Remote Sensing Equipment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote sensing device comprising a primary light source for transmitting a primary light having a particular wavelength; an optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, the optical waveguide being configured to transmit the primary light from the proximal end to the distal end and to transmit back to the proximal end a second wavelength, preferably having another wavelength, caused by the primary light at the distal end; an optical receiving / transmitting unit disposed at the distal end of the optical waveguide for receiving the primary light from the distal end of the optical waveguide and transmitting a secondary light to the distal end; and a secondary optical receiver disposed at the proximal end of the optical waveguide for receiving the secondary light from the proximal end of the optical waveguide, wherein the optical waveguide has a numerical aperture greater than 0.5.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote sensing device that includes an optical waveguide with a proximal end and a distal end, a primary light source located at the proximal end, and a unit located at the distal end for receiving the primary light and sending secondary light for transmission back to the proximal end. [Background technology]

[0002] The light receiving / light transmitting or sensor unit located at the distal end can essentially be used or serve to detect various measurands, for example it can enable or support the measurement of magnetic fields, conductivity, temperature or oxygen saturation.

[0003] Depending on the field of use, different requirements may be made on the light guide. In addition, for example, the diameter or material of the light guide core or the surrounding cladding layer, or the properties of the bundle may be appropriately selected, for example, a bundle of individual fibers or a tube with a different refractive index may be selected. Depending on the field of application, specific framework conditions, such as flexibility and dimensions, must also be taken into account, and in some fields, particularly in medical applications, miniaturization is often desirable. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a remote sensing device which allows for optimization of various distal light receiving / light transmitting units or sensor units with respect to the respective requirements and which allows for a particularly compact size. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To this end, the present invention discloses a remote sensing device comprising a primary light source, a light guide and a light receiving / light transmitting unit.

[0006] The primary light source is configured to transmit primary light having a first wavelength. The optical waveguide has a proximal end and a distal end and is configured to transmit the primary light from the proximal end to the distal end and / or transmit secondary light produced by the primary light at the distal end, the secondary light having a second wavelength, back to the proximal end.

[0007] At the distal end of the optical waveguide, a light receiving / light transmitting unit is provided, inter alia, for receiving the primary light from the distal end of the optical waveguide and transmitting the secondary light to the distal end.

[0008] Furthermore, the proximal end of the optical waveguide is preferably provided with a secondary optical receiver for receiving the secondary light transmitted back from the proximal end of the optical waveguide, the secondary optical receiver being in particular a detector for the secondary light and may be configured, for example, as a photodiode or, for example, as an imaging plane detector.

[0009] The optical waveguide is specifically specified to have a numerical aperture greater than 0.4, or preferably greater than 0.5 or greater than 0.6.

[0010] This advantageously allows for often small dimensions and at the same time a relatively high light collection efficiency, which allows for optimization of the requirements for the light receiving / emitting unit or sensor unit for various fields of application.

[0011] The numerical aperture (NA) of a light guide in the context of the present disclosure denotes the sine of the acceptance angle α of the light guide, i.e. the sine of the half opening angle of the light guide. This corresponds to the formula NA=n×sinα for n=1. The statement that a light guide has in particular a numerical aperture greater than 0.4, or preferably greater than 0.5 or greater than 0.6, therefore corresponds to the statement that the light guide has an acceptance angle α greater than 23.6°, or preferably greater than 30.0° or greater than 36.9°.

[0012] If at least one glass fiber with a core and a cladding, in particular a step-index fiber, is included in the optical waveguide, the numerical aperture can be, for example,

number

[0013] The primary light, as explained, comprises at least one first wavelength, and the secondary light comprises at least one second wavelength, where the second wavelength is in particular a wavelength different from the first wavelength. However, in connection with special embodiments, it is not excluded that the first and second wavelengths are the same. Of course, both the primary and secondary light may be configured as a spectrum.

[0014] The light receiving / light sending unit is in particular configured as a sensor unit and / or an interaction unit, which can send out secondary light after or during the incidence of the primary light and in connection with which the measurand can be determined. However, it is not excluded that the interaction of the primary light also occurs outside the light receiving / light sending unit, for example in the tissue to be examined. In this respect, the light receiving / light sending unit can also be configured in one embodiment to receive secondary light generated outside the device and to send this secondary light again to the distal end of the optical waveguide or, possibly after further processing, to the distal end of the optical waveguide as tertiary light.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the light guide may be configured as a so-called Anderson or TAL waveguide, which in particular transmits the primary and / or secondary light in a laterally localized and in particular laterally spatially resolved manner, whereby the light guide can also be configured as an image guide.

[0016] Laterally localized transmission has the advantage in particular that less excitation light or first-order light is required, possibly allowing for less scattered light background and / or minimizing unused excitation light or first-order light that could otherwise possibly be emitted into the sample space, thereby allowing in particular excitation by first-order light in often small areas, whereas on the other hand the second-order light can be received over a larger cross-section.

[0017] In particular, the optical waveguide may include a plurality of structural elements each extending from a proximal end to a distal end and partially across a cross-section of the optical waveguide, thereby defining a plurality of cross-sectional areas in the cross-section of the waveguide each corresponding to a cross-section of an individual structural element.

[0018] The structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, are preferably arranged non-uniformly to produce a lateral Anderson localization of the primary light and / or of the secondary light.

[0019] In one embodiment, at the distal end of the optical waveguide, the light receiving / light transmitting unit includes a material that allows for receiving the primary light and transmitting the secondary light, for example, the material may allow for coherent processes such as frequency doubling.

