Abstract: A system and method for determining at least one of: a disease state, a metabolic state, a clinical outcome, and a disease progression of a test renal or prostate sample. A test Raman data set is obtained from the sample wherein said test Raman data set may comprise at least one of a plurality of Raman spectra and a plurality of spatially accurate wavelength resolved Raman images. The test Raman data set is compared to a plurality of reference Raman data sets using a chemometric technique. For analysis of renal samples, each of these reference Raman data sets may have an associated known renal sample and an associated known metabolic state, clinical outcome, and/or disease progression. For analysis of prostate samples, each of these reference Raman data sets may have an associated known prostate sample and an associated known disease state, metabolic state, clinical outcome, and/or disease progression.

Abstract: An optical measuring system has a first optical measuring instrument and a second optical measuring instrument. The optical measuring system includes a first optical path to guide a first beam from a measuring region to the first optical measuring instrument, a second optical path to guide a second beam from the measuring region to the second optical measuring instrument, an optical system through which the first and second optical paths extend and in which the first and second optical paths are paraxial, a reflection area to change the direction of the first optical path, the second optical path crossing the reflection area, and a light transmission area arranged at a position where the reflection area and second optical path cross each other, the light transmission area having a higher light transmittance than the reflection area.

Abstract: A miniaturized spectrometer/spectrophotometer system and methods are disclosed. A probe tip including one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers is provided. A first spectrometer system receives light from a first set of the plurality of light receivers. A second spectrometer system receives light from a second set of the plurality of light receivers. A processor, wherein the processor receives data generated by the first spectrometer system and the second spectrometer system, wherein an optical measurement of a sample under test is produced based on the data generated by the first and second spectrometer systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved capillaries that lead to increased resolution in conventional capillary-flow cytometers. The cross-sectional shape of capillaries made according to the present invention lack a center of symmetry. In some embodiments, capillaries have inner side walls that are tilted at angles with respect to the collection-system optical axis so that the widest dimension of the inner bore is closest to the collection optical system and have an outer wall closest to the collection optical system with a dimension large enough to minimize the contribution of outer-wall refraction to the collected light signal. Exemplary capillary embodiments include tubes with a rectangular outer wall and a trapezoidal inner wall, a rectangular outer wall and a triangular inner wall, triangular outer and inner walls, a triangular outer wall with a trapezoidal inner wall, and a hemispherical or rhomboid outer wall and trapezoidal or triangular inner wall.

Abstract: A method for differentiating malignant in vivo liver tissues from normal in vivo liver tissues of a living subject includes the steps of: (a) illuminating a first area and a second area of in vivo liver tissues of the living subject with a first excitation light, (b) measuring an intensity of fluorescent light emitted from each of the first area and the second area of in vivo liver tissues in response to the first excitation light as a function of wavelength so as to obtain a first and a second fluorescent spectra, respectively, (c) illuminating the first area and the second area of in vivo liver tissues with a second excitation light, (d) measuring an intensity of diffuse light reflected by each of the first area and the second area of in vivo liver tissues in response to the second excitation light as a function of wavelength so as to obtain a first and a second diffused reflectance spectra, respectively, and (e) identifying one of the first area and the second area of in vivo liver tissues as malignant liv

Abstract: An illumination and detection architecture that illuminates a target for detecting a material of interest. The architecture includes an illumination component that illuminates the target using a predetermined light wavelength known to energize and thereby cause a detectable change in the desired chemical and/or compounds associated with the target in a particular way. The change is then captured by an image capture system and processed to determine the presence or absence detected of the desired material of interest at the target.

Abstract: An apparatus that can measure both haze and clarity on a web moving at conventional manufacturing speeds. The apparatus uses an integrating sphere and a novel mirror arrangement. With this arrangement, the invention can utilize a calibration curve created using known samples over the range of measurement desired to convert in real time, and the response of two photo detectors that measure the wide and low angle scattering signals, to deduce the desired optical property values. This approach significantly increases the speed and response of sensor and enables either on-line single point or full web scanning for uniformity measurement and control.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining the birefringence autocorrelation length of a fiber in a non-destructive manner. The PMD of an optical fiber is measured over a first optical spectrum. A Faraday rotation angle is measured over a second optical spectrum. The birefringence autocorrelation length is determined from the measuring of the PMD and the Faraday rotation angle.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring color of a moving web. The web is measured by reflectance measurement and transmittance measurement, wherein the reflectance measurement is carried out by illuminating a surface of the web in a measuring area, where on the other side of the web at the measuring area resides a solidly attached backing element and measuring the radiation reflected from the web. The transmittance measurement is carried out by illuminating the web and measuring the radiation transmitted through the web. The radiation measured in the transmittance measurement is transmitted through the backing element.

