756results about How to "Improve image contrast" patented technology

Aspheric diffractive lenses are disclosed for ophthalmic applications. For example, multifocal intraocular lens (IOLs) are disclosed that include an optic having an anterior surface and a posterior surface, at least one of which surfaces includes an aspherical base profile on a portion of which a plurality of diffractive zones are disposed so as to generate a far focus and a near focus. The aspherical base profile enhances image contrast at the far focus of the lens relative to that obtained by a substantially identical IOL in which the respective base profile is spherical.

A radiographing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is characterized in that an image processing device comprises an acquisition device which acquires projection data of a first energy spectrum and projection data of a second energy spectrum, and a synthetic image generating device which synthesizes a first image on the basis of the projection data of the first energy spectrum, and a second image on the basis of the projection data of the second energy spectrum according to a predetermined synthetic condition, and generating a synthetic image, and a display device displays the generated synthetic image.

Reflective color filters using layers of cholesteric liquid crystals with two different center wavelengths and bandwidths per layer are stacked in two layers to provide colored light for displays. With a two layer stack circularly polarized light of one handedness can be provided. With a two layer stack circulary unpolarized colored light can be provided. With a broadband polarizing filter overlapping other filters in the stack a black matrix can be provided by reflecting all colors and transmitting no light in the overlapping areas. When broadband reflective cholesteric liquid crystals are used two primary colors can be reflected in the same pixel of a display making reflective layers with two reflective portions per layer possible. Color displays having three linear sub-pixels with three primary colors or with four sub-pixels of white, blue, green, and red in a pixel with two colors in a top row and two colors on a bottom row can are made with two colors per layer in two layer stacks. The pixels in the display are arranged such that multiple adjacent sub-pixels in a layer, or row in a layer, with the same color makes the color filters easier to manufacture. Displays using these reflective color filters may have a reflective polarizer for viewing the display at wide angles without color distortion.

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for utilizing energy, e.g., optical radiation, to treat various dermatological and cosmetic conditions. A handheld dermatological device that facilitates viewing and measuring parameters of a treatment area before, during, and after application of a treatment modality, and methods of use therefor, are disclosed. The device can include a deflective device that can steer radiation to control a target position of the radiation. The device can also include a control device to allow a user to control the radiation through manipulation of the deflective device.

The present invention provides a handheld dermatological device for visualizing a skin treatment region prior to, during, or after therapeutic treatment with therapeutic energy. An apparatus according to the teachings of the invention can include an image capture device and a display device mounted to the apparatus and electrically coupled to the image capture device. The display device is capable of displaying images of the treatment area captured by the image capture device. The apparatus can further include a head capable of transmitting therapeutic energy to a treatment area, which can be precisely aligned by the user to a desired portion of the treatment area through the use of the display device. In some embodiments, the apparatus can include one or more illumination sources for illuminating a skin target region, and shield for shielding the image capture device from direct reflection of the illuminating radiation from a selected skin surface portion.

A grating trim retarder fabricated from a form-birefringent multi-layer dielectric stack including at least one anti-reflection coating and supported on a transparent substrate is provided. The form-birefringent dielectric stack includes an axially-inhomogeneous element in the form of a −C-plate grating and a transversely-inhomogeneous element in the form of an A-plate grating. Each of the −C-plate and the A-plate gratings are fabricated with dimensions to form a zeroth order sub-wavelength grating structure. Fabricating the grating trim retarder with anti-reflection coatings and / or a segment where the −C-plate and A-plate grating overlap enables the in-plane and out-of-plane retardances to be tailored independently according to the desired application.

A portable, lightweight digital imaging device uses a slit scanning arrangement to obtain an image of the eye, in particular the retina. In at least one embodiment, a digital retinal imaging device includes an illumination source operable to produce a source beam, wherein the source beam defines an illumination pathway, a scanning mechanism operable to cause a scanning motion of the illumination pathway in one dimension with respect to a target, an optical element situated within the illumination pathway, the optical element operable to focus the illumination pathway into an illumination slit at a plane conjugate to the target, wherein the illumination slit is slit shaped, a first two dimensional detector array operable to detect illumination returning from the target and acquire one or more data sets from the detected illumination, wherein the returning illumination defines a detection pathway, and a shaping mechanism positioned within the illumination pathway, wherein the shaping mechanism shapes the source beam into at least one arc at a plane conjugate to the pupil. In at least one exemplary embodiment, the digital retinal imaging device is operable to minimize at least one aberration from the optical element or an unwanted reflection from the target or a reflection from a device.

