Image acquisition, processing, and display

Abstract

Image data is acquired, processed, and/or displayed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure to display, monitor, and/or demonstrate the progress of an experiment substantially in real-time and with high sensitivity. In one embodiment, at least one time-resolved value of spatially distributed polarization change data is provided and displayed. Advantageously, real-time processing and display of data is provided such that discussion and collaboration about the experiment may occur, time-resolved data is not lost, and resources are not wasted.

1 . An image processor, comprising:
 a data acquisition application adapted to receive spatially distributed polarization change data caused by a specimen array; and   a data analyzer operably coupled to the data acquisition application, the data analyzer adapted to calculate at least one time-resolved value of the spatially distributed polarization change data.   
   
   
       2 . The processor of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one time-resolved value includes an intensity value of a specimen spot in the specimen array. 
   
   
       3 . The processor of  claim 2 , wherein the data analyzer associates a color value to the intensity value. 
   
   
       4 . The processor of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one time-resolved value includes a thickness value of a specimen spot in the specimen array. 
   
   
       5 . The processor of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one time-resolved value includes an intensity value differential of a specimen spot in the specimen array. 
   
   
       6 . The processor of  claim 1 , further comprising a display device operably coupled to the data analyzer for displaying the at least one time-resolved value in real-time. 
   
   
       7 . The processor of  claim 1 , further comprising a display device operably coupled to the data analyzer for providing a two-dimensional representation of the spatially distributed polarization change occurring in the specimen array in real-time. 
   
   
       8 . The processor of  claim 1 , further comprising a browser application operably coupled between the data analyzer and a network, the browser adapted to upload the at least one time-resolved value to the network. 
   
   
       9 . The processor of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface operably coupled to the data analyzer for input of parameters into the data analyzer. 
   
   
       10 . A method of processing image data, comprising:
 receiving spatially distributed polarization change data caused by a specimen array; and   calculating at least one time-resolved value of the spatially distributed polarization change data.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one time-resolved value includes an intensity value of a specimen spot in the specimen array. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising associating a color value to the calculated intensity value. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one time-resolved value includes a thickness value of a specimen spot in the specimen array. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one time-resolved value includes an intensity value differential of a specimen spot in the specimen array. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying the at least one time-resolved value in real-time. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising displaying a two-dimensional representation of the spatially distributed polarization change occurring in the specimen array. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising uploading the at least one time-resolved value to a network.