How It Works
Conventional Microscope
A conventional transmission microscope typically uses a broadband (white) lamp to illuminate the sample. The image is captured by a digital camera and stored on a PC for viewing. The process of forming an image is rigidly set by the optical hardware – adding more functionality requires at best expensive hardware inserts, and at worst, an entirely new system.
Coded Illumination Microscope
A coded illumination microscope, in contrast, uses a programmable light source to illuminate the sample dynamically. Imagine adding hardware functionality with a software update – no more expensive inserts or prisms to buy and handle. A coded illumination microscope allows upgrades on the fly, simply by modifying the pattern on an active light source such as an LED Array.
Now, changing the light source completely changes the way the microscope works. Brightfield, darkfield, phase, and super-resolution become as easy to use as a conventional system – no touching the microscope. The end result is a more durable, easier to use, and less expensive microscope.
