Adjustable Lens System for Aberration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lens systems in ellipsometers, polarimeters, and spectrophotometers face challenges in minimizing aberration effects on beam focus without physically moving the source, sample, or detector, particularly when dealing with finite size sources and varying conjugate ratios.
Innovation Solution
A lens system comprising at least two groupings of lens elements, with adjustable spacing between them, allowing for optimal configuration to minimize aberration effects by adjusting the distance between these groupings, thereby achieving a substantially minimized beam spot size at the image plane, even when the object distance changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a fixed lens system configuration is used, then the structure is simple and stable, but the aberration effects cannot be minimized for varying conjugate ratios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the lens system adjustable rather than fixed. Specifically, the spacing between lens elements can be varied to optimize the conjugate ratio for different measurement conditions, allowing the system to adapt to minimizing aberration effects while maintaining measurement precision across varying conjugate ratios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing variation in the spacing between lens elements as a controllable parameter. This enables optimization of the conjugate ratio for different measurement scenarios, thereby minimizing aberration effects and improving beam focus precision without requiring a completely different lens system for each condition
2Measurement precision
If the source, sample or detector is physically moved to adjust conjugate ratio, then the aberration effects can be minimized, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by providing an adjustable lens system where the spacing between lens elements can be modified to achieve optimal conjugate ratios. This eliminates the need to physically move the source, sample, or detector, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving beam focus precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the lens element spacing as an intermediary parameter to achieve the desired conjugate ratio adjustment. Instead of moving the source, sample, or detector directly, the system adjusts the spacing between lens elements as an intermediate mechanism, simplifying the operation while maintaining measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If a single lens element is used, then the device complexity is low, but the aberration effects are more pronounced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the lens system into multiple lens elements rather than using a single element. This segmentation allows for better control over aberration effects and improved beam focus precision, while the adjustable spacing between elements provides flexibility to optimize performance for different conjugate ratios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing variation in the spacing between lens elements. This enables optimization of the conjugate ratio for different measurement scenarios, thereby minimizing aberration effects and improving beam focus precision while maintaining manageable device complexity through adjustable rather than fixed configuration
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
This approach enables flexible and effective minimization of aberration effects, ensuring a consistently focused beam spot size across different conjugate ratios without requiring physical movement of the source, sample, or detector, enhancing the precision of imaging in these instruments.
Implementation Method 1
a lens system located at an object distance from said source of electromagnetic radiation, such that an image of said source is formed at an image plane at an image distance from said lens system
Implementation Method 2
adjusting the spacing between at least two, of the at least two, groupings of lens elements so that the effects of aberration, hence, spot size of the beam where it impinges on said image plane become substantially minimized
Data Source
AI summary
A lens system which allows easy relative adjustment of the position of at least two elements therein to minimize the effects of aberration, having particularly relevant application in ellipsometers, polarimeters, reflectometers and spectrophotometers finite size source is imaged onto a sample.