Parallel Interferometer Spectrometer for Optical Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Narrow aperture size in FTIR spectrometers limits optical throughput, restricting the ability to achieve high spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratios, especially when using low brightness wideband sources.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a spectrometer with multiple scanning interferometers synchronized and coupled in parallel, where a source light beam is divided into multiple input beams, each directed to a respective interferometer, and the resulting interferograms are superimposed to enhance optical throughput and spectral resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the aperture size is increased to improve optical throughput, then the signal-to-noise ratio and spectral resolution are improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single interferometer into multiple parallel interferometers (first, second, and third interferometers with different optical path differences). Each interferometer processes a portion of the spectral information, and their outputs are combined to achieve high spectral resolution without requiring a single large-aperture interferometer, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing aperture size in one dimension to improve optical throughput, the patent transitions to a multi-dimensional approach by using multiple interferometers with different optical path differences working in parallel. This dimensional transition allows the system to achieve high spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio through spatial and optical path diversity rather than simply scaling up the aperture.
2Reliability
If multiple interferometers with different optical path differences are used to increase optical throughput, then the signal-to-noise ratio improves, but the device complexity and alignment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the spectral measurement function across multiple interferometers, each with a specific optical path difference (first interferometer with OPD1, second with OPD2, third with OPD3). This segmentation allows parallel processing of spectral information to improve signal-to-noise ratio while keeping each individual interferometer relatively simple in design.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple interferometers perform the same basic function of spectral analysis but with different optical path differences, making the system universally capable of measuring different spectral ranges and improving overall signal-to-noise ratio. The parallel configuration allows the system to handle multiple spectral measurement tasks simultaneously.
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 optical throughput and spectral resolution, enabling higher signal-to-noise ratios and improved performance in measuring microscopic samples with compact, cost-effective FTIR micro spectrometers.
Implementation Method 1
an optical splitter configured to divide a source light beam into a plurality of input beams and to direct each of the input beams to a respective one of the plurality of interferometers
Implementation Method 2
collimated light from a broadband source is split into two beams, which are then reflected off of respective mirrors (one of which is moving) and caused to interfere, allowing the temporal coherence of the light to be measured at each different Optical Path Difference (OPD)
Implementation Method 3
One or more detectors are optically coupled to receive a respective output from each of the plurality of interferometers and is configured to detect an interferogram produced as a result of the outputs
Data Source
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AI summary
A spectrometer with increased optical throughput and/or spectral resolution includes a plurality of interferometers coupled in parallel. An optical splitter divides a source light beam into a plurality of input beams and directs each of the input beams to a respective one of the plurality of interferometers. One or more detectors are optically coupled to receive a respective output from each of the plurality of interferometers and is configured to detect an interferogram produced as a result of the outputs.