Light Source Unit Light Blocking Section for Fluorescence Microscope
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light source units for fluorescence microscopes face challenges in achieving high luminance in the 500 to 550 nm wavelength range with solid-state light emitting elements and suffer from increased size issues when using laser beam dampers to prevent excitation light leakage.
Innovation Solution
A compact light source unit design incorporating a semiconductor laser, dichroic mirror, wavelength conversion member, and a light blocking section with a diffuse reflection surface and wall-shaped portions to attenuate excitation light, preventing direct reflection and leakage while maintaining compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a laser beam damper or laser beam trap is placed in the housing to prevent excitation light leakage, then safety is improved, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the housing inner surface (reflecting excitation light toward the emission section) is extracted and eliminated by applying a light absorbing coating, removing the need for separate laser beam dampers or traps that would increase apparatus size
Solution Approach 2:
The housing inner surface, which originally reflected harmful excitation light, is converted into a light-absorbing surface through coating application. This transforms the harmful reflective property into a beneficial light-absorbing property, preventing excitation light leakage without requiring additional safety components
2Use of energy by stationary object
If solid-state light emitting elements are used to achieve compact size and energy saving, then energy consumption is reduced and apparatus size is decreased, but luminance in the 500 to 550 nm wavelength range is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A phosphor coating is introduced as an intermediary between the semiconductor laser and the emission section. The phosphor absorbs excitation light from the laser and converts it to wavelength-converted light in the 500-650 nm range, enabling high luminance output that neither the laser nor phosphor alone could achieve
Solution Approach 2:
The wavelength of light is transformed from the blue/violet range (440-470 nm) emitted by the semiconductor laser to the green/yellow range (500-650 nm) desired for high luminance. This parameter change is achieved through phosphorescence conversion, allowing the system to meet both energy efficiency and luminance requirements
3Device complexity
If the housing inner surface directly faces the semiconductor laser in the excitation light traveling direction, then structural simplicity is maintained, but excitation light is reflected toward the emission section causing safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful reflective property of the housing inner surface is converted into a beneficial light-absorbing property through the application of a light absorbing coating. This eliminates the safety hazard of excitation light reflection while maintaining the simple structural arrangement where the housing inner surface directly faces the semiconductor laser
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 effectively suppresses excitation light leakage, ensuring safety and compactness by reducing light intensity through diffuse reflection and multiple reflections within the housing, without the need for a laser beam damper, thus providing a high-luminance wavelength-converted light output.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength conversion member that performs wavelength conversion of excitation light transmitted through the second condenser optical system and that emits wavelength-converted light
Implementation Method 2
a dichroic mirror that selectively reflects excitation light transmitted through the first condenser optical system
Implementation Method 3
a light blocking section with a diffuse reflection surface and wall-shaped portions to attenuate excitation light, preventing direct reflection and leakage
Data Source
AI summary
A light source unit includes: a housing; a semiconductor laser that is disposed in the housing and that radiates excitation light; a first condenser optical system that condenses the excitation light; a dichroic mirror that selectively reflects the excitation light; a second condenser optical system that condenses the excitation light; a wavelength conversion member that performs wavelength conversion of the excitation light and emits wavelength-converted light; an emission section that outputs the wavelength-converted light transmitted through the second condenser optical system and the dichroic mirror; and a light blocking section that is disposed between an inner surface of the housing, the inner surface being in a traveling direction of the excitation light toward a reflection surface of the dichroic mirror, and a back surface, the back surface being an opposite side of the reflection surface, or is disposed on the inner surface of the housing.