[0020] The light receiving / light transmitting unit specifically includes an excitable material at the distal end of the optical waveguide that has an electronic structure that allows for excitation by the primary light and attenuation with transmission of the secondary light.

[0021] This excitation can preferably be made possible by primary light having a wavelength between 200 nm and 20 μm.

[0022] Alternatively or additionally, attenuation may preferably be possible with the emission of secondary light having a wavelength between 200 nm and 20 μm.

[0023] The energy conditions are preferably configured such that the received secondary light can be used to measure an external measurand, e.g. an external measurand from the group including magnetic field, conductivity, temperature, amount or concentration of a substance, e.g. oxygen saturation.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the light receiving / light transmitting unit includes, at the distal end of the optical waveguide, diamond having one or more nitrogen-vacancy centers as an excitable material, the excitable material having an electronic structure that allows excitation by the primary light and decay with the transmission of the secondary light.

[0025] This excitation may preferably be possible by means of primary light having a wavelength between 500 nm and 560 nm, for example 532 nm. Alternatively or additionally, this attenuation may preferably be possible with the emission of secondary light having a wavelength between 600 nm and 800 nm.

[0026] The energy state is preferably configured such that an external magnetic field can be measured using the received secondary light, in particular by decomposition of spectral lines and / or energy shift under the influence of an external magnetic field, preferably under incidence of microwaves.

[0027] The light receiving / light transmitting unit, in particular diamond, may contain, in particular as excitable material, another or other centre, for example one or more elements of the carbon-silicon group (of the fourth main group), for example, the light receiving / light transmitting unit, in particular diamond, may contain one or more of the elements Si, Ge, Sn, Pb.

[0028] This excitation can be preferably performed by primary light having a wavelength of 708nm to 768nm, particularly for Si. This excitation can be preferably performed by primary light having a wavelength of 572nm to 632nm, particularly for Ge. This excitation can be preferably performed by primary light having a wavelength of 590nm to 650nm, particularly for Sn. This excitation can be preferably performed by primary light having a wavelength of 490nm to 450nm and / or 522nm to 582nm, particularly for Pb.

[0029] The optical waveguide preferably has low autofluorescence at the wavelengths of the primary and / or secondary light.

[0030] In one development, an excitation by primary light, in particular comprising a spectrum, comprising one or more wavelengths, may also be specified.

[0031] The optical waveguide preferably has a large average refractive index in order to increase the angle of total internal reflection at the transition to the receiving / transmitting unit, especially diamond (n=2.4).

[0032] In one development of the invention, in particular if the first-order light is transmitted laterally localized, a spatially limited reception of the first-order light can be performed, which can make it possible, for example, to perform gradient magnetic field measurements.

[0033] The light receiving / light sending unit, the nitrogen-vacancy center and / or the excitable material may in particular be arranged at the distal end of the optical waveguide such that a spatially limited reception of the primary light, in particular a spatially limited excitation by the primary light, is possible when a laterally localized transmission of the primary light is performed by the optical waveguide.

[0034] The light receiving / light sending unit, in particular the diamond, can also be specified to have a reflector, e.g. a chamfer and / or a coating, for deflecting the primary and / or secondary light, in particular so that a spatially limited reception of the primary light is possible perpendicular to the cross-sectional area of ​​the distal end of the optical waveguide. The reflector can further be used to deflect components of the secondary light that are not emitted towards the distal end towards the distal end.

[0035] In one development, a more complex optical arrangement of the interaction zone can also be provided, for example lenses, microlens arrays and / or parabolic mirrors.

[0036] The light receiving / light transmitting unit, in particular the diamond, may be mechanically bonded to the distal end of the optical waveguide, in other words, the light receiving / light transmitting unit, in particular the diamond, may be fixedly attached to the distal end of the optical waveguide.

[0037] The light receiving / light transmitting unit, in particular the diamond, preferably extends over at least 50% of the cross section of the distal end of the light guide, particularly preferably over at least 75% of the cross section of the distal end of the light guide.

[0038] The nitrogen-vacancy centres or excitable material are preferably arranged only in a spatial sub-region of the light receiving / light transmitting unit or diamond, for example in a radially inner sub-region surrounded by a radially outer sub-region which is free of excitable material or free of nitrogen-vacancy centres.

[0039] A radially outer partial region of the light receiving / light sending unit or of the diamond is preferably provided with a reflector for deflecting the primary light and / or the secondary light, for example a chamfer and / or a coating.

[0040] Here, the reflector preferably deflects the secondary light, in particular the radially emitted secondary light, towards the distal end of the optical waveguide in order to increase the collection efficiency of the optical waveguide. Alternatively or additionally, the reflector can deflect the primary light, in particular the laterally localized primary light, towards the nitrogen-vacancy centres or towards the excitable material.

[0041] The light receiving / light sending unit, in particular diamond, nitrogen-vacancy centres and / or excitable materials, may be arranged at the distal end of the optical waveguide such that at least 0.5%, preferably at least 5%, of the secondary light at the distal end can be coupled into the optical waveguide, in particular after deflection by a chamfer or a reflector.

[0042] The light receiving / light sending units, in particular the nitrogen-vacancy centres and / or the excitable material, may be arranged over only a partial area of ​​the cross-section of the distal end of the optical waveguide, preferably over a partial area smaller than 50% of the cross-sectional area, particularly preferably over a partial area smaller than 25% of the cross-sectional area.

[0043] The optical waveguide may have a cross-section of 30 μm to 5000 μm, preferably 50 μm to 3000 μm.

