Compact Spectrometer Using Aspherical Lens for Distance Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional confocal chromatic distance measurement systems face challenges in achieving compact size without compromising performance, particularly in high measurement rate applications where sensitivity and spectral resolving power are critical, and existing spectrometers are either too large or have insufficient performance.
Innovation Solution
A compact spectrometer design utilizing a single lens with at least one non-spherical surface for imaging, combined with a flat reflection grating and a detector, which allows for wavelength-specific correction and optimization of collimation and refocusing functions, enabling high performance with a structurally simple and compact configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional spectrometers use multiple lenses and spherical surfaces for imaging, then imaging performance can be maintained, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies non-spherical (aspherical) lens surfaces to correct optical aberrations that typically require multiple lens elements. The aspherical surfaces enable a single lens to achieve imaging performance comparable to multi-lens systems by eliminating spherical aberration and other distortions through controlled surface curvature variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple optical functions (collimation, focusing, and aberration correction) into a single lens element with non-spherical surfaces. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate lenses and reduces the overall spectrometer volume while maintaining imaging performance.
2Measurement precision
If conventional spectrometers use multiple optical components for wavelength correction, then spectral resolution can be maintained, but thermal management becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges wavelength-specific correction functions into the single non-spherical lens, eliminating multiple separate optical components. This reduction in component count simplifies thermal management by reducing heat sources and thermal interfaces, while the aspherical surfaces maintain spectral resolution through precise optical path control.
3Measurement precision
If conventional spectrometers use multiple lenses for collimation and refocusing, then measurement precision is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines collimation and refocusing functions into a single lens with non-spherical surfaces. The aspherical design enables the lens to perform multiple optical functions that traditionally required separate components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The single non-spherical lens serves multiple functions: collimating the measuring light, focusing the dispersed wavelengths, and correcting optical aberrations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized components, reducing overall system complexity.
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 design achieves high imaging performance and spectral resolution while maintaining sensitivity, with a manageable thermal behavior and reduced component count, allowing for efficient distance measurement in compact form factors.
Implementation Method 1
a lens (1), in particular a single lens or individual lens (1), having at least one non-spherical surface (5) for influencing an imaging
Implementation Method 2
the lens is specifically designed with at least one non-spherical surface for simple influencing of the imaging
Implementation Method 3
a flat reflection grating (2) for spectrally dispersing the measuring light (4) incident thereon
Implementation Method 4
is reflected back to the lens by the dispersive element in a spectrally dispersed manner
Implementation Method 5
guided onto the detector by way of the lens
Data Source
AI summary
A spectrometer with a lens, a dispersive element, and a detector, wherein a measuring light guided onto the lens is projected by way of the lens onto the dispersive element, is reflected back to the lens by the dispersive element in a spectrally dispersed manner, and is guided onto the detector by way of the lens, is designed and developed with regard to high performance given a compact structural size with structurally simple means such that the lens is a single lens or individual lens having at least one non-spherical surface for influencing the imaging. Furthermore, a corresponding distance measurement system and a corresponding method for operating a spectrometer are specified.