Article: Visible And Non Visible Imaging Techniques

By Matt Smith, Olympus Surgical Industrial America Inc.

The field of industrial microscopy has evolved from simple bright-field on-axis imaging to that of nonvisible and confocal-based technologies. Bright-field is a resolution-limited technique that uses on-axis illumination and imaging to form the image, typically with visible light. Confocal microscopy allows improved contrast and resolution as well as an extremely small depth of focus. By combining techniques, manufacturers can conduct fast, nondestructive measurement and analysis functions.