[0044] The optical waveguide may have a length of 10 mm to 10,000 mm, and preferably has a length of 50 mm to 2,000 mm.

[0045] The optical waveguide may be at least partially configured to be flexible and / or at least partially configured to be rigid or semi-rigid.

[0046] In one development of the invention, it is also possible to provide a tapered light guide.

[0047] In one further development, the optical waveguide may have a cross-section smaller than the cross-section of the excitable material, in particular to avoid the primary light passing by the excitable material to reach the light receiving / light sending unit.

[0048] The optical waveguide suitably has a transmittance for a wavelength of 532 nm of at least 30%, preferably at least 40%, even more preferably at least 50%.

[0049] The optical waveguide suitably further has a transmittance for wavelengths in the range 600 nm to 800 nm of at least 30%, preferably at least 40%, even more preferably at least 50%.

[0050] The optical waveguide may have an attenuation for a wavelength of 532 nm and / or for a wavelength in the range of 600 nm to 800 nm of less than 50 dB / m, in particular less than 10 dB / m, in particular less than 1 dB / m.

[0051] The optical waveguide is preferably configured to maintain polarization. The optical waveguide may be configured to be non-magnetic.

[0052] An optical waveguide may include at least two different types of structural elements: a first type having a first refractive index and a second type having a second refractive index.

[0053] The refractive index difference is preferably greater than 0.05, in particular greater than 0.1, in particular greater than 0.2, in particular greater than 0.5.

[0054] The optical fiber may include a plurality of structural elements of a first type and a plurality of structural elements of a second type, the first type being configured in particular as rods or tubes having or consisting of a first medium, the first medium having a first refractive index, and the second type being configured in particular as rods or tubes having or consisting of a second medium, the second medium having a second refractive index, or the second type being configured as voids in the first type of structural elements, preferably with the voids forming the second refractive index.

[0055] The optical element may include one structural element of a first type and a plurality of structural elements of a second type, the first type being configured in particular as a monolithic substrate having or consisting of a first medium, the first medium having a first refractive index, and the second type being configured as voids in the substrate, preferably forming a second refractive index by the voids.

[0056] As already explained, the structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, may be arranged non-uniformly to produce lateral Anderson localization of the primary light and / or of the secondary light. The structural elements may, for example, be arranged truly randomly. On the other hand, the non-uniformity may be prescribed by a predefined rule.

[0057] For example, the structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, may have a non-uniform arrangement that is uniquely defined by a predefined rule, the non-uniform arrangement being uniquely defined by a predefined rule: (a) constituted as a periodic positioning of structural elements, in particular of their cross-sectional areas, the periodically positioned structural elements with respect to one another having a variation that is non-uniform but uniquely defined and constituted by a predefined rule, the periodically positioned structural elements with respect to one another preferably constituted as a variation of the type of structural elements, of the refractive index of the structural elements and / or of the geometry (e.g. of the shape, diameter and / or of the substructures) of the structural elements, (b) constituted as a non-periodic positioning of structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, the non-periodic positioning of the structural elements being non-uniform but uniquely defined and configured according to a predetermined rule, and optionally the structural elements further have non-uniform but uniquely defined and configured according to a predetermined rule variant with respect to one another, and / or (c) configured as positioning of structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, at periodic locations, some of the periodic locations being assigned and some of the periodic locations not assigned, the assignment being uniquely defined and configured by a predefined rule, and optionally the structural elements further having variations with respect to one another which are non-uniform but uniquely defined and configured by a predefined rule.

[0058] In one embodiment of the invention, the remote sensing device includes a microwave generator and / or a light receiving / light transmitting unit, in particular a microwave antenna for directing microwaves into the diamond, nitrogen-vacancy centres and / or excitable material.

[0059] The remote sensing device preferably includes an evaluation unit for evaluating the secondary light received by the secondary light receiver in order to determine an external measurand using the received secondary light.

[0060] The invention further relates to a remote sensing unit comprising an optical waveguide and a light receiving / light transmitting unit.

[0061] The optical waveguide has a proximal end and a distal end and is configured to transmit a primary light from the proximal end to the distal end and / or to transmit a second wavelength, preferably having a different wavelength, produced by the primary light at the distal end back to the proximal end.

[0062] At the distal end of the optical waveguide, a light receiving / light transmitting unit is provided, inter alia, for receiving the primary light from the distal end of the optical waveguide and transmitting the secondary light to the distal end.

[0063] The optical waveguide is specifically specified to have a numerical aperture greater than 0.4, or preferably greater than 0.5 or greater than 0.6.

[0064] The remote sensing unit may further include one or more of the features described above in relation to the remote sensing device.

[0065] The optical waveguide of the remote sensing unit and / or the remote sensing device is preferably configured to transmit the primary light from the proximal end to the distal end. However, it can alternatively be specified that the primary light reaches the distal end and thus the receiving / transmitting unit in another way, for example by directing the primary light as a free beam or via a separate feed fiber to the receiving / transmitting unit at the distal end of the optical waveguide. Thus, the remote sensing unit and / or the remote sensing device can include a separate feed waveguide configured to direct the primary light to the distal end of the optical waveguide.

[0066] The invention further relates to an endoscope including a remote sensing device or unit as described above.

