The disclosed technology relates to an inspection apparatus that includes a stage configured to retain a specimen for inspection, an imaging device having a field of view encompassing at least a portion of the stage to view a specimen retained on the stage, and a plurality of lights disposed on a moveable platform. The inspection apparatus can further include a control module coupled to the imaging device, each of the lights and the moveable platform. The control module is configured to perform operations including: receiving image data from the imaging device, where the image data indicates an illumination landscape of light incident on the specimen; and automatically modifying, based on the image data, an elevation of the moveable platform or an intensity of one or more of the lights to adjust the illumination landscape. Methods and machine-readable media are also contemplated.

Methods for imaging a sample using fluorescence microscopy, systems for imaging a sample using fluorescence microscopy, and illumination systems for fluorescence microscopes. In some examples, a method includes positioning the sample such that a plane of interest of the sample is coplanar with a focal plane of a detection objective of a microscope; positioning a mirror around the sample; directing a beam of annularly collimated excitation light on the mirror to focus a disc of light on the sample; and imaging the sample through the detection objective.

An observation apparatus includes: a stage on which a container accommodating a specimen is mounted; a light source generating illumination light emitted in an upward direction from below the specimen on a specimen placement surface; a light-collecting lens disposed parallel to the surface and collecting the light; a diffusion plate disposed between the lens and the surface, parallel to the surface, and diffusing the light collected by the lens; an objective optical system disposed below the stage and collecting light passing through the stage from thereabove; and an image-capturing optical system capturing, below the specimen, transmitted light, which is the light emitted from the source, reflected above the specimen, transmitted through the specimen, and collected by the objective optical system, wherein the source is positioned so that an optical axis thereof is shifted from an optical axis of the lens in a direction away from the image-capturing optical system.

An imaging sensing system containing: i) a fibre optic plate (FOP) having a proximal end, a distal end and a body situated between the proximal and distal ends; ii) at least one illumination component; and

ii) an image sensor proximate the FOP.

A process is provided for imaging a surface of a specimen with an imaging system that employs a BD objective having a darkfield channel and a bright field channel, the BD objective having a circumference. The specimen is obliquely illuminated through the darkfield channel with a first arced illuminating light that obliquely illuminates the specimen through a first arc of the circumference. The first arced illuminating light reflecting off of the surface of the specimen is recorded as a first image of the specimen from the first arced illuminating light reflecting off the surface of the specimen, and a processor generates a 3D topography of the specimen by processing the first image through a topographical imaging technique. Imaging apparatus is also provided as are further process steps for other embodiments.

An optical apparatus having an illumination module with a carrier, which has at least one light-transmissive region, for example. The illumination module has a plurality of light sources, which are arranged on the carrier.

An optical apparatus comprises an illumination module (100) comprising a carrier (110), which has at least one light-transmissive region (112), for example. The illumination module (100) comprises a plurality of light sources (111), which are arranged on the carrier (110).

A sample observation apparatus includes a light source unit, an illumination optical system, an observation optical system, a light detection element, a scanning unit, a holding member, and an image processing device. A light spot is formed by the illumination optical system. The scanning unit moves the light spot and the holding member relative to each other. A pupil of the observation optical system and the light detection element are positioned at a position conjugate to a pupil position of the illumination optical system. The image processing device generates an image of a sample based on a predetermined image and a filter, and the predetermined image is an image based on a signal output from the light detection element. The filter includes a first region and a second region, and a value in the first region is greater than a value in the second region.

The disclosed technology relates to an inspection apparatus that includes a stage configured to retain a specimen for inspection, an imaging device having a field of view encompassing at least a portion of the stage to view a specimen retained on the stage, and a plurality of lights disposed on a moveable platform. The inspection apparatus can further include a control module coupled to the imaging device, each of the lights and the moveable platform. The control module is configured to perform operations including: receiving image data from the imaging device, where the image data indicates an illumination landscape of light incident on the specimen; and automatically modifying, based on the image data, an elevation of the moveable platform or an intensity of one or more of the lights to adjust the illumination landscape. Methods and machine-readable media are also contemplated.

Examples relate to a Light-Emitting Diode-based illumination system for a microscope, to a system, method and computer program for a microscope, and to a microscope system. The illumination system comprises one or more first LED-based light sources. The one or more first LED-based light sources are configured to emit light across a white light color spectrum. The illumination system comprises at least one optical filter. The at least one optical filter is arranged to filter the light emitted by the one or more first LED-based light sources. The illumination system comprises one or more second LED-based light sources. The one or more second LED-based light sources are configured to provide light having at least one peak at a wavelength that is tuned to an excitation wavelength of at least one fluorescent material.