4 DIC Microscope Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for dic microscopes as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 4 dic microscope manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked dic microscope companies as of November, 2024: 1.SPO Inc., 2.Lasertec Corporation, 3.Radical.
Table of Contents
What Is a DIC Microscope?
A differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope, also known as a Nomarski microscope, is an optical microscope designed for viewing colorless and transparent specimens. It was pioneered by Georges Nomarski in 1954, utilizing a special prism known as the Nomarski prism to enhance image contrast without staining the specimen.
Uses of DIC Microscopes
DIC microscopes are invaluable in observing biological materials such as cells, where traditional optical microscopes fall short due to the transparency of such specimens. This technique enables detailed examination of live cells and their internal structures without the need for dyes or stains, preserving the specimen's integrity.
Principle of DIC Microscopes
The DIC microscope operates by converting natural light from the source into linearly polarized light through a polarizer. This light, upon passing through a Wollaston prism, divides into two beams with orthogonal polarization. These beams traverse the specimen, accumulate phase differences, and recombine in a second Wollaston prism. The recombined light, now exhibiting interference patterns, undergoes polarization in the same direction before reaching the observer, rendering transparent specimens visible in three dimensions.
Structure of DIC Microscopes
Essentially, a DIC microscope incorporates a standard bright field microscope setup augmented with two polarizing plates and two Nomarski prisms. This arrangement allows for versatile use; removing the Nomarski prisms and polarizers reverts the system to a conventional bright field or polarizing microscope, respectively. The journey of light from the source to the observer in a DIC microscope involves sequential interaction with a polarizer, Wollaston prism, specimen stage, objective lens, second Wollaston prism, analyzer, and eyepiece, facilitating the visualization of polarized light interference and the resulting optical path differences.
How to Select DIC Microscopes
DIC microscopy is particularly effective for examining unstained biological specimens, including single-celled organisms, tissue cultures, and small multicellular animals. It offers superior resolution and image clarity compared to bright-field microscopy but is less effective for specimens with minimal refractive index variation from the surrounding medium or for thicker, heavily pigmented samples. While DIC imaging can provide high-quality, artifact-free images under optimal conditions, interpretation must consider the prism's orientation, with sample rotation often necessary to fully visualize structural details.
List of 4 DIC Microscope Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- Germany
- India
- Republic of Korea
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SPO Inc.
DIC Microscope
Manufacturer Overview
SPO Inc., founded in 2005 and headquartered in Dong-myeo, South Korea, specializes in machine vision optics and is the manufacturer, distributor, and supplier of precision optical components, equipment, and LED illumination for 2D and 3D machine vision systems. The company's main lens products include telecentric lenses, non-telecentric lenses, and infinity-corrected systems. It also offers optical modules for 3D white light scanning, spectrometry, and DIC microscopes. It offers original equipment manufacturers dual-viewing optical modules, dual magnification tube modules, and UV tube lenses with NIR optics. It serves industries including semiconductor manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, and PCB manufacturing, among others.
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Leica Microsystems Vertrieb GmbH
DIC Microscopes
Manufacturer Overview
Leica Microsystems is a developer and manufacturer of microscopes and scientific instruments for the analysis of microstructures and nanostructures. The company is a provider in compound and stereo microscopy, digital microscopy, confocal user scanning, and super-resolution microscopy with related imaging systems, electron microscopy, sample preparation, and surgical microscopy used in medical, life science, and industrial applications. The company’s services include service plans, preventative maintenance, remote care, and qualification services for ensuring compliance of Leica equipment to governmental regulations.
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Lasertec Corporation
Differential interference contrast
Manufacturer Overview
Lasertec Corporation, founded in 1960 and headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of semiconductor-related systems, FPD-related systems, and laser microscopes. The company's product portfolio includes mask inspection systems, mask edge inspection systems, FPD photomask inspection systems, laser microscopes, and lithium-ion batteries. These products find applications in various sectors, including materials science, the flat panel display industry, semiconductor manufacturing, biomedical and life sciences, as well as research and development. The company is ISO 45001 and ISO 9001 certified, with offices in the USA, China, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea for global outreach.
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Radical
DIC Microscopes
Company Overview
Radical Company is an enterprise engaged in the manufacturer and distributor of modern audiovisual technologies and was founded in 2011 based in Pennsylvania, United States. The primary emphasis of their work centers around the development of state-of-the-art projection systems, interactive displays, and immersive audio technologies. The company is in the forefront of pioneering breakthroughs in the audiovisual (AV) sector. Their diverse range of solutions encompasses both large-scale event installations and tailored home entertainment setups, consistently pushing the frontiers of sensory experiences on a global scale.
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DIC Microscope Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPO Inc. |
46.2%
|
| 2 | Lasertec Corporation |
23.1%
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| 3 | Radical |
15.4%
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| 4 | Leica Microsystems Vertrieb GmbH |
15.4%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the dic microscope page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
- SPO Inc.: 2005 (19 years ago)
Company with a History
- SPO Inc.: 2005 (19 years ago)
Global Distribution of DIC Microscope Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
Republic of Korea
|
1 | 33.3% |
Germany
|
1 | 33.3% |
India
|
1 | 33.3% |
