Frequency-domain lifetime imaging methods at unilever research

Fluorescence lifetime imaging methodology has been successfully implemented at Unilever Research in a frequency-domain manner. The experimental rig constructed comprises a wide-bandwidth electrooptic modulator operating on a CW argon-ion laser. The modulated excitation with a typical upper modulation frequency limit of 200 MHz falls on macroscopic samples and the resultant scattered light or fluorescence emission is then imaged onto a custom gain-modulatable image intensifier and slow-scan CCD camera combination. Phase adjustment of the image intensifier relative to the laser modulator is achieved by the RF function generator driving the intensifier. Both homodyne and heterodyne (500-Hz) strobing modes are employed to generate a double image stack (scattered light reference and fluorescence emission) comprising an image sequence as a function of instrumental phase difference. These image stacks are analyzed by Fourier least-squares methods to yield lifetime images by both phase delay and normalized demodulation. Correct operation of the apparatus is deduced from the direct imaging of a quencher-induced lifetime variation of BODIPY disulfonate over a range of concentrations. A typical industrially relevant sample, comprising an investigation of the lifetime aspects of human dental enamel autofluorescence at 50MHz modulation frequency, is given. This shows that there are real emission lifetime decreases of about 0.5 nsec in white-spot lesion areas compared to the surrounding sound enamel.     

Instantaneous three-dimensional visualization of concentration distributions in turbulent flows with crossed-plane laser-induced fluorescence imaging

A laser-based technique for measuring instantaneous three-dimensional species concentration distributions in turbulent flows is presented. The laser beam from a single laser is formed into two crossed light sheets that illuminate the area of interest. The laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) signal emitted from excited species within both planes is detected with a single camera via a mirror arrangement. Image processing enables the reconstruction of the three-dimensional data set in close proximity to the cutting line of the two light sheets. Three-dimensional intensity gradients are computed and compared to the two-dimensional projections obtained from the two directly observed planes. Volume visualization by digital image processing gives unique insight into the three-dimensional structures within the turbulent processes. We apply this technique to measurements of toluene-LIF in a turbulent, non-reactive mixing process of toluene and air and to hydroxyl (OH) LIF in a turbulent methane-air flame upon excitation at 248 nm with a tunable KrF excimer laser. PACS 42.30.Va; 32.50.+d; 42.62.Cf     

照度对测量三代微光像增强器MTF的影响分析

通过探讨像增强器MTF测试仪用光源的出射光照度对测量结果的影响,对透过测量狭缝的光强分布进行了分析.调节狭缝面的入射光照度,对不同照度作用下的调制传递函数进行了对比测量,经与微光像增强器的饱和输出亮度比较,得出:三代微光像增强器的MTF测试值随入射光照度分布呈抛物线分布,其最大值与微光像增强器的自动亮度控制特性有关.适当选择入射光照度,可确保被测像增强器既有足够的输出信噪比,而不进入饱和区域.     

微光ICCD参数校准装置的弱光均匀光源系统

在微光ICCD参数校准装置中,为了获得分辨力、信噪比、最低照度及像面均匀性等参数测试中光源输出不同光照度,需要大动态范围积分球微弱光均匀光源。通过对传统的光源结构以及存在的局限性进行分析,根据微光ICCD综合参数测试中对光源照度的不同要求,设计了弱光均匀漫射光源系统。光源系统采用双积分球模式,利用楔形渐变光阑及可变孔径光阑实现在色温恒定下照度的连续变化,形成不同照度范围的均匀漫射光源,对微光ICCD参数校准装置的弱光均匀漫射光源照度输出范围及均匀性进行了测量,得到该光源的出射光照度范围为（10-7～103）lx,出射光照度均匀性优于98%,光源满足微光ICCD性能参数测试的要求。     

强度调制532 nm激光水下测距

激光水下探测在水下目标搜寻、资源勘探等领域具有重要的应用,而散射是激光水下探测面临的主要挑战.载波调制激光雷达具有抗散射、抗干扰的优点,本文利用自行研制的532 nm强度调制激光源,在3 m长的水箱中搭建激光水下探测系统. 532 nm激光源最大输出功率为2.56 W,强度调制范围为10.0 MHz—2.1 GHz,光束发散角约0.5 mrad.通过在水箱中添加氢氧化镁(Mg(OH)_2)粉末,测量了不同浑浊度下水的衰减系数.采用相位测距的方法,目标反射光的调制信号为探测信号,对激光源进行调制的电信号作为参考信号,利用相关运算获得激光的延时时间,进而可以获得水下目标的距离.最大调制频率为500 MHz时,实现了距离为4.3个衰减长度目标的探测,测距误差约12 cm.探测距离越远,测距误差越大,调制频率越高,测距精度越高.     

