Diode-Based Illumination System for Optical Imaging

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical imaging systems, such as surgical microscopes, rely on mechanical contraptions to insert or remove polarizers, limiting speed, reliability, cost, size, and weight, and offering limited fine adjustment for controlling specular reflections.

Innovation Solution

A diode-based illumination system capable of emitting light beams with different polarizations, allowing for precise control of light contributions in digital image representations without mechanical systems, using image processing to adjust illumination intensity or time-multiplexing for independent polarization control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical contraptions are used to insert or remove polarizers, then cross-polarization can be achieved, but the system complexity, size, and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical polarizer insertion/removal systems with a diode-based illumination system that generates polarized light electronically. The illumination system uses diodes with different polarization orientations to provide cross-polarization without any mechanical moving parts, thereby eliminating the complexity, size, and weight associated with mechanical contraptions while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach from mechanically moving polarizers to electronically controlling light emission parameters. By adjusting the illumination intensity and polarization state of diodes through electrical parameters, the system achieves cross-polarization effects without mechanical intervention, reducing device complexity while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If mechanical contraptions are used to insert or remove polarizers, then cross-polarization can be achieved, but the speed of changes is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidspeed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical polarizer insertion/removal systems with a diode-based illumination system that generates polarized light electronically. The illumination system uses diodes with different polarization orientations to provide cross-polarization without any mechanical moving parts, thereby eliminating the complexity, size, and weight associated with mechanical contraptions while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs time-multiplexed illumination where different polarization states are emitted in rapid succession rather than simultaneously. The illumination system alternates between diodes with different polarization orientations, creating the appearance of cross-polarization through temporal sequencing, which enables fast switching without mechanical limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If mechanical contraptions are used to insert or remove polarizers, then cross-polarization can be achieved, but additional moving parts are required

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical polarizer insertion/removal systems with a diode-based illumination system that generates polarized light electronically. The illumination system uses diodes with different polarization orientations to provide cross-polarization without any mechanical moving parts, thereby eliminating the complexity, size, and weight associated with mechanical contraptions while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If mechanical contraptions are used to insert or remove polarizers, then cross-polarization can be achieved, but fine adjustment is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefine adjustment precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the approach from mechanically moving polarizers to electronically controlling light emission parameters. By adjusting the illumination intensity and polarization state of diodes through electrical parameters, the system achieves cross-polarization effects without mechanical intervention, reducing device complexity while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses multiple diodes with different polarization orientations and selectively activates them in different proportions. By controlling the relative illumination intensity of each diode, the system can achieve fine-grained adjustment of the overall polarization state, providing precise control without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Enables fine-grained control of specular reflections, reducing the need for mechanical components, improving reliability, cost-effectiveness, and precision in optical imaging systems, particularly in medical imaging applications.

Implementation Method 1

a diode-based illumination system (e.g., a Light-Emitting Diode-based illumination system or a Laser diode-based illumination system) with the capability of (simultaneously) emitting two units of one or more light beam having different polarizations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

emitting at least a first unit of one or more light beams having a first polarization and a second unit of one or more light beams having a second polarization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Implementation Method 3

Using image processing and/or highly precise control of the illumination system, a digital image representation of an object being illuminated can be generated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImage Processing: Image Processing

Data Source

PatentEP4485036A1Optical imaging system and corresponding method and computer system

Publication Date: 2025.01.01 LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD

Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a
Figure 2b~2c

AI summary

Examples relate to an optical imaging system, to a corresponding method for an optical imaging system and to a corresponding computer program. The optical imaging system comprises one or more optical imaging sensors (220, 225) for providing imaging sensor data of an object (20) to be imaged. The optical imaging system comprises a diode-based illumination system (230) for emitting at least a first unit of one or more light beams having a first polarization and a second unit of one or more light beams having a second polarization towards the object. The optical imaging system comprises a processing system (210) configured to generate a digital image representation of the object, comprising controlling a contribution of the at least two units of light beams in a digital image representation of the object, by at least one of a) controlling, separately for each of the at least two units, the light emitted by the unit, and b) controlling, separately for each of the at least two polarizations emitted by the at least two units, a contribution of the light having the respective polarization in the digital image representation of the object.