Toward Faster Microscopy with Encoded Illumination

Traditional high-sensitivity cameras have advanced optical microscopy, but their limited speed and spectral range make them incompatible with fast biological processes and emerging infrared dyes. Alternatively, single-pixel detectors offer faster response and broader spectral sensitivity but lack spatial resolution. To address these issues, we present a novel scanless microscopy approach based on encoded illumination and single-pixel detection. By projecting an array of flickering light spots – each modulated at a unique frequency – and decoding the signal via post-processing, we achieve kilohertz-rate image reconstruction. This technique enables fast, wide-spectrum imaging using commercially available photodetectors, representing a significant step forward in speed and versatility.