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US 7,248,413 B2Granted
Microlensing particles and applications
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsStephen R. Quake, James P. Brody
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microscopic lens, of size approximately 1 micron is used for its optical characteristics.
Claims6
An optical device comprising:
- a spherical lensing element having a diameter of 10 μm or less, the spherical lensing element configured to collimate incident light to generate a collimated light beam;
- and
- an optical imaging element receiving the collimated light beam, wherein:
- the incident light beam is emitted from a surface of an object that is to be imaged;
- and
- the lensing element is configured to receive the incident light generated by fluorescence of the object.
3 more elements
An optical device comprising:
- a spherical lensing element having a diameter of 10 μm or less, the spherical lensing element configured to collimate incident light to generate a collimated light beam;
- and
- an optical imaging element receiving the collimated light beam, wherein:
- the incident light is emitted from a surface of an object that is to be imaged;
- and
- the diameter of the optical imaging element is smaller than a wavelength of the incident light, thereby enabling a resolution greater than a diffraction limit of the incident light.
3 more elements
An optical device comprising:
- a spherical lensing element having a diameter of 10 μm or less, the spherical lensing element configured to collimate the incident light to generate a collimate light beam;
- and
- an optical imaging element receiving the collimated light beam, wherein:
- the incident light is emitted from a surface of an object that is to be imaged;
- and
- optical tweezers holding the lensing element over the surface.
3 more elements
A method of focusing light comprising collimating incident light with a spherical lensing element having a diameter of 10 μm or less, wherein:
- the incident light is emitted from a surface of an object that is to be imaged;
- and
- the incident light is generated by fluorescence of the object.
A method of focusing light comprising collimating incident light with a spherical lensing element having a diameter of 10 μm or less, wherein:
- the incident light is emitted from a surface of an object that is to be imaged;
- and the diameter of the optical imaging element is smaller than a wavelength of the incident light, thereby enabling a resolution greater than a diffraction limit of the incident light.
A method of focusing light comprising:
- collimating incident light with a spherical lensing element having a diameter of 10 μm or less, wherein the incident light is emitted from a surface of an object that is to be imaged;
- and
- holding the lensing element over the surface with optical tweezers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.