The video signal is amplified and then switched, in synchronism with the three ultraviolet light sources which are sequenced by the rotating mirror so that during one-twentieth of a second only one wavelength, corresponding to red, green, or blue, is seen. (Note: Because of light leakage from one ultraviolet source to another, the lights are switched by a commutator like assembly rotated by a synchronous motor. This assembly also supplies a 20 -- cps switching gate for the electronics circuitry.) This is the same system as was used in the field sequential color TV system which preceded the present simultaneous system. Three separate amplifiers then drive a 21 -- inch tricolor tube. The result is a color picture of the specimen where the primary colors correspond to the three different ultraviolet wavelengths.

Many of the cells and microorganisms which are transparent to visible light, absorb or reflect the much shorter wavelengths of the ultraviolet spectrum. Different parts of these cells sometimes absorb or reflect different wavelengths so that it is often possible to see internal portions of cells in a different color. Where the microscope under visible light may show only vague shadows or nothing at all, ultraviolet illumination and subsequent translation into a color TV picture reveal a wealth of detail.

At the present time the research team which pioneered this new technique is primarily interested in advancing and perfecting it.