Automatic Analyzer LED Multiplexing for Stable Wide-Band Light

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic analyzers using LEDs as light sources face challenges in maintaining stable light intensity and matching temperature characteristics of multiple LEDs to achieve accurate analysis performance, particularly in two-wavelength measurement methods.

Innovation Solution

The automatic analyzer configures LEDs on a shared temperature adjustment member to ensure stable light intensity and matched temperature characteristics by multiplexing light on the same optical axis, using a dichroic filter and reflectors to align optical axes and distribute light uniformly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple LEDs are used to cover a wide wavelength band, then the coverage of inspection items is improved, but the difficulty of matching temperature characteristics and optical axes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewavelength band coverageVSAvoidtemperature characteristic matching

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple LEDs are mounted on a single temperature adjustment member (heat sink) to share the same temperature environment, eliminating the need for individual temperature control of each LED and simplifying temperature characteristic matching while maintaining wide wavelength coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature adjustment member serves multiple functions: it acts as a heat sink for thermal management, provides a common mounting platform for multiple LEDs, and ensures uniform temperature distribution across all LEDs, thereby simplifying the overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple LEDs are multiplexed on the same optical axis, then the light intensity stability is improved, but the complexity of optical alignment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight intensity stabilityVSAvoidoptical axis alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple LEDs are positioned to emit light onto the same optical axis through a common lens system, combining their light paths so that they all converge on the sample. This ensures stable light intensity by maintaining consistent optical geometry while reducing the complexity of individual alignment adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If LEDs are used as light sources, then the life is improved, but the light intensity stability deteriorates due to self-heating and environmental temperature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight source lifeVSAvoidlight intensity stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A temperature adjustment member (heat sink) is introduced as an intermediary between the LEDs and the environment. This heat sink actively manages thermal effects by providing a thermal pathway that stabilizes LED temperature, compensating for self-heating and environmental temperature variations to maintain consistent light intensity over the extended operational life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 configuration stabilizes light intensity over a wide wavelength band, ensuring high analysis accuracy and reliability by minimizing fluctuations and aligning temperature characteristics of multiple LEDs.

Implementation Method 1

a second LED is reflected to be multiplexed on a same optical axis as light emitted from a first LED, and the first LED and the second LED are in contact with a same temperature adjustment member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

light emitted from a second LED is reflected to be multiplexed on a same optical axis as light emitted from a first LED

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

using a dichroic filter and reflectors to align optical axes and distribute light uniformly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentUS12436159B2Automatic analysis device

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP

AI summary

Provided is an automatic analysis device capable of obtaining a stable light intensity over a wide wavelength band by multiplexing a plurality of LED lights and adjusting the temperature characteristics of each LED element. The automatic analysis device according to the present disclosure is configured such that light emitted from a second LED is reflected to be multiplexed on the same optical axis as the light emitted from a first LED, and the first LED and the second LED are in contact with the same temperature adjustment member.