Concave Mirror Distortion Compensation in Scanning Microscopes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microscopes face challenges with complex and inefficient scanning optics that require compensation for imaging errors, limited image quality, high adjustment sensitivity, and high costs, along with significant light loss due to concave mirrors or double reflection.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement of concave mirrors and beam deflection units is optimized such that distortions caused by the concave mirror and beam deflection units compensate each other, allowing for higher image quality, simpler adjustment, and reduced light loss, with a focus on achromatic concave mirrors and minimal optical elements to achieve conjugate pupil imaging without additional correction optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional scanning optics are used to generate conjugate pupil plane, then image quality can be maintained, but the system becomes complex and light-efficient is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the aberration compensation function from the scanning optics by introducing a separate corrective optics system. This separates the scanning function from the correction function, allowing simpler scanning optics while maintaining image quality through dedicated correction elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate corrective optics between the scanning optics and the sample to compensate for aberrations. This intermediary system handles the complex correction tasks while the scanning optics remain relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and image quality.
2Reliability
If conventional scanning optics with aberration compensation are used, then image quality is improved, but light loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the correction function into separate optics, allowing the main scanning path to remain efficient with minimal light loss, while the extracted correction path handles aberration compensation independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the parameters of the corrective optics to minimize light loss while achieving the required aberration compensation. By carefully selecting focal lengths, positions, and apertures of the corrective elements, the system maintains high light efficiency despite the added correction components.
3Reliability
If toric concave mirrors are used for scanning, then image quality can be improved, but manufacturing costs and adjustment sensitivity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive toric concave mirrors with simpler, cheaper optical elements such as spherical mirrors or lens combinations that can be manufactured more easily and adjusted with lower sensitivity, while achieving comparable image quality through the corrective optics system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate corrective optics that compensate for the simpler mirror geometry, allowing the use of cheaper, easier-to-manufacture mirrors while maintaining image quality through the mediating correction system.
4Length of moving object
If double reflection at concave mirror is used, then beam path is extended, but light loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beam path extension function from the double reflection configuration and achieves it through a single reflection or alternative optical path design, eliminating the excessive light loss associated with multiple reflections while maintaining the required beam path length.
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 enables higher image quality, reduced light loss, and lower production costs while allowing for flexible adjustment and efficient imaging, particularly in non-linear optics applications.
Implementation Method 1
a first distortion caused by the concave mirror and a second distortion of the image (light distribution-focus) caused by the first and the second beam deflection unit at least partially compensate each other
Implementation Method 2
at least two beam deflection units variably adjustable (with respect to a respective deflection direction)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
Beam-deflecting units in light scanning microscopes are typically arranged in planes conjugate to the objective pupil. The scanning optical unit, which is required in order to produce the conjugate pupil planes, is complex and light-inefficient, because the scanning optical unit must compensate for different imaging errors such as field curvature and lateral chromatic aberration. The problem addressed by the invention is that of enabling higher image quality, simpler adjustment, and lower loss of light. This problem is solved in that the optical system comprises a concave mirror (36) for imaging points of the first beam-deflecting unit (30A) and respective points of the second beam-deflecting unit (30B) to each other, wherein the concave mirror (36) and the first beam-deflecting unit (30A) and the second beam-deflecting unit (30B) are arranged in such a way that the illumination beam path is reflected exactly once at the concave mirror (36) and a first distortion caused by the concave mirror (36) when the illumination beam path is reflected at the concave mirror and a second distortion of the image caused by the first and the second beam-deflecting units (30A, 30B) at least partially compensate each other.