Programmable aperture microscopy: A computational method for multi-modal phase contrast and light field imaging

• Published in: Optics and lasers in engineering Vol. 80; pp. 24 - 31
• Main Authors: Zuo, Chao, Sun, Jiasong, Feng, Shijie, Zhang, Minliang, Chen, Qian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2016
• Subjects: Apertures; Computation; Cross sections; Hardware; Imaging; Light field microscopy; Liquid crystal displays; Microscopes; Microscopy; Multi-modal imaging; Phase contrast; Phase retrieval; Quantitative phase microscopy; Microscopy; Multi-modal imaging; Light field microscopy; Phase retrieval; Quantitative phase microscopy
• ISSN: 0143-8166; 1873-0302
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlaseng.2015.12.012

We demonstrate a simple and cost-effective programmable aperture microscope to realize multi-modal computational imaging by integrating a programmable liquid crystal display (LCD) into a conventional wide-field microscope. The LCD selectively modulates the light distribution at the rear aperture of the microscope objective, allowing numerous imaging modalities, such as bright field, dark field, differential phase contrast, quantitative phase imaging, multi-perspective imaging, and full resolution light field imaging to be achieved and switched rapidly in the same setup, without requiring specialized hardwares and any moving parts. We experimentally demonstrate the success of our method by imaging unstained cheek cells, profiling microlens array, and changing perspective views of thick biological specimens. The post-exposure refocusing of a butterfly mouthpart and RFP-labeled dicot stem cross-section is also presented to demonstrate the full resolution light field imaging capability of our system for both translucent and fluorescent specimens. •Programmable Aperture Microscopy (PAM) is proposed for multi-modal phase contrast and light field imaging.•The PAM integrates a low-cost LCD into the imaging aperture plane of the microscope.•Numerical methods of microscopy, including brightfield, darkfield, differential phase contrast imaging, and quantitative phase imaging can be realized.•Light field imaging at full sensor resolution has been demonstrated through multiple exposures, without spatio-angular resolution trade-offs.