Abstract: A system and method to provide a diagnosis of the breast disease state of a test breast sample. A database containing a plurality of reference Raman data sets is provided where each reference Raman data set has an associated known breast sample and an associated known breast disease state. A test breast sample is irradiated with substantially monochromatic light to generate scattered photons resulting in a test Raman data set. The test Raman data set is compared to the plurality of reference Raman data sets using a chemometric technique. Based on the comparison, a diagnosis of a breast disease state of the test breast sample is provided. The breast disease state includes invasive ductal carcinoma or invasive lobular carcinoma disease state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of obtaining a spectral image of a plurality of predetermined chemical species. A sample is illuminated to produce photons. These photons are collected to produce a plurality of images for each predetermined chemical species, wherein each image comprises a frame consisting of a plurality of pixels. A wavelength range is identified wherein a chemical species exhibits a unique absorption of radiation. Pixels are identified that do not comprise the chemical species. The steps may be repeated for a plurality of chemical species. If more than one chemical species is present, the contribution of each in a pixel is separated and separate spectral images of each species is composed.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for sample analysis, such as tissue analysis, that integrate high wavenumber (HW) Raman spectroscopy for chemical composition analysis and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to provide depth and morphological information. The invention also provides side-viewing optical probes that are based on a single double clad optical fiber for performing the combined HW Raman spectroscopy and OCT. Intravascular catheter embodiments and related vascular diagnostic methods are also provided.

Abstract: An inspection system and a method for defect detection, the method includes: generating a first beam that comprises a near infrared spectral component and a visible light component; directing at least the near infrared spectral component of the first beam towards an inspected object; directing, towards a sensor, a near infrared spectral component of a second beam generated from the illuminating of the inspected object; wherein the sensor is sensitive to visual light radiation and to near infrared radiation; generating, by the sensor, detection signals that are responsive to the near infrared component of the second beam; and detecting defects in the inspected object by processing the detection signals.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for detecting presence of a material of interest on a surface or in a space using spectroscopic techniques. A beam of ultraviolet light is directed to the surface or space to achieve photodissociation of a material of interest in order to produce photofragment molecules that fluoresce when excited by ultraviolet light. Raman scattering of the parent target material and laser-induced fluorescence of the daughter photofragments are collected from the surface or space that may be induced by the beam of ultraviolet light. Raman spectra and fluorescence spectra are generated from the captured Raman scattering and fluorescence. The fluorescence spectra associated with the daughter photofragment molecules and the Raman spectra of the parent target material are analyzed to determine presence of the material of interest on the surface or in the space.

Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in sample vessels. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the sample vessels from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.

Abstract: An integrated interferometric gyroscope and accelerometer device. An example device includes a cantilever beam, a package having a post connected to one end of the beam, a piezoresistor driver, a piezoresistor sensor, and a semiconductor interferometric optical gyro. The piezoresistor driver is incorporated within the beam at a first area proximate to the post. The driver electro-thermally resonates the beam. The piezoresistor sensor is incorporated within the beam at the first area. The sensor piezoresitively senses a signal that relates to an acceleration force out-of-plane of the beam. The semiconductor interferometric optical gyro is also incorporated within the beam at a second area of the beam. The gyro senses rotational motion about an axis approximately equivalent to the acceleration force out-of-plane of the beam. The gyro includes a waveguide, a laser source and a light detector. The beam is formed from a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: We disclose apparatus that includes: (a) an enclosure including an aperture; (b) a prism mounted in the enclosure so that a surface of the prism is exposed through the aperture; (c) an optical assembly contained within the enclosure, the optical assembly including a radiation source and a radiation detector, the source being configured to direct radiation towards the prism and the detector being configured to detect radiation from the source reflected from the exposed surface of the prism; and (d) an electronic processor contained within the enclosure, the electronic processor being in communication with the detector. The apparatus can be configured so that, during operation, the electronic processor determines information about a sample placed in contact with the exposed surface of the prism based on radiation reflected from the exposed prism surface while it is in contact with the sample.

