Conformal Filters for Rapid Analyte Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spectroscopic imaging systems are limited by single bandpass operation and low throughput, requiring multiple discrete measurements for analyte discrimination, which increases measurement time and limits the ability to detect a wide variety of analytes simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of conformal filters, which are adaptable and can transmit multiple passbands simultaneously, allowing for increased throughput and rapid tuning without mechanical moving parts, enabling the detection of multiple analytes in near real-time using a dual polarization configuration and look-up tables to adjust filter settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional spectroscopic imaging systems use single bandpass operation with discrete measurements, then measurement precision can be maintained, but measurement time increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically tunable conformal filters that can rapidly adjust their transmission characteristics without mechanical movement. The liquid crystal-based conformal filters change their spectral response dynamically through voltage control, enabling multiple analytes to be measured simultaneously at different wavelengths, thus reducing measurement time while maintaining precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from sequential single-bandpass measurement to multi-dimensional simultaneous measurement by using conformal filters that transmit multiple passbands at once. This dimensional expansion allows parallel measurement of multiple analytes across different wavelength ranges, significantly reducing total measurement time
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional systems use single bandpass operation, then device complexity remains manageable, but the ability to detect multiple analytes simultaneously is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The conformal filter system provides multi-functionality by being able to detect multiple analytes with different spectral signatures using a single filter device. The liquid crystal-based conformal filters can be tuned to match various analyte spectral profiles, making one device capable of performing multiple detection functions that would traditionally require separate specialized instruments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the conformal filter by adjusting the liquid crystal orientation through voltage control. This parameter change enables the same physical device to adapt its transmission characteristics to match different analyte spectral signatures, providing versatility without requiring multiple physical filter designs
3Productivity
If conventional spectroscopic imaging uses discrete sequential measurements, then measurement precision is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The conformal filters are pre-configured with multiple passbands that correspond to characteristic spectral regions of potential analytes. This preliminary arrangement of multiple wavelength channels allows simultaneous measurement of multiple analytes without requiring sequential tuning, thereby increasing imaging speed while maintaining spectral discrimination accuracy through the pre-planned filter configuration
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 approach significantly reduces measurement time by up to an order of magnitude, improving the speed and agility of hyperspectral imaging systems while enhancing discrimination performance and allowing for simultaneous assessment of multiple analytes.
Implementation Method 1
LCTFs use birefringent retarders to distribute the light energy of an input light signal over a range of polarization states
Implementation Method 2
The organic material in such optical filters is actively aligned by applied voltages to produce the desired bandpass and transmission function
Implementation Method 3
The LCTF discriminates for wavelength-specific polarization using a polarizing filter at the output. The polarizing filter passes the light components in the output that are rotationally aligned to the polarizing filter
Implementation Method 4
focal plane array (FPA) imaging detectors
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for detecting at least one target of interest using at least two conformal filters in a dual polarization configuration. A plurality of interacted photons are collected from a sample comprising at least one analyte of interest. The plurality of interacted photons are separated into at least a first and second optical component. The first optical component is passed through a first conformal filter and the second optical component is passed through a second conformal filter. A Data set corresponding to each filtered optical component is generated and an optical computation is applied to assess at least one characteristic of the analyte.