Assembly for measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium and method of using the assembly

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an assembly for measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium, the assembly comprising: a light sheet generator (110) configured to provide a light sheet (192) extending in a first spatial dimension (101), where the light sheet (192) has a propagation path in a second spatial dimension (102), where the light sheet (192) has a propagation path in the second spatial dimension (102); the light sheet generator (110) comprises a polychromatic light source emitting polychromatic light and light sheet generating optics for reforming light from the polychromatic light source into a light sheet (192); a light intensity modulator (130) configured to provide an intensity modulated light sheet (193) by applying an intensity modulation to the light sheet (192), the intensity modulation having a periodic or substantially periodic pattern (11, 12, 13); a holder (145) for a sample (140) of medium configured to enable the intensity modulated light sheet (193) to illuminate the sample; a dispersive element (3) arranged to receive light transmitted through the sample and to divide the light sheet into its spectral components such that each spectral component forms its own individual light sheet; and an optical sensor configured to record the individual light sheets (195) in two dimensions. The disclosure also relates to a method of using the assembly.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a component for measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium and a method of using the component. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a component for measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium and a method of using the component as defined in the introductory part of the independent claims. Background Art

[0002] In some conventional methods of spectrophotometry, monochromatic light (e.g., selected from a polychromatic light source) is used to irradiate the medium to be examined, and a photodetector is placed on the opposite side of the medium compared to the irradiation side to record the remaining light intensity after the monochromatic light has passed through the sample. The absorption or attenuation coefficient of the medium can be determined for the wavelength of the monochromatic light by calculating the ratio between the light intensity before the monochromatic light passes through the sample and the light intensity after passing through the sample.

[0003] More elaborate methods of spectrophotometry are also known. For example, a system for measuring the optical properties of a medium applying monochromatic light is described in WO 2012 / 015344A1. Further examples of components for spectrophotometry of turbid samples are disclosed in WO 2020 / 180233A1. Among them, spatial modulation illumination is employed to label the incident illumination, thereby allowing suppression of unwanted multiply scattered light.

[0004] Problems with the prior art solutions of spectrophotometry are the efficiency of performing the measurement and the accuracy of archiving the results.

[0005] Therefore, alternative methods of spectrophotometry are needed. Regarding the measurement of turbid media, this need may be particularly prominent. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Transmission structured laser illumination planar imaging (SLIPI) produces a much stronger signal compared to 2D imaging of side scattering orthogonal SLIP. For spectral analysis of SLIP measurements, spectral analysis has previously been performed on the light sheet used in the plane direction perpendicular to the propagation direction of the plane. This limits the measurement signal and spectral resolution, particularly when using a single-phase configuration without phase shift of structured illumination.

[0007] The object of the present disclosure is to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above - pointed - out deficiencies and drawbacks in the prior art and to solve at least the above - mentioned problems. According to a first aspect, there is provided a component for measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium, the component comprising: a light - sheet generator configured to provide a light - sheet extending in a first spatial dimension, wherein the light - sheet has a propagation path in a second spatial dimension, wherein the light - sheet generator includes a polychromatic light source emitting polychromatic light and light - sheet generating optics for reshaping the light from the polychromatic light source into a light - sheet; a light - intensity modulator configured to provide an intensity - modulated light - sheet by applying an intensity modulation to the light - sheet, the intensity modulation having a periodic or substantially periodic pattern in the first spatial dimension; a holder for a sample of the medium, the holder being configured to enable the intensity - modulated light - sheet to irradiate the sample; a dispersion element arranged to receive the light transmitted through the sample and arranged to split the light - sheet into its spectral components such that each spectral component forms its own separate light - sheet; and an optical sensor configured to record the separate light - sheets in two dimensions. The component for measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium can perform spectral - resolved transmission structured - laser illumination planar imaging measurement. Since the sheet is not spectrally diversified before entering the sample but is spectrally resolved after the sample, a large amount of information is obtained and the signal intensity is also significantly enhanced. Since the diffraction direction is perpendicular to the modulation direction, the modulation frequency no longer affects the spectral resolution and thus a higher spectral resolution can be achieved. In addition, since the light beam does not have to be diffracted before being formed into a sheet and intensity - modulated, the generation of the modulated light - sheet is simplified.

