A scanner and an attenuated total reflection (ATR) objective for use in such scanners are disclosed. The ATR objective includes first and second optical elements and an input port. The input port receives an input collimated light beam that is focused to a point on a planar face of the first optical element by the second optical element such that substantially all of that portion is reflected by the planar face and no portion of the input beam strikes the planar face at an angle less than the critical angle. The second optical element also generates an output collimated light beam from light reflected from the planar thce that is characterized by a central ray that is coincident with the central ray of the input collimated light beam. A light beam converter receives the first collimated light beam and generates the input collimated light beam therefrom.

A method and apparatus for obtaining reference samples during the generation of a mid-infrared (MW) image without requiring that the sample being imaged be removed is disclosed. A tunable MIR laser generates a light beam that is focused onto a specimen on a specimen stage that moves the specimen in a first direction. An optical assembly includes a scanning assembly having a focusing lens and a mirror that moves in a second direction, different from the first direction, relative to the stage such that the focusing lens maintains a fixed distance between the focusing lens and the specimen stage. A light detector measures an intensity of light leaving the point on the specimen. A controller forms an image from the measured intensity. A reference stage is positioned such that the mirror moves over the reference stage in response to a command so that the controller can also make a reference measurement.

A system for inspecting surfaces of rotor blades for a surface characteristic. The system may include an assembly having a movable arm and, mounted on the movable arm, a scanner. A row of rotor blades may be positioned near the assembly for inspection. The row of rotor blades may include a plurality of the rotor blades circumferentially spaced about a center axis. The row of rotor blades and the assembly may be moved relative to the other so as to index the row of rotor blades relative to the assembly.

A system for inspecting surfaces of rotor blades for a surface characteristic. The system may include an assembly having a movable arm and, mounted on the movable arm, a scanner. A row of rotor blades may be positioned near the assembly for inspection. The row of rotor blades may include a plurality of the rotor blades circumferentially spaced about a center axis. The row of rotor blades and the assembly may be moved relative to the other so as to index the row of rotor blades relative to the assembly.

A scanning system for fluorescent imaging includes a sample holder configured to hold a sample therein, the sample holder defining a sample holding region. A scanner head spans the sample holding region and is movable relative to the sample holder. An array of light sources is disposed on an opposing side of the sample holder and is angled relative thereto. Respective controller are operably coupled to the scanner head and the array of light sources, wherein one controller selectively actuates a one or more rows of the array of light sources and another controller controls movement of the scanner head to capture fluorescent light emitted from within the sample holder in response to illumination from the actuated light sources. A filter designed to filter out scattered light from the sample may be interposed between the sample holder and the scanner head.

A scanner and an attenuated total reflection (ATR) objective for use in such scanners are disclosed The ATR objective includes first and second optical elements and an input port. The input port receives an input collimated light beam that is focused to a point on a planar face of the first optical element by the second optical element such that substantially all of that portion is reflected by the planar face and no portion of the input beam strikes the planar face at an angle greater than the critical angle. The second optical element also generates an output collimated light beam from light reflected from the planar face that is characterized by a central ray that is coincident with the central ray of the input collimated light beam. A light beam converter receives the first collimated light beam and generates the input collimated light beam therefrom.

The invention relates to an apparatus comprising: a measuring head (10) having a slot (18) for receiving a measurement cell (26) and means (28) for emitting electromagnetic radiation, and means (32, 36) for detecting radiation from said emission means (28) after it has passed through the measurement cell (26); means (16) for translatably driving and means (12, 14) for translatably guiding, allowing the substantially vertical longitudinal movement of the measurement head (10); at least two recesses (44) each intended for receiving a measurement cell (26) and arranged one above the other in a longitudinal direction, the recesses (44) as well as the driving means (16) and the guiding means (12, 14) being configured such that during the translational movement of the measurement head (10) along the nominal travel thereof each recess is placed inside the slot (18) of the measurement head (10).

Provided is a method for removing character background in a color image that obtains an image for printing evaluation by removing a background design of a character from the color image of a printed object on which the character has been printed. The method includes separating a color input image into a character part and a background part, calculating a discriminant function for separating pixels of the character part and pixels of the background part based on pixel values, and generating a background-removed image by removing the background part from the input image by using the discriminant function. Moreover, an installation adjustment method of a line camera including adjusting, based on a signal acquired by capturing an installation adjustment chart fixed to the inspection drum, an installation position of the line camera that acquires an image of a large-size printed object arranged on an inspection drum, is executed by using an installation adjustment chart wherein a plurality of patterns formed by white background and black vertical lines are arranged by shifting in a vertical direction so that the vertical lines continue horizontally only in a predetermined rectangular region that is elongated in a scan line direction of the line camera.

Sensitivity is increased by enhancing the fluorescence collection efficiency while suppressing the increase in size of an objective lens. An objective lens 17 is structured to have a convex lens part 26 in a center portion and to have a truncated conical cylindrical body 27 around the convex lens part 26. Therefore, a fluorescence component b having too wide an emission angle to fit in the convex lens part 26, of fluorescence emitted from a sample 16, can be collected by total reflection on an outer peripheral surface 27b of the cylindrical body 27. Thus, even light having too wide an emission angle to be collected by a normal convex lens can be collected. As a result, it is possible to suppress the increase in size of the objective lens, to enhance the fluorescence collection efficiency, and to prevent the S/N ratio from being decreased by the existence of undetected fluorescence that is blocked by a prism 20. This can realize a fluorescence information reading device having high sensitivity.

The device has an apparatus for rotatably holding and positioning at least one stent-like object and a unit for illuminating at least inner and outer surfaces thereof, including at least a wide field epi illumination device and a diffuse back illumination device for simultaneously illuminating the stent-like object. The illumination unit may further include diffuse side illumination device for inspecting side surfaces of the stent-like object. An apparatus for acquiring images of the stent-like object including at least one microscope objective lens and at least one camera is also provided.