POLARIZED LIGHT IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHODS THEREOF FOR SEPARATING LIGHT FROM A SURFACE OF A SAMPLE ITS DEEPER DIFFUSE LAYERS

摘要

A polarized light imaging apparatus is provided. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a light source for producing light beams; an illumination optic coupled to the light source for guiding the light beams towards the sample; a linear polarizer coupled to the illumination optic and configured to produce a linearly polarized light towards the sample respective of the light beams; a TIR birefringent polarizing prism (BPP) coupled to the sample to maximize a refraction difference between ordinary waves and extraordinary waves of light returning from the sample; and a detection optic unit coupled to the non-TIR BPP for guiding the light waves returning from the sample towards a single polarization sensitive sensor element (SE), the SE is configured to capture at least one frame of the sample respective of the light waves returning from the superficial single-scattering layer of the sample apart from the deeper diffuse layer.

主权项

1. A polarized light imaging apparatus for separating light from a superficial single-scattering layer of a sample and its deeper diffuse layer as a function of space, comprising:
a light source for producing light beams; an illumination optic coupled to the light source for guiding the light beams towards the sample; a linear polarizer coupled to the illumination optic, wherein the linear polarizer is configured to produce a linearly polarized light towards the sample respective of the light beams; a non-total internal reflection (TIR) birefringent polarizing prism (BPP) communicatively coupled to the sample to maximize a refraction difference between ordinary waves and extraordinary waves of light returning from the sample; and a detection optic unit coupled to the non-TIR BPP for guiding the light waves returning from the sample towards a single polarization sensitive sensor element (SE), wherein the SE is configured to capture at least one frame of the sample respective of the light waves returning from the superficial single-scattering layer of the sample apart from the deeper diffuse layer.