Optical System Light Displacement Element Specular Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical systems face challenges in combining efficient light delivery and collection while preventing specularly reflected light from being collected, particularly in applications requiring a broad illumination field over varying sample distances and surface shapes, and are limited by complex manufacturing processes and narrowly defined working distances.
Innovation Solution
An optical system integrating a light delivery system and a light collection system along a common axis, utilizing a light displacement optical device with a shielding element to block specularly reflected light and a diffusing element for broad, uniform illumination, allowing for efficient collection of diffusely reflected or emitted light from inhomogeneous samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a compact reflection configuration is used to reduce device size, then the device can be operated from a single location, but specularly reflected light from the light delivery optics is directly collected without sample interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into distinct light delivery and light collection paths. The light delivery optics are positioned to illuminate the sample, while the light collection optics are positioned to collect only diffusely reflected light from the sample surface, preventing collection of specularly reflected light from the delivery optics. This spatial segmentation ensures that the collected signal is composed mainly of light that has interacted with the sample material.
Solution Approach 2:
The sample material acts as an intermediary that converts incident light into diffusely reflected light. By ensuring that the light collection optics receive only light that has interacted with the sample, the system uses the sample as a mediator to transform the direct illumination path into a diffuse reflection path, thereby eliminating the harmful specular reflection from the delivery optics.
2Volume of moving object
If light delivery and collection optics are combined in the same region of space, then device compactness is achieved, but the illumination field consistency over large area and range of working distances becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The light delivery optics are designed to provide a broad illumination field with high degree of consistency over a large area and range of working distances. The illumination field is optimized for each local region to ensure uniform lighting, while the light collection optics are positioned to collect diffusely reflected light from the sample surface. This local optimization allows the system to maintain illumination consistency across the entire field of view while remaining compact.
3Ease of operation
If a collection lens with central opening is used to house delivery optics, then coaxial light delivery and collection is achieved, but the lens requires complex and costly manufacturing process
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating a complex collection lens with a central opening, the system extracts the light collection function into a separate optical path. The light collection optics are positioned to receive diffusely reflected light from the sample surface, eliminating the need for a specialized lens with central opening. This separation simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining the coaxial configuration for compact operation.
4Productivity
If light is collected over large numerical aperture, then light collection efficiency is improved, but transferring light to spectrometer input optics with low NA and narrow spatial aperture becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a light displacement optical element to change the angular distribution of the collected light. By transforming the light paths from the large numerical aperture collection optics to match the narrow spatial aperture of the spectrometer input optics, the system efficiently transfers light without loss. This dimensional transformation of the light beam allows compatibility between the high-efficiency collection optics and the low-NA spectrometer input.
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 significantly increases light interaction with the sample, enhances measurement accuracy, and reduces the system's form-factor and manufacturing costs, making it suitable for mobile, handheld, and inline analysis applications.
Implementation Method 1
a light delivery optical element of a first numerical aperture having a first optical axis. The light delivery optical element is configured for directing light from a light source to a sample material positioned along the first optical axis
Implementation Method 2
a light collection optical element of a second numerical aperture having a second optical axis. The light collection optical element is configured for collecting light diffusely reflected or emitted from a surface of the illuminated sample material
Implementation Method 3
a light displacement optical device comprising a light displacement optical element configured for transferring at least a portion of the light diffusely reflected or emitted from a surface of the sample material to the light collection optical element
Data Source
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AI summary
An optical system (100) comprising a light delivery system comprising a light delivery optical element (1) for directing light (3) emitted from a light source (2) to a sample material (4) along a first optical axis(11),and a light collection system comprising a light collection optical element (7) configured for collecting the light (5) diffusely reflected or emitted from the illuminated sample material (4) and for transferring the collected light to an analysis device (10) along a second optical axis (15). The optical system (100) comprises a light displacement element (6) for displacing at least a portion of the light diffusely reflected or emitted (5) from the sample material (4) to the second optical axis (15) so that it can be collected by the light collection optical element (7), and a shielding element (13) surrounding, at least partially, the light displacement element (6) and comprising a first opening, through which light diffusely reflected or emitted from the sample material enters the light displacement element (6), and a second opening, through which the diffusely reflected or emitted light entered through the first opening exits the light displacement optical element (6) and is transferred to the light collection optical element (7).