381 results about "Optical resolution" patented technology

Random arrays of single molecules are provided for carrying out large scale analyses, particularly of biomolecules, such as genomic DNA, cDNAs, proteins, and the like. In one aspect, arrays of the invention comprise concatemers of DNA fragments that are randomly disposed on a regular array of discrete spaced apart regions, such that substantially all such regions contain no more than a single concatemer. Preferably, such regions have areas substantially less than 1 μm2 and have nearest neighbor distances that permit optical resolution of on the order of 109 single molecules per cm2. Many analytical chemistries can be applied to random arrays of the invention, including sequencing by hybridization chemistries, sequencing by synthesis chemistries, SNP detection chemistries, and the like, to greatly expand the scale and potential applications of such techniques.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of forming more symmetric spacers which may be used for self-aligned multi-patterning processes. A conformal spacer layer of spacer material is formed over mandrels patterned near the optical resolution of a photolithography system using a high-resolution photomask. A carbon-containing layer is further formed over the conformal spacer layer. The carbon-containing layer is anisotropically etched to expose the high points of the conformal spacer layer while retaining carbon side panels. The conformal spacer layer may then be etched to form spacers without the traditional skewing of the profile towards one side or the other.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of forming more symmetric spacers which may be used for self-aligned multi-patterning processes. A conformal spacer layer of spacer material is formed over mandrels patterned near the optical resolution of a photolithography system using a high-resolution photomask. A carbon-containing layer is further formed over the conformal spacer layer. The carbon-containing layer is anisotropically etched to expose the high points of the conformal spacer layer while retaining carbon side panels. The conformal spacer layer may then be etched to form spacers without the traditional skewing of the profile towards one side or the other.

Method for enhancing the resolution of a microscope during the detection of an illuminated specimen and a microscope for carrying out the method, wherein in a first position, an illumination pattern is generated on the specimen, the resolution of which is preferably within the range of the attainable optical resolution of the microscope or higher, wherein a relative movement, preferably perpendicular to the direction of illumination, from a first into at least one second position of the illumination pattern on the specimen is generated at least once between the detection and the illumination pattern with a step width smaller than the resolution limit of the microscope and detection and storage of the detection signals take place both in the first and in the second position.

The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, compositions, and methods for analyzing a sample containing particles. In some aspects the system comprises an analyzer which may be a visual analyzer. In one aspect, this disclosure relates to a particle imaging system comprising a flowcell through which a sample containing particles is caused to flow, and a high optical resolution imaging device which captures images for image analysis of samples. Other compositions, methods and features of this disclosure are disclosed herein.

A STED-SPIM-microscope (Selective Plane Imaging Microscopy) having a y-direction illumination light source and a z-direction detection light camera. An x-scanner generates a sequential light sheet by scanning the illumination light beam in the x-direction. By optionally turning on a STED deactivation light beam the light sheet can optionally be made thinner and therefore the optical resolution can be increased.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of forming features on a substrate using a self-aligned double patterning (SADP) process. A conformal layer of non-sacrificial material is formed over features of sacrificial structural material patterned near the optical resolution of a photolithography system using a high-resolution photomask. An anisotropic etch of the non-sacrificial layer leaves non-sacrificial ribs above a substrate. A gapfill layer deposited thereon may be etched or polished back to form alternating fill and non-sacrificial features. No hard mask is needed to form the non-sacrificial ribs, reducing the number of processing steps involved.

A method for generating an image of a sample by a microscopy method including varying local resolution, wherein at least two of the following microscopy methods are combined: laser scanning microscopy, a microscopy method wherein the sample is excited to luminescence by structured line or wide area illumination, and a first microscopy image is generated from the images thus obtained, having increased local resolution greater than the optical resolution of the image, a further microscopy method according to the PAL principle, by which a second microscopy image is generated, indicating geometric locations of marker molecules emitting luminescent radiation at an increased local resolution relative to the optical resolution, and a further microscopy method, wherein the sample is marked using marking molecules suitable for the STED, ESA, or RESOLFT technique, and a third microscopy image is generated of STED, ESA, or RESOLFT, wherein the obtained images are superimposed.