[0067] In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0068] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a distal end of an optical waveguide with a light receiving / light transmitting unit mounted at the distal end for receiving primary axial light. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a distal end of an optical waveguide with a light receiving / light transmitting unit mechanically attached to the distal end for receiving primary light in a radial direction. [Diagram 3] 1A-1C are schematic diagrams showing various possibilities for optical waveguides having structural elements or their cross-sectional areas that are non-uniform but uniquely defined according to a predefined rule. [Figure 4] 1 shows a schematic diagram of various aspects of the variation of structural elements or their cross-sectional areas and the possibilities for the combination of these aspects. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary possibility for an optical waveguide having structural elements or their cross-sectional areas that are non-uniform but uniquely defined and configured according to a predetermined rule, in which the waveguide includes one structural element of a first type and multiple structural elements of a second type and possibly other types. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing various possibilities for an optical waveguide having structural elements or their cross-sectional areas that are non-uniform but uniquely defined and configured according to a predetermined rule, the waveguide including a plurality of structural elements of a first type and a plurality of structural elements of a second type and possibly other types. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an optical waveguide having two types of structural elements whose cross-sectional areas are arranged non-uniformly distributed in a grid. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram of a distal end of an optical waveguide having an excitable material extending laterally across the entire width of the optical waveguide with a light receiving / light transmitting unit attached to the distal end. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0069] 1 shows the distal end of an optical waveguide 1 with a receiver / transmitter unit 2 mechanically attached thereto. The receiver / transmitter unit 2 includes an excitable material 20 that, in operation, receives primary light 3 transmitted by the optical waveguide 1 and transmits secondary light 4.

[0070] In the illustrated embodiment, the light receiving / light sending unit 2 is configured as diamond and the excitable material 20 is configured as a sub-region of diamond provided with one or more nitrogen-vacancy centres (NV centres), which are characterised by the replacement of one carbon atom by one nitrogen atom (N) and the deficiency of one neighbouring carbon atom (V) in the diamond grid.

[0071] Excitation here takes place by primary light 3, for example having a wavelength of 532 nm or between 515 nm and 550 nm. The secondary light 4 can have a wavelength between 600 nm and 800 nm. The optical waveguide 1 is therefore preferably selected such that a transmission of at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, is obtained over the length of the optical waveguide 1 for the wavelength of 532 nm and for the wavelengths in the range of 600 nm to 800 nm, respectively.

[0072] The NV centres or excitable material 20 are in this example locally confined and arranged in the light receiving / light sending unit 2. In this example, the excitable material 20 is arranged laterally over a width B which is smaller than the width of the optical waveguide 1, in particular smaller than 40% or smaller than 30% thereof. This allows the excitable material 20 to be found only laterally locally confined in the light receiving / light sending unit 2, in this example diamond.

[0073] The optical waveguide 1 is configured in this embodiment as an Anderson waveguide and is therefore capable of transmitting first order light 3 in a laterally localized manner.

[0074] Thereby, the laterally localized transmitted primary light 3 can excite the excitable material 20 arranged only locally in the laterally direction, and the lateral position of the primary light 3 corresponds to the lateral position of the excitable material 20. Here, the reception of the primary light 3 by the excitable material is performed in the axial direction.

[0075] However, the excitable material 20 causes the secondary light 4 to be emitted in various directions, for example also in the radial direction. Due to the relatively large numerical aperture of the optical waveguide 1, in this case larger than 0.5, a high collection efficiency for the secondary light 4 can be achieved.

[0076] To further increase the light collection efficiency, it is specified that the light receiving / light sending unit 2, here diamond, has a reflective coating 22 applied to its outer surface. The light receiving / light sending unit 2, here diamond, further has an annular chamfer 24 for deflecting the secondary light, which can also be equipped with a coating 22.

[0077] In Fig. 2, the distal end of the optical waveguide 1 as shown in Fig. 1 is shown, in which the lateral position of the primary light 3 is different from the lateral position of the excitable material 20 arranged in a locally localized laterally limited manner. In particular, the lateral position of the primary light 3 may be located in the area of ​​an annular reflector or chamfer 24 of the receiving / light sending unit 2. This allows the excitable material 20 to be excitable in an axial direction (i.e. perpendicular to the cross-sectional area of ​​the distal end of the optical waveguide) in a spatially limited manner. Thus, the excitable material 20 extending over a height H can be excited only over a portion of this height H, which allows for gradient magnetic field measurements.

[0078] 3 to 6, various possible features of the non-uniformity of the structural elements of the optical waveguide are again exemplarily explained below. As explained, the structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, may on the one hand be characterized by a non-uniformity in relation to one another, and on the other hand, the non-uniformity of the structural elements may be characterized by a regularity in the sense that it is uniquely predetermined, in particular deterministic and / or reproducible and not random.

[0079] For example, the structural elements or their cross-sectional areas can have a non-uniform arrangement that is uniquely defined by a predetermined rule, have non-uniform geometries that are uniquely defined by a predetermined rule, and / or have non-uniform refractive indices that are uniquely defined by a predetermined rule.

[0080] In Fig. 3, various possibilities for realizing a non-uniform arrangement, which is uniquely defined by a predefined rule, are shown on the basis of a tree chart. In Fig. 3a, as a starting point, a structural element 10a is shown, which may be configured, for example, as a matrix material (it is also possible for the structural element 10a to be configured as air or for there to be no structural element 10a). In Fig. 3b, another starting point derived from this is shown, which has a structural element 10a and a number of periodic positions P for assigning the structural element, which in this case have a periodic positioning. In Fig. 3d, another starting point derived from Fig. 3a is shown, which has a structural element 10a and a number of aperiodic positions P for assigning the structural element, whereby aperiodic positioning is achieved. Starting from the starting points shown in Fig. 3b and Fig. 3d, a waveguide according to the invention is obtained by assigning positions P to the structural elements, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0081] Starting from Fig. 3b, Fig. 3c shows a waveguide 1 with structural elements 10b, 10c whose cross-sectional areas have a periodic positioning and / or are located at a periodic position. The waveguide shown in Fig. 3c has three types of structural elements 10a, 10b, 10c, each of which may have a different refractive index. For example, the structural element 10a can be configured as a matrix material, and the structural elements 10b and 10c can be voids in the matrix material filled with materials of different refractive index.

