Needle-Shaped Light Spot for High-Speed 3D Microscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanning laser microscopes require mechanical scanning and lengthy observation times due to limitations in spatial resolution and depth of focus, especially when attempting to acquire three-dimensional information of a sample.
Innovation Solution
The optical information detection apparatus employs a needle-shaped light spot irradiation system that generates a non-diffracted Bessel beam or Airy beam, allowing for simultaneous excitation and data acquisition across the sample's depth direction without mechanical scanning, utilizing an optical modulation part and emission light modulation to convert emission light into shifting light spots that can be received and processed for three-dimensional imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mechanical scanning is used to acquire three-dimensional information of a sample, then spatial resolution can be improved, but observation time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical scanning system with an optical field-based solution. Instead of physically moving the laser beam or sample to scan through three-dimensional space, the invention uses a needle-shaped light spot (Bessel beam or Airy beam) that inherently maintains its shape over extended depths, allowing simultaneous three-dimensional imaging without mechanical movement. This substitution of mechanical scanning with optical field manipulation resolves the contradiction by achieving high spatial resolution through optical confinement while eliminating observation time loss from mechanical scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional scanning to three-dimensional imaging by introducing a needle-shaped light spot with extended depth of focus. The Bessel beam or Airy beam creates a light distribution that maintains confinement in the lateral dimensions while extending along the optical axis, effectively adding the depth dimension to the imaging capability without requiring mechanical scanning through the third dimension. This dimensional transformation allows simultaneous acquisition of three-dimensional information.
2Length of stationary object
If conventional light focusing is used, then depth of focus is limited, but acquiring three-dimensional information requires sequential scanning which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sequential mechanical scanning through different focal planes with a single optical field configuration. The needle-shaped light spot (Bessel beam or Airy beam) is generated by specific optical elements (axicon lens or phase modulation) that create an extended depth of focus in a single optical setup, eliminating the need to mechanically adjust focal planes sequentially. This resolves the contradiction by achieving extended depth of focus through optical design while maintaining high imaging speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the light beam by using Bessel beams or Airy beams instead of conventional Gaussian beams. These special beam types have fundamentally different propagation characteristics with extended depth of focus and maintained lateral confinement over longer distances. By changing the beam parameter from conventional focused spot to needle-shaped light spot, the system achieves both extended depth of focus and high imaging speed simultaneously.
3Loss of time
If laser scanning is performed at high speed, then observation time is reduced, but spatial resolution deteriorates due to insufficient sampling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical scanning with a stationary needle-shaped light spot illumination scheme. Instead of moving the laser beam rapidly across the sample, the system uses a Bessel beam or Airy beam that inherently provides extended depth of focus, allowing the entire three-dimensional region to be illuminated simultaneously. Detection is performed using a two-dimensional detector that captures the shifted light spots corresponding to different depths, eliminating the need for high-speed scanning while maintaining spatial resolution through the optical properties of the needle-shaped light spot.
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 approach significantly reduces the time required for three-dimensional imaging by enabling instantaneous acquisition of optical information across the sample's depth, enhancing spatial resolution and depth of focus, and allowing for high-speed optical imaging.
Implementation Method 1
an optical modulation part that is configured to modulate light emitted from the light source to convert the light emitted from the light source into the needle-shaped light spot
Implementation Method 2
an emission light modulation part that is configured to convert the emission light into the shifting light spot by modulating the emission light
Data Source
AI summary
An optical information detection apparatus includes: a needle-shaped light spot irradiation part that is configured to generate needle-shaped light spot concentrated over a length dimension g greater than a width dimension w along an optical axis, a shifting light spot conversion part that is configured to convert emission light emitted from positions of a detection object into shifting light spot, a shifting light spot reception part that is configured to receive the shifting light spot along a light-receiving plane, and an optical information acquisition part that is configured to acquire optical information from the positions from the shifting light spot.