[0008] The light - sheet generating optics is any combination of lenses for forming a sheet (e.g., a cylindrical concave lens followed by a circular convex lens) or any other arrangement for forming lenses, including an optional slit for further shaping the sheet.

[0009] According to some embodiments, the dispersion element is a diffraction grating, which is advantageous because a diffraction grating is a lightweight dispersion component.

[0010] According to some embodiments, the dispersion element is a prism, which is advantageous because a prism disperses light with very high accuracy.

[0011] According to some embodiments, the light - sheet generator is arranged to be fastened and adjacent to the light - intensity modulator. The advantage of this embodiment is that the component can be made more compact.

[0012] According to some embodiments, the light - intensity modulator is arranged to be fastened and adjacent to the adjacent sample holder. The advantage of this embodiment is that the component can be made more compact.

[0013] According to some embodiments, the light intensity modulator is an imprint on a sample holder or container. The advantage of this embodiment is that the components can be made more compact.

[0014] According to some embodiments, the optical sensor is a 2D CCD camera to allow for accurate 2D recording.

[0015] According to some embodiments, the light intensity modulator includes: an optical holder for a grating, the optical holder being electronically controlled and capable of moving in a third spatial dimension; and a grating that includes a plurality of periodic patterns. The advantage of this embodiment is that the phase of the intensity-modulated light sheet can be rapidly changed to combine with a previous record to obtain a dark portion in the intensity-modulated light sheet, thereby obtaining the measured signal intensity and resolution.

[0016] According to some embodiments, the light intensity modulator includes: an optical holder for a grating, the optical holder being electronically controlled and capable of moving in a first spatial dimension; and a grating that includes periodic patterns. The advantage of this embodiment is that the phase of the intensity-modulated light sheet can be rapidly changed to combine with a previous record to obtain a dark portion in the intensity-modulated light sheet, thereby obtaining the measured signal intensity and resolution.

[0017] According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium using the components according to the first aspect, the method comprising: providing a sample of the medium to a holder; irradiating the sample with an intensity-modulated light sheet provided by a light sheet generator and a light intensity modulator of the components; recording a plurality of individual light sheets by an optical sensor of the components; and determining one or more optical parameters based on the plurality of recorded individual light sheets.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the method further comprises: moving the optics of the light intensity modulator in a third spatial dimension such that the light propagating in the components impinges on the next subsequent first periodic pattern of the grating, or if there is a second periodic pattern, on the second periodic pattern; and iterating the method from the irradiating step.

[0019] According to some embodiments, the method further comprises: moving the optical holder of the light intensity modulator in a first spatial dimension by a predetermined portion of the phase of the periodic pattern such that the light propagating in the components is phase-shifted by a predetermined portion of the phase; and iterating the method from the irradiating step.

[0020] The effects and features of the second aspect are to a large extent similar to those described above in connection with the first aspect. The embodiments mentioned with respect to the first aspect are to a large extent compatible with the second aspect.

[0021] The present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description given below. The detailed description and specific examples disclose only the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure by way of illustration. Those skilled in the art will understand from the guidance of the detailed description that changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0022] Accordingly, it should be understood that the disclosure herein is not limited to the specific component parts of the devices described or the steps of the methods described, as such devices and methods can vary. It should also be understood that the terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that when used in the specification and the appended claims, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the articles "a", "an", "the" and "said" are intended to mean one or more of the elements. Thus, for example, a reference to "a unit" or "the unit" can include several devices and the like. Further, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" and similar terms do not exclude other elements or steps. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more fully understood from the following illustrative and non - limiting detailed description of example embodiments of the present disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Figure 1a A schematic block diagram of an example component according to some embodiments as viewed in a third spatial direction is shown.

