SUB-DIFFRACTION LIMIT IMAGE RESOLUTION IN THREE DIMENSIONS
    2.
    发明申请
    SUB-DIFFRACTION LIMIT IMAGE RESOLUTION IN THREE DIMENSIONS 有权
    三维尺度下的分歧限制图像分辨率

    公开(公告)号:US20110002530A1

    公开(公告)日:2011-01-06

    申请号:US12746784

    申请日:2008-12-19

    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to sub-diffraction limit image resolution and other imaging techniques, including imaging in three dimensions. In one aspect, the invention is directed to determining and/or imaging light from two or more entities separated by a distance less than the diffraction limit of the incident light. For example, the entities may be separated by a distance of less than about 1000 nm, or less than about 300 nm for visible light. In some cases, the position of the entities can be determined in all three spatial dimensions (i.e., in the x, y, and z directions), and in certain cases, the positions in all three dimensions can be determined to an accuracy of less than about 1000 nm. In one set of embodiments, the entities may be selectively activatable, i.e., one entity can be activated to produce light, without activating other entities. A first entity may be activated and determined (e.g., by determining light emitted by the entity), then a second entity may be activated and determined. The emitted light may be used to determine the x and y positions of the first and second entities, for example, by determining the positions of the images of these entities, and in some cases, with sub-diffraction limit resolution. In some cases, the z positions may be determined using one of a variety of techniques that uses intensity information or focal information (e.g., a lack of focus) to determine the z position. Non-limiting examples of such techniques include astigmatism imaging, off-focus imaging, or multi-focal-plane imaging.

    Abstract translation: 本发明一般涉及副衍射极限图像分辨率和其它成像技术,包括三维成像。 在一个方面,本发明涉及确定和/或成像来自两个或多个实体的光,所述物体被隔开的距离小于入射光的衍射极限。 例如,对于可见光,实体可以分开小于约1000nm或小于约300nm的距离。 在某些情况下,实体的位置可以在所有三个空间维度(即,x,y和z方向)中确定,在某些情况下,可以将所有三维中的位置确定为更小的精度 大约1000nm。 在一组实施例中,实体可以是可选择性地激活的,即,一个实体可以被激活以产生光,而不激活其他实体。 可以激活和确定第一实体(例如,通过确定由实体发射的光),则可以激活和确定第二实体。 发射的光可以用于确定第一和第二实体的x和y位置,例如通过确定这些实体的图像的位置,并且在一些情况下,具有次衍射极限分辨率。 在一些情况下,可以使用使用强度信息或焦点信息(例如,缺乏焦点)的各种技术之一来确定z位置来确定z位置来确定z位置。 这种技术的非限制性实例包括像散成像,离焦成像或多焦平面成像。

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