Integrated Fluorescent Filter Block Assembly for Automatic Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluorescent optical systems face challenges in reducing size and complexity due to separate components, leading to increased volume and potential power supply failures, while manual alignment results in experimental errors and turret-type carriages complicate positioning.
Innovation Solution
A fluorescent filter block assembly integrates multiple fluorescent filter sets and a light source into a single housing, eliminating the need for a carriage and enabling automatic positioning through a driving unit, ensuring accurate optical alignment and stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a turret-type carriage is used to hold multiple fluorescent filter blocks, then multi-channel fluorescence observation is enabled, but the system size and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fluorescent filter blocks (first, second, and third filter blocks with different filter sets) and the light source into a single integrated housing structure. This merging eliminates the need for a separate turret-type carriage while maintaining multi-channel observation capability, thereby reducing overall system size and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single housing structure serves multiple functions: it houses the light source, contains all fluorescent filter blocks for different wavelength channels, and provides the structural framework for the optical system. This multi-functionality replaces what would traditionally require separate components including a turret mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a turret-type carriage is used for filter block positioning, then channel switching is enabled, but contact points for power supply become complicated and prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is integrated directly into the housing structure rather than being mounted on a rotating turret. This eliminates the need for sliding contact points or rotary connectors for power supply, as the light source remains stationary. Power can be supplied through fixed connections, greatly improving reliability.
3Ease of operation
If manual alignment of filter blocks is performed, then positioning is achievable, but experimental errors occur due to position mistakes
Solution Approach 1:
The fluorescent filter blocks are pre-positioned and fixed within the housing structure during manufacturing. The optical paths are pre-aligned between the light source, filters, and objective lens. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for manual alignment during operation, ensuring consistent optical alignment accuracy.
4Ease of manufacture
If separate components are used for light source and fluorescent filter blocks, then component independence is maintained, but system volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source and fluorescent filter blocks are integrated into a single housing structure, reducing the overall system volume. The compact arrangement allows close proximity positioning of components while maintaining functional independence of each filter block for different wavelength channels.
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 integration reduces system size and manufacturing costs, enhances stability, minimizes power supply issues, and allows for efficient, automated alignment, improving performance in fluorescence microscopes.
Implementation Method 1
inexpensive and accurate solid state light sources, for example, LEDs, are widely used as an alternative to the arc lamps
Implementation Method 2
an excitation filter used to select an excitation wavelength of light emitted from the light source
Implementation Method 3
a dichroic beamsplitter that splits a beam to irradiate the sample with the light that has passed through the excitation filter
Implementation Method 4
an emission filter that allows only a narrow wavelength band around a maximum fluorophore emission wavelength to pass therethrough while blocking undesired traces (noise) of reflected excitation light
Implementation Method 5
A fluorescent optical system is an optical system that observes an object using fluorescence emitted from a sample by illuminating the sample with a light source of various wavelengths
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a fluorescent filter block assembly combined with a multi-channel fluorescent filter set and a light source, and more specifically, to an improved fluorescent filter block assembly in which a plurality of fluorescent filter sets are applied to one housing without using a carriage in a fluorescent optical system, and the light source is integrally formed with the housing to form a single body, so that it is possible to reduce in size, to accurately align an optical path between the light source and an objective lens, and to smoothly and accurately implement the fluorescent optical system without a power supply failure, and furthermore, it is possible to enable an automatic operation through a driving source so that an accurate and rapid alignment is possible.