Optomechanical Fine-Adjustment for Confocal Microscope Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Confocal microscopes face challenges in precisely aligning collected light beams with confocal diaphragms due to their micrometric dimensions and the instability caused by optical fibre movements, leading to signal loss and misalignment.
Innovation Solution
An optical microscope design featuring a refractive optical component, such as a rotatable glass plate or converging lens, is introduced between the optical system and the confocal diaphragm to adjust the lateral position of the focused light beam relative to the confocal diaphragm, ensuring stability and precision through optomechanical adjustment means accessible from outside the microscope.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the confocal diaphragm has micrometric cross-sectional dimensions to achieve spatial filtering, then the spatial filtering precision is improved, but the alignment precision requirement increases and stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a refractive optical component as an intermediary element between the optical system and the confocal diaphragm. This component serves as a mediator that can adjust the lateral position of the focused beam without requiring direct movement of the confocal diaphragm itself, thereby maintaining alignment stability while achieving precise spatial filtering
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the refractive optical component can be rotated to change the lateral position of the focused beam. This dynamic capability allows for precise alignment adjustment while the confocal diaphragm remains fixed, resolving the contradiction between precision and stability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the optical fibre is used to connect the microscope to the detection system, then the adaptability is improved, but the alignment stability deteriorates due to fibre movements
Solution Approach 1:
The refractive optical component acts as an intermediary that decouples the alignment adjustment from the optical fibre positioning. By adjusting the refractive component rather than the fibre directly, the system maintains stable alignment even when fibre movements occur, while still providing adaptability through the adjustment mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the alignment function from the fibre connection function. The refractive optical component handles the alignment adjustment independently, while the optical fibre maintains its connectivity function, reducing the coupling between fibre movements and alignment stability
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the confocal diaphragm is mounted inside the microscope body with factory-set position, then the protection from external influences is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The refractive optical component serves as an intermediary that provides external accessibility for alignment adjustments without requiring access to the internally mounted confocal diaphragm. Users can adjust the system from outside the microscope body while the confocal diaphragm remains protected inside
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the confocal diaphragm accessible for adjustment, the patent inverts the approach by making the refractive optical component accessible. This allows alignment adjustments to be made externally while the confocal diaphragm remains protected and fixed inside the microscope body
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 solution allows for accurate and stable alignment of the light beam with the confocal diaphragm, maintaining high focusing quality and minimizing signal loss, even with low numerical apertures, while being resistant to vibratory loads.
Implementation Method 1
a refractive optical component arranged between the optical system and the confocal diaphragm, the refractive optical component being rotatably mounted transverse to the optical axis of the microscope, in order to adjust a lateral position of the focused light beam relative to the confocal diaphragm
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical microscope comprising an optical system (1) and a confocal diaphragm (2), the confocal diaphragm (2) being arranged in a Fourier plane (12) of the microscope, the confocal diaphragm (2) being fixed relative to the body of the microscope, the microscope being able to collect a light beam (20) from the object plane, the optical system (1) being suitable for focusing the light beam (20) in the Fourier plane (12) and for feeding at least a portion of the light beam (20) through the confocal diaphragm (2). According to the invention, the optical microscope comprises a refractive optical component (3) placed between the optical system (1) and the confocal diaphragm (2), the refractive optical component (3) being mounted so as to be rotatable transverse to the optical axis (10) of the microscope in order to adjust a lateral position of the focused light beam relative to the confocal diaphragm (2).