Abstract: A system for processing bulk materials, comprising at least one transport apparatus that conveys a stream of bulk materials from a first process position to a second process position, an illumination source that projects light on to a surface of the stream, and at least one spectrometer that captures light reflected, emitted, or absorbed by the stream.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection and identification of explosives and explosive residues using a combination of SWIR, Raman, and LIBS spectroscopy techniques, including imaging. A region of interest may be surveyed to identify a target area, wherein the target area comprises at least one unknown material. This surveying may be accomplished using visible imagery or SWIR imagery. The target area may be interrogated using Raman spectroscopy and LIBS spectroscopy to identify the unknown material. SWIR techniques may also be used to interrogate the target area. Fusion algorithms may also be applied to visible images, SWIR data sets, Raman data sets, and/or LIBS data sets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for optical 3D measurement, wherein said device can be switched between a first mode for optical 3D measurement using a chromatic confocal measurement method or the triangulation measurement method and a second mode for colorimetric measurement. In the first mode, a broad-band illuminating beam is focused onto a first plane and in the second mode the broad-band illuminating beam is focused onto a second plane other than the first plane at a distance d from the surface of the object to be measured.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for spectrophotometric characterization of turbid materials are provided. An incident light beam is used to illuminate a turbid material sample and optical signals of coherent reflectance, diffuse reflectance, collimated transmittance and diffuse transmittance are measured from the sample as functions of wavelength. The following optical parameters are determined as functions of wavelength for spectrophotometric characterization of the turbid material sample in the spectrum of interest: absorption coefficients ?a, scattering coefficient ?s, anisotropy factor g and real refractive index n.

Abstract: A particle detection system that images and detects particles in a fluid flow stream through use of detector array(s) is described. The detection system may include light source arrays that may selectively illuminate a particle in a fluid stream. The detection system may also include a detector array employing smart binning to read the measured signals. The smart binning of the detector array may be achieved through knowledge of an exact particle location provided by a position sensitive detector. The detector array(s) may be low cost based on intelligence built into the system. This particle detection system may be particularly useful for detection and discrimination of different particle types since the read-out of the particle signals can be accomplished with low noise and can be flexible enough to optimize the read out measurements for each particle. The particle detection system may be used, for example, in early warning contamination detection systems and manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A biological information imaging apparatus includes: a light source; an acoustic wave detector that detects an acoustic wave generated from a light absorption material in a living body that has absorbed a part of energy of light irradiated from the light source to the living body, and converts it into a first electric signal; a photodetector that detects optical intensity of a portion of the light irradiated from the light source to the living body and propagating in the living body, and converts it into a second electric signal; and a calculation unit that calculates optical property distribution information on the living body by making use of an analytical result of one of the first electric signal and the second electric signal for analysis of the other electric signal.

Abstract: A miniaturized spectrometer/spectrophotometer system and methods are disclosed. A probe tip including one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers is provided. A first spectrometer system receives light from a first set of the plurality of light receivers. A second spectrometer system receives light from a second set of the plurality of light receivers. A processor, wherein the processor receives data generated by the first spectrometer system and the second spectrometer system, wherein an optical measurement of a sample under test is produced based on the data generated by the first and second spectrometer systems.

