Particle Analysis with Separated Optics for Short Sample Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional particle analysis devices are bulky and require significant installation space, making them unsuitable for installation near manufacturing lines, leading to increased sample loss, sample degradation, and reduced responsiveness due to long transport routes.
Innovation Solution
The device comprises a flow cell, light source, and photodetector separated from a control unit, connected via a light guide member, allowing for a downsized optical system that can be installed in limited spaces, using a thin optical fiber to maintain phase information and adjustable connections to secure scattered light intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the particle analysis device is installed in a wide area away from the line and samples are transported from the line to that area, then the device can be installed without changing the shape of the line, but the transport route becomes long causing increased sample loss, changes in sample properties, and decreased responsiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate units: a compact optical system unit containing the flow cell and light source, and a control unit containing the photodetector and arithmetic circuit. This segmentation allows the optical system to be installed close to the line while the control unit can be positioned elsewhere, solving the contradiction between installation flexibility and sample loss.
2Reliability
If the optical system unit and control unit are connected by a thick optical fiber, then the connection is stable, but the phase information is lost due to the thick optical fiber resulting in decreased measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies using an optical fiber with a core diameter of up to 20 times that of a single-mode optical fiber. This parameter change allows the optical fiber to be thin enough to preserve phase information for accurate dynamic scattering measurements, while still providing sufficient connection stability.
3Measurement precision
If the core diameter of the light guide member is made extremely small for single-mode operation, then phase information is preserved, but the intensity of the scattered light cannot be obtained sufficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies using an optical fiber with a core diameter of up to 20 times that of a single-mode optical fiber. This parameter change allows the optical fiber to be thin enough to preserve phase information for accurate dynamic scattering measurements, while still providing sufficient connection stability.
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 in-line analysis with minimized sample loss and degradation, maintaining measurement accuracy and responsiveness by downsizing the optical system and optimizing light guidance.
Implementation Method 1
it is necessary to guide photons emitted from the particle by light irradiation to the photodetector in the same order in which the photons emerge
Implementation Method 2
a photodetector that detects secondary light from the particles
Implementation Method 3
a light source that irradiates light to the particles in the flow cell
Data Source
AI summary
In order to enable a device to be installed in a limited space on the periphery of a line and to keep a path for transportation of a sample from the line short, the present invention is configured so as to comprise a flow cell through which a sample including particles flows, a light source for radiating light to the particles in the flow cell, a photodetector for detecting secondary light from the particles, and a computation circuit for detecting an autocorrelation function from a light intensity signal outputted from the photodetector and analyzing the autocorrelation function or the particles included in the sample, an optical system unit including the flow cell and the light source, and a control unit including the photodetector and the computation circuit being separate from each other and connected via a light guiding member for guiding the secondary light to the photodetector.