Rectangular Beam Shaping to Prevent Objective Overfilling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Light formatting structures positioned far from microscope objectives cause beam divergence, leading to overfilling and clipping of light beams, which degrades beam uniformity and introduces stray light noise or damage in imaging systems.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method involving a collimator, beam shaping group, and focusing objective stage to transform a collimated beam into a shaped propagation beam with a rectangular cross-section, using optical elements to maintain uniform illumination and avoid overfilling, with optional optical relay stages and compensators for adjusting beam focus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light formatting structures are positioned far from microscope objectives, then beam uniformity is improved, but beam divergence increases causing overfilling and clipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-formatting the light beam into a specific cross-sectional shape (matching the sensor aspect ratio) before it enters the microscope objective. This is achieved through beam shaping optics positioned upstream, which prepare the beam in advance so that it maintains proper proportions throughout propagation, preventing overfilling and clipping at the objective aperture even when positioned at optimal distances for uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the light beam, specifically transforming it into a shaped propagation beam with a cross-section having an aspect ratio between 2:1 and 10:1. This parameter transformation ensures the beam matches the rectangular sensor format, allowing it to propagate without overfilling the objective aperture while maintaining uniformity across the field of view.
2Illumination intensity
If beam divergence is reduced to prevent overfilling, then beam uniformity is improved, but imaging speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam shaping optics perform preliminary formatting of the light beam into the appropriate aspect ratio before illumination. This pre-shaping allows the use of higher numerical aperture objectives and faster scanning speeds without sacrificing uniformity, because the beam is already configured to match the sensor format and will not overfill during propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic adjustment of the beam shaping parameters to optimize for different imaging conditions. The beam formatting can be adapted in real-time to match different sensor formats and imaging speeds, allowing the system to maintain uniformity while operating at high speeds by dynamically optimizing the beam cross-section to prevent overfilling during rapid scanning.
3Illumination intensity
If beam shaping optics are added to format the beam, then beam uniformity and sensor matching are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam shaping optics are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: they format the beam to the correct aspect ratio, control beam divergence, and optimize coupling to the objective. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate optical components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved beam uniformity and sensor matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the beam (cross-sectional shape, aspect ratio, divergence angle) through optimized optical elements. By carefully selecting and positioning a minimal number of beam shaping components, the system achieves the required parameter transformations with minimal added complexity, matching the beam to standard sensor formats without requiring complex optical trains.
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 solution ensures uniform illumination and accurate probing of samples, reducing photobleaching and enabling high-speed imaging by maintaining beam integrity and uniformity across different sample depths.
Implementation Method 1
a collimator at an input end positioned to receive an input beam from a fiber beam source and to produce a substantially collimated beam
Implementation Method 2
a beam shaping group comprising one or more optical elements and positioned to receive the substantially collimated beam from the collimator and format the substantially collimated beam into a shaped propagation beam
Implementation Method 3
format the substantially collimated beam into a shaped propagation beam comprising or having a substantially rectangular cross-section in a far field
Implementation Method 4
a focusing objective stage including element apertures and an objective pupil for receiving the shaped propagation beam and positioned to transform the shaped propagation beam into a substantially rectangular cross-section sampling beam at or near a focal plane
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for transmitting light are disclosed. In an implementation, an apparatus includes a collimator at an input end positioned to receive an input beam from a fiber beam source and to produce a collimated beam. The apparatus further includes a beam shaping group having one or more optical elements and positioned to receive the collimated beam from the collimator and format the collimated beam into a shaped propagation beam having a substantially rectangular cross-section in a far field. The apparatus further includes an objective stage for optically probing a sample, such as a flow cell, using substantially rectangular cross-section sampling beam, where fluorescence from the sample is captured by a line sensor for detecting properties of the sample, such as chemical reactions therein.