Patent Publication Number: US-11391938-B2

Title: Microlens adapter for mobile devices

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a method, system, and computer program product for making a low cost microscope using existing camera-enabled mobile devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method, system, and computer program product for a microlens adapter for mobile devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently there are a large number of smart phone users around the world. Many of these smart phones are provided with high computing power, video streaming capabilities, high quality image capture capabilities and other processing capabilities. This presents an unprecedented opportunity for developing applications based on these capabilities, especially for sensing and imaging applications. 
     SUMMARY 
     The illustrative embodiments provide a method, system, and computer program product. An embodiment of a microscope lens system includes a body having a surface, a microlens, and an aperture positioned between the microlens and the surface. In the embodiment, the body is configured to position a mobile device on the surface such that a camera lens of the mobile device is aligned with the aperture. 
     In an embodiment, the microlens is one of a ball lens, a hemispherical lens, a hyperbolic lens, or an aspheric lens. An embodiment further includes a shroud configured to facilitate holding of the camera lens of the mobile device in alignment with the aperture. In an embodiment, the shroud is configured to be removably coupled to the body. 
     An embodiment further includes an insert configured to be removable positioned within a recess of the surface. In an embodiment, the insert includes the aperture. 
     In an embodiment, the body further includes a clip portion configured to fasten the body to the mobile device to facilitate holding of the camera lens of the mobile device in alignment with the aperture. 
     An embodiment further includes an object platform configured to hold an object at the focal plane of the microlens. In an embodiment, the object platform further includes a light source configured to illuminate the object. 
     In an embodiment, the mobile device is configured to capture an image of the object through the microlens. 
     An embodiment includes a computer usable program product. The computer usable program product includes one or more computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices. 
     An embodiment includes a computer system. The computer system includes one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, and one or more computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Certain novel features characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of a network of data processing systems in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of a data processing system in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented; 
         FIG. 3A  depicts an example configuration of a microlens adapter in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  depicts another example configuration of microlens adapter in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a schematic view of a microlens adapter in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  depicts an example configuration in which a microlens adapter according to an embodiment is used for imaging microbeads; 
         FIG. 6  depicts an example configuration in which a microlens adapter according to an embodiment is used for imaging the defects and inclusions within a diamond or other gemstone; 
         FIG. 7  depicts layout and cross-sectional views of a microlens adapter in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  depicts additional layout and cross-sectional views of a microlens adapter in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 9A-9C  depict an example configuration of a microlens adapter in accordance with another illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  depicts a schematic cross-section view of a microlens adapter in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; and 
         FIGS. 11A-11B  depict layout and cross-sectional views of a microlens adapter in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments include a microlens adapter for mobile devices that enable high resolution image capture. In particular embodiments, the microlens adapter includes a microlens that enables image capture of micron sized (millionth of a meter) objects using a mobile device having high magnification of, for example, 15× or larger (for comparison a human hair width is 100 micron). Various embodiments provide for a wide range of image capture and processing applications such as tracking microbead motion within a fluid, diamond defect mapping and imaging, imaging bacterial and other cellular organisms and counterfeit goods detection and protection. 
     Presently available microscopes with 1-micron or better resolution are generally custom equipment that cost many thousands of dollars and are difficult to move or relocate from one observation site to another as they are quite bulky. The illustrative embodiments recognize that the presently available tools or solutions do not address these needs/problems or provide adequate solutions for these needs/problems. The illustrative embodiments used to describe the invention generally address and solve the above-described problems and other related problems by providing a microlens adapter for mobile devices. 
     An embodiment includes a method that can be configured to produce many microlens configurations that have a micron resolution and a magnification from 15× and higher. Achieving similar optical resolution presently requires a microscope that costs approximately $15,000 in the market. Moreover, the whole setup of an embodiment is quite compact and easily portable for on-field applications relative to presently available high-resolution microscopes. 
