iMicro Q2: An 800x Fingertip Microscope for Any Smartphone

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In 2018, we took Kickstarter by storm with the first Fingertip Microscope - iMicro Q, earning 4398 pledges from the community and over 8000 iMicro Q delivered to our backers. Since then, we've launched another iMicro C in 2019, with a longer working distance and a broader field of view. We delivered over 12000 Fingertip Microscopes units with these two successful, accomplished campaigns to microscope fans in over 70 countries. It is a breakthrough in portable microscopy - we're quite proud, and thank you all for your support. 

We never stop - now we've taken our effort one step further and are pleased to bring you the new, improved version of fingertip microscope - iMicro Q2.

What is Fingertip Microscope (iMicro Q2)?

Since Antony van Leeuwenhoek invented his microscope in the 17th century, there has been tremendous progress in microscope technology. Microscopes with excellent performance are usually bulky, heavy, and expensive, even for portable ones. With our years of effort, what we introduced in 2018 - the fingertip microscope iMicro Q - is a real breakthrough in mobile microscopy. It has the comparable optical performance to a professional desktop microscope and enables you to carry it with you as easily as you bring your phone. In addition to the iMicro Q's excellent optical performance and portability, iMicro Q2 has a new design to enable it to work with any smartphone.

Highlights

Very high magnification power: up to 800xVery low distortion: comparable to a desktop microscopeVery high-resolution power: down to 1 micronExtremely easy to use: "Stick and Play" with your phone extremely low profile and weight: ½ inch and ~1/60 ozExtremely easy to carry: fit in wallet like a card extremely low cost: ~1% of the price of a desktop microscope compatible with any smartphone  

Here are some micrographs took with iMicro Q2 (using an iPhone 11):

Key features of iMicro Q2

Extremely high magnification: up to 800x

It has the same high magnification as iMicro Q. When used with a smartphone, it can observe, for example, at full view the mouth part of the housefly at a magnification of ~100x, and then zoom in detail up to 800x magnification. It is able clearly to see the spiral structure of the tip of the mouthpart at high magnification. If you don't have a microscope, you never know a housefly has such a fine structure at its mouth part. It is amazing!

Very high resolution

The clear observation of the spiral structure of the mouth part of the housefly is already proof of its high resolution. We did some further tests: the USAF 1951 resolution test chart was used to test the resolution of iMicro Q2 on an iPhone 11. The intervals between the finest test bars are 2.19 micrometers. The finest test bars on the 7th group are clearly seen, indicating its resolution is far beyond that.

Very low distortion

A grid calibration target was used to test the distortion. Even in full view at the edge of the visual field, no noticeable distortion was observed.

Based on this optical performance test, iMicro Q2 has excellent optical performance, definitely comparable to a desktop compound microscope.

A stem of xylophytadicotylendon T.S. was observed under iMicro Q2 as well as a desktop microscope Motic DMB-1223 (price ~2200USD for microscope + 500USD for camera attachment). No noticeable difference was observed, as shown in a side-by-side comparison.

Extremely low profile

It is about the size of a fingertip and weighs only 0.5g (~1/60 oz). It is very thin, only 3.2mm (1/8 inch). No parts extrude beyond the edge of your phone when it is installed. Also, We considered the portability of the package from the beginning of the design. It is packed in a card size thin PP case which is easy to fit into your wallet!

Extremely easy to use

The Fingertip microscope is different from a comprehensive desktop microscope - it does not introduce a bulky and expensive focus tuning system. In contrast, the iMicro Q2 has no knobs and buttons at all. Compared with the original iMicro Q, the new iMicro Q2 is more comfortable to align and attach to your phone's camera. Just connect and point closely towards what you want to see, and it works!

Affordable to every budget

We are very proud of the Fingertip Microscope and would like everyone to be able to afford it. Even though it has such an excellent performance, we tagged with an attractive price: ~1 per cent of a traditional desktop microscope cost. With the money you would need to buy a traditional desktop microscope, you will be able to purchase many Fingertip Microscopes, making this great for children and students.

Works with any smartphone

When we launched iMicro Q, we were often asked: does this work with my phone? There is no more confusion with iMicro Q2: We design it to work with any phone with a camera. iMicro Q2 will be coupled to your smartphone by an innovative, re-useable, nano-suction pad. Whether your phone has a single back camera or multiple back cameras, a flat camera(s), or extruded camera(s), the iMicro Q2 will work with them all. Please see the picture for your reference to see how it looks with different camera configurations.

Principle and development process

How it works

The magnification mainly relies on its complex optical system for traditional compound microscopes, including objective and eyepiece. Its total magnification is a combination of the magnification of objective and eyepiece.

For our fingertip microscope, three stages of magnification are combined to achieve the total magnification. First, the lens provides optical magnification to generate the image on the smartphone camera's sensor; second, the image on the sensor is displayed on the much larger screen via the electronic process and magnification; third, digital zoom provides further magnification as a digital magnification to the image. The total magnification is a combination of these three.

Therefore, iMicro Q2 uses a different process and technology compared to a traditional microscope. Thanks to the advance of micro-optics and smartphone technology, and with the effort and expertise accumulated in the past years, we have enabled iMicro Q2 to achieve excellent performance at a low cost.

Check More Details on-Kickstarter.Com