diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 2467290..9e1f831 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -1,32 +1,16 @@ # Blu-ray Laser Microscope -In a way, CD-ROM and Blu-Ray drives already function like microscopes, using lasers to read the microscopic pits and lands on the surface of a CD or DVD. In the case of a Blu-Ray drive, an ultra precise blue (technically closer to violet in color) laser with a wavelength of 405 nanometers is focused on the surface of a disc, and how effectively that light is reflected back to the drive’s optical pickup unit determines whether a one or a zero has been detected. +In a way, CD-ROM and Blu-Ray drives already function like microscopes, using lasers to read the microscopic pits and lands on the surface of a CD or DVD. In the case of a Blu-Ray drive, an ultra precise blue (technically closer to violet in color) laser with a wavelength of 405 nanometers is focused on the surface of a disc, and how effectively that light is reflected back to the drive’s optical pickup unit determines whether a one or a zero has been detected. +*Combined CD/DVD and Blu-ray optical pickup unit used in the project (BDP-10G)* - +But the sensors in the optical pickup unit can actually measure a wider range of light intensities—not just on or off— which facilitates a Blu-Ray drive’s error correction capabilities, and allows for the hardware to be repurposed for other uses. This is about repurposing a Blu-Ray pickup to build a simple scanning laser microscope. +*CD/DVD/Blu-ray drive with pickup from Samsung BD-J5900* -*Combined CD/DVD and Blu-ray optical pickup unit used in the project (BDP-10G)* - -But the sensors in the optical pickup unit can actually measure a wider range of light intensities—not just on or off— which facilitates a Blu-Ray drive’s error correction capabilities, and allows for the hardware to be repurposed for other uses. This is about repurposing a Blu-Ray pickup to build a simple scanning laser microscope. - - - -*CD/DVD/Blu-ray drive with pickup from Samsung BD-J5900* - -A couple of custom-designed and manufactured plastic parts create a scanning bed for a sample that could move back in forth in one Y-direction (frame), while the laser itself shifted back and forth in x-direction (lines) by its surrounding "voice" coils. - -*Scanning bed with electronics* - -The closeup of an optical pickup unit(OPU) clearly shows the voice coils used for scanning in X-direction (lines) and Z-direction (focus) - - - -*Closeup of the BDP10G pickup unit used in the project* +A couple of custom-designed and manufactured plastic parts create a scanning bed for a sample that could move back in forth in one Y-direction (frame), while the laser itself shifted back and forth in x-direction (lines) by its surrounding "voice" coils. +*Scanning bed with electronics* Unlike an optical microscope, where the entirely of an object is imaged at once, a scanning laser microscope takes light intensity measurements in increments, moving across an object in a grid and assembling a magnified image pixel by pixel. -A browser-based user interface written in HTML an Java Script allows to operate the device over WLAN. - - - -*Web interface of Blu-ray microscope, showing onion cells* +A browser-based user interface written in HTML an Java Script allows to operate the device over WLAN. +*Web interface of Blu-ray microscope, showing onion cells* --- ## Preparing The Microscope @@ -46,22 +30,20 @@ A browser-based user interface written in HTML an Java Script allows to operate --- ## Watch Videos to Learn More -In Part 1 you will see how I re-engineered an optical pickup unit from a broken Blu-ray player so that it can be used for a laser scanning microscope. +In Part one you will learn how I re-engineered an optical pickup unit from a broken Blu-ray player so that it can be used for a laser scanning microscope. - - + + --- -Part 2 is about a working prototype that builds on the existing CD/DVD/Blu-ray drive I salvaged from the Blu-ray player. - +Part 2 is about a working prototype that builds on the existing CD/DVD/Blu-ray drive I salvaged from the Blu-ray player. - + --- Part 3 shows how to build an improved version of the microscope from 3D printed parts and how to use it. - - - + + \ No newline at end of file