A monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system

Abstract

The embodiment of the present invention discloses a monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system, which relates to the field of confocal imaging technology. The illumination unit generates polychromatic light; the collimating lens collimates the polychromatic light into a polychromatic light beam; the filter wheel carries multiple filters and can switch any filter to the optical path of the polychromatic light beam; the filters located on the optical path can filter the polychromatic light beam to form narrow-band light; the digital micromirror device forms the narrow-band light into a point light array; the center of the illumination unit and the center of the digital micromirror device are located on the optical axis of the collimating lens; the object carrier module carries the object to be imaged; the centers of the objective lens, the spectroscopic lens, the focusing lens, and the imaging module are collinear; the center of the digital micromirror device is collinear with the center of the spectroscopic lens; the imaging module collects the point light array from the focusing lens and forms an imaging result. The present invention enables the replacement of filters during the imaging process, thereby improving imaging efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of confocal imaging, and in particular to a monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of science and technology, confocal imaging has become a hot topic of research for scholars at home and abroad. Confocal imaging is based on the method of multi-segment color narrowband bands to image high-precision machined parts.

[0003] See Figure 1 The existing monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system includes an illumination unit 1, a collimating lens 2, a digital micromirror device 4, a beam splitter lens 5, an objective lens 6, a carrier module 7, a focusing lens 8, an imaging module 9, and a display module 10. Existing monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging systems require filters to be installed in advance and cannot be replaced during imaging, which limits imaging efficiency to a certain extent. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system to enable replacement of filters during the imaging process and improve imaging efficiency.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following solutions:

[0006] A monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system comprising:

[0007] An illumination unit (1) for generating polychromatic light;

[0008] A collimating lens (2) for collimating the polychromatic light into a polychromatic light beam;

[0009] A filter wheel (3) is used to carry a plurality of filters and is capable of switching any filter to the optical path of the polychromatic light beam; the filter located on the optical path is capable of filtering the polychromatic light beam to form narrow-band light;

[0010] A digital micromirror device (4) is used to form the narrow-band light into a point light array; wherein the center of the lighting unit (1) and the center of the digital micromirror device (4) are located on the optical axis of the collimating lens (2);

[0011] An object carrying module (7) for carrying an object to be imaged;

[0012] In a direction away from the object carrier module, an objective lens (6), a beam splitter lens (5), a focusing lens (8) and an imaging module (9) are sequentially arranged; wherein the centers of the objective lens (6), the beam splitter lens (5), the focusing lens (8) and the imaging module (9) are collinear; and the center of the digital micromirror device (4) is collinear with the center of the beam splitter lens (5);

[0013] The path of the point light array in the monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system includes: being reflected by the beam splitter lens (5) to the objective lens (6), reaching the object carrier module (7) through the objective lens (6), being reflected by the object carrier module (7) and the object to be imaged to the objective lens (6), then reaching the beam splitter lens (5) through the objective lens (6), and passing through the beam splitter lens (5) to the focusing lens (8);

[0014] The imaging module (9) is used to collect the point light array from the focusing lens (8) and form an imaging result.

[0015] Optionally, the filter wheel (3) comprises:

[0016] A filter disc (301) for carrying a plurality of filters;

[0017] The stepping motor (303) is connected to the filter disc (301) and is used to drive the filter disc (301) to rotate according to a control signal.

[0018] Optionally, the multiple filters carried by the filter wheel (3) filter different wavelength bands.

[0019] Optionally, the distance between the focus of the objective lens (6) and the optical center of the point light array is Z; wherein Z corresponds to the wavelength of the point light array.

[0020] Optionally, the beam splitting lens (5) comprises a semi-transparent and semi-reflective lens.

[0021] Optionally, the beam splitter lens (5) comprises: a polarizer, a polarization beam splitter and a wave plate.

[0022] Optionally, the centers of the object carrier module (7), the objective lens (6), the beam splitter lens (5), the focusing lens (8) and the imaging module (9) are collinear.

