Aspheric Schwarzschild Microscope Objective for Long Working Distance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infinity-corrected objectives face challenges with longer focal lengths requiring larger working distances and smaller objective thread sizes, limiting magnifying power and pupil diameter, making it difficult to balance optical characteristics for various microscope systems.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid Schwarzschild objective design using primary and secondary aspheric mirrors with non-zero sixth-order aspheric parameters, allowing for a working distance greater than 20 mm and a numerical aperture of 0.29-0.65, while correcting geometrical aberrations and improving image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If infinity-corrected objectives use longer focal lengths, then working distance is increased, but magnifying power is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs aspheric mirror surfaces with non-zero sixth order aspheric parameters instead of traditional spherical surfaces. This curvature variation allows the optical system to achieve both long working distance and high magnifying power by precisely controlling light ray paths through optimized aspheric geometry, resolving the inverse relationship between focal length and magnification.
2Length of stationary object
If tube length is increased, then focal length is increased, but pupil diameter must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters by using aspheric surfaces with specific non-zero sixth order aspheric parameters, which allows the system to maintain appropriate pupil diameter even with increased tube length. The aspheric parameter optimization enables precise control of light convergence, decoupling the direct proportionality between tube length and pupil diameter found in traditional spherical systems.
3Area of stationary object
If objective thread size is reduced, then pupil diameter is reduced, but numerical aperture is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The aspheric mirror surfaces with optimized sixth order parameters enable the system to achieve high numerical aperture (0.29-0.65) even with reduced objective thread size. The non-spherical curvature precisely directs light rays to maintain large effective aperture while fitting within smaller mechanical constraints, breaking the direct correlation between thread size and numerical aperture.
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 design achieves improved power and magnification, with spatial resolutions of 1 μm or less, and enhanced image quality for both infrared and visual images, maintaining a large numerical aperture and working distance without sacrificing performance.
Implementation Method 1
a primary aspheric mirror having a first R-value; and a secondary aspheric mirror having a second R-value smaller than the first R-value
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are systems and methods related to hybrid reflective microscope objectives and lens systems used in a spectroscopy system. The objective lens system includes a primary aspheric mirror having a first R-value; and a secondary aspheric mirror having a second R-value smaller than the first R-value, where in the objective lens system has a working distance of at least 20 mm and a numerical aperture of 0.29-0.65, and wherein surfaces of the primary and secondary aspheric mirrors have a non-zero sixth order aspheric parameter.