[0025] Figure 1b Shown as viewed in a first spatial direction Figure 1a of the example component shown in

[0026] Figure 2 Shown as in Figure 1a and Figure 1b a perspective view of a portion of the component disclosed in

[0027] Figure 3 An example of a grating having a periodic pattern according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0028] Figure 4 An example of a grating having a phase shift between a plurality of periodic patterns according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0029] Figure 5 A flowchart showing example method steps according to some embodiments is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0031] As mentioned above, many conventional methods of spectrophotometric measurement use a continuously applied monochromatic light beam to irradiate a sample of the medium to be examined. To obtain information at more than one wavelength, it is necessary to perform a scan of all wavelengths of interest. Such a method may be inefficient for performing measurements.

[0032] Another method of spectrophotometric measurement is described in "Quantitative measurements of turbidliquids via structured laser illumination planar imaging where absorptionspectrophotometry fails"; Regnima et al.; Applied Optics, Vol. 56, No. 13, May 2017, pp. 3929 to 3938, in which two lasers having wavelengths of 450 nm and 638 nm respectively are used, and one laser is activated at a time for measurement.

[0033] Still other methods of spectrophotometric measurement are described in WO 2012 / 015344 Al and WO 2020 / 180233A1.

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments that enable effective and accurate measurement will be described. In addition, some embodiments provide increased flexibility when measuring the optical properties of the medium to be examined. Thus, accurate measurements can be performed on media with a wide range of various optical properties using the same components.

[0035] Generally, the term "measurement" may refer to, for example, spectrophotometric measurement.

[0036] Furthermore, generally, the term "optical parameter" may refer to any suitable optical parameter that describes an optical property; such as, for example, an absorption coefficient, an attenuation coefficient (also referred to as an extinction coefficient), a scattering coefficient, a fluorescence quantum yield (QY), a phosphorescence quantum yield (QY), etc. The extinction coefficient is equal to the sum of the absorption coefficient and the scattering coefficient. Other examples of optical properties include properties associated with one or more of the following: concentration, average cross section, and particle size (if particles are present in the medium). Thus, these parameters can also be derived. Therefore, measuring an optical parameter can be defined as measuring the (corresponding) optical property.

[0037] In addition, generally, the term "medium" can refer to, for example, a liquid, a gel, a solid medium, or a gas. Some common applications include liquid media. In particular, some embodiments can be suitable for measurements related to turbid media and / or luminescent media, where turbidity includes scattering and absorption, and luminescence includes photoluminescence (e.g., fluorescence and / or phosphorescence).

[0038] In addition, generally, the illustration of scattering also means being related to the luminescence of a photoluminescent medium, and vice versa.

[0039] In addition, generally, the term "light" refers to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within a certain range. This range can include what is commonly referred to as visible light (i.e., the part of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum visible to the human eye). Alternatively or additionally, this range can include what is commonly referred to as invisible light (i.e., the part of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum invisible to the human eye), such as infrared (IR) light and / or ultraviolet (UV) light. The term "irradiation" refers to the irradiation of light as defined above.

[0040] In addition, generally, the term "polychromatic" describes that something includes two or more (visible or invisible) wavelengths of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum.

[0041] In addition, generally, the term (single) optical sensor can refer to an array / matrix of component optical sensors (such as a digital camera where each pixel has a corresponding component optical sensor; an optical detector) or to a single optical sensor element (a single optical detector) configured to sweep across a recording area.

[0042] Figure 1a and Figure 1b Schematically shown are example components for measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium according to some embodiments. Figure 1a Shown is a side view of a variant of the component, and Figure 1b Shown is a top view of the component.

[0043] The component includes a light sheet generator (LSG) 110, a light intensity modulator (LIM) 130, a holder (HOLD) 145 for a sample (SAMP) 140 of the medium, a diffraction grating 3, and an optical sensor (SENS) 150.

[0044] The light sheet generator 110 is configured to provide a polychromatic light sheet 192 that has a propagation path in a second spatial dimension 102.

[0045] The second spatial dimension is not parallel to (and typically orthogonal to) the first spatial dimension (e.g., in Euclidean coordinates). The first and second spatial dimensions, together with a third spatial dimension 103 (which is not parallel to, and typically orthogonal to, the first and second spatial dimensions), span a three-dimensional space. The terms "spatial dimension" and "dimension" will be used interchangeably herein.

