Concave Cylindrical Diffraction Grating for Compact Spectrometer Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spectrometers require multiple optical components, making them complex and difficult to miniaturize due to the need for plane gratings, collimating, and focusing mirrors for accurate light dispersion and focusing.
Innovation Solution
A diffraction grating with connected column-shaped structures on a concave cylindrical substrate, where each diffraction structure's axis extends along the generatrix of the substrate, allowing for both light dispersion and focusing without the need for additional optical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a plane grating is used for light dispersion, then accurate spectral separation is achieved, but additional collimating and focusing mirrors are required, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of light dispersion and focusing into a single diffraction grating component. The grating surface is designed with a specific curved geometry that simultaneously performs spectral separation and focal point convergence, eliminating the need for separate collimating and focusing mirrors that would otherwise be required in conventional spectrometer designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffraction grating is designed to perform multiple optical functions simultaneously - it acts as both a dispersive element for spectral separation and a focusing element for converging light to a focal point. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of components needed in the optical system while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If multiple optical components are used for accurate light dispersion and focusing, then measurement precision is improved, but the spectrometer configuration becomes complicated and difficult to miniaturize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical functions into a single diffraction grating component with a specifically designed curved surface. This integration eliminates the need for separate collimating and focusing mirrors, significantly reducing the overall optical path length and enabling compact spectrometer design while maintaining accurate light dispersion and focusing capabilities.
3Reliability
If additional optical components are added to achieve accurate focusing, then light focusing capability is improved, but component complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines light focusing capability directly into the diffraction grating structure through a specifically designed curved surface geometry. This eliminates the need for separate focusing mirrors or lenses, reducing the total number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining reliable light focusing capability.
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 simplifies the spectrometer design, enabling miniaturization while maintaining effective light dispersion and focusing capabilities, improving sensitivity and reducing component complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the light 10 dispersed by the diffraction structures 142 of the grating 140
Implementation Method 2
The cross section is perpendicular to each axis of the diffraction structure. The section contour shows the connecting line of apexes of the diffraction structures as a reference curve having a plurality of first inflection points
Data Source
AI summary
A diffraction grating comprise a substrate and a plurality of connected diffraction structures formed on the substrate. Each diffraction structure is in the shape of a column and arranged along a concave cylindrical surface, and an axis of each diffraction structure extends along a generatrix of the concave cylindrical surface. A section contour is obtained by a cross section of the diffraction structures. The cross section is perpendicular to each axis of the diffraction structure. The section contour shows the connecting line of apexes of the diffraction structures as a reference curve having a plurality of first inflection points, wherein the diffraction structures are configured for separating the optical signal into a plurality of spectral components and focusing the spectral components onto a focal surface.