectrum analysis of the incident light is obtained.

Abstract: There is shown an arrangement for detecting elastic deformation of a tool shaft carried by a machine tool and, in turn, carrying a cutting bit. An optical fibre section is mounted in or on the shaft at a distance from its neutral bending line in the longitudinal direction of said shaft. The optical fibre section, which follows the elastic deformation of the shaft, extends parallel with and at a constant distance fro the neutral bending axis of said shaft, so that elongation of the fibre section forms a measurement of bending of the shaft in an axial plane that includes the optical fibre section. The optical fibre section has at least two longitudinally spaced partial reflection means and means are connected to the optical fibre section to determine interferometrically a change in distance between the partial reflection means in the optical fibre section, wherein the change in distance forms a measurement of shaft curvature between the two partial reflection means.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the curvature of an elongated channel, such as a drill hole in rock for instance, wherein the apparatus includes a probe (1) which may be constructed for movement through the channel and to assume the curvature of the channel at the different positions into which the probe is moved along the channel, wherein the probe (1) includes means (3, 31, 10) for sensing the curvature of the probe, and thus also the curvature of the channel, between at least two longitudinally spaced positions (A, B) on the probe (1), and wherein the apparatus can be connected to means (10) for determining the extension of the channel by registering curvature of the probe, for instance in different positions of the probe along the channel.