Light Source Unit for Photoacoustic Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transmission of a laser beam within the housing of a light source unit for photoacoustic measurement apparatus is unstable due to temperature changes and vibrations, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage to optical fibers from excessive light energy.
Innovation Solution
A light source unit that includes a diffusion part to spread the laser beam, a condensing lens system to control the beam diameter, and an optical fiber with a light energy-resistant structure, ensuring stable and efficient transmission by preventing excessive narrowing of the beam and distributing energy uniformly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If space transmission is used to transmit the laser beam in the housing, then the light source unit can be made more compact and easier to manufacture, but the incident position of the laser beam shifts due to temperature changes and vibrations, causing unstable transmission and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
An optical fiber is introduced as an intermediary medium to transmit the laser beam from the light source to the connector receiving portion. The optical fiber maintains a fixed spatial relationship between the light source and connector, preventing beam position shifts caused by temperature changes and vibrations. This resolves the contradiction by providing stable transmission (improving reliability) while maintaining the compact design benefits of space transmission.
2Power
If a laser beam with high light energy is used to improve measurement capability, then the photoacoustic measurement sensitivity is improved, but the optical fiber may be damaged due to excessive light energy
Solution Approach 1:
The beam diameter of the laser is dynamically adjusted based on the light energy level. When high light energy is used to improve measurement capability, the beam diameter is increased to distribute the energy over a larger area, preventing excessive energy concentration that would damage the optical fiber. This parameter change allows the system to achieve both high power transmission and optical fiber protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber is designed with a core diameter that is larger than the minimum required for transmission. This partial excess in fiber capacity allows the system to handle higher light energy levels without damaging the fiber, providing a safety margin that enables improved measurement capability while protecting the optical components.
3Device complexity
If the laser beam is transmitted directly without diffusion and condensing, then the device complexity is reduced, but the beam becomes excessively narrowed and energy concentration causes optical fiber damage
Solution Approach 1:
The optical transmission path is segmented into distinct functional stages: a diffusion part that spreads the beam, a condensing lens system that controls beam diameter, and an optical fiber for transmission. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, preventing energy concentration damage while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
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 maintains stable laser beam transmission despite temperature and vibration-induced movements, preventing optical fiber damage and enhancing energy transmission efficiency within the light source unit.
Implementation Method 1
a diffusion part that diffuses the laser beam output from the light source
Implementation Method 2
a condensing lens system that condenses the laser beam diffused by the diffusion part
Implementation Method 3
a light transmitting part that includes an optical fiber transmitting the laser beam, which is condensed by the condensing lens system
Data Source
AI summary
It is desirable to more stably and efficiently transmit light in a housing of a light source unit. A light source unit 13, which emits a laser beam L to a light guide part 40, includes: a unit housing 13b that includes a connector receiving portion 51b detachably connected to a connector portion 51a; a light source 30 that is installed in the unit housing 13b and outputs the laser beam L; a diffusion part 80 that diffuses the laser beam L output from the light source 30; a condensing lens system 81 that condenses the laser beam L diffused by the diffusion part 80; and an optical fiber 82a that transmits the laser beam L, which is condensed by the condensing lens system 81, to the connector receiving portion 51b. The connector receiving portion 51b optically connects the optical fiber 82a to the light guide part 40.