An method and device suitable for navigation on a wide variety of surfaces is introduced. Specular reflection is used to determine relative motion over typical surfaces. A specific application is a computer mouse.

A multi-beam apparatus for observing a sample with oblique illumination is proposed. In the apparatus, a new source-conversion unit changes a single electron source into a slant virtual multi-source array, a primary projection imaging system projects the array to form plural probe spots on the sample with oblique illumination, and a condenser lens adjusts the currents of the plural probe spots. In the source-conversion unit, the image-forming means not only forms the slant virtual multi-source array, but also compensates the off-axis aberrations of the plurality of probe spots. The apparatus can provide dark-field images and / or bright-field images of the sample.

A manufacturing method of a display device having TFTs capable of high-speed operation with few variations of threshold voltage is provided, in which materials are used with high efficiency and a small number of photomasks is required. The display device of the invention comprises a gate electrode layer and a pixel electrode layer formed over an insulating surface, a gate insulating layer formed over the gate electrode layer, a crystalline semiconductor layer formed over the gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer having one conductivity type formed in contact with the crystalline semiconductor layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer formed in contact with the semiconductor layer having one conductivity type, an insulating later formed over the source electrode layer, the drain electrode layer, and the pixel electrode layer, a first opening formed in the insulating layer to reach the source electrode layer or the drain electrode layer, a second opening formed in the gate insulating layer and the insulating layer to reach the pixel electrode layer, and a wiring layer formed in the first opening and the second opening to electrically connect the source electrode layer or the drain electrode layer to the pixel electrode layer.

A privacy display comprises a polarised output spatial light modulator, reflective polariser, plural polar control retarders and a polariser. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance. Further, display reflectivity is reduced for on-axis reflections of ambient light, while reflectivity is increased for off-axis light. The visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers is reduced by means of luminance reduction and increased frontal reflectivity to ambient light. In a public mode of operation, the liquid crystal retardance is adjusted so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified.

The present invention provides a handheld dermatological device for visualizing a skin treatment region prior to, during, or after therapeutic treatment with therapeutic energy. An apparatus according to the teachings of the invention can include an image capture device and a display device mounted to the apparatus and electrically coupled to the image capture device. The display device is capable of displaying images of the treatment area captured by the image capture device. The apparatus can further include a head capable of transmitting therapeutic energy to a treatment area, which can be precisely aligned by the user to a desired portion of the treatment area through the use of the display device. In some embodiments, the apparatus can include one or more illumination sources for illuminating a skin target region, and shield for shielding the image capture device from direct reflection of the illuminating radiation from a selected skin surface portion.

A lens in accordance with the present invention includes an accommodating cell having two chambers with at least one chamber filled with optical fluid with the refractive index matching the refractive index of the accommodating element separating them. The accommodating element has a diffractive surface with surface relief structure that maintains its period but changes its height due a pressure difference between the chambers to redirect most of light that passes through the lens between different foci of far and near vision. The invention also includes a sensor cell that directly interacts with the ciliary muscle contraction and relaxation to create changes in pressure between the accommodating cell chambers that results in changing surface relief structure height and the lens accommodation.

A back lighting system for illuminating a display device comprises a light-emitting panel (1) and a light source (6) for coupling light into the light-emitting panel. The light source comprises a low-pressure discharge lamp (6; 7). The light source additionally comprises a plurality of LEDs (8, 8′, . . . ; 9, 9′, . . . ) for selectively setting the color temperature of the light emitted by the light source. Preferably, the LEDs increase the color temperature of the light emitted by the light source. Preferably, the light emitted by the back lighting system ranges from 6,000 to 10,500 K. Preferably, the LEDs are blue light emitting LEDs, each preferably having a luminous flux of at least 5 lm. The color point of an image to be displayed on a display screen of the display device is set by the back lighting system, thus enabling an optimum contrast to be achieved for the image to be displayed by the display device.