     In particular embodiments, the microlens of the microlens adapter can distinguish micro particles that are of size 1 micron (1 millionth of a meter) which is not achievable by other lens adapters. A human hair is 100 micron in size for comparison. In one or more embodiments, the microlens adapter includes a housing having a ball lens in an aperture of the housing, and the housing is configured to be coupled to a mobile device to position a lens of a camera of the mobile device in alignment with the ball lens and an object to be imaged. In particular embodiments, the ball lens that has short focal length in the range of 0.5 to a few mm (millimeters) and is constructed of glass. In an embodiment, the microlens adapter is constructed, formed, or machined to accommodate the ball lens at a particular location to hold the ball lens in place. In one or more embodiments, the microlens adapter includes an opening through which light from the object enters the ball lens to form an image on the back side of the ball lens. The microlens adapter further includes a recess on an outer surface dimensioned to accept an insert having an aperture hole therethrough. In a particular embodiment, the recess and insert are of a rectangular shape. In particular embodiments, the aperture hole has a diameter of 0.9 mm acting as an aperture to achieve both an optical resolution of 1 micron as well to limit spherical and other aberrations in optical imaging. In one or more embodiments, the aperture hole is in alignment with the lens of the camera of the mobile device to allow one or more images of the object to be captured from the ball lens through the aperture hole with minimal image distortion. 
     With reference to the figures and in particular with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , these figures are example diagrams of data processing environments in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented.  FIGS. 1 and 2  are only examples and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. A particular implementation may make many modifications to the depicted environments based on the following description. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of a network of data processing systems in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Data processing environment  100  is a network of computers in which the illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Data processing environment  100  includes network  102 . Network  102  is the medium used to provide communications links between various devices and computers connected together within data processing environment  100 . Network  102  may include connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables. 
     Clients or servers are only example roles of certain data processing systems connected to network  102  and are not intended to exclude other configurations or roles for these data processing systems. Server  104  and server  106  couple to network  102  along with storage unit  108 . Software applications may execute on any computer in data processing environment  100 . Clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  are also coupled to network  102 . A data processing system, such as server  104  or  106 , or client  110 ,  112 , or  114  may contain data and may have software applications or software tools executing thereon. 
     Only as an example, and without implying any limitation to such architecture,  FIG. 1  depicts certain components that are usable in an example implementation of an embodiment. For example, servers  104  and  106 , and clients  110 ,  112 ,  114 , are depicted as servers and clients only as example and not to imply a limitation to a client-server architecture. As another example, an embodiment can be distributed across several data processing systems and a data network as shown, whereas another embodiment can be implemented on a single data processing system within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. Data processing systems  104 ,  106 ,  110 ,  112 , and  114  also represent example nodes in a cluster, partitions, and other configurations suitable for implementing an embodiment. 
     Mobile device  132  is an example of a mobile device described herein. For example, mobile device  132  can take the form of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, client  110  in a stationary or a portable form, a wearable computing device, or any other suitable device. Any software application described as executing in another data processing system in  FIG. 1  can be configured to execute in mobile device  132  in a similar manner. Any data or information stored or produced in another data processing system in  FIG. 1  can be configured to be stored or produced in device  132  in a similar manner. Mobile device  132  includes an imaging application  134  configured to capture one or more images or video sequences from a camera of mobile device  132 . Mobile device  132  is further coupled to a microlens adapter  136  to facilitate capture of one or more images or videos sequences of an object through a microlens positioned within microlens adapter  136 . Microlens adapter  136  is an example of a microlens adapter described herein. 
     Application  105  implements an embodiment described herein. For example, application  105  controls or instructs a manufacturing apparatus (not shown) to manufacture a microlens adapter that is usable in a manner described herein. 
     Servers  104  and  106 , storage unit  108 , and clients  110 ,  112 , and  114 , and device  132  may couple to network  102  using wired connections, wireless communication protocols, or other suitable data connectivity. Clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  may be, for example, personal computers or network computers. 
     In the depicted example, server  104  may provide data, such as boot files, operating system images, and applications to clients  110 ,  112 , and  114 . Clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  may be clients to server  104  in this example. Clients  110 ,  112 ,  114 , or some combination thereof, may include their own data, boot files, operating system images, and applications. Data processing environment  100  may include additional servers, clients, and other devices that are not shown. 
     In the depicted example, data processing environment  100  may be the Internet. Network  102  may represent a collection of networks and gateways that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and other protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of data communication links between major nodes or host computers, including thousands of commercial, governmental, educational, and other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course, data processing environment  100  also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).  FIG. 1  is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for the different illustrative embodiments. 
