Multi-path Spectrometer Identical Optical Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spectrometers face challenges in maintaining identical optical paths, leading to image artifacts and reduced imaging efficiency, particularly in applications like optical coherence tomography where precise light collection is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A spectrometer design that utilizes multiple inputs, a diffraction grating, and output optics to create multiple optical paths that are as identical as possible, using collimating and focusing lens sets to ensure consistent spectral resolution and throughput, with options for line scan arrays and regions of interest on the camera to enhance readout speed and minimize path-to-path variation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple optical paths are used in a spectrometer, then the scan rate and imaging efficiency are improved, but path-to-path variation causes image artifacts and reduces measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical paths into a single integrated optical train by using a common diffraction grating and detector for all input channels. This ensures that all optical paths share identical dispersive and detection components, eliminating path-to-path variation while maintaining the ability to process multiple input signals simultaneously, thus resolving the contradiction between improved scan rate and maintained measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The diffraction grating and detector serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as the dispersive element and detection device for all optical paths. This universal component architecture ensures that spectral measurements from different input channels are performed with identical optical characteristics, preventing image artifacts while enabling high-speed multi-channel acquisition
2Quantity of substance
If multiple inputs are imaged onto different sections of the camera, then light collection efficiency is improved, but optical path variation increases leading to image artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple input channels are merged into a single common optical path that shares the diffraction grating and detector. This merging approach allows efficient light collection from multiple inputs while ensuring that all channels experience identical optical conditions, thereby eliminating the image artifacts caused by path variation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses identical optical components (diffraction grating and detector) for all optical paths, creating exact copies of the spectral measurement function. This ensures that each input channel is processed with the same optical characteristics, preventing artifacts while maintaining high light collection efficiency across all channels
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 design minimizes image artifacts and increases the scan rate in OCT systems by ensuring consistent light collection across multiple paths, effectively expanding the useful imaging range and simplifying system operation while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a diffraction grating, output optics, and a camera. The multiple inputs may be imaged onto different sections of the camera using the same input optics, the same diffraction grating, and the same output optics
Implementation Method 2
The input optics take the form of a collimating lens set 104
Implementation Method 3
The output optics take the form of a focusing lens set 108
Data Source
AI summary
A spectrometer in accordance with the present disclosure may provide multiple optical paths from the inputs to the camera, where the paths are as nearly identical as possible. For example, a spectrometer in accordance with the present disclosure may include multiple inputs, input optics, a diffraction grating, output optics, and a camera. The multiple inputs may be imaged onto different sections of the camera using the same input optics, the same diffraction grating, and the same output optics.