The characteristics of three-dimensional skin imaging system by full-colored optical coherence tomography

In the present cosmetic market, the skin image obtained from a hand-held camera is two-dimensional (2-D). Due to insufficient penetration, only the skin surface can be detected, and thus phenomena in the dermis cannot be observed. To take the place of the conventional 2D camera, a new hand-held imaging system is proposed for three-dimensional (3-D) skin imaging. Featuring non-invasiveness, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become one of the popular medical imaging techniques. The dermal images shown in OCT-related reports were mainly single-colored because of the use of a monotonic light source. With three original-colored beams applied in OCT, a full-colored image can be derived for dermatology. The penetration depth of the system ranges from 0.43 to 0.78 mm, sufficient for imaging of main tissues in the dermis. Colorful and non-invasive perspectives of deep dermal structure help to advance skin science, dermatology and cosmetology.     

基于点阵编码的三维主动视觉标定

提出一种基于位错点阵编码三维成像系统的标定方法.首先在物空间建立三维数据基准,然后通过基准传递的概念标定摄像子系统,再通过建立摄像子系统坐标系与投影子系统坐标系之间的约束关系,将标定后的摄像子系统的准确度传递到投影子系统坐标系.摄像子系统坐标系与投影子系统都具有标定的准确度之后,可以根据位错点阵编码三维成像技术的解码算法获得深度图像空间坐标的计算值,然后将其与物体空间的三维标定数据基准进行比较,建立目标函数为误差平方和最小的非线性优化方程.通过迭代求解这个优化方程,最终获得三维系统的结构参量.实验结果表明,经过三维标定的位错点阵编码三维成像系统,对300×300×80 mm3的测量体积内,可以获得X方向的标准差为0.29mm和Y方向的标准差为0.24mm,Z方向的标准差为0.29mm的测量准确度.     

TOMOGRAPHIC RECONSTRUCTION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL TEMPERATURE FIELD USING LIQUID CRYSTAL SCANNING THERMOGRAPHY

Liquid crystal thermography (LCT) generates two-dimensional temperature information in a fluid layer. A three-dimensional temperature field can be reconstructed using the two-dimensional temperature fields obtained at various locations with the help of synchronized movements of the light sheet and camera. However, in many cases it may not be feasible to generate a large number of two-dimensional liquid crystal thermographs that are needed to represent a high-resolution, three-dimensional temperature field. In the present article, a tomographic reconstruction method is suggested that can be used to produce a high-resolution, three-dimensional reconstruction from a limited number of two-dimensional images of the full temperature field. The two-dimensional temperature fields generated from the LCT experiments can be used to obtain integrated information of the three-dimensional field from various directions. These estimated projections of the actual three-dimensional field can be used to reconstruct a high-resolution volumetric temperature field within an acceptable error.     

小波变换在太赫兹三维成像探测内部缺陷中的应用

采用Syn View Head 300对内部有胶和空气孔的样件进行了太赫兹二维扫描(xy轴方向),系统通过线性调频连续波技术得到样件内部的三维信息.检测薄层时,由于太赫兹源的波长在亚毫米量级,薄层的上下表面反射峰相距太近而难以辨别.为了提高太赫兹探测的纵向分辨率,采用小波变换对探测信号进行处理,对小波系数进行三维重构,获得的三维小波系数图像比原始三维探测信号更加精确.该方法有效提高了太赫兹成像的纵向检测精度,纵向分辨率可达1 mm.     

Analysis of CCD moiré pattern for micro-range measurements using the wavelet transform

A new approach based on the moiré theory and wavelet transform (WT) is proposed for measuring the micro-range distance between a charge-couple-device (CCD) camera and a two-dimensional reference grating. The micro-range distance is determined by measuring the pitch of the moiré pattern image, which is digitized by a CCD camera. A one-dimensional WT algorithm is applied to estimate the pitch of the moiré pattern. Experimental results prove that this technique is very efficient and highly accurate. The moiré range finder is an economic technique for measuring a micro-range distance.     

