Optical System Reshaping Laser Beam for Sample Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical systems for sample processing instruments, such as flow cytometers, face challenges in maintaining consistent laser beam sizes due to manufacturing divergence tolerances, leading to increased costs and labor for replacing laser modules.
Innovation Solution
The optical system incorporates a reshaping device, including adjustable prism pairs, to reshape the light beams from multiple laser sources, ensuring they have a uniform size in a predetermined direction, thereby improving detection performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If laser diodes with specific divergence tolerance are selected to meet detection requirements, then beam consistency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to selective procurement and potential module replacements
Solution Approach 1:
A beam shaping device is introduced as an intermediary component between the laser diode and the detection channel. This device includes optical elements (such as cylindrical lenses or prism pairs) that reshape the laser beam profile to achieve uniform beam dimensions in the detection direction, regardless of the initial divergence variations of different laser diodes. This mediator component decouples the beam consistency requirement from the laser diode selection criteria.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam shaping device modifies the beam parameters (specifically the beam width and divergence angle) through optical transformation. By changing the beam profile parameters using optical elements with specific focal lengths or refractive properties, the system achieves consistent beam dimensions at the detection plane, compensating for variations in the source laser diodes' divergence characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If laser diodes with different divergence angles are used, then device versatility is improved, but beam consistency deteriorates leading to poor detection performance
Solution Approach 1:
The beam shaping device is designed to accommodate multiple laser diode types with different divergence angles. The optical elements are configured to transform various input beam profiles into a unified output beam profile that meets detection requirements. This universal beam shaping approach allows the system to accept a range of laser sources while maintaining consistent detection performance.
3Measurement precision
If frequent laser module replacement is performed to maintain beam consistency, then detection accuracy is maintained, but productivity decreases due to labor time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The beam shaping device is pre-configured with optical elements designed to compensate for typical laser diode divergence variations. This preliminary setup establishes a robust beam conditioning system that proactively maintains beam consistency without requiring frequent adjustments or replacements. The system is designed to tolerate a range of laser diode specifications while maintaining detection accuracy.
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 solution allows for consistent beam sizes across multiple laser sources within a single sample processing instrument, reducing the need for frequent module replacements, lowering costs, and enhancing detection accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a collimating device configured to collimate light beam emitted from the laser source
Implementation Method 2
a focusing lens configured to focus the light beam coming from the laser source on a point within the detection channel
Implementation Method 3
a reshaping device disposed between the collimating device and the focusing lens and configured to reshape a light spot of the collimated light beam. The reshaping devices includes a first prism pair including two prisms
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an optical system for a sample processing instrument including a flow cell with a detection channel for passage and detection of a sample. The optical system includes: a laser source; a collimating device configured to collimate beam emitted from the laser source; a focusing lens configured to focus the light beam from the laser source within the detection channel; and a reshaping device disposed between the collimating device and the focusing lens and configured to reshape spot of the collimated light beam. The reshaping device includes a first prism pair including two prisms being adjustable relative to each other so that the beam of the laser source has a predetermined size in a first direction. A sample processing instrument including the above optical system and flow cell is further provided therein.