Optical Unit Compact Design via Vertical Light Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blood glucose meters face challenges in reducing device size due to the need for a long light path and specific light incidence angles, making it difficult to miniaturize the optical unit.
Innovation Solution
An optical unit with a light-emitting portion, multiple light-receiving portions, and a mounting substrate, covered by a plate-shaped transparent member, where the positions of these components ensure that light emitted from the light-emitting portion is incident on two or more light-receiving portions after reflection or diffusion by the analysis target, reducing the light path length and enabling compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a long light path is used to ensure sufficient light spread and proper incidence angle, then light reception efficiency is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a linear light path configuration to a three-dimensional arrangement where the light-receiving portion is positioned above the light-emitting portion. This vertical stacking enables the light to travel a longer effective path through the blood sample while keeping the device footprint small, resolving the contradiction between light reception efficiency and device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent places the light-receiving portion above the light-emitting portion in a nested vertical arrangement, allowing the light path to extend vertically through multiple layers of the measurement chip. This nesting strategy enables efficient light reception without increasing the horizontal device dimensions.
2Measurement precision
If multiple light-receiving portions are used to improve analysis accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light-receiving portions into a single integrated optical unit with a unified light-emitting portion. The multiple photodiodes are arranged in an array above the single LED, sharing common structural support and optical pathways, which reduces overall device complexity while maintaining enhanced measurement precision through multi-point detection.
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 allows for a significant reduction in the size of the optical analysis device while maintaining analysis accuracy through improved light reception and signal processing from multiple light-receiving portions, enhancing usability and sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting portion that irradiates an analysis target with light
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of light-receiving portions that receive light that has been reflected or diffused by the analysis target
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of light-receiving portions that receive light that has been reflected or diffused by the analysis target
Implementation Method 4
a plate-shaped member having optical transparency, wherein the plate-shaped member is arranged so as to cover the light-emitting portion and the plurality of light-receiving portions
Data Source
AI summary
An optical unit (100) includes a light-emitting portion (10) that irradiates an analysis target with light, light-receiving portions (20) that receive light that has been reflected or diffused by the analysis target, a mounting substrate (30) on which these portions are mounted, and a plate-shaped member (40) having optical transparency. The plate-shaped member (40) is arranged so as to cover the light-emitting portion (10) and the light-receiving portions (20) that are mounted on the mounting substrate (30). Positions of the light-emitting portion (10), the light-receiving portions (20), and the plate-shaped member (40) are set such that, in the case where the analysis target is in contact with the plate-shaped member (40), light emitted from the light-emitting portion (10) is incident on two or more of the light-receiving portions (20) after being reflected or diffused by the analysis target.