A portable, lightweight digital imaging device uses a slit scanning arrangement to obtain an image of the eye, in particular the retina. The scanning arrangement reduces the amount of target area illuminated at a time, thereby reducing the amount of unwanted light scatter and providing a higher contrast image. A detection arrangement receives the light remitted from the retinal plane and produces an image. The device is operable under battery power and ambient light conditions, such as outdoor or room lighting. The device is noncontact and does not require that the pupil of the eye be dilated with drops. The device can be used by personnel who do not have specialized training in the eye, such as emergency personnel, pediatricians, general practitioners, or volunteer or otherwise unskilled screening personnel. Images can be viewed in the device or transmitted to a remote location. The device can also be used to provide images of the anterior segment of the eye, or other small structures. Visible wavelength light is not required to produce images of most important structures in the retina, thereby increasing the comfort and safety of the device. Flexible and moderate cost confocal and fluorescent imaging, multiply scattered light images, and image sharpening are further functionalities possible with the device.

A sorting system (110) conveys articles, such as peaches (114) on a conveyor belt (112) past an inspection zone (126) that is lighted by an illumination source (90) radiating a number of emission peaks over visible and infrared portions of the spectrum. The illumination source generates the radiation from an Indium Iodide lamp (92) that is reflected off a parabolic reflector (94) and through a "soda straw" collimator (100) to illuminated the peaches. A detector system (118) employs line scanning visible and infrared cameras (142, 140) to sense visible and IR wavelength reflectance values for the peach meat (124) and peach pit or pit fragments (126). Various image processing and analysis methologies, such as subtraction, ratio, logarithmic, regression, combination, angle, distance, and shape may be employed to enhance the image contrast and classify the resulting data for sorting the peaches. Employing subtraction also cancels "glint" caused by specular reflections of the illumination source off the peaches and into the cameras.

The embodiment of the present application provides a fingerprint identification device with a smaller thickness and a better imaging effect. The fingerprint recognition device includes: an optical path guiding structure disposed between the display screen and the optical fingerprint sensor for guiding an optical signal obliquely incident on the finger above the display screen and reflected by thefinger at a preset angle to an optical fingerprint sensor, disposed under the optical path guiding structure for detecting the received optical signal.

There is provided a display device capable of delivering adequate video display performance even when a lighting period of a backlight is varied in accordance with the content or the like of image data. The device has circuits (8050, 8060) for varying a lighting period of a backlight (8090) for illuminating a display panel (8010) in accordance with image data (8002), setting information (8003), and the like from an external device; and circuits (8070, 8080) for adjusting the timing of start (and turning off) of lighting of the backlight in accordance with the length of the lighting period.

Semiconductor radiation detectors are cooled to improve accuracy in radiation detection. Semiconductor radiation detectors are cooled by heat conductance through heat conductive boards. In addition, the semiconductor radiation detectors are cooled by cooling medium filled or supplied to a heat insulating body covering the semiconductor radiation detectors.

The present invention provides a see-through transmitting-reflecting projection screen excellent in transparency, capable of sharply displaying, on its both sides, identical or different images even under bright environmental light. A transmitting-reflecting projection screen 10 comprises a reflection-type screen 11 and a transmission-type screen 12. The reflection-type screen 11 reflects a specific polarized component of imaging light projected. The reflection-type screen 11 does not reflect a polarized component, different from the specific polarized component, of the imaging light, and this polarized component passes through the reflection-type screen 11 and the transmission-type screen 12.

A portable, lightweight digital imaging device uses a slit scanning arrangement to obtain an image of the eye, in particular the retina. The scanning arrangement reduces the amount of target area illuminated at a time, thereby reducing the amount of unwanted light scatter and providing a higher contrast image. A detection arrangement receives the light remitted from the retinal plane and produces an image. The device is operable under battery power and ambient light conditions, such as outdoor or room lighting. The device is noncontact and does not require that the pupil of the eye be dilated with drops. The device can be used by personnel who do not have specialized training in the eye, such as emergency personnel, pediatricians, general practitioners, or volunteer or otherwise unskilled screening personnel. Images can be viewed in the device or transmitted to a remote location. The device can also be used to provide images of the anterior segment of the eye, or other small structures. Visible wavelength light is not required to produce images of most important structures in the retina, thereby increasing the comfort and safety of the device. Flexible and moderate cost confocal and fluorescent imaging, multiply scattered light images, and image sharpening are further functionalities possible with the device.