[0046] A light sheet can be defined, for example, as light that propagates along two or more paths in a single plane (e.g., in Euclidean coordinates).

[0047] That the spectrum extends in the first spatial dimension can be understood as a change in the light wavelength, which has the property of experiencing at most one light wavelength per coordinate along the path in the first spatial dimension.

[0048] The light intensity modulator (LIM) 130 includes an optical holder 180 that holds gratings 2, 4 for modulating the light sheet 192. The light intensity modulator 130 is configured to provide an intensity-modulated multi-color light sheet 193 by applying an intensity modulation (to the multi-color light sheet) that has a periodic or substantially periodic pattern in the first spatial dimension.

[0049] Examples of periodic patterns include patterns defined by a Ronchi ruling - i.e., constant-spacing bars and a spatial square wave (e.g., equal to a when 2kb ≤ x < (2k + 1)b and equal to c when (2k + 1)b ≤ x < (2k + 2)b, k ∈ Z), as Figure 2 shown, - and patterns defined by a sine function. Examples of substantially periodic patterns include any pattern that changes between values below its average value and values above its average value within a certain period on x, but where the values below its average value and / or the values above its average value can be different for different periods. Another example of a substantially periodic pattern is a pattern that has a slight periodic offset along x. Thus, additional periodic patterns can be a triangular mask or any periodic pattern mask.

[0050] The light intensity modulator can be, for example, a Ronchi grating. Figure 3 and Figure 4 An example Ronchi grating 1 is shown in

[0051] Figure 3 The Ronchi grating of Figure 1b and Figure 2 includes a periodic pattern 11. The grating is designed to be movable to phase-shift the periodic pattern. In the examples of

[0052] Figure 4The Luneburg grating includes three periodic patterns 11, 12, 13 placed adjacent to each other. The middle periodic pattern 12 has a phase shift ps1 of 120 degrees with respect to the right periodic pattern 13 and with respect to the left periodic pattern 11. The grating is designed to be movable to select one of the multiple phase-shifted periodic patterns for an application. In Figure 1b and Figure 2 example, for this purpose, the grating will be able to move in the third dimension 103.

[0053] Figure 4 The grating includes a substrate 2 extending in a plane in two spatial directions 102, 103 and a plurality n of periodic patterns 11, 12, 13, each of the n periodic patterns 11, 12, 13 having a surface 18 and a spatial 19 periodic wave optical mask with the same spacing frequency as shown in Figure 4 . The periodic patterns 11, 12, 13 are arranged adjacent to each other in the substrate 4 with a phase shift ps1 between the masks of adjacent first periodic patterns. As disclosed in Figure 4 , the first phase shift ps1 is 360 / n degrees. Wherein, as in Figure 4 , n is three and the phase shift ps1 is 120 degrees.

[0054] Referring again to Figure 1a , Figure 1b and Figure 2 , a first aspect of the present disclosure shows a component for measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium, the component comprising: a light sheet generator 110 configured to provide a light sheet 192 extending in a first spatial dimension 101, wherein the light sheet 192 has a propagation path in a second spatial dimension 102, wherein the light sheet generator 110 includes a polychromatic light source emitting polychromatic light and a light sheet generating optical device for reshaping the light from the polychromatic light source into the light sheet 192; a light intensity modulator 130 configured to provide a intensity-modulated light sheet 193 by applying an intensity modulation to the light sheet 192, the intensity modulation having a periodic or substantially periodic pattern 11, 12, 13 in the first spatial dimension 101; a holder 145 for a sample 140 of the medium, the holder being configured to enable the intensity-modulated light sheet 193 to irradiate the sample; a dispersion element 3 arranged to receive the light transmitted through the sample and arranged to split the light sheet into its spectral components such that each spectral component forms its own separate light sheet; and an optical sensor configured to record the separate light sheets 195 in two dimensions. In the case of a uniform polychromatic light source, the spectrally separated light sheets are actually a continuum with an infinite number of sheets.

