Coiled Fiber Gas Cell for Stable Optical Wavelengths in Compact Space
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas cells face challenges in providing a stable optical wavelength light beam for long-duration space missions due to physical dimension constraints, weight, gas leak rate, and tolerance to shock and vibration, while also requiring a long service life.
Innovation Solution
A compact gas cell design featuring a glass ring with wound optical fiber, encapsulated in a molding material with slots filled with wavelength reference gas and a gas absorber to maintain stability and replace leaked gas, ensuring a stable optical wavelength light beam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional elongated gas cell is used to provide wavelength stability, then the optical wavelength stability is achieved, but the physical dimension and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent winds optical fiber around a glass ring to form a compact coiled structure, nesting the fiber path within a small radial space. This allows a long effective optical path length (multiple windings) to be achieved within a compact cylindrical volume, resolving the contradiction between wavelength stability (requiring long path) and physical dimension (requiring compact size).
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending the gas cell in one dimension (elongated cylinder), the patent transforms the optical path into a two-dimensional coiled structure around a ring. The light travels through the gas in a spiral pattern, achieving long effective path length through radial and angular dimensions rather than linear extension, thus maintaining compact overall dimensions.
2Length of moving object
If a compact gas cell design is used to reduce physical dimension, then the size is reduced, but the gas leak rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a gas absorber material within the glass ring structure that can absorb and retain reference gas. This creates a gas reservoir that compensates for gas leaks over time, maintaining stable wavelength reference despite increased leak rate from compact design. The absorber acts as a cushion against gas loss, extending the operational life of the compact cell.
3Length of moving object
If a compact gas cell design is used to reduce physical dimension, then the size is reduced, but the tolerance to shock and vibration decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a glass ring structure that provides mechanical strength and shock tolerance while maintaining compact dimensions. The glass material inherently provides vibration damping and structural integrity. Additionally, the coiled fiber structure within the ring distributes mechanical stresses, enhancing tolerance to shock and vibration despite the compact form factor.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional gas cell components are used to ensure long service life, then the lifespan is extended, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated components: the glass ring serves as both the structural support and the container for reference gas and absorber material. The optical fiber windings provide both the optical path and structural integrity. This merging of functions eliminates separate heavy components while maintaining long service life through the durable glass and fiber construction.
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 compact gas cell design achieves a stable optical wavelength light beam with a long service life, tolerance to shock and vibration, and minimal physical dimensions, while maintaining wavelength stability and precision, even in demanding environments like space missions.
Implementation Method 1
a gas selected to impart a selective frequency characteristic to a coherent light beam passed through the chamber. The selective frequency characteristic of the gas functions as a filter
Implementation Method 2
a gas absorber to maintain stability and replace leaked gas
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
Figure 7
AI summary
An exemplary gas cell is adapted to provide wavelength stability to a coherent beam of light. An optic fiber is wound in a plurality winding turns where the optic fiber transports the coherent beam of light from an input fiber end to an output fiber end. An encapsulating material engages and holds the windings in a fixed structure. A plurality of slots define severed portions of the optic fiber windings generally transverse to the windings and portions of the encapsulating material so that the optic fiber is divided into a plurality of end to end segments with open space filling the slots between respective facing ends of the severed optic fibers. A wavelength reference gas is disposed within the open space of the slots so that the beam of light passes from the input fiber end through respective facing ends of the optic fiber segments and wavelength reference gas in the corresponding slots to traverse a path through the plurality of winding turns to the output fiber end.