Abstract: An implementation cost of a line-scan optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus is reduced by miniaturizing a scanning mirror and using a light source with relaxed requirement in intensity uniformity. The mirror reflects a probe light beam to different parts of a sample for line-scanning the sample. A line-compressing lens compresses the probe light beam's cross-sectional length before the beam reaches the mirror, allowing the mirror to be miniaturized to reflect only the compressed beam. In generating a linear light beam that gives the probe light beam, a cascade of collimating lens, Powell lens and focusing lens generates the linear light beam from a raw light beam of a point source. A slit further filters the linear light beam to remove a peripheral portion thereof such that the linear light beam is substantially uniform in intensity even if an asymmetrical divergent light source is used.

Abstract: An implementation cost of a line-scan optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus is reduced by miniaturizing a scanning mirror and using a light source with relaxed requirement in intensity uniformity. The mirror reflects a probe light beam to different parts of a sample for line-scanning the sample. A line-compressing lens compresses the probe light beam's cross-sectional length before the beam reaches the mirror, allowing the mirror to be miniaturized to reflect only the compressed beam. In generating a linear light beam that gives the probe light beam, a cascade of collimating lens, Powell lens and focusing lens generates the linear light beam from a raw light beam of a point source. A slit further filters the linear light beam to remove a peripheral portion thereof such that the linear light beam is substantially uniform in intensity even if an asymmetrical divergent light source is used.

Abstract: The invention provides a chromatic confocal system for inspecting an object. The system comprises a first light modulator for providing a spatially modulated light beam arranged to project on one or more parts of the object to form a reflected light beam carrying image information of the one or more projected parts of the object; a second light modulator for spatially filtering the reflected light beam to form a light beam carrying filtered image information of the one or more projected parts of the object; wherein operation of the first light modulator and the second light modulator is synchronized such that the spatial filtering of the second light modulator varies in concert with variations in the spatial modulation of the first light modulator.

Abstract: The invention provides a chromatic confocal system for inspecting an object. The system comprises a first light modulator for providing a spatially modulated light beam arranged to project on one or more parts of the object to form a reflected light beam carrying image information of the one or more projected parts of the object; a second light modulator for spatially filtering the reflected light beam to form a light beam carrying filtered image information of the one or more projected parts of the object; wherein operation of the first light modulator and the second light modulator is synchronized such that the spatial filtering of the second light modulator varies in concert with variations in the spatial modulation of the first light modulator.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for inspecting a light transmissible optical component. The apparatus comprises an image capturing module arranged on a first side of a support configured to hold a light transmissible optical component whilst it is being inspected. The apparatus includes an illumination device configured to shape light from a light source and to illuminate a selected portion of a surface of said light transmissible optical component with said shaped light to enable the image capturing module to capture any of a bright field image, a dark field image, or a combined bright field and dark field image of the light transmissible optical component being held by the support.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a light transmissive optical component comprises an image capturing module arranged on a first side of a support configured to hold a light transmissive optical component while it is being inspected. One or more first illuminating means are arranged on the first side of the support and adapted to illuminate from a first side of a light transmissive optical component held by the support. One or more second illuminating means are arranged on a second side of the support and adapted to illuminate from a second side of the light transmissive optical component held by the support, the second side of the support opposing the first side of said support.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an imaging system, including: a first polarization element having a first polarization direction; a second polarization element having a second polarization direction; a third polarization element, where the third polarization element has multiple areas that respectively correspond to multiple pixel positions, each area in the multiple areas consists of a first semi-area and a second semi-area; a first projection device, projecting an image onto the multiple areas by using the first polarization element and based on the multiple pixel positions; and a second projection device, projecting an image onto the multiple areas by using the second polarization element and based on the multiple pixel positions. In the embodiments of the present invention, images from multiple views may be presented, by using a polarization element, in areas corresponding to pixel positions, which, therefore, can improve imaging resolution.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an imaging system, including: a first polarization element having a first polarization direction; a second polarization element having a second polarization direction; a third polarization element, where the third polarization element has multiple areas that respectively correspond to multiple pixel positions, each area in the multiple areas consists of a first semi-area and a second semi-area; a first projection device, projecting an image onto the multiple areas by using the first polarization element and based on the multiple pixel positions; and a second projection device, projecting an image onto the multiple areas by using the second polarization element and based on the multiple pixel positions. In the embodiments of the present invention, images from multiple views may be presented, by using a polarization element, in areas corresponding to pixel positions, which, therefore, can improve imaging resolution.