Modular scanning confocal optical profile microscopy with digital imaging processing

A modular microlens array confocal microscope, comprising:

• a source of electromagnetic illumination;
• a microlens array arranged to receive the source of electromagnetic illumination, wherein the received source of electromagnetic illumination is reconfigured by the microlens array into a plurality of sub-beams running adjacently along a first beam path;
• an optical lensing means configured to collect and focus the plurality of sub-beams at a plurality of sites at a target, wherein the optical lensing means thereafter collects and directs along a second beam path, an induced reflectance and/or emission from each of the plurality of targeted sites;
• at least one arrayed detector configured along the second beam path and further configured to image the resultant multiple sites via the induced reflectance and/or emission provided by the signals from the focused plurality of sub-beams, and wherein the arrayed detector provides high-throughput configured synthetic apertures in a pixel range array of at least an array of N=2×2;
• and
• a processor coupled to the at least one arrayed detector and configured to determine 2-dimensional and/or 3-dimensional properties of the target.

A process for conditioning a material using a modular confocal microscope so as to induce persistent photoconductivity (PPC), comprising:

• incorporating a modular confocal microscope for simultaneously imaging and conditioning one or more targeted sites of a specimen that exhibits persistent photoconductivity, wherein the modular confocal microscope includes:
• a source of electromagnetic radiation;
• a beam steering means arranged to direct the source of electromagnetic radiation non-collinearly with the optical axis of a focusing lensing means configured within the modular confocal microscope, wherein the focused non-collinearly directed source of electromagnetic radiation is used for an imaging basis of targeted one or more sites of a specimen;
• and
• at least one arrayed detector configured along a beam path in a conjugate confocal plane to the targeted one or more sites of a specimen and further configured to provide autocorrection information to maintain focus and image quality of the targeted one or more sites using the imaging basis, and wherein the arrayed detector provides high-throughput configured synthetic apertures in a pixel range array of at least an N=2×2;
• and
• a processor coupled to the at least one arrayed detector configured to determine 2-dimensional and/or 3-dimensional properties of the targeted one or more sites of the specimen;
• selecting a predetermined emission spectrum provided by the source;
• irradiating an initial contact point via the confocal geometry of the confocal modular microscope;
• and
• while maintaining the irradiation,
• translating the specimen so as to delineate a path of exposure of the specimen to the irradiation.