FT-EPR with a Nonresonant Probe: Use of a Truncated Coaxial Line

A truncated transmission line probe (TLP) has been utilized to excite and detect time domain responses after pulsed excitation in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic experiments in the frequency range 200–400 MHz. The TLP device is a modified short-circuited coaxial line, which allows the irradiation of the sample by the traveling waveB₁fields in the frequency range of kilohertz to 30 GHz. In EPR studies at 300 MHz carrier frequency, with 10 W incident power, a 45° pulse is 45 ns in duration. This corresponds to a 0.9-GB₁field. Using the TLP, time-domain responses from the solidN-methyl pyridiniumtetra-cyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) were collected at 200, 250, 300, and 350 MHz, with the range limited by the amplifiers. In addition two tubes containing TCNQ placed side-by-side vertically along the axis of the probe were used to collect time domain responses in the presence of magnetic field gradients to test the feasibility of two-dimensional imaging using a TLP. The magnetic field gradient was steered in thexzplane and 36 projections were collected at 5° intervals. Using filtered back-projection image reconstruction, the two-dimensional spatial image in thexzplane was obtained at good resolution.     

A machine vision technique for subpixel estimation of three-dimensional profilometry

A quick and efficient technique for a charge-coupled device (CCD)-based profilometric measurement system is proposed and verified by experiment. When a laser stripe is projected onto an object, the deformed laser line image is detected by a CCD camera with subpixel resolution and is automatically transferred to its space position using a least-squares mapping algorithm. Measurements are executed on each separate surface of a three-dimensional object and the multi-surface data are integrated through a process of coordinate transformation. Large arrays of data points are acquired on each surface by means of a scanning mechanism. Because the measuring data from each laser stripe position can provide two-dimensional information concerning the surface contour, the laser stripe and the CCD camera are integrated into a measurement system for obtaining the entire three-dimensional information. Theoretical analysis shows that this technique can determine the three-dimensional profile of an object with an accuracy below 0.2 mm.     

Spatial Fourier-decomposition optical fluorescen tomography-theoretical investigation

A new three-dimensional (3D) optical fluorescent tomographic imaging scheme is proposed with structured illumination and spatial Fourierdomain decomposition methods for the first time. In this spatial Fourier-decomposition optical fluorescence tomography (SF-OFT), the intensity of focused excitation light from an objective lens is modulated to be a cosine function along the optical axis of the system. For a given position in a two-dimensional (2D) raster scanning process, the spatial frequency of the cosine function along the optical axis sweeps in a proper range while a series of fluorescence intensity are detected accordingly. By making an inverse discrete cosine transformation of these recorded intensity profiles, the distribution of fluorescent markers along the optical axis of a focused laser beam is obtained. A 3D optical fluorescent tomography can be achieved with this proposed SF-OFT technique with a simple 2D raster scanning process.     

恒温双色光源夜间能见度观测方法研究

能见度一般为人眼视觉能够观测目标物的最大估计水平距离。能见度的观测和预报已经广泛的应用于气象预报、环境污染分析、交通运输等各个领域。现有的能见度观测方法主要分为散射式与透射式。其中数字摄像式能见度观测方法最贴近能见度定义,随着数字摄像技术的发展,加快了数字图像能见度的测量方法的研究与应用。但在利用数字摄像进行夜间能见度观测量过程中不可避免的受到不同天气背景光、光源灰度等影响从而造成能见度测量不稳定,观测结果精度低、观测范围较小。已知利用双光源的稳定性可以保证能见度的测量精度,大多数研究都是通过使用白光源的角度来解决能见度的测量不稳定问题。本文从准单色光源的角度出发,通过不同频段光源对能见度的穿透能力不同,在可见光范围内对不同频段光源的穿透能力进行特性分析。在已有的双光源基础上,提出了一种改进的恒温双色光源夜间能见度观测方法,实现在不同天气状况下,对能见度的高精度、大范围观测。通过设计恒温双光源,消除了环境温度变化对光强的影响;恒压恒流模块保证双光源光强一致性;利用积分球保证光强的均匀性;根据不同频段光源对能见度的穿透能力不同,选用双色光源实现高精度、大范围能见度的有效测量。在恒温双色光源的能见度观测系统中进行一系列的实验验证,实验结果表明两个光源的一致性达到0.99,能见度不好时,蓝光到达相机的光强弱,红光的测量结果接近真值;晴天时夜间能见度良好,蓝光透射率差值大,有利于提高信噪比,双光源为蓝光的标准差36.90,蓝光的测量结果接近真值。当观测极限为15 000 m时,进行1个月的实验观测,通过与真实值进行比较,所提出的改进恒温双色光源夜间能见度观测方法能够很好的在能见度观测极限范围内进行准确的测量。     

