Fluorescence Reading Optics Using Mirrors to Eliminate Chromatic Aberration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluorescence reading devices for microarrays are costly, complex, and prone to chromatic aberrations due to their reliance on multiple lenses, requiring high expertise for assembly and maintenance, and are inefficient in correcting wide wavelength ranges.
Innovation Solution
A fluorescence reading device utilizing a telecentric optical system with a receiving optical system composed of a plurality of reflectors, including convex and concave mirrors, which eliminates chromatic aberration and reduces component count, simplifying assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple lenses are used in the receiving optical system, then image quality can be improved, but chromatic aberration increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional lens-based receiving optical system with a mirror-based optical system. Mirrors reflect light without refracting it, thereby eliminating chromatic aberration while maintaining image quality. The receiving optical system uses multiple mirrors (including a first mirror, second mirror, and third mirror) to guide fluorescence light from the microarray to the sensor, substituting the mechanical lens system with a reflective mirror system that is free from wavelength-dependent focusing errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameter from refraction (lenses) to reflection (mirrors). By using mirrors with specific curvature radii and positions, the system achieves wavelength-independent light guidance. The first mirror has a positive curvature radius, the second mirror has a negative curvature radius, and the third mirror has a positive curvature radius, creating an optical path that maintains image quality without chromatic aberration across different fluorescence wavelengths.
2Measurement precision
If multiple lenses are used in the receiving optical system, then image quality can be improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex multi-lens mechanical optical system with a simpler mirror-based system. The receiving optical system consists of three mirrors with specific geometric configurations rather than multiple lenses with complex alignment requirements. This substitution reduces the number of optical components, simplifies assembly, and lowers cost while maintaining the ability to form high-quality images of the microarray fluorescence.
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror-based receiving optical system serves multiple functions: it guides light from the microarray, focuses the fluorescence onto the sensor, and eliminates chromatic aberration, all within a single integrated optical path. The first mirror, second mirror, and third mirror work together as a unified system that performs both light collection and image formation, reducing the need for separate optical components that would be required in a conventional lens-based system.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional optical systems are used, then assembly can be performed with standard procedures, but optical axis alignment requires high expertise and is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric mirror configurations with specific curvature radii and positions that are optimized for the optical path. The first mirror has a positive curvature radius, the second mirror has a negative curvature radius, and the third mirror has a positive curvature radius. This asymmetric design creates a built-in optical alignment reference that simplifies the adjustment process, as the mirrors' geometric properties guide the optical axis alignment naturally rather than requiring precise manual adjustment of symmetric lens elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes from a lens-based system requiring precise refractive index matching and curvature alignment to a mirror-based system where the alignment is determined by surface geometry and position. The mirrors' curvature radii and distances from the microarray and sensor are optimized parameters that provide inherent alignment stability. This parameter optimization reduces the sensitivity to small misalignments and simplifies the adjustment procedure compared to conventional lens systems.
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 device achieves precise fluorescence imaging with reduced costs and complexity by using fewer components, eliminating chromatic aberration, and simplifying optical axis adjustment, while maintaining high sensitivity and accuracy across various wavelengths.
Implementation Method 1
a receiving optical system which repeatedly reflects fluorescence emitted from the microarray off a plurality of reflectors to form an image on an image-forming plane
Implementation Method 2
the dichroic mirror may transmit the fluorescence emitted from the microarray to cause it to be incident to the receiving optical system
Implementation Method 3
the first barrier filter may transmit only light at a fluorescence wavelength band of the fluorescent molecules and block light other than the fluorescence from the fluorescent molecules
Implementation Method 4
the second barrier filter may transmit only light at a fluorescence wavelength band of the fluorescent molecules and block light other than the fluorescence from the fluorescent molecules
Implementation Method 5
a laser light source which emits laser light for exciting the fluorescent molecules to cause them to emit the fluorescence
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Solution: There is provided a fluorescence reading device 100 which acquires fluorescence from a microarray 1, including: a receiving optical system 300 which repeatedly reflects fluorescence emitted from the microarray 1 off a plurality of reflectors 301, 302 to form an image on an image-forming plane; and an optical sensor 107 located on the image-forming plane. The fluorescence reading device may be a telecentric optical system in which an image-capturing plane of the microarray and an image-forming plane are the same in size. The plurality of reflectors may include a convex mirror 301 and a concave mirror 302. The plurality of reflectors may include only one convex mirror 301 and one concave mirror 302.