Prism Spectrometer Speckle Diffuser Resolution Bandwidth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prism spectrometers face limitations in resolution and spectral bandwidth, while diffraction grating spectrometers have overlapping diffraction orders that restrict measurable bandwidth, necessitating a solution that enhances both resolution and bandwidth simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a speckle generating diffuser film with a prism spectrometer, which creates distinct speckle patterns sensitive to wavelength changes, allowing for high resolution and wide spectral range measurement without sacrificing either aspect, by diffusing light and using a prism to separate wavelengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a prism spectrometer is used, then the spectral bandwidth is unlimited, but the wavelength resolution is insufficient (1 nanometre or similar values)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewavelength resolutionVSAvoidspectral bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a diffraction grating with a speckle-generating diffuser film in a hybrid spectrometer system. The diffraction grating provides wavelength-dependent angular separation while the diffuser film generates speckle patterns that enhance resolution through interferometric effects, achieving both high resolution and wide spectral bandwidth simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a spatial dimension by using speckle patterns created by the diffuser film. Instead of relying solely on angular separation in one dimension, the system uses the two-dimensional speckle pattern distribution to encode wavelength information, thereby achieving higher resolution without limiting spectral bandwidth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If a diffraction grating spectrometer is used, then the wavelength resolution is better, but the overlapping of different diffraction orders limits the measurable spectral bandwidth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewavelength resolutionVSAvoidspectral bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the diffraction process by combining a coarse diffraction grating (for broad spectral coverage) with a fine speckle-generating diffuser (for high resolution). This segmentation allows different components to handle different aspects of the spectral analysis, avoiding order overlap while maintaining high resolution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The speckle-generating diffuser film acts as an intermediary between the diffraction grating and the detector. It transforms the diffracted light into speckle patterns that encode wavelength information with high precision, while the grating handles the broad spectral dispersion, thus resolving the bandwidth-resolution trade-off

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach achieves wavelength resolution 100 times better than typical prism spectrometers and 20 times better than diffraction grating spectrometers, while maintaining a wide spectral bandwidth, effectively addressing the trade-off limitations of existing spectrometer technologies.

Implementation Method 1

A diffuser film (3) which diffuses the light received from the cylindrical lens I (2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

The diffuser film (3) used in the spectrometer subject to the invention forms a speckle pattern, which is dependent on the wavelength of the received light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpeckle pattern formation: Interference