Abstract: A measurement method of measuring a spectroscopic characteristic inside of a scattering medium includes a first step of measuring the spectroscopic characteristic of the scattering medium by using diffuse optical tomography by irradiating light into the scattering medium, a second step of measuring the spectroscopic characteristic of the scattering medium by using acousto-optical tomography or photo acoustic tomography by irradiating light into the scattering medium, and a third step of making an assumption of a distribution of the spectroscopic characteristic inside of the scattering medium and of changing the assumption such that a difference between a predicted value of the spectroscopic characteristic derived from the assumption and a measured value obtained in the first step can fall upon a permissible range. The third step uses data obtained in the second step for at least one of the parameter: an initial value, a constraint condition, or a boundary condition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for focusing optics are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, methods are disclosed for focusing an optical device, wherein the methods can include: collecting light from a region of an object to be imaged with an objective lens, said region having a feature with a known geometric characteristic; splitting the collected light into a first portion and a second portion, and directing said first portion through a weak cylindrical lens to a focusing sensor, and directing said second portion to an imager; observing, with said focusing sensor, a shape of the feature; focusing the optical device by moving at least one of the objective lens and the object to be imaged until the observed shape of the feature has a predetermined relationship to the known geometric characteristic. In some embodiments, the feature can be a fluorescent bead. In some embodiments, the splitting step can be accomplished with a dichroic mirror.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical sheet that excels in a light convergence function or a light diffusion function, has excellent brightness increase ratio in the desired angular direction, in particular the front surface direction, and greatly inhibits the side lobe, and a method for manufacturing such an optical sheet with good efficiency and high accuracy. The optical sheet has a substrate that has a first surface having formed thereon a peak-valley portion that converges and scatters light and an optical adjustment portion that differs in an optical property from the substrate. A plurality of the optical adjustment portions are formed at least in part of a non-passage portion for the light in the substrate in the case where a parallel beam falls from the first surface in a direction normal to a surface located opposite the first surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring immature platelets is described that includes (a) a sample preparation unit for preparing an assay sample by adding a reagent to a blood specimen; (b) a detection unit having a semiconductor laser light source for irradiating the assay sample with laser light, and a detector for detecting optical information emitted from particles within the assay sample irradiated by laser light; and (c) a controller for differentiating and counting immature platelets based on the detected optical information. A method for measuring immature platelets is also described.

Abstract: A method of producing an image of an object residing inside a transparent container of a first color includes: illuminating the container and the object with light of a second color, the second color being substantially the inverse of the first color; and producing an image of the object through the container. An image produced by this method can exhibit substantially the same color as the object itself, even when the image is taken through a colored transparent wall.

Abstract: A multiphoton-excitation laser scanning microscope capable of efficiently collecting fluorescence emitted from a specimen to acquire a brighter multiphoton-excitation fluorescence image is provided. This multiphoton-excitation laser scanning microscope includes a multiphoton-excitation laser light source for emitting ultrashort pulsed laser light, a light-scanning unit configured to scan a specimen with the ultrashort pulsed laser light emitted from the multiphoton-excitation laser light source in two dimensions, an objective lens configured to focus the ultrashort pulsed laser light scanned by the light-scanning unit on the specimen, a collector lens disposed opposite the objective lens, with the light-scanning unit disposed therebetween, to collect fluorescence emitted from the specimen, and a light detector configured to detect the fluorescence collected by the collector lens. The collector lens has a higher numerical aperture and a larger field number than the objective lens.

Abstract: Detector data representative of an intensity of light that impinges on a detector after being emitted from a light source and passing through a gas over a path length can be analyzed using a first analysis method to obtain a first calculation of an analyte concentration in the volume of gas and a second analysis method to obtain a second calculation of the analyte concentration. The second calculation can be promoted as the analyte concentration upon determining that the analyte concentration is out of a first target range for the first analysis method.

Abstract: An apparatus performs colorimetric measurements of printing materials. The apparatus for the colorimetric measurement of printing materials has two measuring devices operating with different resolutions for registering the surface of the printing material. The two measuring devices permit faster registration of color measured values on a printing material and thus accelerates the measuring operations.

Abstract: A method of determining properties of textured surfaces with the steps: irradiation of radiation onto the surface (10) to be investigated; detection of at least part of the radiation irradiated onto the surface (10) and reflected by the latter by means of a detector device (4) which permits a location-resolved evaluation of the radiation striking it; determination of a first characteristic value (?P) from the radiation detected, wherein the first characteristic value (?P) is characteristic of a texture of the surface (10); determination of a second characteristic value (?E) from the radiation detected, wherein the second characteristic value is characteristic of a further optical property of the surface (10); determination of a result value (?I) on the basis of the first characteristic value (?P) and the second characteristic value (?E).

Abstract: A sensor chip assembly for use in a sensor capable of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and gravimetric sensing. The assembly comprising a transparent piezoelectric substrate (1) having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The assembly also comprising first and second thin film metal electrodes (2,3) respectively provided on the first and second surfaces of the substrate (1). The second thin film metal electrode (3) being position on the second surface of the substrate (1) such that a light beam is capable of being transmitted through the second surface of the substrate and reflected from the first thin film metal electrode. The assembly also comprising an attenuated total reflection (ATR) coupler (11) disposed adjacent to the second thin film metal electrode (3).

