Phase Contrast Imaging Without Optical Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional phase contrast imaging techniques face limitations such as increased costs, complex structural design, noisy images, and reduced quality due to the need for additional optical elements and unsymmetrical contrast, especially in microscopes and for thin specimens.
Innovation Solution
A method involving sequential illumination from at least two directions, capturing intensity images, and combining them to generate a phase contrast image without requiring additional optical elements, allowing for a simple and robust optical device configuration that can produce high-quality images with increased phase contrast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional optical elements are added to achieve phase contrast imaging (e.g., DIC, Zernike techniques), then phase contrast capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the phase contrast capability from the traditional optical path modification approach and relocates it to the image processing domain. By capturing multiple intensity images from different illumination directions and computatically combining them, the method achieves phase contrast without adding optical elements to the detection path, thereby simplifying the device structure while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system (additional optical elements in the detection path) with a computational system (image processing algorithm). The phase contrast effect that traditionally required physical optical modifications is now achieved through digital image combination, substituting mechanical complexity with computational processing
2Measurement precision
If darkfield illumination is used for thin specimens, then phase contrast is achieved, but image quality deteriorates due to low photon contribution and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple intensity images captured from different illumination directions to generate the final phase contrast image. By combining information from multiple measurements, the method enhances the signal for thin specimens and reduces the impact of noise, achieving both phase contrast capability and high image quality that cannot be obtained with single darkfield illumination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic illumination from different directions, capturing a series of intensity images that are then combined. This periodic acquisition of data from multiple angles allows for robust phase contrast imaging of thin specimens by averaging out noise and enhancing the phase information through systematic variation of illumination conditions
3Measurement precision
If oblique illumination is used for phase contrast, then contrast enhancement is achieved, but image quality reduces due to unsymmetrical contrast increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately uses asymmetric illumination directions (oblique illumination from multiple angles) to enhance phase contrast. By capturing images from symmetrically arranged oblique directions and combining them appropriately, the method achieves unsymmetrical contrast enhancement in individual images but restores symmetry and overall image quality through the combination process, eliminating the quality degradation caused by single-direction oblique illumination
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 enables the generation of high-quality phase contrast images with increased robustness and reduced costs, capable of depicting phase objects with high contrast without the need for additional optical elements, and can handle thin specimens effectively.
Implementation Method 1
at least part of the image contrast is caused by a phase shift of the light through the object depicted
Data Source
AI summary
An object is illuminated from at least one illuminating direction. For each illuminating direction, an intensity image of the object is captured during the illumination. On the basis of the at least one intensity image, a phase contrast image of the object is generated.