Search Results (28)

Accurate quantification of spatial distances between fluorescent signals in multi-channel 3D microscopy is essential for understanding genomic organization and gene regulation. However, chromatic aberration introduces systematic spatial offsets between channels that significantly bias distance measurements, particularly at short genomic distances. We present FISH-Dist, an automated computational pipeline for quantitative distance measurements in 3D fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments acquired on standard confocal microscopes. Our method combines deep learning-based spot segmentation, 3D Gaussian fitting for sub-pixel localization, and two complementary chromatic aberration correction approaches: affine (ACC) and linear (LCC). We validated the pipeline by measuring the lengths of DNA origami nanorulers and systematically evaluated FISH probe design parameters, including probe spacing, density, and target sequence length. FISH-Dist achieves sub-pixel accuracy in signal detection and substantially reduces inter-channel distance measurement errors. This enables a reproducible quantification of spatial relationships in 3D FISH datasets. Unlike existing tools optimized for long-range chromosomal interactions or requiring super-resolution microscopy, FISH-Dist specifically addresses the technical challenges of standard confocal imaging at short genomic distances, where chromatic aberration has a proportionally greater impact on measurement accuracy. Full article

Gears, as critical power-transmission components in most power equipment, have a particularly urgent need for in situ inspection systems. Traditional gear inspection methods rely on contact inspection instruments, which are not only time-consuming, but also potentially damage the gear surface due to contact. This study delves into the detection requirements in the gear manufacturing process and establishes a rapid, non-contact detection mechanism and model using a CHCS. This model employs a CHCS to achieve high-speed, non-contact measurement on various surfaces with extremely high accuracy, enabling real-time monitoring of production process details, thereby improving production efficiency and ensuring product quality. Through actual inspection and comparison with a standard involute spur gear tooth profile model, this study implements a complete inspection system in a prototype. The results of gear inspection using a CHCS with an accuracy of 1 μm showed that the interquartile range of qualified gears under test (GUTs) was within 2.5 μm, and the beard line value was within 10 μm. The experiment demonstrated a layout equipped with a CHCS where the rotating axis represents the hobbing machine spindle. This method can be completed without moving the gear, enabling subsequent finishing processes. Full article

In this work, we demonstrate the use of a chromatic confocal sensor for long-distance measurements. The sensor increases the working distance of state-of-the-art confocal sensors by a factor of 10, reaching a working distance of 620 mm. The chromatic aberration exhibited by a lens was utilized to establish the working range. The chromatic dispersion of the optics led to images of the different wavelength components at different longitudinal points along the optical axis. The sensor employs a robust algorithm to measure relative displacements of the sample’s motion. The calibration process simplifies data analysis and improves the accuracy of displacement measurements in experimental setups. To facilitate the design process, a simulator was developed specifically for this purpose. The calibration data obtained in both the experimental and the simulated data show that the simulator was able to predict the sensitivity with an error of 5%. We also describe the effect on the sensitivity of oversampling the spectrum. In addition, the superiority of low-pass filtering over Gaussian fitting over the detected spectrum is shown. Full article

Chromatic confocal technology is widely used for precise, steady, and efficient displacement measurement in many industrial fields. It employs the confocal and dispersion principles to encode axial positions with the wavelengths of the reflected broad spectrum. The typical chromatic confocal sensor includes a light source, a dispersion objective, conjugate pinholes, and a spectral detection device. This study offers an overview of the current research on chromatic confocal technology. Because of its good performance in displacement detection, chromatic confocal technology has been widely used in contour measurement, biomedical imaging, and thickness measurements, as part of global and professional research. Due to its structural flexibility, it is also easily integrated into industrial equipment for in-machine and online profile measurements. It holds significant potential for future applications in industrial manufacturing and scientific research. However, there are also some challenges to be explored in terms of the broadband light source, dispersive optics design, and the balance between speed and accuracy in signal processing. Full article

Spectral confocal sensors are effective for measuring displacements. The core of the spectral confocal measurement system is a dispersive objective lens that uses optical dispersion to establish a one-to-one correspondence between the focusing position and wavelength, achieving high-resolution measurements in the longitudinal direction. Despite significant progress in dispersive objective lenses for spectral confocal sensor systems, challenges such as a limited dispersion range, high cost, and insufficient measurement accuracy persist. To expand the measurement range and improve the accuracy of the spectral confocal sensor, we designed a compact, long-axial dispersion objective lens. This lens has a simple structure that requires only six lens elements, two of which form cemented doublets. The system length is 58 mm, with a working distance of 46 ± 6 mm and a dispersion range of 12 mm within the wavelength range of 450–656 nm. The lens has an object-side numerical aperture (NA) of 0.22 and an image-side NA between 0.198 and 0.24, ensuring high light energy utilization. Finally, a spectral confocal measurement system was constructed based on the designed dispersive objective lens, and performance evaluation tests were conducted. The test results showed that the system achieved a resolution of 0.15 μm and a maximum linear error of ±0.7 μm, demonstrating high-precision measurement capabilities. The proposed lens design enables the development of more portable and cost-effective spectral confocal sensors. Full article