[0082] However, it is also possible that one of the materials of the structural elements 10b and 10c again corresponds to the matrix material of the structural element 10a or that (filled) voids corresponding to these structural elements are absent in the matrix material (see further on in FIG. 5a for this).It is also possible that the structural element 10a is configured as air or does not exist, and that the structural elements 10b and 10c are adjacent to each other (see further on in FIG. 6a for this).

[0083] The waveguide 1 shown in FIG. 3c has periodically positioned structural elements 10b, 10c. However, the structural elements 10b, 10c are of different types, and the allocation of the different types in the regular grid is non-uniform, but is prescribed by a predefined rule. In particular, the variation of the structural elements 10b, 10c with respect to one another is therefore non-uniform, but is prescribed by a predefined rule. The structural elements 10b, 10c can in particular be referred to as deterministically disordered. Thus, in FIG. 3c, one case of a waveguide 1 is shown, in which the structural elements or their cross-sectional area have a non-uniform arrangement, which is uniquely prescribed by a predefined rule. The concept of arrangement here can be understood in the sense that the selection or allocation of the different types of structural elements 10b, 10c in the respective periodic positions is non-uniform, but is prescribed by a predefined rule, i.e. is not random.

[0084] It is further conceivable that the structural elements 10b, 10c do not differ with respect to their refractive index, i.e., have the same refractive index or are made of the same material, but vary with respect to another side (see FIG. 4 further below).It is further conceivable that the structural elements 10b, 10c differ with respect to their refractive index and with respect to another side.

[0085] Starting from FIG. 3d, FIG. 3e shows a waveguide 1 with two types of structural elements, namely a structural element 10a, which can be configured, for example, as a matrix material, and a number of structural elements 10b, which can be configured, for example, as voids, in particular filled in the matrix material. The cross-sectional areas of the structural elements 10b are positioned aperiodically in this case. The positioning of the structural elements 10b can here represent a non-uniformity that is defined by a predefined rule. The second type of structural elements 10b can in particular have a non-uniform, but defined position by a predefined rule. Thus, FIG. 3e shows one case of a waveguide 1, in which the structural elements or their cross-sectional areas have a non-uniform arrangement that is uniquely defined by a predefined rule. The concept of arrangement here can be understood in the sense that these structural elements or some of these structural elements or their cross-sectional areas are positioned aperiodically and the position is defined by a predefined rule, i.e. not random. It is particularly specified in the case of Fig. 3e that the second type of structural elements 10b have a uniform refractive index, have a uniform geometric shape and / or are uniformly configured with respect to the other sides, in particular identically configured, in which case one can speak of a uniform allocation of non-periodic positions.

[0086] In contrast, Fig. 3f shows, starting from Fig. 3d, a waveguide 1 in which a non-periodic positioning of the structural elements and at the same time structural elements 10b, 10c of different types are provided. In this case, the substance of uniformity, which is uniquely defined by a predefined rule, can consist in the non-periodic positioning or in the allocation of the structural elements 10b, 10c, i.e. in the variation of the structural elements 10b, 10c with respect to one another, or in the positioning and allocation.

[0087] 4 shows various options of variations that structural elements can have with respect to one another (middle row) and an exemplary, but not exhaustive, option of exemplary combinations of variations (bottom row). The illustrated variations can in particular be used to assign positions to structural elements, where this assignment is uniquely defined by a predefined rule, even though it is non-uniformly configured. Structural elements whose cross-sectional areas are localized in periodic or non-periodic positions, e.g. in a matrix material, can vary with respect to one another, with respect to their shape, with respect to their type or refractive index, with respect to their substructure, and / or with respect to their rotation (and / or local position).

[0088] For example, the variation of the geometry of the structural elements, in particular of their cross-sectional area, may be configured as a variation of the shape (number of corners, diameter). The variation of the geometry may also be configured as a variation of the substructure. The substance of the substructure may in particular consist in that the structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional area, have at least two regions with different refractive indices, in particular a core and a surrounding cladding (core-clad system).

[0089] In combination, for example, a first type of structuring element can have a polygonal cladding and / or a polygonal core, and a second type of structuring element can have a circular cladding and a polygonal core (bottom row, first column), in which case these two types of structuring elements can be used, for example, to assign periodic or aperiodic positions.

[0090] Further, for example, the first type of structural element has a first refractive index and a first diameter and the second type of structural element has a second refractive index and a second diameter (row below, second column), or the first type of structural element has a core-clad system with a core having a first diameter and the second type of structural element has a core-clad system with a core having a second diameter (row below, third column), or the first type of structural element has a core-clad system with a core having a first refractive index and the second type of structural element has a core-clad system with a core having a second refractive index. (row below, fourth column), or the first type of structural element has a first diameter and a rotation about a point of rotation located outside the structural element and the second type of structural element has a second diameter and a rotation about a point of rotation located outside the structural element (row below, fifth column), or the first type of structural element has a core-clad system with a centered core and the second type of structural element has a core-clad system with a core having a rotation about a point of rotation located outside the core (row below, sixth column), and the like.

