Gemstone Analysis Immersion Refractive Index Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for analyzing gemstones, such as diamonds, face challenges due to light obscuration and reflection from holders, limiting the quality of inclusion evaluation and the ability to assess features from all directions.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an immersion material with a refractive index close to that of the holder, allowing the holder to become 'invisible' during analysis, reducing light obscuration and enabling improved visualization of internal and external features of gemstones using light rays, with controlled temperature and wavelength conditions to minimize refractive index differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a holder is used to support the gemstone during analysis, then the gemstone can be securely positioned and analyzed, but the holder causes light obscuration and reflection that hampers the quality of evaluation
Solution Approach 1:
An immersion liquid is introduced as an intermediary medium between the holder and the gemstone. This liquid has a refractive index matched to the holder material, causing the holder to become optically invisible. The gemstone remains securely held while light passes through the holder-immersion liquid interface without reflection or obscuration, eliminating the harmful optical effects while maintaining secure positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The refractive index of the immersion liquid is specifically selected to match that of the holder material. By changing the optical parameter (refractive index) of the immersion liquid to be substantially equal to the holder's refractive index, the holder becomes optically indistinguishable from the surrounding medium, thereby eliminating light reflection and obscuration while maintaining the holder's mechanical support function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gemstone is immersed in a solid transparent block, then the holder is not needed and the gemstone can be analyzed from all directions, but it is not desirable to include the object to be analysed in a solid block in all cases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a solid transparent block, the invention employs a liquid immersion medium (hydraulic approach) that can be easily introduced and removed. The liquid fills the space around the holder and gemstone, providing the necessary optical matching without requiring a solid encapsulation. This hydraulic approach simplifies the system compared to solid blocks while achieving the same optical transparency and all-directional analysis capability.
3Measurement precision
If immersion liquid is used with the gemstone, then the refractive index matching can reduce holder visibility, but the holder material and immersion liquid may have different refractive indices causing obscuration
Solution Approach 1:
The refractive index of the immersion liquid is specifically selected and adjusted to match the refractive index of the holder material. By changing the optical parameter (refractive index) of the immersion liquid to be substantially equal to the holder's refractive index, the holder becomes optically indistinguishable from the surrounding medium, thereby eliminating light reflection and obscuration while maintaining the holder's mechanical support function.
Solution Approach 2:
The immersion liquid provides different functional properties in different regions: in the region between the holder and gemstone, it provides refractive index matching to hide the holder; in the region surrounding the gemstone, it allows for high-quality optical analysis. This localized optimization of optical properties resolves the contradiction between holder visibility and measurement precision.
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 enhances the quality of analysis by reducing 'noise' from the holder, allowing for clearer images and improved determination of gemstone characteristics, including the location and shape of inclusions, and enabling analysis from multiple directions.
Implementation Method 1
immersing the object in the holder in an immersion material... the difference between the refractive index (RI) of the immersion material and the RI of at least an immersed portion of the holder which is in contact with the object is less than 0.3
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A method of analysing an at least partially transparent object, such as a gemstone, comprising: fixing the object in a holder; immersing the object in the holder in an immersion material; analysing internal and/or external features of the object, wherein analysing comprises visualizing an internal and/or external portion of the object using light rays while the object is immersed in the immersion material, and determining characteristics of the object based on the visualized internal and/or external portion of the object; wherein, during the analysing, the difference between the refractive index (RI) of the immersion material and the RI of at least an immersed portion of the holder which is in contact with the object, is less than 0.3.