Microspectrometer with Integrated Diffraction Grating for Fluid Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microspectrometers require external components and alignment, which complicates continuous spectroscopy and introduces potential errors, especially in monitoring water quality, and often necessitate additional optical components like lenses and fibers.
Innovation Solution
A compact microspectrometer design with a fluidic interface and electrical connections only, integrating a diffraction grating and light source within a transparent plastic housing, eliminating the need for external components and allowing direct light dispersion to photodetectors without optical fibers, and optionally using a rotatable diffraction grating for single photodetector use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional microspectrometers use external components and optical fibers to couple light, then light can be effectively analyzed, but the device becomes complex and requires external alignment which introduces errors and complicates continuous spectroscopy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light source, sample container, diffraction grating, and photodetector into a single integrated housing. The light source and diffraction grating are arranged on opposite sides within the same housing, with the sample container positioned between them. This integration eliminates the need for external optical fibers and alignment mechanisms, directly resolving the contradiction between device complexity and measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains the light source, holds the diffraction grating, supports the photodetector, and provides fluidic interfaces for sample introduction. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If additional lenses and optical fibers are used to couple light into the fiber, then light can be effectively guided, but the device requires more components and external alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary optical coupling components (lenses and optical fibers) from the conventional design. By directly positioning the diffraction grating and photodetector within the integrated housing, the system achieves effective light guidance without requiring external coupling components, thus improving ease of operation while reducing device complexity.
3Productivity
If the light source is aligned externally with the sample container for each measurement, then accurate spectroscopy can be performed, but continuous monitoring becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the alignment action preliminarily by fixing the light source, diffraction grating, and photodetector in predetermined positions within the integrated housing during manufacturing. This preliminary alignment eliminates the need for time-consuming realignment during each measurement, thereby improving productivity and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated design allows the device to perform spectroscopy automatically without requiring external alignment operations. The fixed internal geometry enables the system to self-maintain proper optical alignment, eliminating the need for operator intervention and time-consuming alignment procedures for each measurement.
4Ease of manufacture
If a diffraction grating is molded into the housing during injection molding, then manufacturing is simplified, but the grating precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the manufacturing parameter approach by using injection molding to create the diffraction grating structure directly in the housing. This process allows for precise control of the grating parameters (line spacing, depth, and orientation) through mold design, achieving both ease of manufacture and required manufacturing precision in a single integrated process.
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
Enables continuous, error-free spectroscopy without the need for external alignment or additional optical components, facilitating efficient monitoring of water quality and allowing multiple spectral measurements with integrated light sources, enhancing measurement reliability and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
The light dispersed into its spectral components by the diffraction grating reaches a plurality of photodetectors
Implementation Method 2
The light dispersed into its spectral components by the diffraction grating reaches a plurality of photodetectors
Data Source
AI summary
The compact microspectrometer for fluid media has, in a fixed spatial coordination in a housing, a light source, a fluid channel, a reflective diffraction grating, and a detector. The optical measuring path starting from the light source passes through the fluid channel and impinges on the diffraction grating. The spectral light components reflected by the diffraction grating impinge on the detector.