Rescan Optical System With One Mirror for Synchronized Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing re-scan confocal microscopes face synchronization issues between scanning and re-scanning mirrors, limiting scan speed and image quality, and existing compact designs face challenges with large optical setups.
Innovation Solution
A re-scan optical system using a single scanning mirror for both scanning and re-scanning, with a compact design incorporating specific optical elements to define beam paths at angled segments, allowing for telecentricity and reduced mirror size, facilitating integration with microscopes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two separate scanning mirrors are used for scanning and re-scanning, then synchronization control is possible, but the system becomes complex and large in size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the scanning and re-scanning functions into a single scanning mirror, eliminating the need for separate mirrors and their synchronization control systems. The single mirror performs both scanning of excitation light and re-scanning of emitted light, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining functional reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning mirror is designed to perform multiple functions: it scans the excitation light beam onto the sample and also re-scans the emitted light beam onto the detector. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated re-scanning mirrors and their associated synchronization mechanisms.
2Reliability
If two separate scanning mirrors are used for scanning and re-scanning, then synchronized movements can be achieved, but the optical setup becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of two separate scanning mirrors into a single mirror, thereby reducing the physical space required for the optical setup. The single mirror configuration eliminates the need for separate optical paths and mounting spaces for multiple mirrors.
Solution Approach 2:
The single scanning mirror performs both scanning and re-scanning functions, reducing the overall number of optical components and the space they occupy. This multi-functional approach compactly integrates what would otherwise require separate mirror assemblies.
3Device complexity
If a single scanning mirror is used for both scanning and re-scanning, then the optical setup becomes compact, but synchronization control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The single scanning mirror serves itself by performing both scanning and re-scanning functions with the same physical component. The mirror's inherent rotational or angular movement automatically provides both scanning actions without requiring external synchronization control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning mirror is designed to universally perform both scanning of excitation light and re-scanning of emitted light, eliminating the need for separate control systems. The single mirror's movement inherently provides the timing and coordination that would otherwise require active synchronization.
4Productivity
If higher scan speeds are used, then productivity increases, but the acceptable margin of synchronization error becomes smaller
Solution Approach 1:
The single scanning mirror inherently provides self-synchronized scanning and re-scanning actions. Since both functions are performed by the same physical component, any speed increase automatically maintains perfect temporal coordination between scanning and re-scanning, eliminating synchronization error margins entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional single mirror ensures that both scanning operations are performed by the same mechanism, guaranteeing that timing and speed are inherently synchronized regardless of the scan speed, thus maintaining precision even at high productivity levels.
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 system achieves improved image quality and compactness, enabling higher scanning speeds and simplified integration with microscopy setups.
Implementation Method 1
a scanning element and first optical elements defining an incident illumination beam path to the scanning element for directing a beam of illumination light onto the scanning element
Implementation Method 2
first optical elements defining an incident illumination beam path to the scanning element
Data Source
AI summary
A re-scan optical system comprises a scanning element; first optical elements directing light onto the scanning element to provide scanning illumination light; second optical elements directing the scanning illumination light towards a sample, and directing captured sample light onto the scanning element providing descanned sample light; third optical elements directing at least part of the descanned sample light back onto the scanning element to provide rescanning sample light; and fourth optical elements directing the rescanning sample light towards an imaging system. The third optical elements define a first beam segment of the descanned beam path and a second beam segment of the descanned beam path. The fourth optical elements define a third path segment from the scanning element between the first and second beam path segments and/or from the scanning element at an enclosed angle with the scanned sample light path in a range of 80-100 degrees.