Light Sampling Plate for Flux Measurement Uncertainty
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for measuring luminous flux variations in optical instruments, such as photometers and spectrofluorometers, face challenges in accurately correcting for flux changes, leading to noise and reduced performance, especially in fluorescence measurements, due to the need for multiple reference photodetectors and complex lighting systems.
Innovation Solution
A device with a single reference photodetector and a light sampling and guiding mechanism using a transparent plate with parallel faces and light scattering areas, which deviates and guides a portion of the light to the photodetector, allowing for easy implementation and high reference flux measurement, thereby reducing measurement uncertainty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple reference photodetectors are used to measure luminous flux variations, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple reference photodetectors into a single photodetector by using a beam splitter to combine light paths. The beam splitter directs light from multiple sources to a single photodetector, eliminating the need for multiple separate detectors while maintaining measurement accuracy for luminous flux variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam splitter acts as an intermediary element that enables a single photodetector to receive and measure light from multiple sources. This intermediary component resolves the contradiction by providing a mechanical/optical solution to combine multiple measurement paths into one detector.
2Device complexity
If physical multiplexing is used to share reference photodetectors, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to noise
Solution Approach 1:
The beam splitter serves as an intermediary that passively combines light paths without requiring active switching or multiplexing. This eliminates the noise and precision losses associated with physical multiplexing while keeping the device configuration simple with a single photodetector.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical multiplexing systems (switches, modulators) with an optical beam splitter that passively combines light paths. This substitution eliminates the mechanical complexity and associated noise while maintaining measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If a beam splitter is used to sample light, then reference flux measurement is improved, but light loss occurs for the main optical path
Solution Approach 1:
The beam splitter is designed to sample only a small portion of the total light flux, allowing the majority of light to continue along the main optical path. This partial action approach ensures sufficient reference flux for accurate measurement while minimizing light loss for the primary application.
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 solution enables low uncertainty measurements by providing a sufficient reference flux with a single photodetector, avoiding physical multiplexing and complex lighting systems, and effectively correcting for luminous flux variations, improving the performance of optical measurement instruments.
Implementation Method 1
a light scattering area, which is able to deviate the light emitted by the source such that the deviated light is guided by said plate with parallel faces
Implementation Method 2
a light scattering area, which is able to deviate the light emitted by the source such that the deviated light is guided by said plate with parallel faces
Data Source
AI summary
A device for lighting an object, with light source provided with a member for sampling a portion of the light, application to the measurement of flux variations of the source. The device includes at least one light source emitting an illuminating light around an illumination axis, for lighting the object, and a photodetector.