[0055] In Figure 1a , Figure 1b and Figure 2In this case, the dispersion element 3 is a diffraction grating. However, in other embodiments, the dispersion element 2 can also be a prism. The optical sensor 150 is a 2D CCD camera.

[0056] It may be preferable to position the light intensity modulator as close as possible to the sample to maintain spatial modulation until the modulated light sheet enters the sample. This is essentially achieved by the light intensity modulator being imprinted on the container of the sample.

[0057] Therefore, the light sheet generator 110 can be arranged to be fastened and adjacent to the light intensity modulator 130; the light intensity modulator 130 can be arranged to be fastened and adjacent to the adjacent sample holder 145; and the light intensity modulator can be an imprint on the sample holder 145 or the container.

[0058] The holder 145 for the sample 140 of the medium is configured such that the intensity-modulated polychromatic light sheet can irradiate the sample. For example, the holder can be positioned relative to the light intensity modulator and the light sheet generator such that when the sample is provided at the holder, the intensity-modulated polychromatic light sheet irradiates the sample.

[0059] Generally, the entire intensity-modulated polychromatic light sheet irradiates the sample, but some embodiments can apply a solution where only a part of the intensity-modulated polychromatic light sheet irradiates the sample.

[0060] The holder can be, for example, a holder for receiving the sample. The sample can be provided without any container (e.g., if the medium is a solid or a gel). Alternatively, the sample can be provided in a container (e.g., if the medium is a liquid or a gas), in which case the holder can be adapted to receive the container containing the sample. An example container is a cuvette (e.g., a glass cuvette).

[0061] The optical sensor 150 is configured to record (spectrally) the intensity of the light that has left the sample and has been spectrally separated by the dispersion element 3. Then the recorded intensity can be used to determine one or more optical parameters.

[0062] Generally, the optical sensor can be a camera (e.g., a charge-coupled device CCD camera or a scientific complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor sCMOS camera).

[0063] The optical sensor 150 is configured to record the intensity of the light that has been spectrally separated by the dispersion element 3 after leaving the sample relative to the irradiation (the so-called transmitted light, shown as 195 in Figure 1a and Figure 1b ).

[0064] Referring to Figure 1a and Figure 1b, the optical intensity modulator 130 includes: an optical holder 180 for a grating, the optical holder being electronically controlled and capable of moving in a third spatial dimension 103; and a grating 4, the assembly including a plurality of periodic patterns 11, 12, 13. By moving the grating 4 laterally or in the third spatial direction 103, the phases of the periodic patterns can be phase-shifted quickly and with complete accuracy. However, in an alternative embodiment, the optical intensity modulator 130 may include: an optical holder 180 for a grating, the optical holder being electronically controlled and capable of moving in a first spatial dimension 101; and a grating 2, the assembly including a periodic pattern 11. This can save space because the grating can be smaller with only one periodic pattern. The phase shift is accomplished by precise movement in the first spatial direction.

[0065] A second aspect of the present disclosure shows a method of measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium using the assembly according to the first aspect, the method including: providing 410 a sample 140 of the medium to a holder 145; irradiating 420 the sample with an intensity-modulated light sheet 193 provided by a light sheet generator 110 and an optical intensity modulator 130 of the assembly; recording 430 a plurality of individual light sheets 195 by an optical sensor 150 of the assembly; and determining 460 one or more optical parameters based on the recorded plurality of individual light sheets 195.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the method includes: moving 415 the optics of the optical intensity modulator 130 in a third spatial dimension such that light propagating in the assembly impinges on the next subsequent first periodic pattern 11, 12, 13 of the grating, or on the second periodic pattern 14, 15, 16 if present; and iterating the method from the irradiating S2 step.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the method includes: moving 416 the optical holder of the optical intensity modulator 130 in a first spatial dimension by a predetermined portion of the phase of the periodic pattern 11 such that the light propagating in the assembly is phase-shifted by a predetermined portion of the phase; and iterating the method from the irradiating S2 step.