     Among other uses, data processing environment  100  may be used for implementing a client-server environment in which the illustrative embodiments may be implemented. A client-server environment enables software applications and data to be distributed across a network such that an application functions by using the interactivity between a client data processing system and a server data processing system. Data processing environment  100  may also employ a service oriented architecture where interoperable software components distributed across a network may be packaged together as coherent business applications. Data processing environment  100  may also take the form of a cloud, and employ a cloud computing model of service delivery for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing, memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or interaction with a provider of the service. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , this figure depicts a block diagram of a data processing system in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Data processing system  200  is an example of a computer, such as servers  104  and  106 , or clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  in  FIG. 1 , or another type of device in which computer usable program code or instructions implementing the processes may be located for the illustrative embodiments. 
     Data processing system  200  is also representative of a data processing system or a configuration therein, such as data processing system  132  in  FIG. 1  in which computer usable program code or instructions implementing the processes of the illustrative embodiments may be located. Data processing system  200  is described as a computer only as an example, without being limited thereto. Implementations in the form of other devices, such as device  132  in  FIG. 1 , may modify data processing system  200 , such as by adding a touch interface, and even eliminate certain depicted components from data processing system  200  without departing from the general description of the operations and functions of data processing system  200  described herein. 
     In the depicted example, data processing system  200  employs a hub architecture including North Bridge and memory controller hub (NB/MCH)  202  and South Bridge and input/output (I/O) controller hub (SB/ICH)  204 . Processing unit  206 , main memory  208 , and graphics processor  210  are coupled to North Bridge and memory controller hub (NB/MCH)  202 . Processing unit  206  may contain one or more processors and may be implemented using one or more heterogeneous processor systems. Processing unit  206  may be a multi-core processor. Graphics processor  210  may be coupled to NB/MCH  202  through an accelerated graphics port (AGP) in certain implementations. 
     In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter  212  is coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub (SB/ICH)  204 . Audio adapter  216 , keyboard and mouse adapter  220 , modem  222 , read only memory (ROM)  224 , universal serial bus (USB) and other ports  232 , and PCI/PCIe devices  234  are coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub  204  through bus  238 . Hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD)  226  and CD-ROM  230  are coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub  204  through bus  240 . PCI/PCIe devices  234  may include, for example, Ethernet adapters, add-in cards, and PC cards for notebook computers. PCI uses a card bus controller, while PCIe does not. ROM  224  may be, for example, a flash binary input/output system (BIOS). Hard disk drive  226  and CD-ROM  230  may use, for example, an integrated drive electronics (IDE), serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface, or variants such as external-SATA (eSATA) and micro-SATA (mSATA). A super I/O (SIO) device  236  may be coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub (SB/ICH)  204  through bus  238 . 
     Memories, such as main memory  208 , ROM  224 , or flash memory (not shown), are some examples of computer usable storage devices. Hard disk drive or solid state drive  226 , CD-ROM  230 , and other similarly usable devices are some examples of computer usable storage devices including a computer usable storage medium. 
     An operating system runs on processing unit  206 . The operating system coordinates and provides control of various components within data processing system  200  in  FIG. 2 . The operating system may be a commercially available operating system for any type of computing platform, including but not limited to server systems, personal computers, and mobile devices. An object oriented or other type of programming system may operate in conjunction with the operating system and provide calls to the operating system from programs or applications executing on data processing system  200 . 
     Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented programming system, and applications or programs, such as application  105  in  FIG. 1 , are located on storage devices, such as in the form of code  226 A on hard disk drive  226 , and may be loaded into at least one of one or more memories, such as main memory  208 , for execution by processing unit  206 . The processes of the illustrative embodiments may be performed by processing unit  206  using computer implemented instructions, which may be located in a memory, such as, for example, main memory  208 , read only memory  224 , or in one or more peripheral devices. 
     Furthermore, in one case, code  226 A may be downloaded over network  201 A from remote system  201 B, where similar code  201 C is stored on a storage device  201 D. In another case, code  226 A may be downloaded over network  201 A to remote system  201 B, where downloaded code  201 C is stored on a storage device  201 D. 
     The hardware in  FIGS. 1-2  may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash memory, equivalent non-volatile memory, or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 . In addition, the processes of the illustrative embodiments may be applied to a multiprocessor data processing system. 
     In some illustrative examples, data processing system  200  may be a personal digital assistant (PDA), which is generally configured with flash memory to provide non-volatile memory for storing operating system files and/or user-generated data. A bus system may comprise one or more buses, such as a system bus, an I/O bus, and a PCI bus. Of course, the bus system may be implemented using any type of communications fabric or architecture that provides for a transfer of data between different components or devices attached to the fabric or architecture. 