Metal machining production faces a myriad of demands encompassing ecology, automation, product control, and cost reduction. Within this framework, an exploration into employing a direct inspection of the machined area within the work zone of a given machine through a confocal chromatic sensor was undertaken. In the turning process, parameters including cutting speed (A), feed (B), depth of cut (C), workpiece length from clamping (D), and cutting edge radius (E) were designated as input variables. Roundness deviation (Rd) and tool face wear (KM) parameters were identified as output factors for assessing process performance. The experimental phase adhered to the Taguchi Orthogonal Array L27. Confirmatory tests revealed that optimizing process parameters according to the Taguchi method could enhance the turning performance of C45 steel. ANOVA results underscored the significant impact of cutting speed (A), feed (B), depth of cut (C), and workpiece length from clamping (D) on turning performance concerning Rd and KM. Furthermore, initial regression models were formulated to forecast roundness variation and tool face wear. The proposed parameters were found to not only influence the machined surface but also affect confocal sensor measurements. Consequently, we advocate for the adoption of these optimal cutting conditions in product production to bolster turning performance when machining C45 steel. Full article

Most existing multi-channel spectrometers are constructed by physically stacking single-channel spectrometers, resulting in their large size, high weight, and limited number of channels. Therefore, their miniaturization is urgently needed. In this paper, a microlens array grating is designed for miniature multi-channel spectrometers. A transmissive element integrating microlens arrays and gratings, the MLAG, enables simultaneous focusing and dispersion. Using soft lithography, the MLAG was fabricated with a deviation of less than 2.2%. The dimensions are 10 mm × 10 mm × 4 mm with over 2000 available units. The MLAG spectrometer operates in the 400–700 nm wavelength range with a resolution of 6 nm. Additionally, the designed MLAG multi-channel spectrometer is experimentally verified to have independently valid cells that can be used in multichannel spectrometers. The wavelength position repeatability deviation of each cell is about 0.5 nm, and the repeatability of displacement measurements by the chromatic confocal sensor with the designed MLAG multi-channel spectrometer is less than 0.5 μm. Full article

A hybrid strategy is proposed to meet the challenge of obtaining the profile of micro gear teeth with a small modulus. Firstly, the contact probe segmentally obtained the falling flank profiles with an auxiliary lifting mechanism to avoid interference when it climbs on the rising slope. Then, the noncontact chromatic confocal displacement sensor efficiently acquired the gear peak positions to carry out the two-point error separation with the gear peak positions from the probe measurement. Finally, actual experiments were carried out to obtain the profile of a harmonic drive flexspline. Compared with the commercial ultraprecise profiler, the proposed method provides measurement results with a deviation of less than 20 μm. In conclusion, the hybrid strategy is feasible and accurate for drawing the micro gear teeth profile without any collision between the measuring probes and the measured workpiece. Full article

A feasible and precise method to measure ligament strain during surgical interventions could significantly enhance the quality of ligament reconstructions. However, all existing scientific approaches to measure in vivo ligament strain possess at least one significant disadvantage, such as the impairment of the anatomical structure. Seeking a more advantageous method, this paper proposes defining medical and technical requirements for a non-destructive, optical measurement technique. Furthermore, we offer a comprehensive review of current optical endoscopic techniques which could potentially be suitable for in vivo ligament strain measurement, along with the most suitable optical measurement techniques. The most promising options are rated based on the defined explicit and implicit requirements. Three methods were identified as promising candidates for a precise optical measurement of the alteration of a ligaments strain: confocal chromatic imaging, shearography, and digital image correlation. Full article

The methodology for assigning and assessing the surface quality is used at various stages of the product life cycle: during the design and technological preparation of production, the production itself, and during the control (testing) of products. The development of advanced technologies requires in situ part control. A non-contact in situ surface roughness measuring system is proposed in this paper. The proposed system utilizes a chromatic confocal sensor, and profile data, waviness data, roughness data, Ra, and Rz parameters are generated in the developed data-processing software. The assembled measuring system based on the chromatic confocal laser sensor showed its performance in assessing the roughness parameter Ra, from 0.34 µm to more than 12 µm, which covers a common range of milling, turning, and grinding. In this range, measurement relative errors can be controlled within 10%. Frequency analysis and correlation analysis of profilograms were performed. Frequency analysis made it possible to establish the dominant frequency components that occur in the profilogram of the samples, while correlation analysis was used to develop a methodology for identifying the deterministic and random components of the processed surface profile signal. The results of the analysis can be further used to develop diagnostic functions for process monitoring based on profilogram estimates, such as the autocorrelation function and the power spectrum density. Full article