[0023] Optionally, the loading module (7) is specifically a three-dimensional motion loading platform.

[0024] Optionally, the imaging module (9) includes a camera.

[0025] Optionally include:

[0026] A system control unit (10) is connected to the stepping motor (303) and is used to send the control signal.

[0027] According to the specific embodiments provided by the present invention, the following technical effects are disclosed:

[0028] An embodiment of the present invention provides a monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system, comprising an illumination unit, a collimating lens, a filter wheel, a digital micromirror device, a beam splitter lens, an objective lens, a carrier module, a focusing lens, and an imaging module. The various components work together as follows: the illumination unit generates polychromatic light, the collimating lens collimates the polychromatic light into a polychromatic beam, the filter wheel is equipped with multiple filters and can switch between filters, the filters filter the polychromatic beam into narrow-band light, the digital micromirror device forms a point light array, the beam splitter lens reflects the point light array and transmits a parallel light beam, the objective lens transmits the point light array and collimates light reflected from the object to be imaged into a parallel light beam, the carrier module carries the object to be imaged, the focusing lens focuses the parallel light beam into a focused parallel light beam, and the imaging module collects the focused parallel light beam to form an imaging result.

[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the combination of the filter wheel and multiple filters enables the replacement of filters during the imaging process, solving the problem that the existing narrow-band multi-band differential imaging system needs to install filters in advance and cannot replace filters during the imaging process, thereby improving imaging efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0031] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of an existing monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system;

[0032] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of a monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a filter disc provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of a digital micromirror device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Explanation of symbols:

[0036] Illumination unit 1, collimating lens 2, filter wheel 3, filter disc 301, stepping motor 303, digital micromirror device 4, spectroscopic lens 5, objective lens 6, carrier module 7, focusing lens 8, imaging module 9, system control unit 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The structures and scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field will know that with the emergence of new scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0038] It should be noted that, in this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described in this application as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner.

[0039] The purpose of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system to solve the problem of low imaging efficiency caused by replacing filters during the imaging process.

[0040] Figure 2 The figure shows an exemplary structure of the monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system, including an illumination unit 1, a collimating lens 2, a filter wheel 3, a digital micromirror device 4, a beam splitter lens 5, an objective lens 6, a loading module 7, a focusing lens 8, and an imaging module 9. The following describes each component in detail:

[0041] The lighting unit 1 is used to generate polychromatic light.

[0042] In one example, the lighting unit 1 may be an LED light source, an incandescent lamp, etc., as long as it can emit visible light.

[0043] The collimating lens 2 is used to collimate the complex light into a complex light beam.

[0044] In one example, the collimating lens 2 may be a convex lens, the parameters of which may be set according to the spatial position of the lighting unit 1 . The convex lens may collimate the divergent polychromatic light emitted by the lighting unit 1 to form a polychromatic light beam.

[0045] The filter wheel 3 is used to carry multiple filters and can switch any filter to the optical path of the polychromatic light beam; the filters located on the optical path can filter the polychromatic light beam to form narrow-band light.

[0046] In one example, multiple filters can be mounted simultaneously on the filter wheel 3. Those skilled in the art can flexibly design the distance between the collimating lens 2 and the filters. The number of filters can be flexibly designed, for example, 3, 4, 5, and so on. The filter wheel 3 can be manually or automatically rotated to switch any filter onto the optical path of the polychromatic light beam, allowing the polychromatic light beam to pass through the filters, which then filter the polychromatic light beam to form narrowband light. The light-transmitting surface of the filter should be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the polychromatic light beam. The wavelength range of the narrowband light is less than 10 nm.

[0047] The digital micromirror device 4 is used to form the narrow-band light into a point light array; wherein the center of the lighting unit 1 and the center of the digital micromirror device 4 are located on the optical axis of the collimating lens 2 .

