Abstract: Both the energy and velocity contents of received Doppler and time shift signals are simultaneously displayed. A continuous range of imaging modes are provided ranging from velocity imaging to energy imaging. The user may select the particular imaging mode desired for a particular clinical application.

Abstract: The energy, power or amplitude of Doppler or time shift information signals is compared to a threshold in order to select a large or small weighting factor for temporal persistence. In the event of a "flash" signal or strong arterial flow signal, a small weighting factor is chosen to reduce the extent of temporal persistence via feedback of the averaged value for the prior frames so that the effect of the "flash" or strong flow signal would quickly dissipate in the imaging of subsequent frames and good temporal resolution preserved for the current frames, while low energy flow signals would cause a large weighting factor to be selected to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of low energy signals. Similar effects can be achieved by clipping the signals to not exceed a certain threshold.

Abstract: A method of processing the interference signals form a correlation microscope to provide images of a surface being examined. The interference signals for a plurality of x,y locations at a plurality of z positions are transformed to provide an intensity envelope of the signals along the z axis for each x,y location. The intensity envelope can then be processed to provide desired images.

Abstract: A correlation microscope including an objective lens for focusing a light beam on an object plane and at least one thin pellicle acting as a beam splitter disposed to intercept the focused beam, a reference mirror between said objective lens and said pellicle to intercept the focused beam reflected by said beam splitter, and a lens for receiving energy reflected by said reference mirror and an object placed at said object plane and focusing the light at an image plane where an interference image is formed.