A photoacoustic medical imaging device may include a substrate, an array of ultrasonic transducers on the substrate, at least one groove etched on the substrate, at least one optical fiber, and at least one facet. Each optical fiber is disposed in one of the grooves. Each facet is etched in one of the grooves and coated with a layer of metal having high infrared reflectivity. Each optical fiber is configured to guide infrared light from a light source through the fiber and toward the respective facet. The facet is configured to reflect the infrared light toward a target.

A sorting system (110) conveys articles, such as peaches (114) on a conveyor belt (112) past an inspection zone (126) that is lighted by an illumination source (90) radiating a number of emission peaks over visible and infrared portions of the spectrum. The illumination source generates the radiation from an Indium Iodide lamp (92) that is reflected off a parabolic reflector (94) and through a "soda straw" collimator (100) to illuminated the peaches. A detector system (118) employs line scanning visible and infrared cameras (142, 140) to sense visible and IR wavelength reflectance values for the peach meat (124) and peach pit or pit fragments (126). Various image processing and analysis methologies, such as subtraction, ratio, logarithmic, regression, combination, angle, distance, and shape may be employed to enhance the image contrast and classify the resulting data for sorting the peaches. Employing subtraction also cancels "glint" caused by specular reflections of the illumination source off the peaches and into the cameras.

Disclosed is an ultrasound assembly. The ultrasound assembly includes a garment configured to be affixed to a portion of a living body, and at least one ultrasound transducer having a fixed position on the garment and configured to provide at least one of: produce and receive, ultrasound signals that pass through the living body. The ultrasound assembly further includes an ultrasound processing unit operatively associated with the at least one ultrasound transducer and configured to process the ultrasound signals following passage through the living body, and an ultrasound operator-interface unit operatively associated with the ultrasound processing unit and configured to provide information with respect to the ultrasound signals following passage through the living body.

An improved theater geometry which is capable of providing improved image resolution and improved image contrast over prior systems is achieved with a unique projection geometry and image re-mapping technique. The projected image is provided with a continuously variable image resolution and brightness over the surface of a preferably dome-shaped screen which is to receive the image, concentrating the resolution and the brightness of the image within the central field-of-view of viewers that are unidirectionally seated in the theater, and sacrificing resolution and brightness toward the outside edges of the viewers' field-of-view. The result is a more efficient use of available projector resolution and brightness, an increase in the number of quality seats available in the theater, and an enhanced image contrast due to reductions in the light which is scattering from image elements to the rear of the screen.

A method of improving a signal to noise ratio of an image data set of a cargo container is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a radiation beam toward the cargo container, detecting the transmitted radiation beam via a plurality of area radiation detectors, each area radiation detector comprising an active area defined by a matrix of pixels, thereby defining enhanced radiation data, processing the enhanced radiation data and reconstructing the image data set representative of contents of the cargo container, combining image attributes of the image data set to improve the signal to noise ratio, thereby defining an enhanced image data set, and displaying on a display the enhanced image data set comprising an improved signal to noise ratio.

In vivo endoscopic methods an apparatuses for implementation of fluorescence and autofluorescence microscopy, with and without the use of exogenous agents, effectively (with resolution sufficient to image nuclei) visualize and categorize various abnormal tissue forms.

The invention discloses a method for detecting appearance of a semiconductor chip. The device comprises a sucking mechanism, a U-shaped reflecting plate, two light sources, plane reflecting mirrors, a lens, a camera and an adjusting mechanism, wherein the sucking mechanism is used for sucking a chip to be detected to a position to be detected; the U-shaped reflecting plate is arranged on the sucking mechanism; the two light sources are symmetrically arranged on the side of the chip; one part of light emitted by the two light sources irradiates the U-shaped reflecting plate and performs backlight illumination on the bottom surface and one group of opposite sides of the chip, and the other part of light performs backlight illumination on the other group of opposite sides of the chip; a plurality of plane reflecting mirrors are obliquely and symmetrically arranged at the periphery below the chip, so that light rays reflected by the plane reflecting mirrors are vertically transmitted to the front end face of the lens; the lens is arranged on the camera and positioned below the chip; the camera is arranged on the adjusting mechanism; and the adjusting mechanism is used for adjusting the working distance of the camera. By a backlight illumination technology, a device is clearly imaged, contrast is high, lighting uniformity is achieved, detection time is shortened, and efficiency is improved.