A new 3D imaging technology has been developed by a team of experts from the University of Barcelona (UB) and Sensofar Tech. Their system offers rapid and accurate three-dimensional imaging of objects, surpassing previous technologies in speed and spatial resolution.
Published in Nature Communications, the new technology accelerates optical profilometry, a crucial method in various industries such as quality control and part inspection. Unlike traditional methods that involve slow scanning processes, this new system drastically reduces acquisition time, operating at micrometer scale on large samples in real-time.
The key innovation lies in intelligently interrogating the sample, significantly reducing the number of images required for profiling. By synchronizing pulsed light and utilizing an ultrafast liquid lens for rapid scanning, the system achieves high data acquisition rates previously thought unattainable.
“It is a crucial methodology in areas such as quality control in industrial processes or, on a scientific scale, in the measurement of micro- and nanostructures,” said Martí Duocastella, professor at the Department of Applied Physics at UB.
“Typically, the profile of a micrometric object is measured using a microscope, which obtains a collection of hundreds of images at different heights and planes of the object.”
Overcoming challenges in signal precision, the team successfully implemented the technology, supported by funding from the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) and the European Research Council (ERC).
Future developments aim to expand the application of this technology to other profilometers, promising unprecedented accuracy and speed in characterizing 3D samples.
You can read the full paper titled “Fast topographic optical imaging using encoded search focal scan” over at this link.
Source: scienmag.com
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