Confocal Optical Fiber Mirror Image Alignment

Solution Overview

Problem

In multifocal and confocal measurement apparatuses, significant displacement between condensing positions on a sample and light receiving positions can lead to undesirable measurement results, and existing solutions either increase manufacturing costs or fail to maintain accuracy with an increasing number of optical fibers.

Innovation Solution

A confocal optical system-based measurement apparatus with a light projecting optical fiber group and a light receiving optical fiber group, where the end faces of the optical fibers are in a mirror image relationship, ensuring accurate matching of condensing positions with light receiving positions, and optionally including dummy and marker fibers to facilitate various irradiation configurations and maintain optical system alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of optical fibers is increased to improve measurement coverage, then measurement capability is improved, but displacement between condensing positions and light receiving positions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the light receiving optical fiber group with a mirror image relationship relative to the light projecting optical fiber group. This asymmetric arrangement compensates for displacement effects that occur when increasing the number of fibers, maintaining position matching accuracy despite expanded measurement coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Manufacturing precision

If pinhole arrays are used to improve position matching accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for pinhole arrays by using a mirror image configuration of optical fiber groups. This removes the harmful component (pinhole arrays that increase cost) while maintaining the beneficial function of position matching through the geometric relationship between fiber groups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a mirror image copy of the light projecting optical fiber group arrangement in the light receiving optical fiber group. This copying approach achieves position matching accuracy without requiring additional expensive components like pinhole arrays, as the geometric relationship itself ensures proper alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Manufacturing precision

If oversized fiber cores are used to improve light receiving accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates an equipotential geometric relationship between the light projecting and light receiving optical fiber groups through mirror image configuration. This ensures that all corresponding fibers maintain consistent positional relationships, achieving light receiving accuracy without requiring oversized cores or introducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

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 improves the accuracy of light receiving positions while preventing increased displacement due to more optical fibers, allowing for precise measurement results without the need for costly pinhole arrays or oversized fiber cores, and enables flexible irradiation settings based on sample type.

Implementation Method 1

a confocal optical system configured to condense each of a plurality of beams from a plurality of light projecting optical fibers to irradiate a sample therewith, and cause a plurality of beams from a plurality of condensing points on the sample to form images on the plurality of light receiving optical fibers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical condensing: Focusing

Data Source

PatentUS10795067B2Confocal optical system-based measurement apparatus and method for manufacturing confocal optical system-based measurement apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.10.06

AI summary

A confocal optical system-based measurement apparatus includes: a light source; a light projecting optical fiber group; a light receiving optical fiber group; a spectroscope; and a confocal optical system configured to condense each of a plurality of beams from a plurality of light projecting optical fibers to irradiate a sample therewith, and cause a plurality of beams from a plurality of condensing points on the sample to form images on the plurality of light receiving optical fibers, respectively, wherein the light projecting optical fiber group includes the plurality of light projecting optical fibers configured to receive light from the light source, the light receiving optical fiber group includes the plurality of light receiving optical fibers configured to guide received light to the spectroscope, the shape of an end face of the light projecting optical fiber group and the shape of an end face of the light receiving optical fiber group are in a mirror image relationship, and in the light projecting optical fiber group and the light receiving optical fiber group, the shape of an end face of each light projecting optical fiber and the shape of an end face of a light receiving optical fiber corresponding thereto are in a mirror image relationship.