[0068] When determining one or more optical parameters using an assembly with a grating, an array of the n last recorded measurements with different periodic patterns is retained. When a new record is made using a periodic pattern, the record replaces the last measurement for that unique periodic pattern at that position in the array. If there is a second periodic pattern on the grating, a corresponding array (or a portion of the same but extended array) is retained for the second periodic pattern. In this way, new and updated calculations for determining one or more optical parameters can be made for each individual new record. The effect is based on using Figure 4The real-time results of the n last recordings are made when using a grating, but are updated for each individual recording. Thus, real-time measurement is achieved.

[0069] Figure 5 is a flowchart of an example method 400 for measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium using a component (e.g., any component variant of the component variants described in Figures 1a to 4 ).

[0070] The method can start with an optional step 405, in which the range of the spectrum of the polychromatic light sheet (e.g., 192) to be generated at the component is selected.

[0071] In step 410, a sample of the medium is provided at the holder of the component such that the intensity-modulated polychromatic light sheet to be provided at the component will irradiate the sample (e.g., by position and / or orientation).

[0072] In step 420, the sample is irradiated by the intensity-modulated polychromatic light sheet (e.g., by turning on the light source of the light sheet generator, which is configured to provide a polychromatic light sheet intensity-modulated by a light intensity modulator as exemplified above).

[0073] The modulated irradiation enables the determination of the individual light scattering intensity based on the measurement of the modulation amplitude of the recorded signal. The application of different phases (by shifting the modulation) makes it possible to determine the intensity of the individual light scattering over the entire wavelength range of interest.

[0074] For example, based on the measurement images for different phases, a reconstructed image can be created after image post-processing such that the reconstructed image is not affected by multiple light scattering intensities and is not affected by unwanted reflections. Thus, compared to the case where multiple light scattering intensities cannot be suppressed, the reconstructed image can be used to more accurately estimate the extinction coefficient of the medium of the sample.

[0075] In step 430, at least one image of the intensity of the light leaving the sample relative to the irradiation is recorded by an optical sensor as described above in connection with Figure 1a and Figure 1b .

[0076] If more phases are to be measured (the "yes" path leaving the optional step 435), the method returns to 420 to apply a new phase, and step 430 is repeated for the new phase. If no more phases are measured (the "no" path leaving the optional step 435), the method proceeds to the optional step 440.

[0077] In optional step 440, the modulation amplitude is extracted from the recorded images. For example, this can be achieved by post-processing the (one or more) recorded images for both the intensity of the light leaving the sample relative to the illumination (detection of the transmitted signal) and extracting the amplitude of the recorded modulation. As mentioned above, for example, the modulation amplitude can be used to distinguish between first-order scattering and higher-order scattering.

[0078] In optional step 445, it is determined whether the penetration of light into the sample is sufficient to extract information of interest from the (one or more) recorded images. For example, optional step 445 can include determining whether the extracted modulation amplitude is above a threshold to determine whether the penetration of light into the sample is sufficient.

[0079] If the penetration of light into the sample is not sufficient (the "no" path leaving optional step 445), the method can include, in optional step 447, increasing the light intensity of the light source or increasing the integration time of the optical sensor, and returning to step 420 to repeat the measurement with the applied adjustment.

[0080] If the penetration of light into the sample is sufficient (the "yes" path leaving optional step 445), the method can proceed to optional step 450, in which the measurement can be calibrated. For example, the calibration can include applying a displaceable monochromatic filter (or a filter with a relatively narrow bandwidth) to provide spatial calibration of the spectrum.

[0081] According to some embodiments of the various methods presented herein, intensity modulation can enable the removal (or at least suppression) of one or more of the following: background noise, background reflection, scattered transmitted light.

[0082] In general, all terms used herein should be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or implied from the context in which they are used.

[0083] Various embodiments have been referenced herein. However, those skilled in the art will recognize many variations of the described embodiments that will still fall within the scope of the claims.

