Phase Image Correction for Curved-Bottom Concave Containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing phase image acquisition methods suffer from decreased accuracy due to superimposed phase components from the inclination of the bottom surface of concave containers, which affect the quality and reliability of quantitative data in cell monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A phase image acquisition method that involves acquiring a hologram image of an object in a concave container with a curved bottom surface, generating a phase image, and subtracting a phase component derived from a polynomial representing the shape of the bottom surface to remove noise, using polynomials of 2 to 7 degrees for accurate fitting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If phase image acquisition is performed using a concave container with an inclined bottom surface, then the object can be accommodated and imaged, but the phase component derived from the bottom surface inclination is superimposed on the phase image, causing a decrease in measurement precision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject accommodationVSAvoidphase image accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the unwanted phase component derived from the bottom surface inclination through polynomial fitting and subtraction. By separating the bottom surface phase component from the total phase image, the method eliminates the noise while preserving the object's true phase information, thereby resolving the contradiction between easy object accommodation and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mathematical representation of the phase image by applying polynomial fitting to model the bottom surface inclination and then subtracting this modeled component. This parameter transformation converts the raw phase image containing noise into a processed phase image with improved accuracy, resolving the measurement precision issue while maintaining the benefit of using concave containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If polynomial fitting is applied to remove bottom surface phase components, then measurement precision is improved, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantitative data accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies polynomial fitting with a specific degree range (2 to 7) to achieve the necessary level of precision without over-processing. This partial action approach uses just enough mathematical complexity to remove the bottom surface phase component effectively while avoiding excessive processing that would unnecessarily increase computational burden and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Enhances the accuracy of quantitative data by effectively removing unnecessary phase components, allowing for precise quality evaluation and evaluation of cells or cell aggregates.

Implementation Method 1

A phase image generated based on a hologram image (interference image) formed by interference between object light transmitted through a cell and reference light coherent to the object light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInterference: Interference

Data Source

PatentEP4517405B1Phase image acquisition method and quantitative data acquisition method
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP4517405B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4517405B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4517405B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6A

AI summary

A hologram image of an object is acquired in a state where the object is accommodated in a concave portion provided in a container with a bottom surface of the concave portion being curved. A phase image is generated from the hologram image. Processing of subtracting a phase component derived from a polynomial indicating a shape of the bottom surface of the concave portion from the phase image is performed to acquire a processed phase image.