[0048] In one example, the digital micromirror device 4 may be a DLP2000 digital micromirror device. Figure 4 The narrowband light is irradiated on the digital micromirror device 4 and forms a point light array after being reflected by the digital micromirror device 4. The center of the lighting unit 1, the center of the digital micromirror device 4 and the center of the collimating lens 2 are located on the same straight line.

[0049] The object carrying module 7 is used to carry the object to be imaged.

[0050] In one example, the loading module 7 may specifically be a loading platform.

[0051] In a direction away from the object carrier module 7, an objective lens 6, a beam splitter lens 5, a focusing lens 8, and an imaging module 9 are sequentially arranged. The centers of the objective lens 6, the beam splitter lens 5, the focusing lens 8, and the imaging module 9 are collinear. The center of the digital micromirror device 4 is collinear with the center of the beam splitter lens 5. In the embodiment of the present application, confocal imaging is achieved by forming a spatial conjugate relationship between the digital micromirror device 4 and the imaging module 9.

[0052] The path of the point light array in the monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system includes: being reflected by the spectroscopic lens 5 to the objective lens 6, reaching the carrier module 7 through the objective lens 6, being reflected by the carrier module 7 and the object to be imaged to the objective lens 6, then reaching the spectroscopic lens 5 through the objective lens 6, and passing through the spectroscopic lens 5 to the focusing lens 8.

[0053] In one example, the beam splitter lens 5 may be a semi-transparent and semi-reflective lens. A portion of the point light array is reflected by the beam splitter lens 5 downward to the objective lens 6 , and a portion of the point light array is reflected by the beam splitter lens 5 upward to form illumination light.

[0054] The imaging module 9 is used to collect the point light array from the focusing lens 8 and form an imaging result.

[0055] In an example, the imaging module 9 may be a color camera (a2A1920-160ucBAS) or a black and white camera, as long as it can form an image. The color camera or the black and white camera can form an imaging result from the point light array.

[0056] The filter wheel 3 at least includes: a filter wheel 301 and a stepping motor 303 .

[0057] See Figure 3 The filter disc 301 is used to carry a plurality of filters. When rotating, the filter disc 301 can be rotated manually or driven by the rotation of the stepping motor 303.

[0058] The stepper motor 303 is connected to the filter disk 301 , and is used to drive the filter disk 301 to rotate according to a control signal.

[0059] In one example, the stepper motor 303 drives the filter disk 301 to rotate after receiving the control signal.

[0060] In another example, the filter wheel 3 further includes a motor driver 304, which is connected to the stepping motor 303. After receiving the control signal, the motor driver 304 drives the stepping motor 303 to rotate.

[0061] The multiple filters carried by the filter wheel 3 filter different wavelength bands.

[0062] See Figure 3 , 4 filters can be installed in the filter wheel 3, and the 4 filters can filter out 4 narrow-band lights with different wavelengths.

[0063] The distance between the focus of the point light array and the optical center of the objective lens 6 is Z, wherein Z corresponds to the wavelength of the point light array.

[0064] In one example, the distance Z is the focal length, and the four filters can filter out four narrow-band lights of different wavelengths. The four narrow-band lights of different wavelengths form four point light arrays of different wavelengths. The four point light arrays of different wavelengths form four different focal points after passing through the objective lens 6. The four different focal points have four different focal lengths Z to the optical center of the objective lens 6, that is, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the four point light arrays of different wavelengths and the four different focal lengths Z.

[0065] The dichroic lens 5 includes a semi-transmissive and semi-reflective lens.

[0066] In one example, when the point light array passes through the semi-transparent and semi-reflective lens, a portion of the point light array passes through the semi-transparent and semi-reflective lens, and a portion of the point light array is reflected by the semi-transparent and semi-reflective lens.

[0067] The beam splitter lens 5 includes a polarizer, a polarization beam splitter and a wave plate.

