Interference Microscopy Phase Shift Analysis for Cell Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing observation devices using interference optical systems are unable to obtain detailed information on objects like cells and effectively display this information.
Innovation Solution
An observation device comprising a light source, interference optical system, imaging optical system, image pickup unit, optical path difference adjusting means, and control unit, which uses phase shift techniques to determine complex amplitudes and phase components of interference light, and displays these in HSV color space to effectively visualize changes over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional interference optical systems are used to observe objects, then the observation can be performed with simple amplitude detection, but detailed information such as phase components and internal structures cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the optical path difference through a series of discrete steps (phase shifting). By changing the optical path difference parameter and capturing multiple interference patterns at different phase states, the system extracts both amplitude and phase information. This allows detailed information retrieval without requiring fundamentally more complex hardware,而是 through intelligent parameter variation and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using a detector to capture interference patterns and a processor to extract phase information. Instead of directly observing the object with complex optical components, the system uses interference fringes as an intermediary carrier that encodes both amplitude and phase information. The phase information is then decoded through mathematical processing of the interference patterns, effectively using the interference pattern as a mediator to obtain detailed object information.
2Loss of information
If conventional amplitude-only detection is used, then the device operation is simple, but information display effectiveness is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by systematically cycling through multiple optical path difference settings (phase steps). The system periodically varies the optical path difference through discrete increments, capturing interference patterns at each phase state. This periodic variation allows the extraction of both amplitude and phase information through Fourier analysis or similar processing, thereby reducing information loss while maintaining operational simplicity through automated sequential measurement.
3Measurement precision
If phase shift technique with multiple optical path difference settings is implemented, then complex amplitude and phase information can be determined, but the measurement and processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a systematic sequence of optical path difference settings before actual measurement. The system prepares a predetermined series of phase steps and executes them in sequence, allowing efficient data collection. This preliminary planning of the measurement sequence enables optimized processing where multiple amplitude and phase values are captured systematically, reducing redundant measurements and minimizing total measurement time while maintaining high precision.
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
Enables detailed information retrieval and effective visualization of cell structures and dynamics, facilitating cellular studies and applications in drug discovery and regenerative medicine.
Implementation Method 1
an interference optical system which branches the light output from the light source into two to output as a first branched light and a second branched light, inputs a first reflected light generated due to the first branched light being reflected by a mirror, inputs a second reflected light generated due to the second branched light being reflected by a surface or an inside of an observation object, and causes the first reflected light and the second reflected light to interfere with each other to output an interference light
Data Source
AI summary
The observation device 1 is to observe the surface or the inside of an observation object 9, that has light sources 11 and 12, lenses 21 to 25, an aperture 31, an optical multiplexer 41, an optical demultiplexer 42, a half mirror 43, an image pickup unit 51, an analyzing unit 52, a display unit 53, a light receiving unit 61, a displacement detecting unit 62, a piezoelectric actuator 71, a drive unit 72, a mirror 73, a stage 81, a drive unit 82, and a control unit 90. The analyzing unit 52 determines a complex amplitude of an interference light figure taken as an image by the image pickup unit 51 with a phase shift technique after an optical path difference is set to each target value in sequence, and determines an amount of change per certain time of a phase component of a reflected light generated on the surface or the inside of the observation object 9 on the basis of an absolute value of an amount of change per certain time of the determined complex amplitude and an absolute value of the complex amplitude.