Ball Lens Based Mobile Microscope

Abstract

In this paper we report a low cost, simple and mobile microscope based on attachment of a ball lens to a cell phone. The system's noise and parameters affecting the image quality is investigated. The ball lens provides approximately 100X magnification and together with the cell phone's integrated lens and image sensor, 3,4-micron resolution is reached. The field-of-view of the system is 1500x1500 mu m where the price of the ball lens and the holder is less than 10 cents. By using this system as an optical light microscope, we are able to acquire images of micro particles and micro sensors. When combined with image processing methods, this optical system is capable of doing complex analysis as an alternative to commercial optical light microscopes.