Patent ID: 8405059
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for improving the resolution and/or sectioning ability of an imaging system, comprising: at least one wave splitter for splitting an input wave carrying image information relating to an object to be imaged; an interferometer arrangement arranged to receive the split input waves and which includes at least one wave transformer which produces a relative difference between the waves travelling through the interferometer arrangement by applying one or more transformations to one or more of said waves, wherein the one or more transformations include applying an image coordinate inversion in at least one axis, the interferometer arrangement being further arranged to output at least a first and a second output wave, wherein the first and second output waves are formed in the interferometer arrangement downstream of the one or more transformations being applied to the split input waves, the first output wave being produced by constructive interference of the split input waves and the second output wave being produced by destructive interference of the split input waves, wherein those parts of the first and second output waves which are due to an emitter located on-axis: i) constructively interfere in the first output wave; and ii) destructively interfere in the second output wave; and imaging means arranged produce at least a corresponding first image using the first output wave and a corresponding second image using the second output wave, and to produce a single output image in dependence on at least the first image and the second image; wherein the change of the detected emissions from the emitter improves the resolution and/or sectioning ability of imaging of the object.