[0091] In Fig. 5a, a waveguide 1 is shown which corresponds in some aspects to the waveguide of Fig. 3c. The waveguide has a first structural element 10a, which can be configured, for example, as a matrix material. The waveguide further has a number of structural elements 10b, which can be configured, for example, as filamentary voids in the matrix material. The structural elements 10b are located at periodic locations, but not all periodic locations are assigned structural elements. Thus, in Fig. 5a, one case of a waveguide 1 is shown, in which the structural elements or their cross-sectional areas have a non-uniform arrangement, which is uniquely determined by a predefined rule. Here, the concept of arrangement can be understood in the sense that these structural elements or some of these structural elements or their cross-sectional areas are located at periodic locations, some of the periodic locations are assigned and some of the periodic locations are not assigned, and this allocation is uniquely determined and configured by a predefined rule and is therefore not random.

[0092] In Fig. 5b, a waveguide 1 is shown, which corresponds in some aspects to the waveguide of Fig. 3f. The waveguide has a first structural element 10a, which can be configured, for example, as a matrix material. The waveguide further has a number of structural elements 10b with a first diameter and a number of structural elements 10c with a second diameter. The structural elements are positioned aperiodically in this embodiment, which aperiodic positioning may be configured in a non-uniform but uniquely defined by a predefined rule. Thus, Fig. 5b shows one case of a waveguide 1, in which the structural elements or their cross-sectional area have a non-uniform arrangement that is uniquely defined by a predefined rule. The concept of arrangement here can be understood in the sense that these structural elements or some of these structural elements or their cross-sectional areas are positioned non-periodically, this non-periodic position being determined by a predetermined rule, i.e. not random, and / or the structural elements have variations relative to one another that are non-uniform but uniquely determined and configured by a predetermined rule, this variation being configured, for example, as two types of structural elements having different diameters.

[0093] In Fig. 6 several waveguides 1 are shown, each of which has a plurality of structural elements of a first type and a plurality of structural elements of a second type (and sometimes of another type in Fig. 6d). The waveguides 1 shown in this figure in particular do not have a matrix material, but rather the structural elements are adjacent to each other. What the waveguides 1 shown in Fig. 6 have in common is that the different types of structural elements, and in particular their cross-sectional areas, are arranged in a periodically positioned manner, but the allocation of the periodic positions to the types of structural elements is non-uniform, but uniquely defined by a predefined rule. The waveguide 1 shown in Fig. 6 is therefore distinguished in that the structural elements or their cross-sectional areas have a non-uniform arrangement that is uniquely defined by a predefined rule, where the notion of arrangement can be understood in the sense that the selection or allocation of the different types of structural elements in the periodic positions is non-uniform, but defined by a predefined rule, i.e. not random.

[0094] FIG. 6a, for example, shows an exemplary waveguide 1 with a number of structural elements 10a and a number of structural elements 10b having different refractive indices.

[0095] In figure 6b a waveguide 1 is shown with a number of structural elements 10d and a number of structural elements 10e with different refractive indices and different substructures, the substructures being defined by substructure elements 10a and 10b (with refractive indices a and b) or substructure elements 10a and 10c (with refractive indices a and c). The substance of the substructure is that the structural elements 10d and 10e are formed as a core-clad system, where the cores are different.

[0096] 6c similarly shows a waveguide 1 with a number of structural elements 10d and a number of structural elements 10e with different refractive indices and different substructures, the substructures being defined by substructure elements 10a and 10b (with refractive indices a and b) or substructure elements 10c and 10b (with refractive indices c and b). The substance of the substructure is that structural elements 10d and 10e are configured as a core-clad system, where the claddings are different.

[0097] 6d similarly shows a waveguide 1 with a number of structural elements 10e, a number of structural elements 10f, a number of structural elements 10g and a number of structural elements 10h with different refractive indices and different substructures, the substructures being defined by substructure elements 10a and 10b (with refractive indices a and b), or substructure elements 10a and 10c (with refractive indices a and c), or substructure elements 10b and 10d (with refractive indices b and d), or substructure elements 10c and 10d (with refractive indices c and d). The substance of the substructures lies in that the structural elements 10e, 10f, 10g and 10h are configured as a core-clad system, where both the cladding and the core are different.

[0098] FIG. 6e shows a waveguide 1 with a number of structural elements 10c and a number of structural elements 10d having different geometries and different substructures, where the substructure of structural element 10c is determined by substructure elements 10a and 10b (having refractive indices a and b and a first core diameter) and the substructure of structural element 10d is determined by substructure elements 10a and 10b (having refractive indices a and b and a second core diameter).

[0099] FIG. 6f shows a waveguide 1 with multiple structural elements 10c and multiple structural elements 10d having different geometries and different substructures, where the substructure of structural element 10c is defined by substructural elements 10a and 10b (having refractive indices a and b and a centrally positioned core) and the substructure of structural element 10d is defined by substructural elements 10a and 10b (having refractive indices a and b and an eccentrically positioned core).

[0100] 7 shows an exemplary three-dimensional view of an optical waveguide 1 with a number of structural elements of a first type 10a and a number of structural elements of a second type 10b, in this example the cross-sectional areas of the structural elements being arranged in a periodic grid.

