Adaptive Illumination System for Imaging Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illumination systems for imaging applications struggle to adapt to varying demands for illumination zone size, intensity uniformity, and illumination angle across different applications without requiring hardware changes.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive illumination system comprising at least three optical elements, including a first negatively powered optical element and a second positively powered optical element, with an adjustable distance between them, allowing for adjustment of illumination characteristics such as beam waist, focal distance, and cone angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a universal illumination system is designed to suit various demands from different applications, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustability by making the distance between optical elements variable rather than fixed. The illumination system allows continuous adjustment of optical element spacing to adapt to different imaging requirements (transmission vs. fluorescence), enabling a single system to provide multiple illumination modes without requiring multiple fixed configurations or complex switching mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If the illumination angle is increased to support high resolution performance, then imaging resolution is improved, but illumination uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the illumination angle by varying the distance between optical elements. For transmission imaging, a larger illumination angle is configured to maximize resolution. For fluorescence imaging, the system reconfigures to provide higher uniformity. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same system to optimize for different priorities based on the imaging mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the illumination system, specifically the spacing between optical elements, to alter the illumination characteristics. By adjusting this parameter, the system can transform the illumination profile from one optimized for resolution (higher angle) to one optimized for uniformity (more distributed), thereby adapting to different imaging requirements without hardware changes.
3Volume of moving object
If the beam waist is increased to reduce light source size, then packaging size is reduced, but illumination intensity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes parameter changes in the optical path, specifically expanding the beam waist through optical element spacing adjustment. This allows the use of smaller light source optics while maintaining adequate illumination intensity at the target plane. The beam expansion compensates for the reduced source size, enabling compact packaging without severe intensity loss.
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
The adaptive illumination system enables flexible adjustment of illumination modes to suit various applications, reducing the size and cost of the light source while maintaining performance, and supporting high-resolution imaging across different illumination schemes.
Implementation Method 1
The adaptive illuminator is designed to adjust the distance between the first optical element and the second optical element to adjust one or more illumination characteristics of the adaptive illumination system
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for an adaptive illumination system. In one example, an adaptive illumination system comprises an adaptive illuminator comprising at least three optical elements including a first optical element, a second optical element, and a third optical element, wherein a distance between the first optical element and the second optical element is adjustable.