Confocal Microscope Light Use Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The multi-point scanning system in confocal microscopes has low light use efficiency due to the low aperture ratio of pinholes in Nipkow discs, resulting in only a small amount of light illuminating the specimen effectively.
Innovation Solution
A confocal microscope design that simultaneously illuminates target and non-target points on a specimen, using a mirror device with adjustable micromirrors to concentrate light and a control section to process light reception signals, allowing for the generation of confocal signals by distinguishing between light emitted from target and non-target points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a multi-point scanning system using a Nipkow disc is used to illuminate multiple points simultaneously, then the observation speed is improved, but the light use efficiency deteriorates due to the low aperture ratio of the pinholes
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination is segmented into target points and non-target points. The mirror device selectively directs light to multiple target points while allowing non-target points to receive light that would otherwise be wasted, thereby segmenting the light distribution to improve both observation speed and light use efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the illumination parameters by adjusting the mirror device to control which points receive light. By dynamically changing the illumination pattern between different target and non-target points, the system improves light use efficiency while maintaining multi-point observation capability.
2Loss of energy
If light from non-target points is allowed to enter the light reception portion, then the light use efficiency is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to signal mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The control section uses feedback from the light reception signals to determine which points are target points and which are non-target points. By analyzing the received signals and adjusting the illumination pattern accordingly, the system maintains measurement precision while improving light use efficiency through intelligent point selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and processes light signals from target points separately from non-target points. By using the control section to identify and isolate target point signals from the mixed light reception signals, the system maintains measurement precision while allowing non-target point light to be utilized for improving overall light use efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If the number of non-target points is increased to improve light use efficiency, then more light is utilized, but the device complexity increases due to the need for precise control
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror device serves multiple functions: it directs light to target points for observation, directs light to non-target points to improve light use efficiency, and enables dynamic reconfiguration of the illumination pattern. This multi-functionality allows the system to improve light use efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the mirror device to change the illumination pattern between different target and non-target points. This dynamic capability allows the system to optimize light use efficiency for different observation conditions without requiring a permanently complex control structure, as the complexity is activated only when needed.
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 design improves light use efficiency and maintains high-resolution confocal observation by effectively separating and processing light signals from target and non-target points, enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio and simplifying the apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination section which concentrates illumination light to each of a target point and non-target points of a specimen for simultaneous illumination
Implementation Method 2
a light reception section which receives light entering into a light reception portion conjugated with the target point, without distinguishing light emitted from the target point and light emitted from the non-target points
Data Source
AI summary
A confocal microscope with improved light use efficiency is provided. Thus, the confocal microscope has a section which concentrates illumination light to a target point of a specimen and non-target points adjacent thereto for simultaneous illumination; a section which receives light entering into a light reception portion conjugated with the target point, without distinguishing light emitted from the target point and light emitted from the non-target points, and outputs a light reception signal according to the intensity of the light; a section which changes the number of non-target points and successively captures the light reception signals before and after the change in the number of the target points; and a section which generates a confocal signal according to intensity of light emitted from the target point, based on a relationship between the captured light reception signals and the number of non-target points.