A method for flexible inspection of a sample includes forming an input beam using a beam source, blocking a portion of the input beam using an input mask, and forming a shaped beam from a portion of the input beam. The shaped beam is received at a first portion of an objective lens and focused onto a sample. A reflected beam is collected at a second portion of the objective lens. Scattered light is collected at the first and second portions of the objective lens and at a third portion of the objective lens. The scattered light is received at a dark-field detector module and a portion of the scattered light is directed to a dark-field detector. The dark-field detector module includes an output mask having one or more output apertures that allow at least part of the scattered light that passes through the third portion of the object lens to pass as the portion of the scattered light that is directed to the dark-field detector.

Certain aspects pertain to Fourier ptychographic imaging systems, devices, and methods such as, for example, high NA Fourier ptychographic imaging systems and reflective-mode NA Fourier ptychographic imaging systems.

A dermatoscope which can focus at a certain depth, e.g. below the top surface of the skin. Light sources are provided for creating shadows of a skin lesion and an image acquisition device to take images from which a 3D reconstruction can be made.

Provided is an optical apparatus that includes an illumination assembly which include an extended radiation source emitting radiation with a controllable spatial distribution and telecentric condensing optics, configured to receive and project the emitted radiation with a numerical aperture exceeding 0.3 along a first optical axis onto a field and an imaging assembly that includes a sensor and objective optics configured to image the field along a second optical axis onto the sensor and also a prism combiner positioned between the field and the condensing and objective optics which is configured to combine the first and second optical axes, while reflecting at least one of the optical axes multiple times within the prism combiner.

An inspection system and a method for inspection an object. The method may include acquiring a defocused image of an area of an object, and processing the defocused image of the area to find a phase shift between optical paths associated with certain proximate points of the area. The phase shift may be indicative of a defect. The acquiring of the defocused image may include illuminating the area with a radiation beam that may be spatially coherent and collimated when impinging on the area. The illuminating may include passing the radiation beam through an aperture that may be defined by an aperture stop that may be positioned within an aperture stop plane. The size of the aperture may be a fraction of a size of the aperture stop.

A culture observation system including: an observation device disposed in an incubator; a station server disposed outside the incubator and that transmitting and receiving information to and from the observation device; and a terminal for transmitting and receiving information to and from the station server. The observation device includes: a light source emitting illumination light from below a sample to thereabove, said sample being accommodated in a container formed of an optically transparent material; and an image acquisition unit for acquiring, below the sample, an image of transmitted light that has passed through the sample as a result of the illumination light emitted from the light source unit being reflected above the sample. The image acquisition unit includes an objective lens for collecting transmitted light that has passed through the sample, and the light source unit emits illumination light from radially outward of the objective lens to above the sample.

An observation apparatus including: a light-source that emits illumination light and excitation light upward from below a specimen; and an image-capturing optical system having an objective lens that focuses, below the specimen, transmitted light, which is the illumination light that is emitted from the light-source, that is reflected above the specimen, and that has passed through the specimen, and fluorescence that is generated in the specimen that has been irradiated with the excitation light emitted from the light-source, wherein the light-source is disposed radially outside the objective lens.

An observation device includes: a housing having, in a top surface, a glass window on which a vessel accommodating samples is placed and through which illumination light is transmitted; and an image acquisition unit accommodated in the housing and configured to capture transmitted light obtained after illumination light is transmitted through the samples from above, is transmitted through the glass window, and enters the housing.

Methods, devices, systems, and apparatuses are provided for the image analysis of measurement of biological samples.

A sample observation device includes an illumination optical system and an observation optical system, and the illumination optical system includes a light source, a condenser lens, and an aperture member, and the observation optical system includes an objective lens and an imaging lens, and the aperture member has a light-shielding part or a darkening part, and a transmission part, and the transmission part is located outside of an outer edge of the light-shielding part or the darkening part, and an image of an inner edge of the transmission part is formed inside of an outer edge of a pupil of the objective lens, and an image of an outer edge of the transmission part is formed outside of the outer edge of the pupil of the objective lens, and the following conditional expression is satisfied.
0.005Ratio0.9.