Optical Measurement System Compact Launch Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical measurement systems face challenges in accurately controlling the range and distribution of optical path lengths in samples, particularly as the number of measured wavelengths and unique measurement locations increase, leading to complex architectures and reduced compactness.
Innovation Solution
The optical measurement system includes a sampling interface with a launch site and collection sites, a launch architecture that emits a converging emission light beam, and a collection architecture with detector elements that measure light entering through the collection sites, ensuring angle-independent transition regions for measurement channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of wavelengths and measurement locations are increased, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single light source unit generates multiple wavelengths that are sequentially directed to different measurement locations through optical switching. This allows one light source to perform multiple measurement functions that would otherwise require separate sources, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the capability to measure at multiple wavelengths and locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic optical switching to route light beams between different measurement locations and wavelengths. The optical switches dynamically reconfigure the measurement paths based on which measurement is being performed, allowing a fixed physical architecture to support multiple measurement configurations without requiring separate dedicated paths for each wavelength-location combination.
2Measurement precision
If optical path length control is improved, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The launch architecture incorporates focusing optics at specific locations to create controlled beam convergence at defined depths within the sample. By applying focusing only where needed rather than uniformly across the entire system, the architecture achieves precise optical path length control at measurement locations while avoiding the complexity of comprehensive focusing throughout the entire optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
Focusing optics act as intermediary elements between the light source and the sample, mediating the optical path to achieve desired convergence depths. These intermediary components enable precise control of light penetration depth without requiring direct complex control at the source, simplifying the overall launch architecture while maintaining measurement precision.
3Ease of operation
If the system is made more compact, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The optical measurement system integrates multiple functional components including light sources, optical switches, focusing optics, and detectors within a compact housing. Components are nested and arranged in integrated modules where space is efficiently utilized, allowing the system to maintain precise optical path control capabilities while achieving a compact form factor that improves ease of operation and deployment.
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 configuration enables improved optical path length control, enhances measurement accuracy, and maintains a compact system design, even with increased wavelengths and measurement locations.
Implementation Method 1
The emission light beam converges in a first dimension as it exits the sampling interface, and the emission light beam, if emitted into a target sample, projects to a transition region in the target sample that is angle independent for at least one of the set of measurement channels
Implementation Method 2
the first return light beam diverges in a first dimension as it enters the sampling interface, and the first return light beam, if collected from a target sample, projects from a first transition region in the target sample that is angle independent for the first measurement channel
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
The disclosure relates to embodiments of optical measurement systems that are configured to perform spectroscopic measurements. The optical measurement systems are configured to provide compact arrangements for introducing light into a sample and collecting light returned from the sample. Reducing the size of the launch and/or collection architecture of an optical measurement system may make the overall optical measurement system smaller, thereby providing flexibility in integrating an optical measurement system into various form factors.