Chromatic Confocal Lighting Assembly Aperture Orifices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing luminescence-based lighting arrangements for chromatic confocal measuring devices lack operational efficiency in providing measuring light.

Innovation Solution

A lighting assembly comprising an aperture component with orifices, a photoluminescent component, and a pump light source, where pump light is directed through the orifices to convert into polychromatic measuring light, allowing precise focusing and efficient light transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a luminescence-based light source with an oblong exit surface is used, then measuring light can be provided, but operational efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidenergy conversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The aperture component is divided into multiple orifices instead of a single opening, allowing multiple pump light sources to illuminate the photoluminescent component simultaneously. This segmentation increases the total measuring light output and operational efficiency while maintaining compact device dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple pump light sources are combined to illuminate the photoluminescent component through multiple orifices, merging their contributions to produce high-intensity homogenous measuring light. This merging approach achieves efficient energy utilization and high productivity simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of energy

If pump light sources are positioned on the first side of the aperture component, then measuring light can be generated, but light transmission efficiency and focusing precision are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight transmission efficiencyVSAvoidfocusing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The photoluminescent component acts as an intermediary that converts pump light into measuring light with different optical properties. This intermediary enables efficient light transmission through the aperture while achieving precise focusing on the measurement surface, resolving the contradiction between transmission efficiency and focusing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The wavelength parameter of the light is changed through photoluminescence conversion. Pump light at one wavelength is converted to measuring light at a different wavelength, allowing optimal transmission through the aperture component and precise focusing simultaneously, as the optical properties differ at the converted wavelength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If multiple pump light sources and orifices are used to improve efficiency, then measuring light intensity increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasuring light intensityVSAvoidcomponent quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The aperture component serves multiple functions: it defines the measurement geometry, supports multiple orifices for light transmission, and structures the illumination paths. This multi-functionality allows high measuring light intensity from multiple sources without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting assembly is nested within the measuring device structure, with the aperture component integrating multiple orifices and the photoluminescent component positioned behind it. This nested arrangement consolidates multiple elements into a compact unit, achieving high light intensity while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enhances operational efficiency by providing high-intensity, homogenous illumination with reduced component complexity, effective cooling, and improved spatial intensity distribution of measuring light.

Implementation Method 1

a photoluminescent component (208) located on a second side of the aperture component (202) and configured for converting pump light (220) receivable onto the photoluminescent component (208) from the at least one pump light source (206) into polychromatic measuring light (230)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP4327014B1Chromatic confocal measuring device and method for providing measuring light for a chromatic confocal measuring device
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 LMI TECH INC
  • EP4327014B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4327014B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~2
  • EP4327014B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

Presented herein is a lighting assembly for providing polychromatic measuring light (230) for an optical measuring device. The lighting assembly comprises an aperture component (202) comprising a first and opposite second side and at least one orifice (204), at least one pump light source (206) located on the first side of the aperture component (202) to provide pump light (220), and photoluminescent component (208) located on the second side of the aperture component (202) for converting pump light (220) receivable onto the photoluminescent component (208) from the at least one pump light source (206) into polychromatic measuring light (230). At least part of the measuring light (230) is allowed to pass the aperture component (202) through the at least one orifice (204) to provide measuring light (230) to the first side of the aperture component (202). A related method and a measuring devise using the lighting assembly are also presented.