Optimized stereo matching algorithm for integral imaging microscopy and its potential use in precise 3-D optical manipulation

In this paper, we present an integral imaging microscopy, which can achieve continuous depth extraction. The multiple stereo matching algorithm is optimized with data point interpolation and calculation range correction, which can improve the computing efficiency and accuracy. A water suspension of silica-embedded magnetic particles in light-trap environment is used as a specimen. The elementary image array is obtained through sequentially imaging the specimen by the objective lens and microlens array, which contains continuous depth information that can give the optical tweezers a feedback for precise 3-D manipulation. Experimental and calculated results show the feasibility of our method.