In described examples, a spatial light modulator includes groups of pixels. Each group is arranged to transmit only a respective portion of a light spectrum. The respective portion has a respective dominant color. The respective portions of the light spectrum are distinct from one another, according to their respective dominant colors. Each group is controlled by a respective reset signal. The spatial light modulator is coupled to receive a selection from the integrated circuit and in response to the selection: cause a selected one of the groups to transmit its respective portion of the light spectrum; and cause an unselected one of the groups to block transmission of its respective portion of the light spectrum. A photodetector is coupled to: receive the respective portion of the light spectrum transmitted by the selected group; and output a signal indicating an intensity thereof.

An apparatus for detecting a material within a sample includes a light emitting unit for directing at least one light beam through the sample. A plurality of units receive the light beam that has passed through the sample and performs a spectroscopic analysis of the sample based on the received light beam. Each of the plurality of units analyze a different parameter with respect to the sample and provide a separate output signal with respect to the analysis. A processor detects the material with respect each of the provided separate output signals.

A stimulated Raman scattering tomography system includes means for generating a first input light beam, means for generating a second input light beam, an objective, a condenser and a detector. The first input light beam is phase-modulated while the second input light beam is amplitude-modulated. The objective is configured to direct the first and second input light beams onto a sample. The condenser is configured to collect an output light beam from the sample. The is detector configured to detect at least a portion of the output light beam corresponding to the first input light beam. The system further includes means for forming a depth-resolved image of the sample from the detected portion of the output light beam.

The specification relates to a luminescence microscope comprising a first light source for generating an input light beam, a light modulator comprising a first active surface and a second active surface, for modulating the phase and/or amplitude of the light incident on the respective active surface, an objective lens for focusing the light into a sample so that an light intensity distribution is formed in the sample, wherein the luminescence microscope comprises a first beam displacement element for polarization-dependent generation of a first output light beam and/or a second output light beam forming an angle of less than 90?, wherein the first beam displacement element is arranged such that that the first output light beam impinges on the first active surface and the second output light beam impinges on the second active surface and a method for imaging a sample or for localizing or tracking emitters in the sample.

A method is disclosed for selecting an optimal value for an adjustable parameter of a structured light metrology (SLM) system, for scanning an object. The SLM system performs test scans of the object to acquire a plurality of sets of measurements of the object, wherein a different value is used for the parameter for each test scan. For each test scan, a value of a quality metric is calculated, based on the set of measurements of the object associated with the test scan and simulation data representing a simulated scan of the object by the SLM system. A test scan is then identified that has a quality metric value that satisfies a specified optimization criterion; and a value of the adjustable parameter that was used for the identified test scan is selected as the optimal value of the adjustable parameter, for scanning the object.

A super-resolution observation device includes an illumination optical system collecting a first illuminating light having a first optical frequency .sub.1 on a first region of an observation object, collecting a second illuminating light having a second optical frequency .sub.2 on a second region partially overlapping the first region, and collecting a third illuminating light having a third optical frequency .sub.2 on a third region containing a non-overlap region which is a region of the first region and does not overlap the second region; and an extraction unit extracting a signal light generated in accordance with a change in an energy level of a substance in the non-overlap region from a light generated in all of the first region, the second region, and the third region.

A photostimulation apparatus includes an objective lens arranged to face a biological object, a light source configured to output light to be radiated toward the biological object via the objective lens, a shape acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a shape with a refractive index difference in the biological object, a hologram generation unit configured to generate aberration correction hologram data for correcting aberrations due to the shape with the refractive index difference on the basis of the information acquired by the shape acquisition unit, and a spatial light modulator on which a hologram based on the aberration correction hologram data is presented and which modulates the light output from the light source.

In described examples, a spatial light modulator includes groups of pixels. Each group is arranged to transmit only a respective portion of a light spectrum. The respective portion has a respective dominant color. The respective portions of the light spectrum are distinct from one another, according to their respective dominant colors. Each group is controlled by a respective reset signal. The spatial light modulator is coupled to receive a selection from the integrated circuit and in response to the selection: cause a selected one of the groups to transmit its respective portion of the light spectrum; and cause an unselected one of the groups to block transmission of its respective portion of the light spectrum. A photodetector is coupled to: receive the respective portion of the light spectrum transmitted by the selected group; and output a signal indicating an intensity thereof.

Apparatuses and methods for microscopic analysis of a sample using spatial light manipulation to increase signal to noise ratio are described herein.

Systems and methods are provided for evaluating a fresh tissue sample, prepared as to fluoresce under illumination, during a medical procedure. A structured light source is configured to project a spatially patterned light beam onto the fresh tissue sample. An imaging system is configured to produce an image from fluorescence emitted from the illuminated fresh tissue sample. A system control is configured to provide a human-comprehensible clinically useful output associated with the medical procedure.