     A communications unit may include one or more devices used to transmit and receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter. A memory may be, for example, main memory  208  or a cache, such as the cache found in North Bridge and memory controller hub  202 . A processing unit may include one or more processors or CPUs. 
     The depicted examples in  FIGS. 1-2  and above-described examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations. For example, data processing system  200  also may be a tablet computer, laptop computer, or telephone device in addition to taking the form of a mobile or wearable device. 
     Where a computer or data processing system is described as a virtual machine, a virtual device, or a virtual component, the virtual machine, virtual device, or the virtual component operates in the manner of data processing system  200  using virtualized manifestation of some or all components depicted in data processing system  200 . For example, in a virtual machine, virtual device, or virtual component, processing unit  206  is manifested as a virtualized instance of all or some number of hardware processing units  206  available in a host data processing system, main memory  208  is manifested as a virtualized instance of all or some portion of main memory  208  that may be available in the host data processing system, and disk  226  is manifested as a virtualized instance of all or some portion of disk  226  that may be available in the host data processing system. The host data processing system in such cases is represented by data processing system  200 . 
       FIG. 3A  depicts an example configuration of microlens adapter  302  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Microlens adapter  302  is an example of a microlens adapter  136  described herein. Microlens adapter  302  includes a housing  304  having a stage  306  configured to support placement of mobile device  132  (not shown) upon housing  304 . Microlens adapter  302  further includes a lens adapter holder insert  308  configured to be placed in and removable from a recess of housing  304 . Lens adapter holder insert  308  further includes an aperture  310  in alignment with a microlens (not shown). The aperture  310  allows limiting the divergence of the light illuminating the sample from underneath to obtain better imaging conditions. In particular embodiments, lens adapter holder insert  308  is configured to be removable to facilitate insertion and removal of the microlens from housing  304 . Housing  304  further includes a shroud  312  positioned above aperture  310  to facilitate holding of the camera of the mobile device in alignment with aperture  310 . In addition, the shroud also prevents stray or ambient light from entering the sample chamber and microlens adapter facilitating the recording of the image of the object under observation. In particular embodiments, shroud  312  is configured to be removable to facilitate removal of lens adapter holder insert  308 . In particular embodiments, the source of light to illuminate the sample for imaging can be placed inside the housing  304  in the bottom with either traditional mini LED bulbs or modern LED chips mounted in a printed circuit board wired to a battery or power source. 
       FIG. 3B  depicts another example configuration of microlens adapter  314  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Microlens adapter  314  is an example of a microlens adapter  136  described herein. In the illustrated embodiment, microlens adapter  314  is similar to microlens adapter  302  of  FIG. 3B  except that shroud  312  of microlens adapter  302  is omitted from microlens adapter  314 . Similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 3A , microlens adapter  314  further includes lens adapter holder insert  308  configured to be placed in a recess of housing  304 . Lens adapter holder insert  308  further includes an aperture  310  in alignment with a microlens (not shown). In particular embodiments, lens adapter holder insert  308  is configured to be removable to facilitate insertion and removal of the microlens from housing  304 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts a schematic view of microlens adapter  136  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , housing  304  includes a recess  404  in the top surface thereof, and a light path  406  extending through a portion of housing  304 . In a particular embodiment, the aperture of lens adapter holder  308  is 0.9 mm in diameter. Light path  406  is configured to accept a microlens  402  and lens adapter  308  is configured to be placed within recess  404  of housing  304 . In one or more embodiments, microlens  402  is a glass ball lens. In a particular embodiment, the glass ball lens has a diameter of 3.0 mm. In one or more embodiments, microlens adapter  136  is capable of achieving 1 micron optical resolution. In other embodiments, microlens  402  is a hemispherical lens. An advantage that may be offered by particular embodiments having a hemispherical lens is that aberration may be minimized. In still other embodiments, microlens  402  is a hyperbolic lens or aspheric lens. 
