A detection section detects a position of a container in a vertical direction, and an imaging optical system controller acquires an adjustment value of an imaging position of an imaging optical system according to the detected position. A correction section corrects the adjustment value according to a change in a refractive index of the container according to a temperature of the container. The imaging optical system controller adjusts an imaging position of an observation target on the basis of the corrected adjustment value.

A system and method for imaging biological samples on multiple surfaces of a support structure are disclosed. The support structure may be a flow cell through which a reagent fluid is allowed to flow and interact with the biological samples. Excitation radiation from at least one radiation source may be used to excite the biological samples on multiple surfaces. In this manner, fluorescent emission radiation may be generated from the biological samples and subsequently captured and detected by detection optics and at least one detector. The detected fluorescent emission radiation may then be used to generate image data. This imaging of multiple surfaces may be accomplished either sequentially or simultaneously. In addition, the techniques of the present invention may be used with any type of imaging system. For instance, both epifluorescent and total internal reflection methods may benefit from the techniques of the present invention.

An optical imaging device for a microscope comprises a first optical system configured to form a first optical image corresponding to a first region of a sample in accordance with a first imaging mode, a second optical system configured to form a second optical image corresponding to a second region of said sample, wherein said first and second regions spatially coincide in a target region of said sample and said first and second imaging modes are different from each other, a memory storing first distortion correction data suitable for correcting a first optical distortion caused by said first optical system in said first optical image, second distortion correction data suitable for correcting a second optical distortion caused by said second optical system in said second optical image, and transformation data suitable for correcting positional misalignment between said first and second optical images, and a processor which is configured to process first image data representing said first optical image based on said first distortion correction data for generating first distortion corrected image data, to process second image data representing said second optical image based on said second distortion correction data for generating second distortion corrected image data; and to combine said first and second distortion corrected image data based on said transformation data for generating combined image data representing a combined image which corresponds to said target region of said object.

A spatio-temporally light modulated imaging system for confocal imaging an object includes a light modulating micro-mirror device, an imaging optic, and a camera device, wherein a carrier wheel device is provided for carrying multiple pairs of first and second dichroic beam splitters and multiple pairs of first and second emission filters, wherein the carrier wheel device is adjustable in multiple operational positions relative to the first and second optical axes, and wherein a casing is provided. Furthermore, a carrier wheel device for carrying optical members and a method for confocal imaging an object are disclosed.

Described herein are apparatuses for dental scanning and components of apparatuses for dental scanning. A component of a dental scanning apparatus may include a beam splitter, a transparency and an image sensor. The component may have a first surface and a second surface. The transparency may be affixed to the first surface of the beam splitter, and may comprise a spatial pattern disposed thereon and be configured to be illuminated by a light source of the dental scanning apparatus. The image sensor may be affixed to the second surface of the beam splitter, wherein as a result of the transparency being affixed to the first surface of the beam splitter and the image sensor being affixed to the second surface of the beam splitter, the image sensor maintains a stable relative position to the spatial pattern of the transparency.

Devices and methods for super-resolution optical microscopy are described. Devices include an optical multiplexer to develop an excitation/illumination optical beam that includes alternating pulses of different profiles. Devices also include a signal processing unit to process a sample response to excitation/illumination beam and to subtract the neighboring pulses of the different profiles from one another on a pulse-to-pulse basis. Devices can be incorporated in existing confocal microscopy designs. As the subtraction effectively reduces the volume of the response signal, the spatial resolution of the systems can be markedly improved as compared to previously known optical microscopy approaches.

Described herein are apparatuses for dental scanning and components of apparatuses for dental scanning. A component of a dental scanning apparatus may include a beam splitter, a transparency and an image sensor. The component may have a first surface and a second surface. The transparency may be affixed to the first surface of the beam splitter, and may comprise a spatial pattern disposed thereon and be configured to be illuminated by a light source of the dental scanning apparatus. The image sensor may be affixed to the second surface of the beam splitter, wherein as a result of the transparency being affixed to the first surface of the beam splitter and the image sensor being affixed to the second surface of the beam splitter, the image sensor maintains a stable relative position to the spatial pattern of the transparency.

A three-dimensional scanner for obtaining shape information of an object body includes a light source unit, a varifocal unit, a reference unit, a light path length adjustment unit, an optical sensor, and a control unit. The varifocal unit is able to change a focal position, and both of light from the light source unit to the optical sensor via an object body and light from the light source unit to the optical sensor via the reference unit travel at least once. The control unit determines a condition of varifocal unit based on light has been reflected on reference unit and detected by a part of optical sensor, and calculates the shape information of the object body from light detected by the optical sensor using information of the condition of the varifocal unit that has been determined.

The present invention relates to microscopy and spectroscopy systems, particularly to confocal microscopy and spectroscopy apparatus. Current confocal microscopes are expensive and difficult to set up and calibrate. The confocal microscope described in this document, comprises a housing, which may be printed, and which includes mounts for receiving optical and other components of the microscope. The positions of the mounts are pre-determined so as to obviate the need for complex calibration of the components. The components and optical path lengths are selected in order to optimise the size of the microscope.

Disclosed herein are systems for imaging of samples using an array of micro optical elements and methods of their use. In some embodiments, an optical chip comprising an array of micro optical elements moves relative to an imaging window and a detector in order to scan over a sample to produce an image. A focal plane can reside within a sample or on its surface during imaging. Detecting optics are used to detect back-emitted light collected by an array of micro optical elements that is generated by an illumination beam impinging on a sample. In some embodiments, an imaging system has a large field of view and a large optical chip such that an entire surface of a sample can be imaged quickly. In some embodiments, a sample is accessible by a user during imaging due to the sample being exposed while disposed on or over an imaging window.