System and method for high numeric aperture imaging systems

• US 7,009,651 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cytek Biosciences Inc
• Original Assignee: Amnis Corporation (DiaSorin S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Basiji, David A., Perry, David J., Ortyn, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOE, AUNG SOE
• Application Number:
  US09/977,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20020051070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 348/335, 348/345, 348/337, 348/340, 348/343, 348/344, 348/349, 348/351, 348/353, 348/354, 348/355, 348/356, 356/124, 356/338, 356/39, 356/73, 356/317, 356/417, 382/128, 382/133, 382/134
• US Class Current: 348/335
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00274 Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 1/047 Simultaneous synthesis of different peptide species; Peptide libraries
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6816 characterised by the detection means C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2563/107 fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2563/179 the label being a nucleic acid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1433 using image recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1434 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/147 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0294 Particle shape
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1443 Auxiliary imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1452 Adjustment of focus; Alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1472 with colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1479 Using diffuse illumination or excitation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1488 Methods for deciding
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/052 Tubular type; cavity type; multireflective
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/058 Flat flow cell
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/031 Multipass arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/00 Microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0012 : Optical design, e.g. procedures, algorithms, optimisation routines
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1086 : operating by diffraction only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/126 : The splitting element being a prism or prismatic array, including systems based on total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 : using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 : having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/28 : Systems for automatic generation of focusing signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 : based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/959 : by adjusting depth of field during image capture, e.g. maximising or setting range based on scene characteristics

Abstract

A system and method for high numeric aperture imaging systems includes a splitter, a defocusing system, and a combiner. The splitter reflects a portion of collected light and transmits another portion of the collected light. The defocusing system is configured to modify optical power of either the transmitted portion or reflected portion of the collected light. The combiner is oriented with respect to a mechanical angle. The combiner recombines portions of the transmitted portion and the reflected portion such that the transmitted portion and reflected portion are subsequently transmitted being separated by an optical separation angle based upon the mechanical angle of orientation of the combiner. Various other implementations are used to maintain focus with regards to the imaging systems involved.

Claims

1. For imaging a target object, an imaging system comprising:

a first beam splitter configured to substantially transmit part of received light as first transmitted light and to substantially reflect part of received light as first reflected light;

a defocus system configured to modify optical power of substantially one of the following;

the first transmitted light and the first reflected light, and to transmit the same as first transmitted defocused light;

a reflector configured to reflect one of the following;

the first reflected light and the first transmitted defocused light;

a second beam splitter configured to substantially transmit part of one of the following;

the first transmitted light as second transmitted light and the first transmitted defocused light as second transmitted defocused light and configured to substantially reflect part of one of the following;

the first transmitted defocused light as second reflected defocused light and the first reflected light as second reflected light; and

an imaging sub-system configured to focus one of the following pairs of light;

the pair of the second transmitted light as imaged unaltered light and the second reflected defocused light, as imaged defocused light and the pair of the second transmitted defocused light as imaged defocused light and the second reflected light as imaged unaltered light and to focus the imaged defocused light with respect to an imaged defocused image plane and the imaged unaltered light with respect to an imaged unaltered image plane separated from the imaged defocused image plane, the second beam splitter oriented according to a mechanical angle such that the imaged unaltered light and the imaged defocused light have an angular separation other than zero.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second beam splitter is further configured to transmit part of the first reflected light and reflect part of the first transmitted light.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the defocus system is a negative lens.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a collection system wherein the collection system is a lens.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an optical retardation plate and wherein the second beam splitter is a polarization beam splitter having a polarization beam splitter optical coating.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the imaging sub-system is an imaging lens.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first beam splitter and the second beam splitter are polarization beam splitters having polarization beam splitter optical coatings.