Abstract: A biological information imaging apparatus includes: a light source; an acoustic wave detector that detects an acoustic wave generated from a light absorption material in a living body that has absorbed a part of energy of light irradiated from the light source to the living body, and converts it into a first electric signal; a photodetector that detect optical intensity of a portion of the light irradiated from the light source to the living body and propagating in the living body, and converts it into a second electric signal; and a calculation unit that calculates optical property distribution information on the living body by making use of an analytical result of one of the first electric signal and the second electric signal for analysis of the other electric signal.

Abstract: This invention is directed to extract the scattering characteristic of a measurement target together when measuring the surface shape in a measurement system, which measures the surface shape of a measurement target, by the pattern projection method. To accomplish this, the measurement system includes an illumination unit which irradiates a measurement target with dot pattern light, a reflected light measurement unit which receives the reflected light at a reflection angle almost equal to a incident angle, and a reflected light extraction unit which extracts the inclination of the surface of the measurement target, based on the shift amount between the light receiving position of the received reflected light and a predetermined reference position, and extracts the luminance value of the reflected light and the dot diameter of the dot pattern light as information about the scattering characteristic.

Abstract: Before the diffraction from a diffracting structure on a semiconductor wafer is measured, where necessary, the film thickness and index of refraction of the films underneath the structure are first measured using spectroscopic reflectometry or spectroscopic ellipsometry. A rigorous model is then used to calculate intensity or ellipsometric signatures of the diffracting structure. The diffracting structure is then measured using a spectroscopic scatterometer using polarized and broadband radiation to obtain an intensity or ellipsometric signature of the diffracting structure. Such signature is then matched with the signatures in the database to determine the grating shape parameters of the structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spectroscopic system having a fiber-optic probe for simultaneous IR and Raman measurement. The probe includes a single strand of optical fiber, such as sapphire which is suitable for IR absorption measurements as far as 4 ?m and Raman excitation at wavelengths as short as 300 nm. The probe is immersed in the sample and functions in the evanescent wave mode for both IR absorption and Raman scattering measurements. The sensing system makes possible the synergistic, and simultaneous, analysis of both IR and Raman data in an integrated device.

Abstract: A display device includes display pixels that display an image on a display screen. First and second optical sensors correspond to one or more of the display pixels and detect the amount of incident light. An optical member allows light coming from a first direction to enter the first optical sensors and light coming from a second direction to enter the second optical sensors. A memory circuit stores a first detection result that is detected in a first time period by means of the first optical sensors and stores a second detection result that is detected in the first time period by means of the second optical sensors. A comparison circuit compares sequential detection results to permit a judgment circuit to determine whether the display screen has been touched with a detection target medium.

Abstract: An optical element for conveying scattered and image light to several detectors. The optical element may have the properties of a diffractive beam splitter and imaging lens. The detected light may be from an illuminated target. Further, there may be an optical element for conveying scattered light from a target via several zones to specific detectors, respectively. The latter optical element may include a multiple annular zone diffractive structure on a hybrid lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of biochemical laboratory instrumentation for different applications of measuring properties of samples on e.g. microtitration plates and corresponding sample supports. The object of the invention is achieved by providing an optical measurement instrumentation wherein a sample (281-285) is activated (212AS, 218AS) and the emission is detected (291, 292), wherein between the activation and detection phases of measuring the sample, a shift is made in the relative position between the sample and means (218) directing the activation radiation to the sample as well as in the relative position between the sample and the means (293) receiving the emission radiation from the sample. This can be implemented e.g. by moving (299) the sample assay plate and/or a measuring head between the activation and emission phases of a sample.