Super-resolution technology was proposed for generating marks smaller than the optical resolution in order to record data at high density on the optical disk. However, the achievable high density of the super-resolution technology was limited due to fluctuation of the region exhibiting the super-resolution effect due to the grain size or the molecular size comprising the super-resolution film. However fluctuation in the region exhibiting the super-resolution effect is reduced by utilizing recording marks possessing their own super-resolution effect and also by separating the recording marks from each other.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of forming features on a substrate using a self-aligned triple patterning (SATP) process. A stack of layers is patterned near the optical resolution of a photolithography system using a high-resolution photomask. The heterogeneous stacks are selectively etched to undercut a hard mask layer beneath overlying cores. A dielectric layer, which is flowable during formation, is deposited and fills the undercut regions as well as the regions between the heterogeneous stacks. The dielectric layer is anisotropically etched and a conformal spacer is deposited on and between the cores. The spacer is anisotropically etched to leave two spacers between each core. The cores are stripped and the spacers are used together with the remaining hard mask features to pattern the substrate at triple the density of the original pattern.

A probe for use with an imaging system, including a scanning device configured to receive a first light beam from a light source, a beam-divider configured to split the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams, and a focusing device configured to focus each of the second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest.

The invention provides a stimulated radiation loss micro imaging system which comprises an exciting light laser, a first dichroscope, a fluorescent light activating and imaging unit, a loss photoexcitation light, a vector beam modulation unit and a control unit, wherein the fluorescent light activating and imaging unit comprises a second dichroscope, an XY vibrating mirror scanning part, a scanning lens, a cylinder mirror, an objective lens, a probe hole and a photomultiplier tube. The stimulated radiation loss micro imaging system provided by the invention adopts the vector beam modulation unit to modulate the incident loss light laser beam amplitude, a phase and a polarization state, the loss light wave amplitude, the phase and the polarization state of the pupil of an objective lens are utilized to form loss light focal spots, and meanwhile, the loss light focal spots are reshaped in a fine and complicated manner under the action of the multiple physical quantities, so that the generated loss light focal spots are exactly matched with the exciting light focal spot distribution, meanwhile, the diameter of a centre dark region of the loss light focal spots is minimal under the condition of a certain signal-to-noise ratio, and the stimulated radiation loss micro imaging system has high optical resolution.

A method for high-resolution luminescence microscopy of a sample marked with marking molecules that can be activated to excite particular luminescent radiation, including: repeated activation of a subset of the marking molecules to emit luminescent radiation; repeated imaging of the sample along a depth direction and with a predetermined optical resolution; and producing images from the repeated imaging. Locations of the marking molecules are determined with a spatial resolution that is increased above the predetermined optical resolution. Activation of the marking molecules can be through radiation introduced into multiple regions, each extending along a plane substantially perpendicular to the depth direction. The regions can be arranged so that the regions are behind one another and overlap only partially. Separate images of the sample may be recorded for activation in each of the regions in order to obtain depth information relating to the marking molecules from the separate images.

The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, compositions, and methods for analyzing a sample containing particles. A particle imaging system or analyzer can include a flowcell through which a urine sample containing particles is caused to flow, and a high optical resolution imaging device which captures images for image analysis. A contrast pattern for autofocusing is provided on the flowcell. The image processor assesses focus accuracy from pixel data contrast. A positioning motor moves the microscope and / or flowcell along the optical axis for autofocusing on the contrast pattern target. The processor then displaces microscope and flowcell by a known distance between the contrast pattern and the sample stream, thus focusing on the sample stream. Cell or particle images are collected from that position until autofocus is reinitiated, periodically, by input signal, or when detecting temperature changes or focus inaccuracy in the image data.

