Light Guide Holder With Tapered Bore For Flow Cell Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light guide holders for optical flow cells face challenges in maintaining precise alignment and preventing damage during manufacturing and mounting, leading to potential scratches or distortions that compromise measurement accuracy, especially for high-concentration solutions.
Innovation Solution
A light guide holder design featuring a narrow and wide portion through hole configuration with a tapering section, secured by an inert adhesive with low viscosity, allowing secure fixation without additional fixing methods and minimizing distortion, and using materials with low thermal expansivity to maintain precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a light guide holder is manufactured with high precision to maintain alignment, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holder features a localized narrow portion with precise diameter control (less than 10% larger than light guide diameter) rather than requiring the entire holder to be manufactured with high precision. This concentrates the precision requirement to a small critical area, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimensional parameters of the holder, specifically creating a narrow portion with diameter less than 10% larger than the light guide diameter. This parameter optimization allows secure holding without requiring excessive precision in other areas, balancing measurement precision with manufacturing feasibility.
2Reliability
If additional fixing methods are used to secure the light guide, then reliability of mounting is improved, but risk of damage to the light guide increases
Solution Approach 1:
The narrow portion of the holder serves a dual function: it guides the light guide during insertion and simultaneously secures it through friction fit. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional fixing methods that could damage the light guide, while maintaining mounting reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tapering portion is designed beforehand to guide the light guide smoothly into the narrow portion, preventing sudden impacts or misalignment that could cause damage. This pre-designed guidance path cushions the insertion process, ensuring reliable mounting without harm to the light guide.
3Manufacturing precision
If a long narrow hole is drilled in the holder for light guide insertion, then light guide alignment is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder's through hole is segmented into distinct functional portions: a tapering portion for guidance and a narrow portion for secure holding. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently, with the narrow portion providing alignment precision without requiring the entire hole to be drilled with high precision, thus easing manufacturing.
4Measurement precision
If the light guide is held tightly to prevent movement, then measurement precision is improved, but distortion of the light guide may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The holder exerts holding force locally at the narrow portion with diameter less than 10% larger than the light guide diameter, rather than applying force along the entire length. This localized grip prevents movement for precise measurements while minimizing the area under stress, reducing the risk of distortion.
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
The solution ensures reliable mounting of light guides without damage, facilitating precise alignment and maintaining measurement accuracy across varying concentrations by securely holding the light guides and preventing unwanted reactions during measurements.
Implementation Method 1
an inert adhesive with a viscosity of 400 cPs or less
Implementation Method 2
a first end and a second end, and a longitudinal through hole with a narrow portion at the first end and a wide portion at the second end
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a device for holding a light guide, for use in a flow cell, with the steps of providing a light guide holder having a first end and a second end connected by a longitudinal through hole with a narrow portion at the first end having a first diameter and a wide portion at the second end having a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter, and the narrow portion and wide portion being connected by a tapering portion, inserting a light guide into the through hole so that a first end of the light guide extends from the first end to the second end of the light guide holder,inserting a substance into at least part of the wide portion of the through hole,Inserting a tube between the light guide and the light guide holder, andfix the light guide in relation to the holder by means of the substance. The invention also relates to a device for holding a light guide.