[0084] For example, the method embodiments described herein disclose example methods by steps performed in a specific order. However, it should be recognized that, without departing from the scope of the claims, these sequences of events can occur in other orders. Additionally, even though some method steps have been described as being performed sequentially, these method steps can be performed in parallel. Thus, unless steps are explicitly described as being after or before another step and / or it is implicit that a step must be after or before another step, the steps of any method disclosed herein need not be performed in the exact order disclosed.

[0085] In the same way, it should be noted that in the description of the embodiments, the division of functional blocks into specific units is by no means intended to be restrictive. On the contrary, these divisions are merely examples. A functional block described herein as a single unit can be divided into two or more units. Additionally, a functional block described herein as being implemented as two or more units can be combined into fewer (e.g., a single) unit.

[0086] In appropriate circumstances, any feature of any embodiment disclosed herein can be applied to any other embodiment. Similarly, any advantage of any embodiment can be applied to any other embodiment, and vice versa.

[0087] Accordingly, it should be understood that the details of the described embodiments are merely examples presented for illustrative purposes, and all variations falling within the scope of the claims are intended to be included therein.

Claims

1. A component for measuring one or more optical parameters of a medium, the component comprising: A light sheet generator (110) configured to provide a light sheet (192) extending in a first spatial dimension (101), wherein the light sheet (192) has a propagation path in a second spatial dimension (102), and wherein the light sheet generator (110) includes: a polychromatic light source that emits polychromatic light; and a light sheet generation optical device for reshaping the light from the polychromatic light source into the light sheet (192); A light intensity modulator (130) configured to provide a intensity-modulated light sheet (193) by applying intensity modulation to the light sheet (192), the intensity modulation having a periodic or substantially periodic pattern (11, 12, 13) in the first spatial dimension (101); A holder (145) for a sample (140) of the medium, configured to enable the intensity-modulated light sheet (193) to irradiate the sample; A dispersion element (3) arranged to receive the light transmitted through the sample and arranged to split the light sheet into its spectral components such that each spectral component forms its own separate light sheet; and An optical sensor configured to record the separate light sheets (195) in two dimensions.

2. The component according to claim 1, wherein, the dispersion element (3) is a diffraction grating.

3. The component according to claim 1, wherein, the dispersion element (3) is a prism.

4. The component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the light sheet generator (110) is arranged to be fastened and adjacent to the light intensity modulator (130).

5. The component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the light intensity modulator (130) is arranged to be fastened and adjacent to the adjacent sample holder (145).

6. The component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the light intensity modulator is an imprint on the sample holder (145) or the container.

7. The component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the optical sensor (150) is a 2D CCD camera.

8. The component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the light intensity modulator (130) includes: An optical holder (180) for a grating, the optical holder being electronically controlled and movable in the third spatial dimension (103); and A grating (4) including a plurality of periodic patterns (11, 12, 13).

9. The component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, the light intensity modulator (130) includes: An optical holder (180) for a grating, the optical holder being electronically controlled and movable in the first spatial dimension (101); and A grating (2) including a periodic pattern (11).

10. A method of using the component according to any one of the preceding claims to measure one or more optical parameters of a medium, the method comprising: Providing (410) a sample (140) of the medium to the holder (145); Irradiating (420) the sample with an intensity-modulated light sheet (193) provided by the light sheet generator (110) and the light intensity modulator (130) of the assembly; Recording (430) a plurality of individual light sheets (195) by the optical sensor (150) of the assembly; And Determining (460) the one or more optical parameters based on the plurality of recorded individual light sheets (195).

11. The method according to claims 10 and 8, the method further comprising: Moving (415) the optics of the light intensity modulator (130) in the third spatial dimension such that the light propagating in the assembly impinges on the next subsequent first periodic pattern (11, 12, 13) of the grating, or if a second periodic pattern (14, 15, 16) is present, on the second periodic pattern (14, 15, 16); Iterating the method from the irradiating (420) step.

12. The method according to claims 10 and 8, the method further comprising: Moving (416) the optical holder of the light intensity modulator (130) in the first spatial dimension by a predetermined portion of the phase of the periodic pattern (11) such that the light propagating in the assembly is phase-shifted by the predetermined portion of the phase; Iterating the method from the irradiating (420) step.

Images