Compact Spectrometer Using Bent Optical Axis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spectrometer designs are limited by the off-axis location of slit and detector elements, leading to increased size, weight, aberration content, and spectral distortions, which compromise spatial and spectral image quality and resolution.
Innovation Solution
Locating the slit and detector elements on the optical axis, using light bending elements like prisms and grisms, and introducing a bent optical axis to minimize the optical field radius and reduce spectral smile distortion, thereby achieving a more compact and high-resolution spectrometer design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If slit and detector elements are located off-axis, then the optical field coverage is improved, but the spectrometer size, weight, and aberration content increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bent optical axis that transitions from a straight configuration to a curved path, allowing the slit and detector to be positioned on-axis while still achieving the required optical field coverage. This dimensional change in the optical path enables compact placement of components without sacrificing field of view, thereby reducing spectrometer size and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs light bending elements (prisms or mirrors) as intermediaries to redirect the optical path. These elements allow the light to travel along a bent trajectory, enabling on-axis placement of the slit and detector while maintaining the necessary optical field coverage that would otherwise require off-axis positioning.
2Area of stationary object
If slit and detector elements are located off-axis, then the optical field coverage is improved, but the spectral distortions and aberration content increase
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the optical path from straight to bent configuration, the patent enables on-axis positioning of slit and detector, which inherently reduces optical aberrations and spectral distortions. The bent path allows the system to maintain full optical field coverage without the harmful effects associated with off-axis positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The light bending elements serve as intermediaries that carefully control the optical path geometry. By using these elements to redirect light along a bent trajectory, the system achieves on-axis component placement that minimizes aberrations and spectral distortions while preserving complete optical field coverage.
3Volume of moving object
If the optical field radius is reduced for a more compact design, then the spectrometer size decreases, but the spatial and spectral fields may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bent optical axis configuration allows the system to achieve a compact form factor by reducing the overall optical path length and component spacing. Simultaneously, the bending elements preserve the full spatial and spectral field coverage by redirecting light through carefully designed paths that maintain all necessary field dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The light bending elements act as intermediaries that enable compact spectrometer design by facilitating shorter optical paths and closer component spacing. These elements preserve the complete spatial and spectral fields by strategically redirecting light, allowing the system to achieve compactness without sacrificing field coverage.
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 approach results in a compact, high-spectral-resolution spectrometer with improved spatial and spectral image quality, reduced size and weight, and significantly lower spectral distortions, enabling superior trade-offs in spatial and spectral fields.
Implementation Method 1
using light bending elements like prisms and grisms, and introducing a bent optical axis
Implementation Method 2
a transmission diffraction grating, but in general is any method capable of angularly separating light energy according to its wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
A spectrometer having slit and detector elements located on the optical axis of the spectrometer, resulting in substantially increased spectral and spatial fields of the spectrometer. The spectrometer being more compact than current designs, while providing superior spatial and spectral image quality and resolution.