The invention discloses a real-time multi-mode photoacoustic human eye imaging system and an imaging method thereof. The imaging system comprises a laser device, a front optical path, a reflecting mirror, a focusing lens, a light-transmitting acoustic reflection device, a scanning mirror, a water trough, an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transmitter-receiver set, an amplifier and a computer. A light-transmitting acoustic reflection film and the scanning mirror are placed in the water trough. The imaging system has a photoacoustic imaging mode and an ultrasonic imaging mode. Mechanical scanning is replaced through the scanning mirror, imaging time is greatly shortened, and pain of a patient is relieved. Meanwhile, due to the optical and ultrasonic confocal design, an existing pure optical focusing imaging mode or an existing pure ultrasonic focusing imaging mode is changed, sensitivity is improved on the basis that the optical resolution is achieved, and full-eye imaging from the front of the eye to the bottom of the eye can be carried out. Due to dual-wavelength use, the limitation that imaging is only carried out on the eye vascular structure at present is broken through, functional imaging of the degree of blood oxygen saturation can be carried out, and early detection of a part of eye diseases is facilitated.

In a scanning probe microscope, a nanotube and metal nano-particles are combined together to configure a plasmon-enhanced near-field probe having an optical resolution on the order of nanometers as a measuring probe in which a metal structure is embedded, and this plasmon-enhanced near-field probe is installed in a highly-efficient plasmon exciting unit to repeat approaching to and retracting from each measuring point on a sample with a low contact force, so that optical information and profile information of the surface of the sample are measured with a resolution on the order of nanometers, a high S / N ratio, and high reproducibility without damaging both of the probe and the sample.

When a super resolution technology for optical disks is used in a situation where optical disk management information is formed with a signal that cannot be reproduced by a reproduction method based on a conventional optical disk technology, optical disk drives cannot make recording adjustments and / or reproduction adjustments.An optical disk drive uses an optical disk that forms a management information signal with pits not smaller in size than optical resolution and can be read by a reproduction method based on a conventional optical disk technology. When the optical disk drive records information onto or reproduces information from the optical disk having the super resolution region, it is possible to make proper recording adjustments or reproduction adjustments and perform a proper recording operation or reproducing operation in an optical disk's information region for user information recording or reproduction.

An opthalmological measuring device for determining geometric structures in an eye includes an optical, triangulating measurement system for determining at least one geometric reference in the eye by triangulation, and an optical, interferometric measurement system for determining geometric detailed structures in the eye by optical interferometry. The measuring device is designed to position the geometric detailed structures determined by the interferometric measurement system on the basis of the at least one geometric reference in the eye determined by the triangulating measurement system. This firstly allows the interferometric measurement system to register geometric detailed structures in the eye with a high optical resolution and at places that are not visible to the triangulating measurement system, and secondly allows the positioning of said geometric detailed structures in the eye on the basis of geometric references that are determined by the triangulating measurement system without significant movement artifacts.

A home healthcare management system wherein a patient conducts self diagnoses and self testing, and manages their own medical records at home. A digital microscope is utilized as part of the system that is smaller, of lower cost, faster, of a higher dynamic range, and has a higher resolution than conventional microscopes. The microscope consists of an illumination source, a spatial sub-sampling device and a detector device. The digital microscope provides a vectored method of collecting images from a digital microscope that is independent of the optical resolution, and a slide based coordinate system, and a method of displaying images and communicating such images over the Internet in a file format that does not require a header or prior knowledge of magnification, coordinate system, or tiling structure. The system further includes an interface for physiological monitoring devices and a connection to the Internet for more comprehensive services.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of forming features on a substrate using a self-aligned double patterning (SADP) process. A conformal layer of non-sacrificial material is formed over features of sacrificial structural material patterned near the optical resolution of a photolithography system using a high-resolution photomask. An anisotropic etch of the non-sacrificial layer leaves non-sacrificial ribs above a substrate. A gapfill layer deposited thereon may be etched or polished back to form alternating fill and non-sacrificial features. No hard mask is needed to form the non-sacrificial ribs, reducing the number of processing steps involved.

