Three-dimensional shape optical measurement using constant gap control and error compensation

The optical laser displacement sensor is widely used for noncontact measurement of the three-dimensional (3D) shape profile of the object surface. When the surface of an object has a slope variation, the sensor gain is proportionally varied according to that of the object surface. In order to solve the sensor gain variation problem, the constant gap control method is applied to adjust the gap to the nominal distance. Control error compensation is also proposed to cope with the situation even when the gap is not perfectly controlled to the nominal distance using an additional sensor attached to the actuator. 3D shape measurement applying the proposed constant gap control method shows better performances rather than the constant sensor height method.     

Three-dimensional motion tracking for high-resolution optical microscopy, in vivo

When conducting optical imaging experiments, in vivo, the signal to noise ratio and effective spatial and temporal resolution is fundamentally limited by physiological motion of the tissue. A three-dimensional (3D) motion tracking scheme, using a multiphoton excitation microscope with a resonant galvanometer, (512 × 512 pixels at 33 frames s(-1)) is described to overcome physiological motion, in vivo. The use of commercially available graphical processing units permitted the rapid 3D cross-correlation of sequential volumes to detect displacements and adjust tissue position to track motions in near real-time. Motion phantom tests maintained micron resolution with displacement velocities of up to 200 μm min(-1), well within the drift observed in many biological tissues under physiologically relevant conditions. In vivo experiments on mouse skeletal muscle using the capillary vasculature with luminal dye as a displacement reference revealed an effective and robust method of tracking tissue motion to enable (1) signal averaging over time without compromising resolution, and (2) tracking of cellular regions during a physiological perturbation.     

Three-dimensional optical microscopy using tilted views

The resolution of an optical microscope is considerably less in the direction of the optical axis (z) than in the x–y plane. This is true of conventional or confocal microscopes. To alleviate this problem we used multiple tilted views to supply the ‘missing data’ and thus increase the resolution in z. A special tilting stage was constructed which allowed specimens to be rotated through large angles. The relative, translation, rotation and z-spacing between data sets were determined by a novel Wiener/phase cross-correlation function. Once brought to a common coordinate system the data sets can be combined by Fourier space techniques similar to those used in X-ray crystallography. We applied this technique to metaphase chromosomes from intact embryos of Drosophila melanogaster. As determined from significant intensity in the Fourier transform, the resolution of the final reconstruction was about 0?25 μm in x and y, and 0?4 μm in z.     

Three-dimensional metacarpophalangeal joint kinematics using two markers on the phalanx

A protocol for analysing three-dimensional metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint motion in vivo using two markers on the proximal phalanx is described. The analysis uses an assumption that the rotation of the phalanx about its own long axis is zero. In an experimental study 24 volunteers had surface markers applied to the dorsal surfaces of their hands and index and long finger proximal phalanges, with three-dimensional marker positions recorded in two hand and finger postures in an incomplete box design using a test-retest protocol. Kinematic parameters from the optoelectronic system were compared with those obtained from three-dimensional reconstruction of bone landmarks and of the marker positions identified on stereoradiographs. Pronation/supination angles obtained from bone landmarks showed high test-retest variability, reflecting the difficulty in obtaining reliable pronation/supination data in small bones without the use of implanted markers. Changes in MCP joint extension and deviation angles determined using two surface markers agree with those obtained from bone landmarks. The results indicate a reproducible protocol for tracking MCP joint motion using only two phalangeal markers, suggesting that the 'no-rotation assumption' can be applied without affecting measures of extension and deviation motion in the normal joint.     

一种新型LCD运动模糊的测量分析系统

液晶显示器的运动模糊程度通常可以采用"运动图像响应时间(MPRT)"来表示,它已经被写入了VESA的平板显示器测量标准当中。本文建立了一种简单精确的运动模糊测量分析系统代替了复杂昂贵的追逐相机系统,该系统可以精确地测量液品亮度响应曲线(LCRC),并利用采集曲线根据人眼的平滑追踪和时域积分特性准确地仿真出所感知到的运动模糊图像。通过对阶跃LCRC进行一帧时间窗口卷积,直接计算MPRT。最后通过测量计算和视觉感知实验验证了仿真模型的准确性和系统的精确度。     

