Optical Interference Filter Coating for Angle-Stable Spectral Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical filters require multiple components and complex processing steps to block excitation light and pass emission light, leading to increased complexity and cost, and suffer from reduced sensing accuracy due to angle-dependent wavelength shifts.
Innovation Solution
An optical interference filter with a single coating of layers, including tantalum and oxygen, silicon and oxygen, and hydrogen and silicon, designed to block excitation wavelengths and transmit emission wavelengths, reducing the need for additional components and minimizing angle-dependent wavelength shifts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple components and complex processing steps are used to block excitation light and pass emission light, then the filtering performance is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple filtering functions (blocking excitation light and passing emission light) into a single optical filter component with a specific multi-layer coating structure. This eliminates the need for multiple separate components and simplifies the overall device while maintaining the required filtering performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical filter employs a composite coating structure consisting of multiple layers with different materials (including dielectric layers and metal layers) to achieve the desired optical properties. This composite structure enables simultaneous blocking of excitation wavelengths and transmission of emission wavelengths within a single component.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple components are used to achieve proper light filtering, then the filtering accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple filtering functions into a single optical filter component with a specifically designed multi-layer coating, the patent reduces the number of manufacturing steps while maintaining filtering accuracy. The integrated structure ensures proper light blocking and transmission characteristics without requiring assembly of multiple separate components.
3Reliability
If conventional optical filters are used, then the basic filtering function is achieved, but angle-dependent wavelength shifts reduce sensing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite coating structure with specific material selections (dielectric and metal layers) designed to minimize angle-dependent wavelength shifts. This composite structure maintains consistent optical characteristics across different angles of incidence, thereby preserving sensing accuracy while achieving the required filtering function.
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 single-coated optical filter simplifies production, decreases complexity and cost, and enhances sensing accuracy by minimizing unwanted light transmission and maintaining high accuracy across varying angles of incidence.
Implementation Method 1
an optical interference filter includes a substrate; and a plurality of sets of layers that are disposed over the substrate
Implementation Method 2
the optical interference filter is configured to transmit light associated with a first spectral range and to block light associated with a second spectral range
Data Source
AI summary
An optical interference filter includes a substrate and a plurality of sets of layers that are disposed over the substrate. Each set of layers includes: a first layer that comprises at least a first oxide; a second layer disposed over the first layer that comprises at least a second oxide; and a third layer disposed over the second layer that comprises at least hydrogen and silicon. The optical interference filter may be configured to transmit light associated with a first spectral range (e.g., from 585 nanometers to 700 nanometers) and to block light associated with a second spectral range (e.g., from 440 nanometers to 475 nanometers). The third layer may have an extinction coefficient for the second spectral range that is greater than four times an extinction coefficient of the third layer for the first spectral range.