8. The system of claim 1, further including a first detector positioned to receive the imaged defocused light with respect to the imaged defocused image plane and the imaged unaltered light with respect to the imaged unaltered image plane.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second imaging sub-system and a second detector.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the detector has first and second focus areas.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a spectral dispersing element configured to transmit light to the imaging sub-system.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondly-oriented first beam splitter configured to substantially transmit part of the collected light as first transmitted light and to substantially reflect part of the collected light as first reflected light;

a secondly-oriented defocus system configured to modify optical power of substantially one of the following;

the first transmitted light and the first reflected light to transmit as defocused light;

a secondly-oriented reflector configured to reflect one of the following;

the first reflected light and the defocused light;

a secondly-oriented second beam splitter configured to substantially transmit part of one of the following;

the first transmitted light as second transmitted first transmitted light and the defocused light as second transmitted defocused light and configured to substantially reflect one of the following;

the defocused light as second reflected defocused light and the first reflected light as second reflected first reflected light;

a secondly-oriented imaging sub-system configured to focus one of the following pairs of light;

the pair of the second transmitted first transmitted light as imaged unaltered light and the second reflected defocused light as imaged defocused light and the pair of the second transmitted defocused light as imaged defocused light and the second reflected first reflected light as imaged unaltered light and to focus the imaged defocused light with respect to a imaged defocused image plane and the imaged unaltered light with respect to an imaged unaltered plane being separated from the imaged defocused plane; and

a secondly-oriented first detector positioned to receive the imaged defocused light and the imaged unaltered light, the secondly-oriented second beam splitter oriented according to a mechanical angle such the unaltered light and the defocused light have an angular separation.

13. For imaging a target object, an imaging system comprising:

a first beam splitter configured to substantially transmit part of collected light as first transmitted light and to substantially reflect part of collected light as first reflected light;

a defocus system configured to modify optical power of substantially one of the following;

the first transmitted light and the first reflected light to transmit as defocused light;

a reflector configured to reflect one of the following;

the first reflected light and the defocused light;

a second beam splitter configured to substantially transmit part of one of the following;

the first transmitted light as unaltered light and the defocused light as defocused light and configured to substantially reflect part one of the following;

the defocused light as defocused light and the first reflected light as unaltered light; and

a first detector positioned to receive the defocused light and the unaltered light with respect to a first object plane and the defocused light with respect to a second object plane, the defocus system configured to modify optical power such that the first depth of focus overlaps the second depth of focus, the second beam splitter oriented according to a mechanical angle such the unaltered light and the defocused light have an angular separation.

14. For imaging a target object, an imaging system comprising:

a first beam splitter configured to substantially transmit part of collected light as first transmitted light and to substantially reflect part of collected light as first reflected light;

a defocus system configured to modify optical power of substantially one of the following;

the first transmitted light and the first reflected light to transmit as defocused light;

a reflector configured to reflect one of the following;

the first reflected light and the defocused light; and

a second beam splitter configured to substantially transmit part of one of the following;

the first transmitted light as unaltered light and the defocused light as defocused light and configured to substantially reflect part one of the following;

the defocused light as defocused light and the first reflected light as unaltered light, the second beam splitter oriented according to a mechanical angle such the unaltered light and the defocused light have an angular separation.

15. For imaging a target object, a method comprising:

substantially transmitting part of received light as first transmitted light and to substantially reflect part of received light as first reflected light;

modifying optical power of substantially one of the following;

the first transmitted light and the first reflected light, and to transmit the same as first transmitted defocused light;

reflecting one of the following;

the first reflected light and the first transmitted defocused light;

transmitting part of one of the following;

the first transmitted light as second transmitted light and the first transmitted defocused light as second transmitted defocused light and configured to substantially reflect part of one of the following;

the first transmitted defocused light as second reflected defocused light and the first reflected light as second reflected light; and

focusing one of the following pairs of light;

the pair of the second transmitted light as imaged unaltered light and the second reflected defocused light, as imaged defocused light and the pair of the second transmitted defocused light as imaged defocused light and the second reflected light as imaged unaltered light and to focus the imaged defocused light with respect to an imaged defocused image plane and the imaged unaltered light with respect to an imaged unaltered image plane separated from the imaged defocused image plane, the second beam splitter oriented according to a mechanical angle such the imaged unaltered light and the imaged defocused light have an angular separation other than zero.