This PDF file contains the front matter associated with SPIE Proceedings Volume 9376 including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and Conference Committee listing.

As 3D printer technology has rapidly developed and penetrated into a wide range of applications, several methods for creating 3D objects have been explored and developed. One such method utilizes UV curing of special resins, where the patterning of each layer of the 3D object is determined by a digital micromirror device (DMD) controlled by a digital light processing (DLP) system. This method possesses important advantages over other methods in terms of variable object composition, high spatial resolution, and reduced build times, but usually requires specialized knowledge to program and control the DMD and other printer systems. Not all potential users of 3D printers will be able or willing to acquire this knowledge in order to take full advantage of all that 3D printing has to offer in their ideas or applications. new software package called Design23DPrint has been developed that provides a user-friendly and intuitive interface for importing, manipulating, and editing 3D objects and has the ability to be readily interfaced with many different DLP and printer control systems. Both layer creation and the positioning of supports can be automated or be manually controlled. Integration of Design23DPrint with existing software packages for DMD control allows the user to edit layers on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The software was integrated with a new 3D printer design developed by Texas Instruments to demonstrate the capabilities of the software to control the printing process and to interface with resident control systems.

Direct Imaging with DLP® Photoheads is becoming an established technology in productivity systems for PCB Lithography and similar applications. Scrolling technology is used to expose large areas and is enabling highest levels of productivity and efficiency, while maintaining full flexibility of direct imaging concepts. Specific features such as SPX (subpixelation) and PPC (pixel power control) technologies have further enhanced resolution of printed structures, as well as precision and uniformity of the exposure across the entire field. 3D print systems with photosensitive resins can conceptually be seen as an extension of 2D Direct Imaging systems into the third dimension. The scrolling technique then allows to enlarge the build area by freely multiplying the photohead’s static build area with native pixel pitch in both, x and y dimensions. In addition, SPX technology in 3D print systems would enable 2 different advanced options. Either it offers improved (reduced) edge roughness of structures, by fine pitching the native pixel pitch. Or a larger native pixel pitch can be chosen, still providing the same fine pitched edge roughness and surface finish as a native system with proportionally smaller build area.

Conventional cameras record all light falling on their sensor regardless of the path that light followed to get there. In this paper we give an overview of a new family of computational cameras that offers many more degrees of freedom. These cameras record just a fraction of the light coming from a controllable source, based on the actual 3D light path followed. Photos and live video captured this way offer an unconventional view of everyday scenes in which the effects of scattering, refraction and other phenomena can be selectively blocked or enhanced, visual structures that are too subtle to notice with the naked eye can become apparent, and object appearance can depend on depth. We give an overview of the basic theory behind these cameras and their DMD-based implementation, and discuss three applications: (1) live indirect-only imaging of complex everyday scenes, (2) reconstructing the 3D shape of scenes whose geometry or material properties make them hard or impossible to scan with conventional methods, and (3) acquiring time-of-flight images that are free of multi-path interference.

A novel stereo microscope adapter, the SweptVue, has been developed to rapidly perform quantitative 3D microscopy for cost-effective microfabrication quality control. The SweptVue adapter uses the left and right stereo channels of an Olympus SZX7 stereo microscope for sample illumination and detection, respectively. By adjusting the temporal synchronization between the illumination lines projected from a Texas Instruments DLP LightCrafter and the rolling shutter on a Point Grey Flea3 CMOS camera, micrometer-scale depth features can be easily and rapidly measured at up to 5 μm resolution on a variety of microfabricated samples. In this study, the build performance of an industrial-grade Stratasys Object 300 Connex 3D printer was examined. Ten identical parts were 3D printed with a lateral and depth resolution of 42 μm and 30 μm, respectively, using both a rigid and flexible Stratasys PolyJet material. Surface elevation precision and accuracy was examined over multiple regions of interest on plateau and hemispherical surfaces. In general, the dimensions of the examined features were reproducible across the parts built using both materials. However, significant systemic lateral and height build errors were discovered, such as: decreased heights when approaching the edges of plateaus, inaccurate height steps, and poor tolerances on channel width. For 3D printed parts to be used in functional applications requiring micro-scale tolerances, they need to conform to specification. Despite appearing identical, our 3D printed parts were found to have a variety of defects that the SweptVue adapter quickly revealed.

3D shape measurement is one of the growing industrial applications of the Texas Instruments DLP® micro-mirror device. This paper presents investigations on precision and repeatability of that spatial light modulators output when it is driven up to its high-speed limit. The study concerns the basic switching behavior of the individual micro-mirror at different frame rates ranging over three orders of magnitude. The 3D shape measuring methodologies are focused on phase encoded triangulation, i.e. the projection of sinusoidal patterns. The DLP chip is a bi-stable device providing an on/off pattern at each certain moment in time, i.e. it has a native binary output. Sinusoidal patterns are the result of either a temporal integration of multiple on/off patterns or a spatial integration within one on/off pattern. Both approaches are studied experimentally with respect to precision and stability of the pattern output. The STAR-07 industrial projection unit, based upon the 0.7” DLP Discovery™4100 chipset, has been used for this work and the pattern frame rates cover the range from 225 frames per second (fps) to 50,000 fps. The STAR-07 output is detected by a photodiode, amplified, and analyzed in a Yokogawa digital storage oscilloscope. All results prove the very high precision and repeatability of the STAR-07 pattern projection, up to the extreme speed of 50,000 fps.

