Patent ID: 8125640

Claim:
An analysis system for determining the distortion of a liquid crystal as a function of position across a surface, comprising: (a) a liquid crystal cell including a liquid crystal positioned between an analyte surface and a reference surface, said surfaces spaced apart from each other such that the analyte surface orients the liquid crystal with an orientation that differs from the reference surface thereby introducing a distortion in the liquid crystal; and (b) an automated imaging system including: (i) an adjustable polarized light source to provide polarized light incident to the liquid crystal cell; (ii) an analyte linear polarizing device positioned to receive light passed through the liquid crystal cell, said analyte linear polarizing device adjustable with respect to polarization direction; (iii) an imaging device positioned to receive light passed through the analyte linear polarizing device from the liquid crystal cell; and (iv) one or more computer(s) interfaced with the analyte linear polarizing device, the computer(s) capable of receiving multiple image data from the imaging device and analyzing the multiple image data to determine the distortion of the liquid crystal contained within the liquid crystal cell as a function of position across one of the surfaces.