Ophthalmic Illumination System Achromatic Collimator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmic illumination systems face challenges in maintaining consistent numerical aperture for light beams across different light sources and wavelengths, leading to inefficiencies in coupling efficiency and angular profiles, which complicates manufacturing and performance.
Innovation Solution
The use of a dichroic mirror, either hyperbolic or elliptical, positioned relative to the light source to reflect light beams with a consistent numerical aperture, allowing the same collimator to be used with various supercontinuum sources, ensuring high coupling efficiency and desired angular profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different light sources with different wavelengths are used, then the system can provide multi-wavelength illumination, but the numerical aperture of the light beam varies with wavelength leading to inconsistent coupling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the optical system by introducing an achromatic collimator with multiple lenses having different focal lengths for different wavelengths. This ensures that light beams of different wavelengths are collimated to the same numerical aperture, maintaining consistent coupling efficiency across the spectrum while preserving multi-wavelength capability
Solution Approach 2:
The achromatic collimator acts as an intermediary optical element between the light source and the fiber optic probe. It mediates the wavelength-dependent numerical aperture variation by using a combination of lenses with different dispersive properties to achieve wavelength-independent collimation
2Reliability
If the collimated beam diameter is increased to fill the fiber acceptance NA, then coupling efficiency improves, but high angle rays above the fiber acceptance NA are lost in the cladding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the collimated beam diameter parameter to match the fiber acceptance NA precisely. By controlling the beam diameter to be neither too large nor too small, the system achieves optimal coupling efficiency while preventing high angle rays from exceeding the fiber acceptance cone and being lost in the cladding
3Loss of energy
If the collimated beam diameter is decreased to ensure efficient coupling, then light loss is reduced, but the beam NA becomes less than nominal resulting in reduced angular spread at the output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls the collimated beam diameter parameter to match the fiber acceptance NA. This optimization ensures that the beam is narrow enough to couple efficiently into the fiber without loss, while simultaneously being wide enough to maintain the nominal numerical aperture and achieve the desired angular spread at the output
4Reliability
If different mirrors are used for different light sources, then each source can be optimized, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the achromatic collimator to be a universal component that works with multiple different light sources across the visible spectrum. The collimator's multi-lens configuration handles wavelength variations inherently, eliminating the need for source-specific mirrors and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining optimized performance for each wavelength
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 simplifies assembly line manufacturing, maintains high coupling efficiency, and provides a consistent collimated beam diameter across different wavelengths, reducing losses and achieving a desired angular profile for the output beam.
Implementation Method 1
The use of a dichroic mirror, either hyperbolic or elliptical, positioned relative to the light source to reflect light beams with a consistent numerical aperture
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods of and for an ophthalmic illumination system are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, an ophthalmic illumination system (220) includes a collimator (226) having at least one lens. The system includes a first mirror (224a) arranged to reflect light towards the collimator. The first mirror is configured for use with a first light source that emits a first light beam having a first parameter, such as a first numerical aperture. The system includes a second mirror (224b) arranged to reflect light towards the collimator (226). The second mirror (224b) is configured for use with a second light source emitting a second light beam having a second parameter that is different than the first parameter. The second mirror is shaped and arranged to cause a reflected portion of the second light beam to have the first parameter. The first mirror and the first light source, and the second mirror and the second light source, are separately usable with the collimator.