Optical Module Encoding Color and Polarization via Lateral Offset Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current super-resolution optical microscopy techniques, such as SMLM and SOFI, face limitations in retrieving information from light emitting objects due to constraints on sparsity and density, and there is a need for an optical module that can enhance the imaging capabilities of widefield microscopes to overcome these limitations.
Innovation Solution
An optical module comprising a polarizing beam splitter, achromatic quarter-wave retardation plates, and reflectors with specific orientations and spectral properties, which splits light into partial beams to form overlapping images on an image sensor, allowing for the retrieval of additional information on light emitting objects through super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the lateral PSF is engineered to change significantly with emission wavelength, polarization, or axial position to retrieve additional information, then the information retrieval capability is improved, but the sparsity condition becomes much stricter and the blinking behavior constraints are severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information retrieval process by using multiple imaging modes (different lateral offsets) to capture different aspects of the fluorophore emission. Instead of relying on a single engineered PSF that requires strict sparsity, the system divides the information acquisition into multiple overlapping images that can be processed together to retrieve color, polarization, and axial position data while allowing higher fluorophore densities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lateral offset dimension in the image space to encode additional information. By forming images at different lateral offsets on the same image sensor, the system creates a new dimensional space for information encoding that allows retrieval of multiple parameters (wavelength, polarization, axial position) without requiring the fluorophores to satisfy strict sparsity conditions in the original image space.
2Loss of information
If multiple imaging modes with different lateral offsets are used to encode additional information, then the information density is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the optical module universal by designing it to work with standard widefield microscope components (objective lens, image sensor) while adding multi-functionality through the inclusion of polarization-sensitive detectors and spectral filtering capabilities. The same optical module simultaneously captures spatial, spectral, and polarization information, eliminating the need for separate imaging systems for each parameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple imaging functions into a single optical path by combining the lateral offset imaging mechanism with polarization detection and spectral filtering in one integrated module. This consolidation allows the system to capture multiple types of information (position, color, polarization, axial depth) simultaneously through a single optical path rather than requiring separate imaging systems for each parameter.
3Productivity
If the fluorophore density is increased to improve imaging efficiency, then the productivity is improved, but the sparsity condition for unambiguous intensity distribution and information retrieval becomes violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using temporal information from blinking fluorophores across multiple time points. The system captures image series where fluorophores stochastically switch between bright and dark states, and uses this temporal dynamics to resolve ambiguities that arise from higher densities. The cross-cumulant analysis exploits these dynamic fluctuations to achieve precise measurements even when spatial sparsity is not strictly maintained.
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
The optical module enables the encoding and retrieval of color, polarization, and axial position information of light emitting objects, allowing for higher density imaging and improved spatial resolution without inhibiting the separation of image spots, thus enhancing the information retrieval in SMLM and SOFI methods.
Implementation Method 1
a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) having an entrance face, an exit face, a first return face and a second return face
Implementation Method 2
a first achromatic quarter-wave retardation plate arranged between the first return face and the first reflector; a second achromatic quarter-wave retardation plate arranged between the second return face and the second reflector
Implementation Method 3
a first reflector facing the first return face; a second reflector facing the second return face
Data Source
AI summary
An optical module for imaging light emitting objects on an image sensor comprises a polarizing beam splitter having an entrance face, an exit face, first and a second return faces, a first reflector facing the first return face, a first achromatic quarter-wave retardation plate between the first return face and the first reflector, a second reflector facing the second return face, and a second achromatic quarter-wave retardation plate between the second return face and the second reflector. The first and second reflectors differ in at least one of their orientation with regard to the first and second return faces or their spectral properties. At least one of the first reflector and the second reflector comprises a dichroic mirror arranged between the respective achromatic quarter-wave retardation plate and a further mirror of the respective reflector. The dichroic mirror is tilted with regard to the further mirror of the respective reflector.