Systems and methods for providing a polarimetry camera operative to obtain high fidelity surface characterization measurements. A polarimetry camera may include an multi-twist retarder component that is operative selectively switch between two or more polarization filtering states, wherein in each polarization filtering state, the multi-twist retarder component only passes light having a particular polarization state or orientation (e.g., horizontal linear polarization, vertical linear polarization, 45 degree linear polarization, circular polarization) and reflects or absorbs light having other polarization states. The multi-twist retarder may also include one or more diffraction patterns that focus light. The polarimetry camera may capture images using a sensor array as the multi-twist retarder is switched between the at least two polarization filtering states, thereby capturing a sequence of polarization specific images that may be displayed or used to determine one or more Stokes parameters for a scene in real-time.

An apparatus for estimating bio-information includes an optical sensor including a light source configured to emit light of multiple wavelengths onto an object, and including a plurality of detectors configured to detect light of each wavelength which is scattered or reflected from the object. The apparatus includes a processor configured to obtain spectra based on light of each wavelength which is detected by each detector, determine valid spectra of the obtained spectra, and estimate a bio-information value based on the valid spectra.

Apparatus and methods are described including successively acquiring a plurality of microscopic images of a portion of a blood sample, and tracking motion of pixels within the successively acquired microscopic images. Trypomastigote parasite candidates within the blood sample are identified, by identifying pixel motion that is typical of trypomastigote parasites. It is determined that the blood sample is infected with trypomastigote parasites, at least partially in response thereto. An output is generated indicating that that the blood sample is infected with trypomastigote parasites. Other applications are also described.

Provided is a technique that enables accurate determination as to whether growth of bacteria has occurred or been inhibited. A bacteria test apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a microscope optical system which captures images of bacteria in each of a plurality of wells at a plurality of time points, the plurality of wells each holding a culture solution containing an antibacterial drug and the bacteria, an arithmetic unit which calculates a feature of luminance value for each of the images of the bacteria, a determination unit which determines whether growth of the bacteria has occurred in the wells based on a change in the feature of luminance value, and a display device which displays a determination result output from the determination unit. The arithmetic unit calculates, as the feature of luminance value, a feature including at least one of a mean, a median, or a mode (see FIG. 4).

Apparatus and methods are described for use with a digital camera that is configured to acquire images of a bodily sample. Two or more stains are configured to stain the bodily sample. A computer processor drives the digital camera to acquire, for each of a plurality of imaging fields of the bodily sample, two or more digital images, at least one of the images being acquired under brightfield lighting conditions, and at least one of the images being acquired under fluorescent lighting conditions. The computer processor performs image processing on the digital images, by extracting visual classification features from the digital images and analyzing the extracted visual classification features. The computer processor outputs a result of the image processing that includes an indication of one or more entities that are contained within the sample. Other applications are also described.

A detection apparatus, a detection method and a detection system are provided. The detection apparatus includes: a light source module used to provide illumination for color filters; an image obtaining module used to obtain image data of the color filters; a light adjusting module disposed at a light-emitting side of the light source module and used to adjust a light direction of the light source module to make the light direction coincide with an orientation of the pixel units on a first direction or a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a data processing module connected to the image obtaining module and used to perform a processing on the image data and judge whether there is an unqualified pixel unit in the pixel units as per a result of the processing. The light direction is adjustable to coincide with the orientation of pixel units.

A characterization apparatus including pattern generation. The characterization apparatus is configured to characterize a specimen and or a specimen container in some embodiments. The characterization apparatus includes an imaging location configured to receive a specimen container containing a specimen, one or more image capture devices located at one or more viewpoints adjacent to the imaging location, and one or more light panel assemblies including pattern generation capability located adjacent to the imaging location and configured to provide back lighting. Methods of imaging a specimen and/or specimen container using the pattern generation are described herein, as are other aspects.

A method, apparatus, and system acquire data to create a 3D mesh representing a 3D object. The method, apparatus, and system acquire image data of the 3D object using an imaging probe that includes illumination and detection capability. A light source operates to illuminate the 3D object for reflection and/or trans-illumination imaging, and a detection assembly receives image reflection and/or trans-illumination image data. The reflectance and trans-illumination image data collected by the detection assembly are co-registered with a previously acquired 3D mesh using data from a tracking system monitoring the position of the probe, displayed in real-time, and optionally saved.

An optical sensor includes at least one pair of a light source and a photodetector, the light source and the photodetector facing each other and having an opening between the light source and the photodetector; and a base substrate disposed on or below the at least one pair of the light source and the photodetector, the base substrate including a contact sensor positioned in an area corresponding to the opening.

Fuel sampling systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fuel sampling system includes an optical capture device and an analysis computing device that stores logic for implementing an evaluation sequence. During the evaluation sequence, the analysis computing device performs at least the following: receive a captured image from the optical capture device, identify areas of highest contrast in the captured image, and determine if the areas of highest contrast define a ring. If the areas of highest contrast define a ring, evaluate a contrast ratio between the ring and areas outside of the ring, and determine if the captured image reflects a fuel sample that exceeds a predetermined limit of propensity for settling. If so, indicate that the captured image reflects a fuel sample that is not acceptable. Otherwise, indicate that the captured image reflects a fuel sample that is acceptable.