Optical Scanning With Piston-Crank Motion for Distortion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical scanning technologies using a piston-crank mechanism suffer from distortion in fluorescence images due to lateral displacement and rotational misalignment during forward and reverse scanning operations, which cannot be effectively accommodated by existing techniques.
Innovation Solution
An optical scanning apparatus with a piston-crank mechanism that includes a first scanning unit to move an irradiation optical unit relative to a substrate in a first direction, a second scanning unit to move the substrate relative to the irradiation optical unit in a second direction, and a control unit to control the timing of light emission and detection based on positional information, thereby reducing image distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a piston-crank mechanism is used for two-dimensional scanning, then the scanning system can achieve compact structure and mechanical advantage, but lateral displacement and rotational misalignment occur during forward and reverse scanning operations causing image distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the irradiation optical unit movable in the scanning direction rather than fixed. The optical unit moves synchronously with the piston-crank mechanism's scanning motion, allowing the system to adapt to the varying positional requirements during forward and reverse scanning. This dynamic adjustment compensates for the lateral displacement and rotational misalignment inherent in the piston-crank mechanism, thereby reducing image distortion while maintaining the compact structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by synchronizing the movement of the irradiation optical unit with the scanning position. The control system monitors the positional information of the optical unit and adjusts its movement to compensate for distortion. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the optical unit remains properly aligned with the substrate throughout the scanning cycle, counteracting the distortion caused by the piston-crank mechanism's forward and reverse operations.
2Device complexity
If the irradiation optical unit is fixed, then the system structure is simplified, but distortion cannot be accommodated during scanning operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed optical unit into a movable one that can dynamically adjust its position during scanning. This dynamic capability allows the system to accommodate the distortion caused by the piston-crank mechanism's forward and reverse operations, thereby improving image quality and reliability without significantly complicating the overall system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the irradiation optical unit from fixed to variable. By allowing the optical unit to move in the scanning direction and adjust its position based on real-time scanning information, the system can compensate for distortion and maintain reliable image quality throughout the scanning process.
3Ease of operation
If constant speed scanning is used, then the scanning process is simple, but it cannot accommodate variable scanning speed requirements of the piston-crank mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the irradiation optical unit to move and adjust its position dynamically during scanning. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to the variable scanning speed characteristics of the piston-crank mechanism, accommodating the speed variations that occur during forward and reverse operations while maintaining simple scanning control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the optical unit to match the variable speed requirements. By synchronizing the optical unit's movement with the scanning speed variations, the system achieves adaptability to the piston-crank mechanism's speed profile without complicating the scanning control process.
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
The apparatus achieves reduced distortion in acquired images, such as fluorescence images, by synchronizing light emission and detection with the positional movements of the scanning units, resulting in clearer two-dimensional images.
Implementation Method 1
The irradiation optical system has a function of focusing laser light and irradiating the array plate with the laser light
Implementation Method 2
The fluorescence detection optical system has a function of detecting the amount of fluorescence emitted from spots labeled by fluorescent probes
Data Source
AI summary
An optical scanning apparatus configured to scan light over a substrate containing spots includes: an irradiation optical unit configured to irradiate the substrate with primary light emitted from a semiconductor laser (LD); a photosensor configured to detect light from the substrate irradiated with the primary light as secondary light; a first scanning unit configured to move the irradiation optical unit relative to the substrate in the X-direction using a piston-crank mechanism; a second scanning unit configured to move the substrate relative to the irradiation optical unit in the Y-direction intersecting the X-direction; and a control unit configured to control an output timing of the primary light emitted from the semiconductor laser (LD) and an acquisition timing of detection information of the secondary light detected by the photosensor based on positional information of the irradiation optical unit.