The invention discloses a novel scanning method and a novel scanning device of an optical resolution photo-acoustic microscope, belonging to the technical field of photo-acoustic imaging. The device disclosed by the invention has the working process and working principle that after being collimated by using a single mold optical fiber coupling component, pulse laser emitted from a laser emitter is input into a two-dimensional scanning galvanometer system; the two-dimensional scanning galvanometer system focuses the laser onto a target object to generate a photo-acoustic signal, and a linear area corresponding to a focusing area of a linear focusing ultrasonic detector is scanned; photo-acoustic signals generated in different scanning positions are transmitted to the linear focusing ultrasonic detector through a water tank full of an ultrasonic coupling liquid, and are converted into piezoelectric signals; after being amplified by using an amplifier, the piezoelectric signals are acquired by using a data acquisition card, and are stored in a computer for data processing. The optical resolution photo-acoustic microscope and the target object do not need to move relative to each other, the requirements of the optical resolution photo-acoustic microscope on a signal to noise ratio can be met, and meanwhile, a large view field range and a high resolution can be met.

The invention discloses a color selector. The color selector comprises a vibratory feeder, a flat plate chute, an optical resolution chamber, an air flow nozzle and a distributing hopper, wherein the vibratory feeder is arranged on the rear upper side of the flat plate chute. The color selector solves blocking and jamming phenomena of the vibratory feeder and the flat plate chute and ensures normal feeding and color selection.

Method for spatially high-resolution luminescence microscopy in which label molecules in a sample are activated to emit luminescence radiation comprising activating only a subset of the label molecules in the sample, wherein activated label molecules have a distance to the closest activated molecules that is greater or equal to a length which results from a predetermined optical resolution, detecting the luminescence radiation, generating a frame from the luminescence radiation, identifying the geometric locations of the label molecules with a spatial resolution increased above the predetermined optical resolution, repeating the steps and forming a combined image, and controlling the acquisition of the several frames by evaluating at least one of the frames or a group of the frames and modifying at least one variable for subsequent repetitions of the steps of generating frames for combining into an image.

A home healthcare management system wherein a patient conducts self diagnoses and self testing, and manages their own medical records at home. A digital microscope is utilized as part of the system that is smaller, of lower cost, faster, of a higher dynamic range, and has a higher resolution than conventional microscopes. The microscope consists of an illumination source, a spatial sub-sampling device and a detector device. The digital microscope provides a vectored method of collecting images from a digital microscope that is independent of the optical resolution, and a slide based coordinate system, and a method of displaying images and communicating such images over the Internet in a file format that does not require a header or prior knowledge of magnification, coordinate system, or tiling structure. The system further includes an interface for physiological monitoring devices and a connection to the Internet for more comprehensive services.

The present invention provides a light-enhancing component and a fabrication method thereof by using the focused-ion-beam. In the present invention, the surface plasmon polariton structure is coated on the surface of the optical fiber so as to form the light-enhancing component. When the light passes through the optical fiber, the luminous flux transmitted through the aperture on the surface plasmon polariton is enhanced, and the light beam smaller than the diffraction limitation can be transmitted to the far-field, i.e. the nano-optic sword is formed. The light-enhancing component of the present invention can be used for the optical data storage, the optical microscopy, the biomedical detections and the lithography to perform the extra optical resolutions beyond the diffraction limitation.

A flow chamber, imaging objective, condenser and imaging light source as part of an optical system includes an oil-immersion objective and high numerical aperture condenser matched to a rectangular flow chamber. The oil-immersion objective and flow chamber include a high index of refraction immersion oil so as to enhance the optical resolution and optical coupling therethrough. The imaging light source generates light which passes through the condenser, the flow chamber and then the objective before being focused onto an imaging camera. Fluorescence excitation passes through the objective to the flow chamber where the oil immersion configuration enhances the focus and collection of the light back through the objective.

A photomask and a method for forming a photomask are disclosed in which the photomask pattern is modified to bridge features that are likely to produce electrostatic discharge related defects. In one embodiment those adjacent features that are closely spaced together and have a high surface area differential, are bridged using a bridge that has a width less than the minimum optical resolution of the photolithography process.