Three-dimensional reconstruction and motion analysis of living, crawling cells

Cell behavior is three-dimensional (3-D), even when it takes place on a flat surface. Migrating cells form pseudopods on and off the substratum, and the cell body undergoes height changes associated with a 1 min behavior cycle. Inside the cell, the nucleus has a 3-D migratory cycle, and vesicles move up and down in the z-axis as a cell locomotes. For these reasons, the two-dimensional (2-D) analysis of cellular and subcellular behavior is, in many cases, inadequate. We have, therefore, developed 3-D motion analysis systems that reconstruct the cell surface, nucleus, pseudopods, and vesicles of living, crawling cells in 3-D at time intervals as short as 1 s, and compute more than 100 parameters of motility and dynamics morphology at 1-s intervals. We are now in the process of developing a multimode reconstruction system that will allow us to reconstruct and analyze fluorescently tagged molecular complexes within the differential interference contrast-imaged subcellular architecture of a crawling cell. These evolving technologies should find wide application for a host of biomedical problems.     

利用加速度计和角速度仪的笔杆运动姿态检测

在笔杆上安装加速度和角速度传感器测量笔杆的运动姿态时,由于两种传感器的性质不同,再经过运算处理后,对测量结果精度的作用也不同.为此,本文利用3种卡尔曼滤波观测模型,分析比较了只利用加速度传感器、只利用角速度传感器以及同时利用加速度和角速度传感器数据3种情况下估计笔杆运动姿态的结果及特点.实验表明,角速度传感器可以较准确地确定角速度,但角度累计误差较大;加速度传感器的静态分量可以较准确地确定姿态角度,但对角度变化不灵敏,两者结合起来可以互相弥补欠缺,有利于笔杆的运动姿态检测.     

Three-dimensional automated nanoparticle tracking using Mie scattering in an optical microscope

The forward scattering of light in a conventional inverted optical microscope by nanoparticles ranging in diameter from 10 to 50nm has been used to automatically and quantitatively identify and track their location in three-dimensions with a temporal resolution of 200ms. The standard deviation of the location of nominally stationary 50-nm-diameter nanoparticles was found to be about 50nm along the light path and about 5nm in the plane perpendicular to the light path. The method is based on oscillating the microscope objective along the light path using a piezo actuator and acquiring images with the condenser aperture closed to a minimum to enhance the effects of diffraction. Data processing in the time and spatial domains allowed the location of particles to be obtained automatically so that the technique has potential applications both in the processing of nanoparticles and in their use in a variety of fields including nanobiotechnology, pharmaceuticals and food processing where a simple optical microscope maybe preferred for a variety of reasons.     

Development of measurement technique of explosive flame using an optical measurement method

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - It is essential in weapons systems to understand how much explosive power is applied according to various chemicals and methods of the explosion. In...     

Error in measurement due to stylus kinematics

A study of the error in measurement due to the kinematics of the stylus of the measuring instrument is presented. A method of determining the point of separation of the stylus from the measured surface and the path of the stylus after separation is established. Stylus spring stiffness to prevent separation of the stylus and to attain a minimum measuring force is also established.     

Three-dimensional analysis of neuronal geometry using HVEM

There is a need for an electron microscopic method for visualization of selectively stained neurons and neuronal processes with higher resolution than can be obtained with the light microscope, but using thick sections that allow visualization of the three-dimensional structure of the neuron. Such a method is required for measurement of the geometry of neurons, and this information is needed to test theoretical predictions on the way in which electrical signals of synaptic origin are processed by the cells. The high voltage electron microscope (HVEM) is well suited to this application, because of its high resolution and ability to form images of thick sections. Use of this instrument requires development of selective stains that can produce diffuse cytoplasmic staining of specific cells or cell populations on the basis of their functional properties. Several such methods currently being employed for light microscopic work can be used directly in the high voltage electron microscope or can be made useful by relatively minor alterations. These include intracellular staining with horseradish peroxidase, axonal tracing with Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin (PHA-L), and immunocytochemical staining for specific cell markers known to stain the cytoplasm of certain cell populations. Cells stained intracellularly by microinjection of horseradish peroxidase during physiological recording experiments may be stained in thick (ca. 50 μm) sections cut on a vibratome or similar instrument and stained in the standard way, using methods designed for light microscopy. The sections are then postfixed in osmium tetroxide and embedded in epoxy plastic. Sections cut from these blocks at thicknesses of from 1 to 5 μm using a dry glass knife may be examined directly in the HVEM with no further staining. This produces a very clear image of the cell on a relatively unstained background. This method provides more than adequate resolution of the boundary of the neuron, allowing measurement of neuronal processes to better than 10-nm precision. Similar results are obtained when the same method is applied to axonal tracing using PHA-L. In this case, the exogenously applied marker is used to label a small population of nearby neurons and to trace their connections with other cells at a distance. The lectin is detected by immunocytochemistry, but the selective contrast of the image is adjustable because the concentration of antigen in the cell is largely controlled by the experimenter. The lectin is distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm in a pattern identical to that of intracellular staining, so like intracellular staining, it reveals the overall shape of the cell. Immunocytochemical labelling using endogenous antigens known to be distributed in the cytoplasm of specific neurons produced inadequate control of selective contrast when prepared in this manner. Instead, 1–10μm sections cut from blocks of nervous tissue were embedded in polyethylene glycol, stained using a combedded in polyethylene glycol, stained using a combination of immunocytochemistry and histochemical intensification methods, and embedded in plastic on the grid. This method, which is also suited for staining with poorly penetrating markers such as colloidal gold, may also prove useful in a variety of other situations requiring the intensification of selective contrast.     

