Acousto-Optic Beam Combiner for Microscopy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical beam combiners face issues such as power loss with color beam splitters, incompatibility with unpolarized light sources, slow switching times, complexity, inflexibility, and difficulty in implementing a compact and stable structure.
Innovation Solution
An optical arrangement using an Acousto Optical Tunable Filter (AOTF) for beam combination, allowing for fast computer-controlled switching and integration of acousto-optical elements, with a compensation element to correct aberrations and a modular design for flexibility and ease of adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If color beam splitters are used to combine light beams of different wavelengths, then beam combination is achieved, but power loss occurs in the white light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical color beam splitter system with an acousto-optic beam combining system. Acousto-optic modulators use sound waves to diffract and combine light beams, eliminating the need for physical color beam splitters and reducing power loss while maintaining beam combination capability across different wavelengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by using acousto-optic modulation frequency control instead of fixed optical path splitting. By adjusting the acoustic frequency in the acousto-optic modulator, different wavelengths can be combined efficiently without the inherent power losses of color beam splitter materials.
2Adaptability or versatility
If polarization beam splitters are used for beam combination, then beam combination is achieved, but compatibility with unpolarized light sources is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The acousto-optic beam combining system provides universal compatibility with various light sources including unpolarized, polarized, and laser sources. The acousto-optic modulator responds to acoustic waves rather than polarization states, making it universally applicable to different light source types without requiring polarization control mechanisms.
3Loss of time
If computer-controlled switching is implemented in known arrangements, then beam characteristic switching is enabled, but switching times become too long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical or electro-mechanical switching mechanisms with acousto-optic modulation. Acousto-optic modulators can switch beam characteristics electronically through acoustic frequency control, achieving switching times in the microsecond range or faster, which is significantly quicker than mechanical switching systems while maintaining full computer controllability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If complex beam combining arrangements are used to achieve flexible switching, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and adjustment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple beam combining functions into a single acousto-optic modulator system. By combining multiple wavelengths and controlling multiple beams through one acousto-optic device with electronic frequency control, the system achieves high adaptability while reducing the number of separate optical components and simplifying the overall arrangement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables flexible and efficient beam combination with rapid switching times, reduced complexity, and a compact, stable structure, suitable for applications like microscopy, while minimizing costs and simplifying control.
Implementation Method 1
a beam combiner having an AOTF (Acousto Optical Tunable Filter) in which a mechanical wave or sound wave can be generated for deflecting or diffracting light rays
Implementation Method 2
a diffracted first-order beam with a first wavelength and a diffracted zero-order beam with a second wavelength are deflected
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a beam combiner for combining at least two light beams (1, 2) into a combined light beam (3), particularly in the beam path of an optical arrangement, preferably of a microscope, characterized by a flexible beam combiner with simple design by means of an acousto-optical element (4), in which a mechanical wave or sound wave can be generated for deflecting or bending light beams in such a manner that a first light beam (1) entering the acousto-optical element (4) and at least one second light beam (2) entering the acousto-optical element (4) exit the acousto-optical element (4) in a collinear manner as a combined light beam (3). The invention also discloses a light source with such a beam combiner.