A microscope apparatus provided with: a disk unit obtained by integrally forming a pinhole array disk in which pinholes are arranged and a microlens array disk in which microlenses are arranged; a dichroic mirror focusing illumination light that has been transmitted through the microlenses of the disk unit, on the corresponding pinholes and splitting off fluorescence from a specimen that has passed through the pinholes in the reverse direction from the illumination light; an objective lens radiating the illumination light that has passed through the pinholes onto the specimen and focusing the fluorescence from the specimen on the pinholes; an illumination-light-axis adjustment mechanism adjusting the position and the angle of the optical axis of the illumination light; an installation-angle adjustment mechanism adjusting the installation angle of the disk unit; and a unit insertion/removal mechanism removably supporting the disk unit onto the optical axis of the illumination light.

In one aspect an imaging system includes: an illumination system including an array of light sources; an optical system including one or more lens arrays, each of the lens arrays including an array of lenses, each of the lenses in each of the one or more lens arrays in alignment with a corresponding set of light sources of the array of light sources; an imaging system including an array of image sensors, each of the image sensors in alignment with a corresponding lens or set of lenses of the one or more lens arrays, each of the image sensors configured to acquire image data based on the light received from the corresponding lens or set of lenses; a plate receiver system capable of receiving a multi-well plate including an array of wells, the plate receiver system configured to align each of the wells with a corresponding one of the image sensors; and a controller configured to control the illumination of the light sources and the acquisition of image data by the image sensors, the controller further configured to perform: an image acquisition process including a plurality of scans, each scan associated with a unique pattern of illumination, each of the image sensors configured to generate an image for a respective one of the wells during each scan; and an image reconstruction process during which the controller performs a fourier ptychographic operation to generate a reconstructed image for each of the wells based on the image data captured for the respective well during each of the scans.

A super resolution microscope system is disclosed and described. The system can include a sample stage (180) adapted to receive a sample (185) including probe molecules. At least one light source (105) is provided to produce a coherent excitation light to excite the probe molecules and cause luminescence of the probe molecules. An image detector (100) can detect the luminescence from the probe molecules. A microlens array (125) can be positioned in a beam path (110) of the coherent light from the at least one light source (105). The beam path (110) of the coherent light extends between the light source (105) and the sample stage (180). The microlens array (125) can also be positioned in a beam path (112) of the luminescence from the probe molecules. The beam path (112) of the luminescence extends between the sample stage (180) and the image detector (100).

[Object] To provide a chemical sensor capable of detecting light emitted from a detection target object efficiently, a method of producing the chemical sensor, and a chemical detection apparatus.

[Solving Means] A chemical sensor according to the present technology includes a substrate and a lens layer. On the substrate, at least one light detection unit is formed. The lens layer is laminated on the substrate and has optical transparency, and a lens structure is formed on a surface of the lens layer opposite to the substrate in a concave shape toward a lamination direction.

Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An integrated device includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits radiation; at least one element for directing the emission radiation in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission radiation travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the integrated device. Each sensor may detect emission radiation from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well.

An optical sensing module is configured to detect a characteristic of a sample. The optical sensing module includes a light source, a light guide plate, a first cladding layer, a light converging layer, a filter layer, and a plurality of sensors. The light source is configured to provide an exciting beam. Positions of the sensors correspond to positions of the holes. After the exciting beam enters the light guide plate, at least one portion of the exciting beam is transmitted to the sample through a portion of the surface of the light guide plate exposed by the holes, the sample is excited by the exciting beam to emit a signal beam, and the signal beam passes through the light converging layer and the filter layer in an order and travels to the sensors. Another optical sensing module is also provided.

Detection system comprising an examination region, a one-piece optical element including a focusing portion to concentrate light received from the examination region and a guiding portion to homogenize light received from the focusing portion, and a detector configured to detect homogenized light received from the guiding portion.

This invention provides substrates for use in various applications, including single-molecule analytical reactions. Methods for propagating optical energy within a substrate are provided. Devices comprising waveguide substrates and dielectric omnidirectional reflectors are provided. Waveguide substrates with improved uniformity of optical energy intensity across one or more waveguides and enhanced waveguide illumination efficiency within an analytic detection region of the arrays are provided.

High numerical aperture collection optics for particle analyzers may include an ellipsoidal reflector or an ellipsoidal reflector in combination with a spherical reflector, and may efficiently collect light scattered or emitted by particles in a sample stream and then couple that collected light into a lower numerical aperture portion of the instrument's optical detection system, such as into an optical fiber for example. The reflectors may be integrated with a flow cell through which the sample stream passes, or may be separate components arranged around a flow cell or, in instruments not employing a flow cell, arranged around a sample stream in air. Refractive beam steering optics may allow multiple closely spaced excitation beams to be directed into the sample stream at low angles of incidence. The collection optics and refractive beam steering optics may be employed separately or in combination with each other.

Provided is a system for observing an object that emits fluorescence when irradiated with excitation light. The system includes: a hole unit having holes on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the objective lens to allow the excitation light to pass through the holes in a direction parallel to the optical axis; and an imaging unit including: an imaging lens configured to focus the fluorescence; a microlens array having microlenses arranged on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the imaging lens; and an image sensor having pixels configured to: receive the fluorescence via the objective lens, at least one of the holes, and the microlens array, the fluorescence being emitted when the object is irradiated with the excitation light having passed through at least one of the holes and the objective lens; and output an image signal in accordance with an intensity of the received fluorescence.