Compact Refractive Spectrometer with Planar Grating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spectrometer designs are too large and costly, lack spatial and spectral imaging resolution, and cannot provide a combination of compact size, low mass, negligible distortions, and wide spectral and spatial fields simultaneously, especially for applications like unmanned aircraft surveillance and forensic fieldwork.
Innovation Solution
The use of compact refractive systems with plane dispersing elements, such as simple planar blazed ruled diffraction gratings, and achromatizing or apochromatic corrections to balance Petzval curvature and axial chromatic aberration, allowing for increased spectral and spatial fields without the need for complex or expensive curved elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If current spectrometer designs are used, then spectral imaging function is provided, but the device size and mass are too large for portable applications
Solution Approach 1:
The spectrometer is divided into functional modules: a compact optical system with refractive elements for beam manipulation, a separate dispersing element for spectral separation, and a detector array. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall size while maintaining imaging resolution through careful design of the optical path and dispersing element geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional reflective dispersive elements to refractive elements that operate in different spatial dimensions. The optical system uses lens elements to focus light in one dimension while the dispersing element separates light in a perpendicular dimension, allowing compact packaging without sacrificing spectral or spatial resolution
2Ease of manufacture
If current spectrometer designs are used, then spectral imaging function is provided, but the device is too costly due to complex dispersing elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex reflective dispersing elements with simpler, more manufacturable refractive dispersing elements. These refractive elements can be produced using standard optical manufacturing techniques, significantly reducing fabrication costs while maintaining the necessary spectral dispersion performance for imaging applications
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental optical parameter from reflective to refractive dispersion. This parameter change allows the use of conventional optical materials and manufacturing processes rather than requiring complex figured mirrors or gratings, thereby reducing both manufacturing cost and complexity while achieving the required spectral separation
3Measurement precision
If current spectrometer designs are used, then basic spectral imaging is achieved, but spatial and spectral distortions are significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved refractive surfaces in the optical elements to correct for spatial and spectral distortions. The lens elements are designed with specific curvature profiles that compensate for optical aberrations, ensuring that light rays from different field positions are focused correctly onto the detector plane, thereby maintaining high image quality across the entire field of view
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system uses composite lens designs combining multiple refractive materials with different dispersion properties. This allows simultaneous correction of chromatic aberration and spatial distortion, achieving high measurement precision without requiring overly complex single-element optics
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
Results in a more compact, cost-effective spectrometer with superior spatial and spectral image quality and resolution, capable of covering large areas with high spatial and spectral detail, suitable for diverse applications including unmanned aerial vehicles and forensic analysis.
Implementation Method 1
plane dispersing elements including, but not limited to, simple planar blazed ruled diffraction gratings
Implementation Method 2
dispersing this light according to its wavelength
Implementation Method 3
compact refractive systems
Data Source
AI summary
A spectrometer having substantially increased spectral and spatial fields.