An apparatus and method for analyzing a tissue sample to provide depth-selective information includes at least one light source, collection light optics, and a light detector. The light source is configured to produce a light beam having one or more wavelengths of light that cause a tissue sample to produce Raman light signals upon interrogation of the tissue sample. The light beam is oriented to impinge on an exposed surface of the tissue sample at a point of incidence (POI), and oriented so that the light beam enters the tissue sample at an oblique angle relative to the exposed surface of the tissue sample. The collection light optics are configured to collect the Raman light signals emanating from the tissue sample at one or more predetermined lateral distances from the point of incidence. The light detector is configured to receive the Raman light signals from the collection light optics.

A variable focus imaging lens assembly has different, calibrated settings for each of multiple different wavelength ranges. Images are captured for each wavelength range using the different settings, corrected and stacked to form an image data cube. Using multiple wavelength ranges allows a scene or object to be imaged by multispectral imagers, hyperspectral imagers and imaging spectrometers using an overall wide wavelength range.

Gemstone grading method including illuminating the gemstone by light having a plurality of spectral components, each modulated according to a spectrally specific modulation (e.g., of intensity, frequency, phase), collecting the light following interaction with the gemstone, extracting from the collected light a set of intensity values for a respective set of modulation parameter values to provide a transmittance spectrum, and an output indicative of the transmittance spectrum (e.g., color, clarity, fluorescence grade). A complementary system includes a plurality of monochromatic light sources and respective modulators for simultaneously illuminating a gemstone with a modulation spectrally specific for each light source, a detection system for collecting the light following interaction whose signals are fed via a communication system to a data processor configured to extract a set of intensity values for a respective set of modulation parameter values to provide a transmittance spectrum and an output indicative thereof.

An optical assembly is disclosed including two laterally variable bandpass optical filters stacked at a fixed distance from each other, so that the upstream filter functions as a spatial filter for the downstream filter. The lateral displacement may cause a suppression of the Oblique beam when transmission passbands at impinging locations of the oblique beam onto the upstream and downstream filters do not overlap. A photodetector array may be disposed downstream of the downstream filter. The optical assembly may be coupled via a variety of optical conduits or optical fibers for spectroscopic measurements of a flowing sample.

The invention relates to a method for detecting emission light, in particular fluorescent light from at least one fluorescent dye, in a laser scanning microscope, wherein the emission light emanating from a sample is guided, by an imaging optical unit, onto a two-dimensional matrix sensor having a plurality of pixels and being located on an image plane, and a detection point distribution function is detected by the matrix sensor in a spatially oversampled manner. The method is characterized in that the emission light emanating from the sample is spectrally separated in a dispersion device, in particular in a dispersion direction; the spectrally separated emission light is detected by the matrix sensor in a spectrally resolved manner; and during the analysis of the intensities measured by the pixels of a pixel region, the spectral separation is cancelled at least for some of said pixels. Additional aspects of the invention relate to a detection device for the spectrally resolved detection of emission light in a laser scanning microscope and to a laser scanning microscope.

An imaging device includes a first layer made of quantum dots and a second layer including at least two filter regions extending over the first layer. The at least two filter regions are configured to transmit distinct wavelengths. The quantum dots of the first layer are configured to generate charges upon reception of light in the distinct wavelengths.

A system for measuring the presence and/or the concentration of an analysis substance dissolved in a bodily fluid includes a light source configured to emit excitation light and an optical device. The optical device defines, for the excitation light, an excitation beam path from the light source to a measurement region of a sample and, for scattered light from the measurement region of the sample, a detection beam path from the measurement region of the sample to a detection device. The system also includes a detection device configured to detect the scattered light. The detection device includes a light-sensitive sensor and a filter element arranged in the detection beam path, the filter element being designed to suppress a transmission of light with wavelengths outside of an analysis wavelength range around a Raman resonance of the analysis substance.

In one example, an apparatus comprises: a semiconductor substrate comprising a first photodiode and a second photodiode, the first photodiode being positioned adjacent to the second photodiode along a first axis; a birefringent crystal positioned over the first photodiode and the second photodiode along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and a microlens positioned over the birefringent crystal along the second axis, the microlens having an asymmetric curvature along the first axis, an apex point of the curvature being positioned over the first photodiode along the second axis.

Methods and devices to implement mid-wave and long-wave infrared point spectrometers are disclosed. The described methods and devices involve bi-faceted gratings, high-operating-temperature barrier infrared and thermal detectors. The disclosed concept can be used to design flight spectrometers that cover broad solar reflectance plus thermal emission spectral ranges with a compact and low-cost instrument suitable for small spacecraft reconnaissance of asteroids, the Moon, and planetary satellites as well as mass-constrained landed missions.

The disclosure provides an optical filter element including a plurality of nano-columns separated from each other in a horizontal direction and extended in a vertical direction, and each of the plurality of nano-columns includes a first material layer having an first extinction coefficient and second material layers having second extinction coefficients different from the first extinction coefficient of the first material layer and a spectrometer including the same.