[0068] In one example, the wave plate can be a quarter wave plate. The point light array becomes polarized light after passing through the polarizer. The polarized light is reflected by the polarization beam splitter and then irradiated on the surface of the object to be imaged after passing through the quarter wave plate. Subsequently, the reflected light from the surface of the object to be imaged passes through the quarter wave plate again and becomes polarized light with a 90° difference from the polarizer. ° The second polarized light then passes through the polarizing beam splitter.

[0069] The centers of the object carrier module 7 , the objective lens 6 , the beam splitter lens 5 , the focusing lens 8 and the imaging module 9 are collinear.

[0070] The loading module 7 is specifically a three-dimensional motion loading platform.

[0071] In one example, the three-dimensional motion stage can be a five-axis motor or a six-axis motor. The three-dimensional motion stage can not only move the object to be imaged in the horizontal and vertical directions, but also rotate the object to be imaged.

[0072] The imaging module 9 includes a camera.

[0073] In one example, the monocular in the monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system refers to a system comprising one camera. Of course, those skilled in the art can flexibly design the number of cameras, for example, two cameras, i.e., binocular.

[0074] The system control unit 10 is connected to the stepping motor 303 , and is used to send a control signal.

[0075] In one example, the system control unit 10 may specifically be a computer or a controller.

[0076] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0077] This document uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the embodiments of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only intended to help understand the methods and core concepts of the embodiments of the present invention. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, based on the concepts of the embodiments of the present invention, there may be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system, characterized in that: include: An illumination unit (1) for generating polychromatic light; A collimating lens (2) for collimating the polychromatic light into a polychromatic light beam; A filter wheel (3) is used to carry a plurality of filters and is capable of switching any filter to the optical path of the polychromatic light beam; the filter located on the optical path is capable of filtering the polychromatic light beam to form narrow-band light; The filter wheel (3) comprises: A filter disc (301) for carrying a plurality of filters; a stepping motor (303), connected to the filter disc (301), and configured to drive the filter disc (301) to rotate according to a control signal; The multiple filters carried by the filter wheel (3) filter different wavelength bands; A digital micromirror device (4) is used to form the narrow-band light into a point light array; wherein the center of the lighting unit (1) and the center of the digital micromirror device (4) are located on the optical axis of the collimating lens (2); An object carrying module (7) for carrying an object to be imaged; In a direction away from the object carrier module, an objective lens (6), a beam splitter lens (5), a focusing lens (8) and an imaging module (9) are sequentially arranged; wherein the centers of the objective lens (6), the beam splitter lens (5), the focusing lens (8) and the imaging module (9) are collinear; and the center of the digital micromirror device (4) is collinear with the center of the beam splitter lens (5); The path of the point light array in the monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system includes: being reflected by the beam splitter lens (5) to the objective lens (6), reaching the object carrier module (7) through the objective lens (6), being reflected by the object carrier module (7) and the object to be imaged to the objective lens (6), then reaching the beam splitter lens (5) through the objective lens (6), and passing through the beam splitter lens (5) to the focusing lens (8); The imaging module (9) is used to collect the point light array from the focusing lens (8) and form an imaging result.

2. The monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The distance between the focus of the objective lens (6) and the optical center of the point light array is Z; wherein Z corresponds to the wavelength of the point light array.

3. The monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light splitting lens (5) comprises a semi-transparent and semi-reflective lens.

4. The monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The beam splitter lens (5) comprises a polarizer, a polarization beam splitter and a wave plate.

5. The monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The centers of the object carrier module (7), the objective lens (6), the beam splitter lens (5), the focusing lens (8) and the imaging module (9) are collinear.

6. The monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The object loading module (7) is specifically a three-dimensional motion object loading platform.

7. The monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The imaging module (9) includes a camera.

8. The monocular narrow-band multi-band confocal imaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that: include: A system control unit (10) is connected to the stepping motor (303) and is used to send the control signal.

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