We demonstrate the capabilities of a high-speed phase modulation system based on a digital micromirror device. We use the system to focus light through dynamic scattering materials. We demonstrate up to three orders of magnitude speed improvement respect to previous systems based on liquid-crystal spatial light modulators. Furthermore, the system can be adapted to maintain a focus through a perturbed multimode fiber and help convert it into a micro-endoscope.

Novel technologies are constantly under development for vision restoration in blind patients. In some of these techniques, such as photodiode implants or optogenetics based treatment, a glasses mounted optical projection system projects the visual scene onto the retina. The desired projection system is characterized by a relatively high power density, a localized retinal stimulation area and compatibility for wavelengths that are specific for the technology at hand. The challenges of obtaining such a projection system are not only limited by developing the tools and the apparatus for testing the visual performance of artificial retina, but also devising the technique and the methodology for training and testing the behaving animals using this tool. Current research techniques used for evaluation of visual function in behaving animals utilize computer screens for retinal stimulation, and therefore do not fulfill the requirements of the evaluation of retinal implant performance or optogenetics based treatment (inefficient power and no wavelength flexibility). In the following work we will present and evaluate a novel projection system that is suited for behavioral animal studies and meet the requirements for artificial retinal stimulation. The proposed system is based on a miniature Digital Mirror Device (DMD) for pattern projection and a telescope for relaying the pattern directly onto the animal eye. This system facilitates the projection of patterns with high spatial resolution at high light intensities with the desired wavelength and may prove to be a vital tool in natural and artificial vision performance research in behaving animals.

We report on the current version of the optical sectioning programmable array microscope (PAM) implemented with a single digital micro-mirror device (DMD) spatial light modulator utilized as a mask in both the fluorescence excitation and emission paths. The PAM incorporates structured illumination and structured detection operating in synchrony. A sequence of binary patterns of excitation light in high definition format (1920×1080 elements) is projected into the focal plane of the microscope at the 18 kHz binary frame rate of the Texas Instruments 1080p DMD. The resulting fluorescent emission is captured as two distinct signals: conjugate (c, ca. “on-focus”) consisting of light impinging on and deviated from the “on” elements of the DMD, and the non-conjugate (nc, ca. “out-of-focus”) light falling on and deviated from the “off” elements. The two distinct, deflected beams are optically filtered and detected either by two individual cameras or captured as adjacent images on a single camera after traversing an image combiner. The sectioned image is gained from a subtraction of the nc image from the c image, weighted in accordance with the pattern(s) used for illumination and detection and the relative exposure times of the cameras. The widefield image is given by the sum of the c and nc images. This procedure allows a high duty cycle (typically 25-50%) of on-elements in the excitation patterns and thus functions with low light intensities, preventing saturation and minimizing photobleaching of sensitive fluorophores. The corresponding acquisition speed is also very high, limited only by the bandwidth of the camera(s) (100 fps full frame with the sCMOS camera in current use) and the optical power of the light source (lasers, large area LEDs). In contrast to the static patterns typical of SIM systems, the programmable array allows optimization of the patterns (duty cycle, feature size and distribution), thus enabling a wide range of applications, ranging from patterned photobleaching, (e.g., FRAP, FLIP) and photoactivation, spatial superresolution, automated adaptive tracking and minimization of light exposure (MLE), and photolithography.

A digital light projector is implemented as an integrated illumination source and scanning element in a confocal nonmydriatic retinal camera, the Digital Light Ophthalmoscope (DLO). To simulate scanning, a series of illumination lines are rapidly projected on the retina. The backscattered light is imaged onto a 2-dimensional rolling shutter CMOS sensor. By temporally and spatially overlapping the illumination lines with the rolling shutter, confocal imaging is achieved. This approach enables a low cost, flexible, and robust design with a small footprint. The 3^rd generation DLO technical design is presented, using a DLP LightCrafter 4500 and USB3.0 CMOS sensor. Specific improvements over previous work include the use of yellow illumination, filtered from the broad green LED spectrum, to obtain strong blood absorption and high contrast images while reducing pupil constriction and patient discomfort.