       FIG. 5  depicts an example configuration  500  in which microlens adapter  136  according to an embodiment is used for imaging microbeads and their motion with an example low-cost illumination setup that is portable and compact for field applications as compared to presently available microscopes that can produce similar results. In the example configuration of  FIG. 5 , mobile device  132  is coupled to microlens adapter  136  with camera lens  502  of mobile device  132  in alignment with the aperture of lens adapter holder insert  308  and microlens  402 . The example configuration  500  further includes a subject object  504  in alignment with microlens  402 . In the illustrated example of  FIG. 5 , subject object  504  is a glass slide sample chamber with a microbead solution. Microbeads are manufactured solid plastic particle that are typically less than 5 micrometers in size. 
     Example configuration  500  further includes a light source  506  positioned below subject object  504  upon an object platform  508 . Light source  506  is configured to direct light upon and/or illuminate subject object  504  upward toward microlens  402  and camera lens  502 . In a particular embodiment, light source  506  is a light emitting diode (LED) chip light source. In the embodiment, mobile device  132  is configured to capture still images and/or video images of subject object  504  through microlens  402  such that the images of subject object  504  are magnified when captured. 
     By locating the positions of microbeads in the video frames of images recorded with mobile device  132  according to the illustrative embodiment, microbead positions in subsequent frames can be tracked. By calculating the microbead position distributions, it can be ascertained whether the microbeads undergo Brownian motion. This analysis can also reveal if the microbeads are stationary, e.g., that is not moving by sticking to the bottom of the sample chamber coated with bead-binding coating or settling down in the bottom. In particular embodiments, microlens adapter  136  is designed and optimized for imaging microbead samples that are confined within 100 microns from the top of the glass slide using optical ray tracing. 
       FIG. 6  depicts an example configuration  600  in which microlens adapter  136  according to an embodiment is used for imaging the defects and inclusions within a diamond or other gemstone with example 1 micron resolution. In the example configuration of  FIG. 6 , mobile device  132  is coupled to microlens adapter  136  with camera lens  502  of mobile device  132  in alignment with the aperture of lens adapter holder insert  308  and microlens  402 . The example configuration  500  further includes a subject object  602  in alignment with microlens  402 . In the illustrated example of  FIG. 6 , subject object  602  is a diamond or other gemstone in a holder. Light source  506  positioned below subject object  602  upon object platform  508  and is configured to direct light upon subject object  602  upward toward microlens  402  and camera lens  502 . In the embodiment, mobile device  132  is configured to capture still images and/or video images of subject object  504  through microlens  402  such that the images of subject object  504  are magnified when captured in order to allow viewing of occlusions or other defects within the subject object  602 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts layout and cross-sectional views of microlens adapter  302  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.  FIG. 8  depicts additional layout and cross-sectional views of microlens adapter  302  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. 
       FIG. 9A  depicts an example configuration of a microlens adapter  902  in accordance with another illustrative embodiment. Microlens adapter  902  is an example of a microlens adapter  136  described herein. Microlens adapter  902  includes a lens holder portion  904  having an aperture  906  in alignment with a microlens (not shown). Microlens adapter  902  further includes a clip portion  908  configured to allow microlens adapter  902  to be fastened to a surface of mobile device  132  to facilitate holding of the camera of the mobile device in alignment with aperture  906 . In one or more embodiments, microlens adapter  902  further includes a light source configured to direct light upon and/or illuminate a subject object. In a particular embodiment, the light source is integrated with a bottom portion of lens holder portion  904 . 
       FIGS. 9B-9C  depicts an example configuration of microlens adapter  902  fastened to mobile device  132 . In the example of  FIG. 9B , clip portion  908  is shown in contact with a rear-facing display screen side of mobile device  132 . In  FIG. 9C , lens holder portion  904  is shown in alignment with the camera lens of a front-facing camera side of mobile device  132 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts a schematic cross-section view of microlens adapter  902  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10 , microlens  402  is positioned within aperture  906  of lens holder portion  904  at a focal length f from an imaging plane  910  and having a center of focus upon imaging plane  910 . In one or more embodiments, an object to be imaged by mobile device  132  is placed upon imaging plane  910  at the focal point. In one or more embodiments, microlens  402  is a glass ball lens. 
       FIGS. 11A-11B  depict layout and cross-sectional views of microlens adapter  902  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.  FIG. 11A  depicts layout and cross-section views of microlens adaptor  902  including clip portion  908  and lens holder portion  904 .  FIG. 11B  depicts layout and cross-section views of lens holder portion  904  of microlens adaptor  902 . 