[0101] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a remote sensing unit with an optical waveguide 1 and a light receiving / light sending unit 2 attached to the distal end of the optical waveguide 1. The light receiving / light sending unit 2 includes an excitable material 20 in this embodiment, which extends in the radial direction substantially over the entire width of the optical waveguide. Alternatively, the excitable material can be specified to extend over a width corresponding to at least 50 percent, preferably at least 75 percent, of the width of the light receiving / light sending unit 2 and / or the optical waveguide 1. In many embodiments, the excitable material extends in the axial direction (i.e. perpendicular to the cross-sectional area of ​​the distal end of the optical waveguide) over only a portion of the light receiving / light sending unit 2, for example over less than 90%, in particular over less than 75%, of the height of the light receiving / light sending unit 2. However, preferably, the excitable material extends in the axial direction over the entire light receiving / light sending unit 2.

[0102] In particular, the light receiving / light sending unit 2 can be configured, for example, as a diamond layer, which extends, for example, over the entire distal cut face. The excitable material can be configured, for example, as an occupation having an NV center, which is homogeneous in at least the radial direction.

[0103] In particular in this described embodiment, the light receiving / light sending unit 2 and / or the excitable material 20 can be fully illuminated with the primary light 3. The secondary light 4 emitted from the light receiving / light sending unit 2 to the distal end of the optical waveguide 1 can then have a different intensity in the radial direction, i.e. along the width of the excitable material 20. This secondary light 4 can then be laterally localized and transmitted by the optical waveguide 1, which is preferably also configured as an Anderson waveguide.

[0104] The embodiment described thus makes it possible to realize a remote sensing unit forming a sensor with spatial resolution in the radial direction, for example a two-dimensional sensor.

[0105] The specifications of German Patent Application Publication No. 102020116444 and International Application No. PCT / EP2021 / 066986 are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A remote sensing device, comprising: a primary light source for transmitting primary light having a first wavelength; an optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, the optical waveguide being configured to transmit the primary light from the proximal end to the distal end and to transmit secondary light produced by the primary light at the distal end, the secondary light having a second wavelength, back to the proximal end; a light receiving / light transmitting unit disposed at the distal end of the optical waveguide for receiving the primary light from the distal end of the optical waveguide and transmitting the secondary light to the distal end of the optical waveguide; a secondary light receiver disposed at the proximal end of the optical waveguide for receiving the secondary light from the proximal end of the optical waveguide; Including, The optical waveguide has a numerical aperture greater than 0.

5. Remote sensing equipment.

2. the light guide is adapted for a laterally localised transmission of the primary light and / or the secondary light, in particular for a laterally spatially resolved transmission, so that the light guide forms an image guide, and / or the optical waveguide includes a plurality of structural elements each extending from the proximal end to the distal end and partially across a cross-section of the optical waveguide, whereby a plurality of cross-sectional areas are defined in the cross-section of the optical waveguide, each corresponding to a cross-section of an individual structural element; and / or the structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, are arranged non-uniformly in order to produce a lateral Anderson localization of the primary light and / or of the secondary light, 2. The remote sensing device according to claim 1.

3. the light receiving / light transmitting unit includes a material at the distal end of the optical waveguide that allows receiving the primary light and transmitting the secondary light; and / or the light receiving / light transmitting unit includes an excitable material at the distal end of the optical waveguide having an electronic structure that allows excitation by the primary light and attenuation with transmission of the secondary light; said excitation is preferably possible by primary light having a wavelength between 200 nm and 20 μm and / or said attenuation is preferably possible with the delivery of secondary light having a wavelength between 200 nm and 20 μm, The energy state is preferably configured such that an external measurand can be measured using the received secondary light, e.g. the external measurand is selected from the group comprising: magnetic field, conductivity, temperature, amount or concentration of a substance, e.g. oxygen saturation.

