Fault Tolerant Algorithm for Structured Illumination Microscopy with Incoherent Light

In this contribution we present a new algorithm for structured illumination microscopy with incoherent light. Existing algorithms for determining the contrast values of the focal depth response require a high accurate phase shift of the fringe pattern illumination. The presented algorithm, which is robust against inaccurate phase shift of the fringe pattern, reduces significantly the requirements for the phase shift and consequently the costs of the microscope. The new algorithm was tested by a preliminary experiment, whereby the grating was shifted by an elastic guided micro-motion mechanism employing a low-cost stepper motor replacing the conventional expensive piezo drive. The determined focal depth response is very smooth and corresponds very well to the theoretical focal depth response.