Decentered Aperture Phase Object Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional phase object visualization methods using oblique illumination face challenges in clearly visualizing biological samples, particularly when the illumination light is blocked by the edges of culture containers, leading to incomplete illumination and reduced contrast.
Innovation Solution
A phase object visualization apparatus with a light blocking unit containing a decentered aperture that allows 0-order diffraction light to pass through a smaller area than the total aperture, enabling clear visualization of phase objects using transmitted illumination perpendicular to the sample, thereby enhancing contrast without relying on oblique illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If oblique illumination is used to enhance contrast, then image contrast is improved, but illumination light is blocked by culture container edges leading to incomplete illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is divided into multiple regions (first aperture region and second aperture region) with different transmission characteristics. The first region transmits both s-polarized and p-polarized light, while the second region selectively transmits only s-polarized light, enabling differential contrast enhancement without complete illumination blockage
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the aperture are assigned different optical properties (polarization selectivity) to achieve local contrast enhancement. The second aperture region with s-polarized light transmission creates localized contrast improvement in specific image regions without affecting overall illumination completeness
2Reliability
If perpendicular illumination is used to ensure complete illumination, then illumination completeness is improved, but image contrast is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the polarization state parameter of light by using a polarizing beam splitter to separate s-polarized and p-polarized light components. This parameter change enables contrast enhancement through differential transmission in the aperture regions while maintaining perpendicular illumination geometry for complete illumination
3Illumination intensity
If a polarizing beam splitter is introduced to separate polarization components, then image contrast is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture with selective polarization transmission is merged with the existing optical path, combining the contrast enhancement function with the illumination system. The polarizing beam splitter is integrated into the microscope's existing optical train, merging multiple functions into a unified system rather than adding separate independent components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures comprehensive visualization of biological samples, including regions near the edges of culture containers, by blocking non-diffracted light and selectively allowing diffracted light to form images with enhanced contrast, stabilizing the visualization process regardless of surrounding conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an area occupied on the aperture by 0-order diffraction light from the phase object illuminated by the illumination optical system becomes smaller than the total area of the aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A phase object visualization apparatus includes: an illumination optical system 11 that illuminates a phase object; an image formation optical system 12 that forms an image from light from sample S that corresponds to the phase object; and light blocking unit 10 for blocking light, the light blocking unit 10 being disposed between the sample S and an image plane formed by the image formation optical system 12, and including an aperture at a position decentered from the optical axis of the image formation optical system 12. The position of the aperture is such that an area occupied on the aperture by 0-order diffraction light from the sample S illuminated by the illumination optical system 11 becomes smaller than the total area of the aperture.