Inclined Sample Cell Mounting for Compact Particle Sizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Particle-sizing instruments face increased cost and complexity due to the need for elaborate translation stages to accommodate varying focus positions between wet and dry sample cells, especially when the focal length of the focusing optic is short, making compact instruments more expensive and complex.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus and method involve mounting wet and dry sample cells in planes that are mutually inclined, reducing the displacement difference of the focus from the propagation axis, allowing for a simpler and less costly translation stage by ensuring the focus positions coincide or have minimal difference, and optimizing the optical path lengths to focus light at a single plane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a translation stage is used to accommodate focus position variations between wet and dry sample cells, then the instrument can handle both cell types, but the cost and complexity of the instrument increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by mounting the wet and dry sample cells in planes that are mutually inclined at a specific angle rather than parallel planes. This asymmetric angular arrangement causes the lateral displacement difference of the focus positions to be substantially zero, thereby reducing the translation stage requirements and its associated complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to handle both cell types
2Volume of moving object
If the focal length of the focusing optic is decreased to make the instrument more compact, then the instrument size is reduced, but the focus position variation between wet and dry cells increases, requiring a more expensive and complex translation stage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric angular mounting of sample cells to compensate for the increased focus position variation that occurs with shorter focal lengths. By inclining the planes of wet and dry sample cells at a specific angle, the lateral displacement difference is minimized to substantially zero, allowing compact instrument design without requiring expensive complex translation stages
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 configuration reduces the complexity and cost of the translation stage, enabling more compact and cost-effective particle-sizing instruments that can handle both wet and dry sample cells with reduced mechanical requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a focusing optic for producing for a converging beam of light directed generally along a propagation axis
Implementation Method 2
Measurement of the particle-size distribution of a sample by detecting light scattered by the sample
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus (200) for measuring the particle-size distribution of a sample by light-scattering comprises a focusing optic (202) for producing a converging beam (203) generally along a propagation axis z. The apparatus comprises a mounting system which allows a dry sample cell (208A) and a wet sample cell (208B) to be mounted in the converging beam at different times and in respective planes which are mutually inclined so that in use of the apparatus respective positions (212, 214) at which transmitted light is focused for the two cells have a difference in displacement from the z axis that is less than for the case where the respective planes are substantially parallel. This allows use of a cheaper and less complex translation stage within the apparatus for mounting an optical detector for locating the two focus positions.