Optical probe having an imaging apparatus
US6153873A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 28, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 20, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B21/125
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An imaging apparatus includes a collection of optical elements arranged in a predetermined sequence and cooperable to define a dark-field optical arrangement and a bright-field optical arrangement. The dark-field optical arrangement and a bright-field optical arrangement may be defined along the same or different optical path(s). At least one of the optical elements is operative to enable at least one of the dark field or the bright-field optical arrangements. In a first embodiment said one optical element is movable from a first to a second position to enable either the dark-field or the bright-field optical arrangement. In a second embodiment said one optical element is operable to enable simultaneously both the dark-field and the bright-field optical arrangements. Both opaque objects and phase objects in a fluid stream are able to be detected and quantified.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.