Polygonal Pocket Barrel for Wafer-Level Optics Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical systems face challenges in aligning and integrating wafer-level polygonal-shaped optics into traditional round barrel assemblies, leading to difficulties in manufacturing and practical application, especially in cameras and LWIR sensors where materials with desirable properties are excluded due to absorption in specific wavebands.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates polygonal pockets within the barrel and spacer to align and secure polygonal optical elements, allowing for passive alignment and integration of wafer-level optics, while minimizing stray light through a non-uniform spacer diameter and anti-reflective coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional round barrel assemblies are used to house optical elements, then the barrel structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but aligning and integrating wafer-level polygonal-shaped optics becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces polygonal pockets within the circular barrel assembly to match the polygonal shape of the optical elements. This asymmetric feature within a symmetric container enables precise alignment of polygonal optics while maintaining the simplicity of the overall circular barrel structure for easy manufacture.
2Ease of manufacture
If a uniform diameter spacer is used in the barrel assembly, then the structure is simple, but stray light is not effectively minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spacer with non-uniform diameter, where different sections have different diameters to serve specific functions. This local variation in the spacer's geometry enables effective stray light minimization in critical areas while maintaining structural simplicity elsewhere.
3Adaptability or versatility
If polygonal optical elements are integrated into circular barrel assemblies, then materials with desirable properties beyond traditional LWIR wavebands can be used, but alignment and integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests polygonal optical elements within polygonal pockets that are themselves nested within the circular barrel assembly. This hierarchical nesting structure accommodates polygonal optics with diverse material properties while managing the integration complexity through organized sub-structures.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an analyte detector with a light blocking assembly. The light blocking assembly includes a light blocking cartridge positioned within the bore of a sampling tip. The light blocking assembly provides fluid communication between the environment and a sensor assembly in an analyte detector while substantially precluding the passage of light.