Provided is an optical probe, and a Raman spectroscopy system using such, including excitation and detection optics coupled to a sampling optics via a beam splitter, in confocal arrangement with a sample focal plane of the sampling optics. The detection optics is arranged to receive Raman signal from the sample focal plane and direct it onto a tip of a detection optical fiber. The optical probe may further include a positioning device mechanically coupled to the sampling optics and configured to control a position of the sample focal plane. In the Raman spectroscopy system a light source is coupled to the excitation optics via an excitation optical fiber, and a spectrometer is coupled to a detection optics via a detection optical fiber. Provided is further a method for measuring Raman signal depth profile in a sample, wherein sample's Raman spectra is measured and stored at different focal plane positions.

One embodiment provides an optical spectrometer. The optical spectrometer can include a lens-and-filter system configured to collect light scattered from a sample, a spot converter configured to convert a substantially circular beam outputted from the lens-and-filter system into a substantially rectangular beam, and a slit comprising a rectangular aperture to allow a predetermined portion of the substantially rectangular beam to enter the rectangular aperture while blocking noise. The slit can further include at least one microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based movable structure configured to adjust a width of the rectangular aperture.

A reflectometry instrument includes a light source for emitting an illumination beam that illuminates the macula. A portion of the illumination beam is reflected from the macula and forms a detection beam. The detection beam is indicative of macular pigment in the macula. The instrument also includes a first mirror for reflecting the illumination beam toward the macula and for reflecting the detection beam from the macula. The instrument is configured so that the illumination beam and the detection beam remain separated between the macula and the first mirror.

One embodiment of a method for restricting laser beams entering an aperture to a chosen dyad and measuring their separation. The method works with frequency-modulated coherent light, and one embodiment uses a moveable, variable-aperture apparatus (FIG. 1) in conjunction with a converging lens (6) and a detector (7). Key elements of other embodiments are described.

A mirror unit 2 includes a mirror device 20 including a base 21 and a movable mirror 22, an optical function member 13, and a fixed mirror 16 that is disposed on a side opposite to the mirror device 20 with respect to the optical function member 13. The optical function member 13 is provided with a light transmitting portion 14 that constitutes a part of an optical path between the beam splitter unit 3 and the fixed mirror 16. The light transmitting portion 14 is a portion that corrects an optical path difference that occurs between an optical path between the beam splitter unit 3 and the movable mirror 22 and the optical path between the beam splitter unit 3 and the fixed mirror 16. The second surface 21b of the base 21 and the third surface 13a of the optical function member 13 are joined to each other.

A device comprising a circuitry configured to obtain a sequence of digital images from an image sensor; select a region of interest within a digital image of the sequence of digital images; perform motion compensation on the region of interest to obtain a motion compensated region of interest based on motion information obtained from the sequence of digital images and a predefined accumulated time interval; define a mask pattern based on the compensated region of interest; apply the mask pattern to an electronic light valve.

A system and method for automated lens adjustment for hyperspectral imaging is described. The system includes an image sensor and an electrically-controllable element arranged to set a spectral band for image capture by (i) selectively providing light for a selected spectral band or (ii) selectively filtering light to a selected spectral band. The system includes a tunable lens that is adjustable to change a focal length of the lens; and one or more data storage devices storing data that indicates different focus adjustment parameters corresponding to different spectral bands. The system includes a control system configured to perform operations including: selecting a spectral band; controlling the electrically-controllable element to set the spectral band for image capture; retrieving the focus adjustment parameter that corresponds to the spectral band; adjusting the lens based on the retrieved focus adjustment parameter; and capturing an image of the subject while the lens remains adjusted.

A device for automatic control of color tone of a reel of thread includes a frame supporting an arm on which a reel of thread is loadable, a meter configured to project a measuring beam onto a cylindrical portion of the reel of thread, the meter having a camera and an illuminator aligned with the camera, the illuminator being multispectral and configured to illuminate the reel of thread with different wavelengths. A computer provided with a screen with graphic interface and connected to the meter processes the classification of the reel of thread loaded on the arm on the basis of measurements performed by the meter.

A terahertz sensing system and a terahertz sensing array are provided. The terahertz sensing array includes N sensing unit groups arranged in an array form, and each of the N sensing unit groups includes M reconfigurable sensing units. Each of the M reconfigurable sensing units can detect one type of terahertz wave physical characteristic parameter, and the type of the terahertz wave physical characteristic parameter that can be detected by the reconfigurable sensing unit may vary based on a detection configuration, where N and M are positive integers greater than 1.

A method for retrieving a corrected spectrum from a measured spectrum (e.g., retrieving a top-of-water spectrum from a measured top-of-atmosphere spectrum) includes creating a scene-specific model of a region of interest and performing a ray-tracing simulation to simulate rays of light that would reach an airborne (or spaceborne) sensor. The region of interest can be an optically complex area such as an inland or coastal body of water. Based on the ray-tracing simulation, a scene-specific correction for unwanted effects (e.g., adjacency effects, variable atmospheric conditions, and/or other suitable effects) is obtained. A corrected spectrum is obtained by correcting the measured spectrum using the scene-specific correction. The ray-tracing simulation may be performed using a graphical processing unit, allowing the scene-specific correction to be performed in real time or near real time.