Object’s translational speed measurement using motion blur information

In a motion blur based speed measurement work, a key step is the calculation for the horizontal blur extent. To fulfill this calculation when both a defocus blur and a motion blur occur and for a moving object with irregular shape edges robustly and accurately, we propose a novel scheme using the image matting and the transparency map. This scheme can isolate the defocus blur from the motion blur effectively and can also calculate the horizontal blur extent accurately regardless of the object’s shape. The simulation and real experiments prove that our scheme outperforms the current scan-line algorithm for the blur extent computation so as to fulfill the speed measurement more robustly and accurately.     

Non-contact measurement technique for dimensional metrology using optical comb

This paper proposes a non-contact pulsed interferometer for dimensional metrology using the repetition frequency of an optical frequency comb. A compact absolute-length measuring system is established for practical non-contact measurement based on a single-mode fiber interferometer. The stability and accuracy of the measurements are compared with those from a commercial incremental laser interferometer. The drifts of both systems have the same tendency and a maximum difference is approximately 0.1 μm. Subsequently, preliminary absolute-length measurements up to 1.5 m were measured. The signal-to-noise ratios of the small signals are improved by a frequency-selective amplifier. It is apparent that the noise is rejected, and the intensity of the interference fringes is amplified, achieving a maximum standard deviation of measurement approximately 1 μm. The proposed technique can provide sufficient accuracy for non-contact measurement in applications such as a simple laser-pulse tracking system.     

Thin bonding wires temperature measurement using optical fiber sensors

In this work we demonstrate the use of optical fiber sensors to measure temperature in thin metallic bonding wires. Temperature was measured in copper wires with diameter of 0.10, 0.28, 0.60 and 0.70 mm and for different values of the driven electrical current (0.75-10.00 A). A theoretical model for the system, which takes into account the relevant heat exchange mechanism, was developed. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the optical sensors application for the measurement of temperature in thin metallic bonding wires.     

Design and analysis on kinematics of the lap-polisher with planet movement for optical fiber end-face

In order to obtain the effects of the kinematical state on the profile precision of the fiber-optic end-face in the process of lapping and polishing, a kinematical equation of the lap-polisher with planet movement is developed. Based on these equations and the tribological model of CMP, the dimensionless distribution of the material removal volume (DDMRV) and the trajectories of abrasive grains cutting on the lap-polisher are numerically simulated with the way of stochastic abrasive grains. Then, the effects of the parameters of the lap-polisher on the uniformity of the DDMRV and the trajectory on the optical fiber end surface are discussed, and the results are that the DDMRV and the trajectory of abrasive grains have a rather better value when the length L of the planet carrier and the rotational speed n ₁ of the ring gear are increased and the rotation speed n _H of the planet carrier is chosen in an advisable parameter region.     

