3i’s new Microscopes use binary SLMs

Forth Dimension Displays’ LCOS-based Fast Switching Binary Modulators enable new Ultra-Fast, High-Resolution Microscopes

Forth Dimension Displays (ForthDD) and Intelligent Imaging Innovations (3i), a Colorado-based manufacturer of fluorescence microscope systems for biomedical research, expanded their collaboration with the launch of 3i’s Cleared Tissue LightSheet (CTLS) product. CTLS can image whole organs at high speed by illuminating them with structured light using ForthDD’s proprietary high-resolution, fast Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs).

Similar to other fluorescence microscope techniques, CTLS uses laser light to stimulate fluorescence emission from genetically-labelled – or stained – tissue to form an image of the specimen. The Cleared Tissue LightSheet creates a finely focused sheet of light for optical sectioning, then uses ForthDD’s SLM to rapidly shift the thinnest portion of the sheet in synchronization with the microscope and camera resulting in ultra-fast and high-resolution imaging of large specimens. Piezoelectric stages move the specimen in x, y, and z directions with sub-micron precision. The emission from the fluorescent markers in the specimen is recorded by a camera and 3i SlideBook software automatically and precisely reconstructs the biological structure in 3D for further analysis. Hundreds to thousands of images are required to create a 3D image of the tissue sample.

3i also integrates ForthDD’s SLMs into their live cell imaging system Lattice LightSheet (LLS). The SLM is used to create an ultra-thin lattice light sheet which can be quickly adjusted for biological conditions on-the-fly due to the flexibility and speed of ForthDD’s SLM. LLS enables spatiotemporal super-resolution imaging of dynamic cellular processes with ultra-fast capture speeds and high resolution, while limiting laser light damage to the cells. LLS can also be used to perform structured illumination microscopy (SIM), a super-resolution technique that improves the spatial resolution to the low 100’s of nanometers.

“Spatial light modulators provide outstanding value, increasing the speed and resolution of research microscopes,” Brian Bodensteiner, Vice President Development of 3i said, “ForthDD’s SLM technology is designed to allow for the flexibility, performance, and hardware-timing demanded by advanced light microscopy applications.”

Greg Truman, CEO of ForthDD said, “The development of super-resolution techniques has been a remarkable achievement and ForthDD is very pleased that our fast binary SLMs are a key enabler for microscope developers and biologists around the globe. The new microscopes are now being used in the life sciences industry to enhance the understanding of the biological structures. ForthDD is committed to supporting its customers to create their most advanced products.”

Forth Dimension Displays present at Chinese Photonics Exhibition ILOPE in Beijing

9th October 2017, Scotland

Forth Dimension Displays will be showing its product portfolio of fast, high resolution Spatial Light Modulators (SLM) at the ILOPE show in China International Exhibition Centre, Beijing from 11 to 13th October.

http://en.ilope-expo.com/bjhg/ilopeen/index.htm

AUnion Tech ( 上海昊量光电设备有限公司 ), our distribution partner for China, will present the SLMs at booth number 3605.

http://www.auniontech.com/p/flcos_microdisplay/Aunion_Super_Resolution_LCOS_Microdisplay.html

Forth Dimension Displays’ VP of Sales and Marketing, Henning Molsen, will be present at the booth to meet customers.

He and the team from AUnion Tech will explain the benefits of ferroelectric LCoS technology for fast bit plane sequencing applications by structuring light in amplitude modulation and binary phase modulation.

Popular academic applications include super resolution microscopy using light sheets using binary phase modulation.

Industrial application are dominated by 3D optical metrology using 8 bit amplitude modulation.

Forth Dimension Displays launches QXGA-3DM Spatial Light Modulator

Forth Dimension Displays (ForthDD), a leading provider of high-resolution Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) Microdisplays and Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) is pleased to announce the launch of its all-new 3.1MPixel QXGA-3DM SLM at Photonics West 2015, booth 1123.

ForthDD’s 1.3MPixel SXGA-3DM SLM has a leading position in the 3D AOI PCB inspection and measurement market as well as being used for applications as diverse as silicon wafer inspection and super resolution microscopy.

The 2048 x 1536 pixel QXGA-3DM SLM builds upon this track record by enabling even higher resolution structured light systems to be built. Applications that will benefit from this increased performance include 3D inspection of System in Package (SiP) devices and Lattice Light Sheet Microscopy. Recognising the benefits of the increased resolution in leading edge imaging techniques, the first production shipment of a QXGA-3DM will go to long time ForthDD customer Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) for use by Nobel Prize for Chemistry 2014 winner Dr. Eric Betzig’s team.

QXGA 3DM Forth Dimension Displays

The QXGA-3DM combines an industry proven microdisplay with a powerful application specific non-video drive interface. The system can be programmed offline, through the RS-232, RS-485 and USB interfaces, and no controller PC is required for normal operation. The drive interface is capable of storing up to 1024 full resolution images. Bi-directional trigger signals ensure accurate synchronization with other system components such as cameras and translation tables.

The small form factor and light weight of the QXGA-3DM gives system integrators the flexibility to design the display into their existing applications, without compromising the original mechanical design, resulting in a reduced time to market.

Mr Greg Truman, CEO of FDD said, “Our SXGA-3DM is in 24/7 use around the world in the most advanced inspection and imaging systems. In response to demand from our customers for even higher resolutions and performance, we are pleased to launch our new QXGA-3DM product. This will allow our customers to image and inspect even smaller feature sizes and further expand the range of applications for structured light systems.”