The stability and repeatability of laser metal deposition is particularly important when processing multiple layers or depositing material on complex component surfaces, and requires the use of process parameter control including the stand-off distance between the laser head and the substrate. The system proposed in this paper for correcting the stand-off parameter is based on a chromatic confocal sensor integrated into a laser head. Then, the spectral signal acquired from the measurement system is processed by using the developed application to compensate for the movement of an additional axis of the kinematic system. This study used an independent verification system based on the digital image correlation method. The validation tests were carried out using the system for correcting the stand-off parameter with different control algorithms and given motion trajectories and substrate materials. The results demonstrate that the developed system can be useful for laser metal deposition. Full article

The wafer eccentricity deviation caused by misalignment between the center of the wafer and rotary table will lead to edge image distortion and quality degradation of the defect signals during automated inspection. However, wafer end jump and edge topography change will bring great challenges to the accurate measurement of micrometer deviations. A new wafer eccentricity deviation measurement method based on line-scanning chromatic confocal sensors (LSCCSs) is proposed. Firstly, the LSCCS with Z-axis submicron resolution used in the experiment acquires the 3D profile height of the wafer edge as the turntable rotates, and the edge distance is calculated at each rotation angle. Secondly, a robust Fourier-LAR fitting method is used to fit edge distance serial to reduce sensitivity to outliers. Finally, the wafer eccentricity deviation that is equal to the wafer center coordinate can be calculated using the wafer eccentricity deviation model. In the simulated experiment, the results show that the eccentricity deviation measurement accuracy was insensitivity to noise and reached the micron level. Additionally, the measurement uncertainty of eccentricity deviation coordinate $\left(X_w,Y_w\right)$ was (0.53 µm, 1.4 µm) in the actual data of the 12-inch wafers. Full article

Conventional chromatic confocal systems are mostly single-point coaxial illumination systems with a low signal-to-noise ratio, light energy utility and measurement efficiency. To overcome the above shortcomings, we propose a parallel non-coaxial-illumination chromatic-confocal-measurement system based on an optical fiber bundle. Based on the existing single-point non-coaxial-illumination system, the optical fiber bundle is used as the optical beam splitter to achieve parallel measurements. Thus, the system can yield measurements through line scanning, which greatly improves measurement efficiency. To verify the measurement performance of the system, based on the calibration experiment, the system realizes the measurement of the height of the step, the thickness of the transparent specimen and the reconstruction of the three-dimensional topography of the surface of the step and coin. The experimental results show that the measuring range of the system is 200 μm. The measurement accurcy can reach micron level, and the system can realize a good three-dimensional topography reconstruction effect. Full article

Laser scanning technology has been used for several years. Nevertheless, no comprehensive study has been conducted to prove that the application of confocal chromatic sensor (CCHS) laser technology is effective and suitable to verify the integrity parameters of machined surfaces in terms of cutting tool damage. In this paper, the optimization and effects of five factors (cutting speed, feed, depth of cut, attachment length of the workpiece, and tip radius) on the roundness deviation measured by CCHS and, at the same time, on the amount of wear on the back side of the cutting part of the tool were studied according to ISO 3685, which was measured with a microscope. The results obtained were evaluated using the gray relational analysis method (GRA), in conjunction with the Taguchi method, and the significance of the factors was demonstrated using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. Full article

The impact of a drop onto a liquid film is relevant for many natural phenomena and industrial applications such as spray painting, inkjet printing, agricultural sprays, or spray cooling. In particular, the height of liquid remaining on the substrate after impact is of special interest for painting and coating but also for applications involving heat transfer from the wall. While much progress has been made in explaining the hydrodynamics of drop impact onto a liquid film of the same liquid, the physics of drop impact onto a wall film with different material properties is still not well understood. In this study, drop impact onto a very thin liquid film of another liquid is investigated. The thickness of the film remaining on a substrate after drop impact is measured using a chromatic-confocal line sensor. It is interesting that the residual film thickness does not depend on the initial thickness of the wall film, but strongly depends on its viscosity. A theoretical model for the flow in the drop and wall film is developed which accounts for the development of viscous boundary layers in both liquids. The theoretical predictions agree well with the experimental data. Full article