Three-dimensional surface profile measurement of a cylindrical surface using a multi-beam angle sensor

To investigate the application of the multi-beam angle sensor (MBAS) to high-precision optical aspheric and freeform surfaces, which are critical components in optical systems, we present a method of using an MBAS to reconstruct an aspheric surface from angle data. The MBAS is based on a multi-autocollimator system with a microlens array, which can split the beam into several spots and can convert centroid detection of the light intensity into an angle measurement. The MBAS is designed to address the curvature-range problem via a circumferential scan better than other methods and automatically eliminates the tilt error caused by rotation of a workpiece. Using a tracking technique, the MBAS can automatically determine focal spot positions from the centroid measurement of the light intensity. This is directly related to the accuracy of the angular difference measurement. The experimental results confirm the feasibility of using an MBAS for 3D surface profile measurements of cylindrical surfaces.     

光流法运动估计在FPGA上的实现与性能分析

图像序列的光流估计理论在机器视觉领域已被提出多年,但算法的高计算复杂度限制了其在工业领域的应用。为了满足应用的实时性要求,阐述了一种光流实时估计的实现方法。为了提高算法精度及减少FPGA片内资源消耗,对L&K光流计算方法进行改进。首先,通过设计两层光流计算架构来提高精度。针对在此过程中出现的外部存储器读写速率不够的问题,提出一次读取同时分层缓存、分时计算的方法。考虑到两层光流在计算过程中的迭代关联性,设计了满足要求的外部存储器数据读出顺序表;然后,针对卷积运算资源消耗大的问题,设计了新的卷积权重函数,能够将卷积计算量降低73%,从而节省了大量逻辑资源;最后通过实验验证,所提出的FPGA光流计算方法的精度高于运行在PC平台的L&K方法,卷积计算资源消耗明显降低。设计的系统可以完成1280×1024 pixel、60 frame/s输入视频的计算,满足光流计算的实时性要求。     

Structure and kinematics of a planetary converter of the rotational motion into the reciprocating rotary motion

The problem of the structural synthesis of a mechanism for converting rotational motion into reciprocating rotary motion has been considered. In accordance with the synthesis conditions and the found solutions, a planetary mechanism with elliptical gears has been proposed and its kinematic analysis has been performed. It has been shown that the rocking angle and the asymmetry factor of the working stroke of the mechanism depend on the selection of the eccentricities of elliptical gears.     

Computational analysis of responses of a wedge-shaped-tip optical fiber probe in bubble measurement

Optical-fiber probing is widely employed in bubble∕droplet measurement in gas-liquid two-phase flows. Several types of optical fiber probes with a very high S∕N ratio and high performance have been developed, but further improvement in the probes' measurement accuracy and reliability for industrial applications is desired. We tried to eliminate optical noise in the probe measurements, and we found that the signals include some peak signs that have potential for advanced measurement with optical-fiber probing. We developed a ray-tracing numerical simulator and identified the mechanisms underlying the generation of the signals. In order to numerically simulate the optical probing signals, the simulator must use 3D frameworks composed of incident beams, the reflection and refraction on the surfaces of the optical elements (i.e., an optical fiber, a sensing tip, an air phase, and a water phase), and beams returning from the sensing tip to the other tip through the fiber. We used all of these in a simple rendering framework based on a ray-tracing algorithm with Fresnel's law, and we observed the mechanism of some promising signals that may be useful for extracting the hidden potential of optical-fiber probing. To verify the simulator's performance, we carried out three comparative experiments with fundamental setups using a wedge-shaped single-tip optical fiber probe, examining: (1) the beam trajectories and energy leaking out from the sensing tip into the surrounding air phase or water phase, (2) the probing signals throughout penetration of the sensing tip at the air-water free interface in light of the three-dimensional deformation, and (3) the probing signals throughout penetration of the sensing tip into a bubble in light of the three-dimensional bubble shape. As a result, (a) we found that an optical fiber probe with a wedge-shaped tip has particular characteristics of beam emissions from the tip, and the emitting angles switched depending on the phases covering the tip. This phenomenon is very effective for further advanced measurement. (b) We observed numerically that the cutting angle of the sensing tip maximizing the air signal level was approximately 30°, and therefore this angle is the best for obtaining the highest S∕N ratio. (c) We found that the meniscus shape clearly affected the probing signal optically. (d) We observed the mechanism of a pre-signal caused by the reflection at the frontal and rear interfaces of a bubble. The pre-signal is very useful for practical measurement because it appears only when the probe penetrates the center region of a bubble. We compared the above numerical results with the results of the three experiments, and there was satisfactory correspondence between the numerical and experimental results.