     Various embodiments of microlens adapter  136  described herein can be used in a number of applications in which magnified imaging of an object is desired. Example applications include, but are not limited to imaging defects and mapping of diamonds and other gems, drug or other packet recognition and counterfeit prevention, identification of microscopic features in art work and/or manufactured parts, biological cell imaging and counting, skin tissue imaging, detecting water pollutants, toxins, and/or large agglomerates of molecules, detecting plant leaf shape and type. In another example, embodiments of microlens adapter  136  can be used for detecting micropatterns such as periodic dot patterns or lithopatterns in a half-tone printing process that are visible when viewed under high magnification, or periodic dot patterns found in black and white and/or color images. 
     An embodiment can be implemented as a software application to control, guide, or instruct a fabrication machine or apparatus, to produce a microlens adapter for ubiquitous mobile devices, such as camera-equipped cellular phones. The application implementing an embodiment, or one or more components thereof, can be configured as a modification of an existing manufacturing system—i.e., a native application in the manufacturing system, as an application executing in a data processing system communicating with an existing manufacturing system over a local area network (LAN)—i.e., a local application on the LAN, as an application executing in a data processing system communicating with an existing manufacturing system over a wide area network (WAN)—i.e., a remote application on the WAN, as a separate application that operates in conjunction with an existing manufacturing system in other ways, a standalone application, or some combination thereof. 
     Another embodiment is the microlens adapter itself. Still another embodiment includes an observation configuration that uses a microlens adapter according to an embodiment. Another embodiment includes an observation configuration that uses a microlens adapter that has been manufactured using a software application according to an embodiment. 
     The manner of constructing or using a microlens adapter for mobile devices described herein is unavailable in the presently available methods. A method of an embodiment described herein, when implemented to execute on a device or data processing system, comprises substantial advancement of the functionality of that device or data processing system in fabricating and/or using a low-cost and portable microlens adapter for a variety of mobile devices. 
     The illustrative embodiments are described with respect to certain types of materials, shapes, orientations, experiments, usages, configurations, mobile devices, lens structures, illumination sources, observed specimen, devices, data processing systems, environments, components, and applications only as examples. Any specific manifestations of these and other similar artifacts are not intended to be limiting to the invention. Any suitable manifestation of these and other similar artifacts can be selected within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. 
     Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments may be implemented with respect to any type of data, data source, or access to a data source over a data network. Any type of data storage device may provide the data to an embodiment of the invention, either locally at a data processing system or over a data network, within the scope of the invention. Where an embodiment is described using a mobile device, any type of data storage device suitable for use with the mobile device may provide the data to such embodiment, either locally at the mobile device or over a data network, within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. 
     The illustrative embodiments are described using specific code, designs, architectures, protocols, layouts, schematics, and tools only as examples and are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments are described in some instances using particular software, tools, and data processing environments only as an example for the clarity of the description. The illustrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with other comparable or similarly purposed structures, systems, applications, or architectures. For example, other comparable mobile devices, structures, systems, applications, or architectures therefor, may be used in conjunction with such embodiment of the invention within the scope of the invention. An illustrative embodiment may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. 
     The examples in this disclosure are used only for the clarity of the description and are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additional data, operations, actions, tasks, activities, and manipulations will be conceivable from this disclosure and the same are contemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. 
     Any advantages listed herein are only examples and are not intended to be limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additional or different advantages may be realized by specific illustrative embodiments. Furthermore, a particular illustrative embodiment may have some, all, or none of the advantages listed above. 
     Thus, a computer implemented method, system or apparatus, and computer program product are provided in the illustrative embodiments for microlens adapter for mobile devices and other related features, functions, or operations. Where an embodiment or a portion thereof is described with respect to a type of device, the computer implemented method, system or apparatus, the computer program product, or a portion thereof, are adapted or configured for use with a suitable and comparable manifestation of that type of device. 
     Where an embodiment is described as implemented in an application, the delivery of the application in a Software as a Service (SaaS) model is contemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. In a SaaS model, the capability of the application implementing an embodiment is provided to a user by executing the application in a cloud infrastructure. The user can access the application using a variety of client devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail), or other light-weight client-applications. The user does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including the network, servers, operating systems, or the storage of the cloud infrastructure. In some cases, the user may not even manage or control the capabilities of the SaaS application. In some other cases, the SaaS implementation of the application may permit a possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings. 
     The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product at any possible technical detail level of integration. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. 
     The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
     Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
     Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
     Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. 
     These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.