3. The remote sensing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the light receiving / light transmitting unit includes diamond having one or more nitrogen-vacancy centers as an excitable material at the distal end of the optical waveguide, the excitable material having an electronic structure that allows excitation by the primary light and decay with delivery of the secondary light; said excitation is preferably enabled by primary light having a wavelength between 500 nm and 560 nm, for example 532 nm, and / or said attenuation is preferably enabled with the delivery of secondary light having a wavelength between 600 nm and 800 nm, The energy state is preferably configured such that, using the received secondary light, in particular under the influence of an external magnetic field, preferably under the incidence of microwaves, the external magnetic field can be measured using a decomposition of spectral lines and / or an energy shift. A remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the light receiving / light sending unit, in particular the nitrogen-vacancy centre and / or the excitable material, is arranged at the distal end of the optical waveguide in such a way that a spatially limited receiving of the primary light, in particular a spatially limited excitation by the primary light, is possible when a laterally localised transmission of the primary light is effected by the optical waveguide; and / or the light receiving / light sending unit, in particular the diamond, has a reflector, e.g. a chamfer and / or a coating, for deflecting the primary light and / or the secondary light, in particular so that a spatially limited reception of the primary light is possible perpendicular to the cross-sectional area of ​​the distal end of the optical waveguide; A remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. the light receiving / light transmitting unit, in particular the diamond, is mechanically bonded to the distal end of the optical waveguide; the light receiving / light sending unit, in particular the diamond, preferably extends over at least 50% of the cross section of the distal end of the optical waveguide, particularly preferably over at least 75% of the cross section of the distal end of the optical waveguide, The nitrogen-vacancy centres or the excitable material are preferably arranged in a spatial sub-region of the light receiving / light sending unit or of the diamond, for example only in a radially inner sub-region surrounded by a radially outer sub-region free of excitable material or free of nitrogen-vacancy centres, At least the radially outer partial area of ​​the light receiving / light sending unit or of the diamond is preferably provided with a reflector for deflecting the primary light and / or the secondary light, for example a chamfer and / or a coating, by means of the reflector preferably secondary light, in particular radially emitted secondary light, is deflected towards the distal end of the optical waveguide in order to increase the collection efficiency of the optical waveguide, and / or by means of the reflector primary light, in particular laterally localized primary light, is deflected towards the nitrogen-vacancy centres or towards the excitable material. A remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. the nitrogen-vacancy centre or the excitable material extends in a radial direction substantially over the entire width of the light receiving / light sending unit, in particular the diamond, or over at least 50% of the cross-section of the light receiving / light sending unit, in particular the diamond, preferably over at least 75% of the cross-section, the nitrogen-vacancy centres or the excitable material extend radially across substantially the entire width of the cross-section of the optical waveguide, or across at least 50% of the cross-section of the optical waveguide, preferably across at least 75% of the cross-section; A remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. the light receiving / light sending unit, in particular the diamond, the nitrogen-vacancy centre and / or the excitable material, is arranged at the distal end of the optical waveguide such that at least 0.5%, preferably at least 5%, of the secondary light at the distal end can be coupled into the optical waveguide, in particular after deflection by the chamfer or the reflector; and / or the light receiving / light sending unit, in particular the nitrogen-vacancy centre and / or the excitable material, is arranged over only a partial area of ​​the cross section of the distal end of the optical waveguide, preferably over a partial area of ​​less than 50% of the cross section, particularly preferably over a partial area of ​​less than 25% of the cross section, A remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. the optical waveguide has a cross section of between 30 μm and 5000 μm, preferably between 50 μm and 3000 μm; and / or the optical waveguide has a length of 10 mm to 10,000 mm, preferably 50 mm to 2,000 mm; and / or the optical waveguide is at least partially flexible and / or at least partially rigid; A remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. said optical waveguide has a transmittance for a wavelength of 532 nm of at least 30%, preferably at least 40%, even more preferably at least 50%; and / or said optical waveguide having a transmittance for wavelengths in the range of 600 nm to 800 nm of at least 30%, preferably at least 40%, even more preferably at least 50%; and / or the optical waveguide has an attenuation of less than 50 dB / m, in particular less than 10 dB / m, in particular less than 1 dB / m, for a wavelength of 532 nm and / or for a wavelength in the range from 600 nm to 800 nm; and / or The optical waveguide is configured to maintain polarization, and / or the optical waveguide is configured to be non-magnetic. A remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. the optical waveguide comprises at least two different types of structural elements, a first type having a first refractive index and a second type having a second refractive index; The optical waveguide preferably comprises a plurality of structural elements of the first type and a plurality of structural elements of the second type, the structural elements of the first type being configured in particular as rods or tubes with or consisting of a first medium, the first medium having the first refractive index, the structural elements of the second type being configured in particular as rods or tubes with or consisting of a second medium, the second medium having the second refractive index, or the structural elements of the second type being configured as voids in the structural elements of the first type, the voids preferably forming the second refractive index, and / or The optical waveguide preferably comprises one structural element of the first type and a plurality of structural elements of the second type, the structural element of the first type being in particular configured as a monolithic substrate comprising or consisting of a first medium, the first medium having the first refractive index, the structural elements of the second type being configured as voids in the substrate, the voids preferably forming the second refractive index. A remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, have a non-uniform arrangement that is uniquely defined by a predefined rule, the non-uniform arrangement being uniquely defined by the predefined rule, (a) It is configured as a periodic positioning of structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, said structural elements periodically positioned relative to one another having a variation that is non-uniform but uniquely defined and configured according to a predetermined rule, The variation of the periodically positioned structural elements relative to one another is preferably configured as a variation of the type of the structural elements, of the refractive index of the structural elements and / or of the geometry (e.g. of the shape, diameter and / or substructure) of the structural elements, (b) constituted by a non-periodic positioning of structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, the non-periodic positioning of said structural elements being non-uniform but uniquely defined and constituted by a predetermined rule; Optionally, the structural elements further have heterogeneous but uniquely defined and structured variations with respect to one another according to predefined rules; and / or (c) constituted as a positioning of structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, at periodic locations, some of said periodic locations being assigned and some of said periodic locations not being assigned, the assignment being uniquely defined and constituted by a predefined rule, Optionally, the structural elements further have heterogeneous but uniquely defined and structured variations with respect to one another according to a predefined rule. A remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. the structural elements, in particular their cross-sectional areas, are arranged, preferably non-uniformly, particularly preferably non-uniformly but uniquely defined by a predetermined rule, in such a way that the optical waveguide has a numerical aperture of more than 0.4, preferably more than 0.5, particularly preferably more than 0.6; A remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. the remote sensing device further comprises a microwave generator and / or a microwave antenna for directing microwaves onto the light receiving / light transmitting unit, in particular onto the diamond, the nitrogen-vacancy centres and / or the excitable material; and / or the remote sensing device further includes an evaluation unit for evaluating the secondary light received by the secondary light receiver to identify the external measurand using the received secondary light. A remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A remote sensing unit, the remote sensing unit comprising: a waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, the waveguide being configured to transmit a primary light from the proximal end to the distal end and / or to transmit a second wavelength, having a different wavelength, produced by the primary light at the distal end back to the proximal end; a light receiving / light transmitting unit arranged at the distal end of the optical waveguide, in particular for receiving the primary light from the distal end of the optical waveguide and transmitting the secondary light to the distal end; Including, The optical waveguide has a numerical aperture greater than 0.

5. Remote sensing unit.

16. The method comprises one or more features according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

16. The remote sensing unit of claim 15.

17. An endoscope comprising a remote sensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 or a remote sensing unit according to claim 15 or 16.

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