3D imaging and ranging in a snapshot

Abstract

Imaging samples with a depth in excess of the depth of field of the objective poses a serious challenge in microscopy. The available techniques such as focus-stacking accomplish the task; however, besides necessitating complicated optical and mechanical arrangements, these techniques often exhibit very long acquisition times. As a result, their applicability is limited to static samples. We describe a simple and practical hybrid 3D imaging technique which permits the acquisition of 3D images in a single snapshot. Additionally, the proposed method solves the post-recovery artefact formation problem which plagues hybrid imaging systems; thus, enabling high-quality, artefact-free images to be obtained. Experimental results indicate that this method can yield an image quality comparable to that given by a focusstack (which can require up to a few hundred snapshots) from a single snapshot.