A kit (10) includes a light source (12) and an optical system (14) equipped with a lens assembly (25) defining a magnification optical axis (X-X). A frame (16) is crossable by the light generated by the light source (12). The frame (16) is configured for supporting a sample holder (H), a portable electronic apparatus (S) equipped with an image acquisition device (C), and the optical system (14), which are interposable between the sample holder (H) and the image acquisition device (C). The optical system (14) is configured for being movable in a guided manner on the frame (16), to allow aligning the optical axis (X-X) with the image acquisition device (C). A carrying body (18) is configured for receiving in abutment the frame (16) and housing the light source (12) directing light towards the optical system (14) through the frame (16).

Provided is a microscope apparatus including: a microscope section configured to perform magnified observation of a subject's eye while obtaining a red reflex caused by irradiating a fundus of the subject's eye with illuminating light; a holding section configured to hold the microscope section; and a tilting section configured to tilt an illumination optical axis which is an optical axis of an illumination optical system, and an observation optical axis which is an optical axis of an observation optical system in the microscope section, around a tilt reference point in an interior of the subject's eye as a base point, while maintaining a substantially coaxial state between the illumination optical axis and the observation optical axis.

The present invention relates in general to microscopy systems. In particular, the present invention relates to microscopes rendering digital images of samples, with the capability to digitally control the focus of the microscope system, and the software used to control the operation of the digital microscope system. Further, the present invention relates to a microscope structure that allows for compact and multi-functional use of a microscope, providing for light shielding and control with samples that require specific light wavelength characteristics, such as fluorescence, for detection and imaging. The microscope is adjustable, with a structure that can move along range(s) of motion and degree(s) of freedom to allow for ease of access to samples, shielding of samples, and manipulation of a display apparatus.

A method for metrology includes directing at least one illumination beam to illuminate a semiconductor wafer on which at least first and second patterned layers have been deposited in succession, including a first target feature in the first patterned layer and a second target feature in the second patterned layer, overlaid on the first target feature. A sequence of images of the first and second target features is captured while varying one or more imaging parameters over the sequence. The images in the sequence are processed in order to identify respective centers of symmetry of the first and second target features in the images and measure variations in the centers of symmetry as a function of the varying image parameters. The measured variations are applied in measuring an overlay error between the first and second patterned layers.

For correcting aberration-induced imaging errors of an optical system which includes an objective (14) and an adaptive optic (18), light (5) and a sample (20) are selected such that the light (5), in acting upon the sample (20), reduces a measurement signal (28) from the sample (20), wherein a relative variation of the measurement signal (28) depends on the intensity of the light (5). The measurement signal (28) from a focal area of the optical system in the sample (20) is registered over a first and a later second period of time (38, 37) to determine a first measurement value and a second measurement value. Over a third period of time (39) which overlaps with the first and/or the second period of time, the light (5) is focused into the focal area by means of the optical system. A measure value for the relative variation of the measurement signal (28) is determined from the first and the second measurement values and used in controlling the adaptive optic (18) as a metric to be optimized.

A vibration driving device that improves controllability in low speed driving. The vibration driving device includes a vibration actuator that includes a vibrator that has an elastic member and an electro-mechanical energy conversion element, a contact member that contacts the vibrator, and a control device that controls drive of the vibration actuator. The control device includes a speed detection unit that detects speed information showing relative speed of the vibrator and the contact member, and an adjustment unit that decreases amplitude of vibration excited in the vibrator in a case where the speed detection unit detects that a state where the vibration actuator does not operate approximately and a state where the vibration actuator operates at a speed faster than a target driving speed occur alternately after starting to drive the vibration actuator.

A microscope for adaptive sensing may comprise an illumination assembly, an image capture device configured to collect light from a sample illuminated by the assembly, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute instructions which cause the microscope to capture, using the image capture device, an initial image set of the sample, identify, in response to the initial image set, an attribute of the sample, determine, in response to identifying the attribute, a three-dimensional (3D) process for sensing the sample, and generate, using the determined 3D process, an output image set comprising more than one focal plane. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

A microscope includes a control system connected to an illumination system and an imaging system. The control system is configured to: detect an image affecting change in microscope settings and/or in a location of the sample, the image affecting change resulting in an alteration of the sample image; cause the imaging system to deliver a live image stream of live images of the sample in a first imaging mode, or to deliver a still image stream of still image(s) of the sample in a second imaging mode, and to switch from the first imaging mode into the second imaging mode when no image affecting change is detected, using one of the last live images of the first imaging mode for at least a part of the still image stream in the second imaging mode; and reduce an illumination intensity of the illumination system during the second imaging mode.

A microscope system includes: a light source unit that emits linear illumination parallel to a first direction; an objective lens that condenses the linear illumination onto a measurement target region; an acquisition unit that acquires a first optical signal indicating a light intensity value of light emitted from the measurement target region by the linear illumination; and a focus control unit that controls at least one of a relative position or a relative posture of the light source unit and an imaging unit that generates the first optical signal on a basis of a light intensity distribution of the first optical signal.

A three-dimensional viewing includes a pair of digital image sensors in communication with a pair of digital displays and controlled by a pair of processors to render three-dimensional images of samples on the displays.