基于背景光调制的复合光傅里叶变换轮廓术

提出一种基于背景光调制的用于傅里叶变换轮廓术测量范围的复合光栅,该光栅通过调制一正弦条纹和不含任何相位信息的背景光来抑制零频,较基于相移技术的复合光栅有更大的优势:背景光只含直流分量,使得复合光栅的频谱更加简单,有利于滤出载波信息,提高测量精度;对从复合光栅中解调出来的背景光只涉及平均值校准,校准过程更为简单;解调出的背景光与物体表面的反射率成正比,具有潜在的应用价值。采用Matlab程序对该复合光栅进行了数值模拟,并对该光栅实用性进行了实验研究,结果证实了该光栅用于抑制零频、扩大傅里叶变换轮廓术测量范围的有效性,且提高了测量精度。     

一种新型的立体投影图景

阐述了视差全景图的制作原理,本技术的关键为记录立体图像光学信息的方法和投影方式都是多角度的,屏幕采用栅板视差全景或蝇复眼屏。景深较深的图景可分为几个层次反复制作。     

一种用于荧光皮秒时间分辨光谱的测试系统

本文详细描述了一种由氩离子锁模激光器、样品池、分光系统及微微秒条纹相机构成的用于测试低强度荧光微微秒时间分辨光谱的系统。给出了典型样品的测试结果:时间分辨率为10ps,光谱范围为500Å—800Å。最后对测量结果进行了分析讨论。     

剪切光束成像技术对纵深目标的成像

剪切光束成像技术是一种能透过大气湍流对远距离目标实现高分辨率成像的主动成像技术.现有相关研究中所采用的目标均为二维平面目标,然而现实中的目标一般都具有三维形貌,目标纵深对回波信号产生的延迟或对成像质量产生不利影响.从剪切光束成像理论出发,在二维目标成像模型的基础上建立了三维纵深目标成像模型,并利用该模型研究了两剪切光与参考光间的频差及目标纵深对成像的影响.仿真结果表明,随着拍频的增大,重构图像质量逐渐下降.剪切光束成像技术可通过减小拍频来提高真实目标成像质量.     

Non-scanning,non-interferometric,three-dimensional optical profilometer with nanometer resolution

A non-scanning,non-interferometric,three-dimensional(3D) optical profilometer based on geometric optics,critical angle principle,and the use of a charge-coupled device(CCD) camera is presented.The surface profile of the test specimen can be transferred into the reflectance profile.The reflectance profile,obtained from a CCD,is the ratio of the intensity at the critical angle to the intensity obtained at the total internal reflection angle.The optical profilometer provides a sub-micron measuring range with nanometer resolution and can be used to measure roughness or surface defects in real time.     

Rotation rate measurement of a microfluidic biodisk spinner and automatic adjustment for the pulsed light source

This study presents a design for a light field inspection system of a biodisk and spinner, which uses a digital camera attached a light filter below to inspect the fluorescence from the biodisk. The pulsed light is a single frequency-controllable light source that is spread over the biodisk. When the frequency of pulsed light is equal to the rotation rate of the spinner, the rotating biodisk would appear to be static due to the persistence of vision effect. The excitation light source (same as the pulsed light) is used to excite the reaction area in the biodisk, and the biochemical reaction emitted fluorescence is recorded in the monitor. Using the continuous image sequence calculation and measuring the variation of the rotating rate for the spinner, and by adjusting the frequency of pulsed light source, the rotational speed of the biodisk and the pulsed light frequency can be synchronized. We also propose a rule for high-speed image processing and low consumption of memory space. By properly judging the rotational speed of the biodisk spinner and quickly inspecting the biodisk, very large amounts of data can be handled. If the images acquired from the camera are processed individually, there will be drawbacks such as slow image acquisition speed and loss of image information. Therefore, we take a multi-task mechanism to use sufficient image buffer areas to increase the speed of acquiring images while processing the images with adjusting the memory spaces efficiently.