Abstract: The optical system of the preferred embodiments includes a first light source that creates a first beam of a first wavelength, a first collimating element that collimates the first beam, a second light source 102 that creates a second beam of a second wavelength, a second collimating element that collimates the second beam, a beam combining element that combines the collimated beams, and a focusing element that focuses the combined collimated beam to a single point.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable, reliable, automated and simple device using Spectral Fluorescence Signature technology (SFS) for fast and accurate drug detection, quantification and data storage. The present also discloses a method for using Spectral Fluorescence Signature technology (SFS) for fast and accurate drug detection, quantification and data storage. Such device and method needing not highly skilled personnel or specific background to run the tests.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical microscope (100) has a microscope main objective (101) and a viewing beam path (105) which passes through the microscope main objective (101) for visualizing an object region. The ophthalmic surgical microscope (100) includes an OCT-system (140) for recording images of the object region (108). The OCT-system (140) includes an OCT-scanning beam (142) which is guided via a scan mirror arrangement (146) to the object region (108). An optic element (147) is provided between the scan mirror arrangement (146) and the microscope main objective (101). This optic element (147) bundles the OCT-scanning radiation exiting from the scan mirror arrangement (146) and transfers the same into a beam path which passes through the microscope main objective (101). Alternatively or in addition, the ophthalmic surgical microscope (100) includes an opthalmoscopic magnifier lens (132) which can be pivoted into and out of the viewing beam path (105) and the OCT-scanning beam (142).

Abstract: A system and method for in situ determination of a material composition of optically thin layers deposited from a vapor phase onto a substrate includes irradiating the substrate with incoherent light of at least three different wavelengths, optically detecting in a spatially resolved manner a reflection intensity of a diffuse or a direct light scattering emanating from a deposited layer outside of a total reflection, concurrently providing numerical values of the detected reflection intensity to an optical layer model based on general line transmission theory, ascertaining values for the optical layer parameters of the deposited layer from the optical layer model for the at least three different wavelengths by numerically adapting the optical layer model to a time characteristic of the detected reflection intensities, and quantitatively determining a material composition of the deposited layer from the ascertained values by comparing the ascertained values to standard values.

Abstract: In the present invention, to make corrective matching thereof, it is designed as follows; position effect of defects coordinates, which are output from an inspection apparatus, is allowed, coordinates of inspected data are mutually corrected, and a state of coincidence or non-coincidence among a plurality sets of inspected data is output or displayed. Inspection data is designed to include kinds, kinds difference and dimension of defects. A state of coincidence or non-coincidence between inspected data is designed to be output or displayed appropriately, by kinds or dimensions, or by a grouping thereof, of a defects object. The same sample is inspected by every time of passing a production step, and a state of data increase or decrease, or coincidence or non-coincidence between the inspected data is designed to be output or displayed.

Abstract: A luminescence imaging installation is disclosed comprising a lightproof enclosure containing: a support receiving a sample to be imaged; a detector detecting a luminescence image from the sample to be imaged; and a light reflector device reflecting light towards the detector The light reflector device surrounds the support at least in part and presents at least two portions that are inclined relative to each other, each reflecting light towards the detector.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system for the automated analysis of samples, comprising: a first optical device including at least one receptacle for receiving at least one of said samples and a receptacle-associated optical unit including at least one receptacle-associated light source for emitting light adapted for determining a colour of said sample and generating a light beam for irradiating said sample contained in said receptacle and at least one receptacle-associated light detector for detecting light transmitted through said sample and generating a receptacle-associated detection signal; a second optical device including at least one test element provided with at least one test zone for applying said sample, said test zone being subject to an optically detectable change in response to at least one characteristic of said sample being different from said colour and a test element-associated optical unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring semiconductor fabrication processes are provided. A system may include a stage configured to support a specimen and coupled to a measurement device. The measurement device may include an illumination system and a detection system. The illumination system and the detection system may be configured such that the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of the specimen. For example, the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of a specimen including: but not limited to, critical dimension and overlay misregistration; defects and thin film characteristics; critical dimension and defects; critical dimension and thin film characteristics; critical dimension, thin film characteristics and defects; macro defects and micro defects; flatness, thin film characteristics and defects; overlay misregistration and flatness; an implant characteristic and defects; and adhesion and thickness.

Abstract: The detection system of the first preferred embodiment includes a detector, having a wide dynamic range, that receives photonic inputs from the interrogation zone and produces an analog signal; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), having a high bit resolution, that is coupled to the detector and converts an analog signal to a digital signal. The digital signal includes an initial data set of the full dynamic range of the input signals from the flow cytometer sample. The method of extracting and analyzing data from a flow cytometer system of the first preferred embodiment preferably includes the steps of: collecting a full dynamic range of input signals from a flow cytometer sample; recognizing and annotating aggregate particle events; and storing an initial data set and an annotated data set of the full dynamic range of the input signals from the flow cytometer sample.