Spectroscopy Probe Optics for Container Aberration Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Raman spectroscopy faces challenges due to weak Raman scattering signals and the need to illuminate and collect light from heterogeneous samples, often distorted by containers or barriers, requiring improved optical elements to enhance signal collection and focus.
Innovation Solution
Employing aspheric, toroidal, and cylindrical optical elements in the sample optic assembly to correct optical aberrations caused by containers, allowing for focused spots or lines within the sample, enhancing signal collection and reducing distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional spherical optical elements are used to focus light through a container, then the optical system is simple to manufacture, but optical aberrations are introduced that distort the light beam and reduce focusing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs aspheric optical elements with non-spherical surfaces that have asymmetric curvature profiles. These aspheric surfaces are specifically designed to compensate for optical aberrations introduced by the container, achieving superior focusing precision while maintaining reasonable manufacturing complexity through standardized aspheric fabrication processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes optical elements with precisely controlled curved surfaces, including aspheric and toroidal geometries. These curved surfaces are engineered to counteract the distortion effects of the container walls, enabling the light beam to be focused accurately at the sample location despite passing through the container barrier.
2Measurement precision
If a large area of the sample is illuminated to analyze heterogeneous samples, then the representativeness of the analysis improves, but the light beam becomes more susceptible to distortion from the container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple optical elements in sequence, including aspheric lenses and toroidal correctors, that work together in a segmented optical system. Each element addresses specific aspects of beam distortion, collectively enabling large-area illumination while maintaining beam quality and compensating for container-induced aberrations across the entire illuminated field.
3Illumination intensity
If the focal spot size is reduced to increase light intensity for weak Raman signals, then the signal strength improves, but the illuminated sample area decreases reducing representativeness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a highly concentrated focal spot with intense light intensity for maximizing Raman signal strength, while the aspheric optical elements are designed to maintain beam quality and minimize aberrations across the entire beam path. This enables localized high-intensity illumination that can be scanned or positioned to represent different regions of heterogeneous samples.
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
Improves signal strength and clarity by minimizing aberrations, enabling more accurate spectroscopic analysis of samples, especially in heterogeneous and containerized environments.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical element that is positioned for receiving a substantially collimated excitation light beam and directing light rays towards a sample... project the light rays through the optical window or transparent container to focus the light rays into at least one focal spot or at least one focal line
Implementation Method 2
compensate for optical aberrations that are created by the optical window or the transparent container to reduce the size of and/or sharpen the at least one focal spot or the at least one focal line
Implementation Method 3
a laser beam, containing laser photons having a certain wavelength, is used to illuminate a sample... and a small fraction of the laser photons shift to different wavelengths as they scatter from the molecules of the sample
Data Source
AI summary
Sample optic assemblies are described that may have at least one optical element that is positioned and has one or more surfaces shaped to focus separate sections of a collimated excitation light beam to: (a) create at least one focal point or at least one focal line at one or more portions of a surface or an interior of a sample while compensating for optical aberrations that are created by an optical window or a transparent container that is adjacent the sample to reduce the size of and/or sharpen the at least one focal spot or the at least one focal line; (b) to create a plurality of focal spots, an array of discrete focal spots, at least one focal line, or at least one focal circle, at one or more portions of a surface or an interior of the sample or (c) to achieve (a) and (b).