In this research we study Raman and fluorescence spectroscopies as non-destructive and noninvasive methods for probing biological material and “living systems.” Particularly for a living material any probe need be non-destructive and non-invasive, as well as provide real time measurement information and be cost effective to be generally useful. Over the past few years the components needed to measure weak and complex processes such as Raman scattering have evolved substantially with the ready availability of lasers, dichroic filters, low noise and sensitive detectors, digitizers and signal processors. A Raman spectrum consists of a wavelength or frequency spectrum that corresponds to the inelastic (Raman) photon signal that results from irradiating a “Raman active” material. Raman irradiation of a material usually and generally uses a single frequency laser. The Raman fingerprint spectrum that results from a Raman interaction can be determined from the frequencies scattered and received by an appropriate detector. Spectra are usually “digitized” and numerically matched to a reference sample or reference material spectra in performing an analysis. Fortunately today with the many “commercial off-the-shelf” components that are available, weak intensity effects such as Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy can be used for a number of analysis applications. One of the experimental limitations in Raman measurement is the spectrometer itself. The spectrometer is the section of the system that either by interference plus detection or by dispersion plus detection that “signal” amplitude versus energy/frequency signals are measured. Particularly in Raman spectroscopy, optical signals carrying desired “information” about the analyte are extraordinarily weak and require special considerations when measuring. We will discuss here the use of compact spectrometers and a micro-mirror array system (used is the digital micro-mirror device (DMD) supplied by the DLP® Products group of Texas Instruments Incorporated) for analyzing dispersed light as needed in Raman and fluorescent applications.

In Earth Observation, Universe Observation and Planet Exploration, scientific return could be optimized in future missions using MOEMS devices. In Earth Observation, we propose an innovative reconfigurable instrument, a programmable wide-field spectrograph where both the FOV and the spectrum could be tailored thanks to a 2D micromirror array (MMA). For a linear 1D field of view (FOV), the principle is to use a MMA to select the wavelengths by acting on intensity. This component is placed in the focal plane of a first grating. On the MMA surface, the spatial dimension is along one side of the device and for each spatial point, its spectrum is displayed along the perpendicular direction: each spatial and spectral feature of the 1D FOV is then fully adjustable dynamically and/or programmable. A second stage with an identical grating recomposes the beam after wavelengths selection, leading to an output tailored 1D image. A mock-up has been designed, fabricated and tested. The micromirror array is the largest DMD in 2048 x 1080 mirrors format, with a pitch of 13.68μm. A synthetic linear FOV is generated and typical images have been recorded o at the output focal plane of the instrument. By tailoring the DMD, we could modify successfully each pixel of the input image: for example, it is possible to remove bright objects or, for each spatial pixel, modify the spectral signature. The very promising results obtained on the mock-up of the programmable wide-field spectrograph reveal the efficiency of this new instrument concept for Earth Observation.

The architecture of a Texas Instruments DLP spectrometer allows techniques of spectrum measurement through programmable patterns previously not possible by conventional spectrometers. Handheld applications or factory settings measuring dynamic product flow may have constraints on sampling methods which vary the amount of illumination entering the spectrometer. Factory monitoring and other in situ applications may have a priori knowledge of expected substances or contaminants and have stringent sampling speed requirements. By defining custom scan patterns and decoding techniques to take advantage of this information, we show that classic time-domain challenges of time-multiplexed sensing systems can be overcome in a DLP spectrometer yielding high performance in challenging applications.

Ibsen Photonics has since 2012 worked to deploy Texas Instruments DLP® technology to high efficiency, fused silica transmission grating based spectrometers and programmable light sources. The use of Digital Micromirror Devices (DMDs) in spectroscopy, allows for replacement of diode array detectors by single pixel detectors, and for the design of a new generation of programmable light sources, where you can control the relative power, exposure time and resolution independently for each wavelength in your spectrum. We present the special challenges presented by DMD's in relation to stray light and optical throughput, and we comment on the possibility for instrument manufacturers to generate new, dynamic measurement schemes and algorithms for increased speed, higher accuracy, and greater sample protection. We compare DMD based spectrometer designs with competing, diode array based designs, and provide suggestions for target applications of the technology.

Laser processing methods based on projection of amplified images provide significant benefits compared to scanning based methods in applications with variable high resolution information. Using the Texas Instrument Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) as a Variable Mask, an image amplification architecture is presented that provides pulse energies (50 ~ 250mJ) and peak powers necessary to process large areas (several cm² ) with variable high resolution information. The seed lasers and the amplifiers used in the architecture are pulsed Nd:YAG systems.

We present the design and demonstration of a unique and novel detector for electron microscopy based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The detector is optimized for transmission electron backscatter diffraction, or more specifically for transmission Kikuchi diffraction, and will allow this new analytic tool to realize its full potential. In addition, this single detector is capable of simultaneous acquisition of bright field and dark field images in scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and may replace a number of the single-purpose detectors presently used in these devices.

Our current understanding of brain function is still too limited to take advantage of the computational power of even the simplest biological nervous systems. To fill this gap, the Si elegans project (www.si-elegans.eu) aims at developing a computational framework that will replicate the nervous system and rich behavior of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a tiny worm with just 302 neurons. One key element of this emulation testbed is an electro-optical, micromirrorbased connectome. Unlike any other current ICT communication protocol, we expect it to accurately mimic the parallel information transfer between neurons. This strategy promises to give new insights into the nature of two hypothesized key mechanisms - the parallel and precisely timed information flow - that make brains excel von-Neumann-type machines. In this contribution, we briefly introduce the overall Si elegans concept to then describe the requirements for designing a light-based connectome within the given boundary conditions imposed by the hardware infrastructure it will be integrated into.