iMic3D: A Light Field Microscope Bringing Real 3D to Science
iMic3D is revolutionizing microscopy by bringing true spatial 3D into the lab. Developed by a startup based in Hong Kong Science Park, this innovative system uses microlens arrays and light field technology to generate immersive 3D visuals—no special glasses, lasers, or imagination required.
We spoke with Kero and the iMic3D team to learn how their cutting-edge microscope provides up to 280 parallax views, enabling real-time 3D imaging with 10x extended depth of field. From bioimaging and STREAM education to semiconductor inspection, iMic3D is opening new frontiers in how we explore the microscopic world.
The Vision Behind iMic3D and Light Field Innovation
Michael (GizmoCrowd): What inspired your team to develop the iMic3D, and how does this next-generation microscope redefine how we visualize and interact with microscopic worlds in real-time 3D?
Kero: We developed the iMic3D because we saw an opportunity to fundamentally change how we interact with the microscopic world. Traditional stereomicroscopes, while incredibly useful and time-tested, ultimately present a limitation. They don’t provide true spatial 3D visualization. Instead, they rely on our brains to construct a sense of depth from two parallax images.
The iMic3D overcomes this by harnessing the power of light field technology. By integrating custom-designed microlens arrays with high-resolution CMOS sensors and spatial 3D displays, we’ve created a microscope that allows users to experience microscopic structures in real, immersive 3D, in real-time. This allows researchers to not only see the sample in three dimensions but to interact with it in a more intuitive and meaningful way, gaining precise depth information and a more complete understanding of its structure. We believe this represents a significant advancement in microscopic analysis, enabling new discoveries across various scientific disciplines.
Microlens Array Technology and Image Depth
Michael (GizmoCrowd): The iMic3D features a custom-designed microlens array with up to 280 parallax views and a 10x extended depth of field. Can you explain how this technology works and why it represents a major leap over traditional microscopes?
Kero: Our custom microlens array, providing up to 280 parallax views and about 10x extended depth of field. It functions similarly to an insect’s compound eye, capturing multiple perspectives of a microscopic sample simultaneously to generate comprehensive 3D information. Each microlens focuses light onto the CMOS sensor, effectively extending the depth of field by approximately 10 times compared to traditional microscopes. In our current design, each microlens utilizes around 280 pixels, enabling the light field reconstruction of 3D scene.
Instead of a single lens, we employ an array of microlenses, each capturing light from a slightly different perspective. This allows us to gather a wealth of angular information about the sample. The major leap over traditional microscopes lies in the level of 3D information we can capture. Traditional microscopes typically offer only a stereoscopic view, which is limited to two perspectives. Our microlens array provides significantly more angular information. It allows for a much more comprehensive and detailed 3D visualization, especially when combined with a spatial 3D display.
Real-World Applications Across Fields
Michael (GizmoCrowd): From bioimaging and semiconductor inspection to STREAM education and jewelry analysis, iMic3D supports a wide range of fields. What are some of the most exciting or unexpected use cases you’ve seen so far?
Kero: The range of applications for our light field microscope has been truly exciting and quite diverse. One of its most remarkable features is its capacity to capture real-time moving objects in a single shot. This is achieved without the need for specialized light sources, such as lasers, while simultaneously providing colorful spatial 3D images and valuable depth information. This capability unlocks numerous applications in fields like bioimaging, semiconductor inspection, STREAM education, jewelry inspection, skin analysis, and even potential surgical applications.
Beyond these areas, we’ve also discovered some particularly interesting and unexpected use cases. For instance, the inspection of plasmas or flames has traditionally been a challenging task. However, our light field microscope has presented a much simpler and more effective solution for these types of applications. The ability to analyze these dynamic and complex phenomena in 3D opens up new possibilities. It also highlights the technology’s potential to address previously difficult problems.
Compatibility, Modularity & 3D Display Support
Michael (GizmoCrowd): The iMic3D works with standard C-mount and trinocular microscopes, and supports displays like the Looking Glass, Sony Spatial Reality, and LumePad. How important was cross-platform integration in making this device a scalable and accessible research tool?
Kero: Standard mounting addresses the need for easy upgrades to existing systems. This approach minimizes costs, reduces technological barriers, and ultimately enhances the user experience when adopting our light field technology. We aimed to create a solution that integrates smoothly into existing research workflows.
The cross-platform integration with 3D displays, such as the Looking Glass, Sony Spatial Reality, and LumePad, is equally important. It brings true 3D visualization to the microscopic world, a capability that’s relatively new to the industry. By supporting a variety of display technologies, we empower researchers to choose the platform that best fits their specific needs and budget, further promoting the accessibility and scalability of our device and its benefits.
The Future of 3D Microscopy & Community Engagement
Michael (GizmoCrowd): With such a strong emphasis on education, open innovation, and user collaboration, what’s next for iMic3D? Do you plan to expand into AI training, augmented reality, or new modular imaging accessories?
Kero: One key area of development is in AI training. Our light field camera’s ability to capture up to 280 multi-view images provides a rich source of parallax images, creating an ideal dataset for AI training applications focused on microscopic samples. This will enable researchers to build detailed volumetric 3D models and comprehensive sample databases with greater ease and accuracy.
In parallel, we’re actively working on integrating and adapting the latest AI technologies to enhance image quality and reduce the processing time for 3D visualization. This will improve the overall user experience and make the technology more accessible for real-time applications.
Michael (GizmoCrowd): A huge thanks to Kero and the iMic3D team for sharing their insights with us. By rethinking microscopy from the ground up, you’re making 3D imaging more intuitive, immersive, and accessible. We can’t wait to see how your vision continues to transform research, education, and innovation across disciplines.
iMic3D: Next generation of 3D Imaging and Visualisation
About iMic3D
iMic3D is a Hong Kong-based startup pioneering integral imaging and spatial 3D visualization. Located in the Hong Kong Science Park, their team specializes in breaking down barriers in microscopic imaging by integrating advanced microlens arrays, real-time depth capture, and cross-platform 3D display support. The result is a microscope that doesn’t just show what’s under the lens. It lets users experience it in three dimensions.
Discover iMic3D on Kickstarter now!
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