Aperture Segmentation for Target-Solvent Separation in Optical Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical imaging techniques fail to noncontactly acquire information about targets in solvents, such as shape, size, or physical properties, due to limitations in distinguishing targets from solvents, especially in water treatment processes where flocs are difficult to measure promptly and accurately.
Innovation Solution
An optical imaging apparatus with an illuminator emitting parallel light of multiple wavelengths, an aperture with a light-blocking region and a passage region, and an imaging element that captures diffracted light, allowing for the separation of target and solvent information by blocking parallel light and allowing diffracted light to pass through, enabling noncontact acquisition of target properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional optical imaging techniques are used to image targets in solvent, then the imaging process is simple, but the target information cannot be distinguished from the solvent background
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is divided into a light-blocking region and a passage region, spatially separating the detection of direct light and diffracted light. This segmentation enables the system to isolate target-related diffracted light from solvent background, improving measurement precision without requiring complex additional components
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the diffracted light component that contains target information by blocking the direct light path. The aperture selectively transmits diffracted light while blocking parallel light, extracting the useful signal from the mixture of light components to achieve target-solvent separation
2Measurement precision
If the aperture blocks all parallel light to eliminate solvent background, then target-solvent separation is achieved, but diffracted light intensity becomes too weak for clear imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture applies different properties to different regions: the light-blocking region completely blocks parallel light to eliminate solvent background, while the passage region selectively transmits diffracted light. This local differentiation of optical properties enables both background elimination and sufficient signal transmission
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of blocking all light or transmitting all light, the invention uses partial blocking through the aperture's light-blocking region and partial transmission through the passage region. This partial action on the light components achieves optimal balance between background suppression and signal preservation
3Illumination intensity
If conventional imaging captures both direct and diffracted light, then sufficient light intensity is achieved, but target and solvent information are mixed and cannot be separated
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture extracts only the diffracted light component that carries target information by spatially filtering out the direct light. This extraction process separates target information from solvent background information, preventing information loss while maintaining sufficient intensity from the selected light component
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture acts as an intermediary optical element that mediates between the direct light and diffracted light paths. It selectively transmits diffracted light while blocking direct light, serving as a mediator that separates the two light components and enables target-solvent information separation
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 clear and distortion-free imaging of targets within solvents, allowing for the estimation of physical properties like concentration ratios and sizes, improving the monitoring and control of flocs in water treatment systems and other applications.
Implementation Method 1
an illuminator configured to emit parallel light including at least two or more different wavelength spectra of light
Implementation Method 2
Light is incident into a lens through an inspection object... The aperture is disposed on a focal plane of the lens
Implementation Method 3
The passage region allows passage of diffracted light in a direction different from a direction of the parallel light due to the target
Implementation Method 4
The light-blocking region blocks the parallel light having passed through the solvent. The passage region allows passage of diffracted light
Implementation Method 5
an imaging element configured to acquire, at each pixel... the at least two or more different wavelength spectra of light, simultaneously and distinctively
Data Source
AI summary
According to the embodiment, an optical imaging apparatus includes: an illuminator, a lens, an aperture, and an imaging element. Light is incident into the lens through an inspection object provided where the parallel light from the illuminator reaches. The light has passed through the solvent and the target, and/or through the solvent. The aperture is disposed on a focal plane of the lens. The aperture includes a passage region and a light-blocking region. The passage region allows passage of diffracted light in a direction different from a direction of the parallel light due to the target from the parallel light from the illuminator. The light-blocking region blocks the parallel light having passed through the solvent.