Compact Spectrometer Using Gradient Absorption Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional spectrometers are large and unwieldy due to the need for dispersive elements and optical paths, making them unsuitable for compact devices like smartphones, and they often lose radiation intensity when distributing it across detectors with different spectral sensitivities, limiting their ability to cover broad spectral ranges without complex designs.

Innovation Solution

A compact spectrometer device using an absorption element with a varying chemical composition and continuous material gradient, allowing for spatially resolved spectral analysis without a dispersive element or optical path, where the absorption edge's energetic position is varied along the element to map radiation wavelengths, enabling efficient detection across a wide spectral range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional spectrometers use dispersive elements and optical paths, then spectral analysis capability is achieved, but device size becomes large and unwieldy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral analysis capabilityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the dispersive element and optical path from the spectrometer system. Instead of using traditional dispersive components to separate wavelengths spatially, the invention uses an absorption element with varying chemical composition that directly absorbs different wavelengths at different positions, removing the need for bulky optical components while maintaining spectral analysis capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical dispersive system with a material-based absorption system. The varying chemical composition of the absorption element creates wavelength-dependent absorption without requiring mechanical dispersive elements or complex optical paths, thereby reducing device size while preserving spectral resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If radiation is distributed over detectors with different spectral sensitivities, then spectral range coverage is improved, but radiation intensity is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral range coverageVSAvoidradiation intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating an absorption element with spatially varying chemical composition. Different regions of the absorption element have different materials optimized for absorbing specific wavelength ranges. This allows the entire radiation spectrum to be absorbed locally at different positions along the absorption element, converting all incident radiation into photosignals without the intensity losses associated with distributing radiation across multiple detectors with different sensitivities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If microfabricated dispersive elements are used, then device size is reduced, but wavelength range is limited to small ranges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidwavelength range

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials with varying chemical composition in the absorption element. By combining different materials with complementary absorption characteristics along the length of the absorption element, the system achieves both compact size and broad wavelength range coverage. The composite structure allows simultaneous detection of multiple wavelength ranges that would be impossible with single-material microfabricated dispersive elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 a compact, efficient spectrometer that can analyze a broad spectral range without thermal or statistical effects, ensuring high spectral resolution and spatially resolved measurements, suitable for installation in mobile devices, and effectively translates all incident radiation into a photosignal for precise analysis.

Implementation Method 1

an absorption element (12), wherein the absorption element (12) has a varying chemical composition along its extension

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption of electromagnetic radiation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

which in their totality are adapted to detect a varying absorption of radiation by the absorption element (12) along the extension of the device (10)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11543346B2Device for conducting radiation, a photodetector arrangement, and a method for spatially resolved spectral analysis

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 UNIV LEIPZIG

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for conducting radiation, a photodetector arrangement, and a method for spatially resolved spectral analysis.