Diamond Substrate Excitation Light Irradiation Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing magnetic field measurement methods using Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance (ODMR) face challenges with irregular optical paths of the laser beam inside the diamond substrate, leading to inconsistent fluorescence intensity and reduced measurement accuracy due to total reflection conditions and errors in the incident angle and position of the laser beam.

Innovation Solution

The proposed excitation light irradiation device and method involve a substrate with two opposed reflection surfaces and two opposed end surfaces, where the excitation light travels from one end surface to the other while reflecting between the reflection surfaces, and the second end surface is inclined to emit the light from one of the reflection surfaces, ensuring a fixed number of reflections and a constant optical path length.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the laser beam is incident on the diamond substrate from outside, then the excitation light can enter the substrate, but when total reflection conditions are satisfied (incident angle less than critical angle), the laser beam is totally reflected and cannot travel into the inside of the substrate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight entry reliabilityVSAvoidlight entry condition control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is designed with asymmetric surface structures: one surface has a high reflection ratio (acting as a mirror) while the other surface has a low reflection ratio (allowing light entry). This asymmetric design resolves the contradiction by providing dedicated entry and reflection zones, eliminating the need to precisely control incident angles for total reflection conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Illumination intensity

If the laser beam travels a longer optical path inside the diamond substrate, then more NVCs are irradiated and fluorescence intensity becomes high, but the optical path becomes irregular due to errors in incident angle and position, reducing measurement accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluorescence intensityVSAvoidmagnetic field measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A high reflection ratio surface (mirror) is introduced as an intermediary element to control and standardize the optical path. The mirror ensures that the excitation light follows a predictable, standardized path between the entry point and the detection point, eliminating irregularities caused by incident angle errors while maintaining a sufficiently long optical path for high fluorescence intensity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the incident angle and incident position of the laser beam have errors, then the optical path length becomes irregular, but maintaining precise control of these parameters increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical path consistencyVSAvoidalignment control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate's own surfaces are designed to provide the alignment function. One surface is configured with high reflection ratio and the other with low reflection ratio, creating a self-aligning optical path that automatically compensates for incident angle and position errors without requiring external alignment control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 allows for accurate and consistent magnetic field measurements by maintaining a fixed and predictable optical path length for the excitation light, thereby stabilizing the fluorescence intensity and improving measurement accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

the excitation light that is incident on the substrate travels from an area near one of the end surfaces toward an area near the other of the end surfaces while (totally) reflecting between the two reflection surfaces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

fluorescence is emitted from the NVC of the diamond substrate to which the laser beam is irradiated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentEP3674734B1Excitation light irradiation device and excitation light irradiation method
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 SUMIDA CORP
  • EP3674734B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3674734B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3674734B1 patent drawing

AI summary

An excitation light irradiation device includes a substrate (1) having a color center (1a). The color center (1a) is excited by an excitation light incident to the substrate (1). The substrate (1) includes first and second reflection surfaces (11, 12) facing each other, and first and second end surfaces (13, 14) facing each other. When the excitation light enters into the substrate (1), the incident excitation light travels from the first end surface (13) to the second end surfaces (14) while repeatedly reflecting between the first and second reflection surfaces (11, 12). The second end surface (14) is inclined. The second end surface (14) reflects the incident excitation light so as to cause the incident excitation light to be emitted from one of the first and second reflection surfaces (11, 12).