Rotating Dichroic Mirror Illumination Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional illumination apparatuses using multiple dichroic mirrors to synthesize light of different wavelengths suffer from low light guiding efficiency due to light loss during transmission, resulting in insufficient illumination at the observation target.
Innovation Solution
An illumination apparatus with three or more light sources arranged so that their optical axes intersect, utilizing an optical device that transmits light from one source while reflecting light from others, and a rotating mechanism to adjust the optical device's angle, allowing efficient combination of light from multiple sources without significant loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dichroic mirrors are used to synthesize lights of different wavelengths, then the illumination apparatus can output light while selecting various wavelengths, but light guiding efficiency becomes low and sufficient light cannot be obtained at the observation target
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotating mechanism that dynamically adjusts the angle of the dichroic mirror relative to the light sources. By rotating the mirror to different angles, the system can selectively reflect or transmit light from different wavelength ranges, enabling wavelength selection while optimizing light guiding efficiency for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the angular parameter of the dichroic mirror through rotation, transforming the static optical path into a dynamically adjustable one. This parameter change allows the same optical component to serve multiple wavelength selection functions without requiring multiple fixed mirrors, thereby improving light guiding efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dichroic mirrors of number one less than the number of light sources are disposed, then the apparatus can synthesize colors of lights, but lights from at least one light source have to be transmitted through multiple dichroic mirrors causing light loss
Solution Approach 1:
By making the dichroic mirror rotatable, the system dynamically optimizes which light sources are reflected versus transmitted. This dynamic adjustment ensures that each light source's light takes the most efficient path (either direct transmission or single-reflection) to the observation target, maximizing overall light intensity while maintaining color synthesis capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating mechanism pre-positions the dichroic mirror at optimal angles for different wavelength combinations before illumination occurs. This preliminary configuration minimizes the number of times any given light source must pass through the mirror, reducing cumulative light loss and ensuring sufficient illumination intensity at the target.
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 configuration enhances light guiding efficiency and luminance by effectively combining lights of different wavelengths, ensuring sufficient illumination at the observation target.
Implementation Method 1
an optical device which transmits a light from one of the light sources, while reflecting lights from the other light sources
Data Source
AI summary
A light with higher luminance is radiated while lights of a plurality of different wavelengths are appropriately selected and light guiding efficiency is improved. An illumination apparatus including three or more light sources which are arranged so that optical axes of the light sources intersect at one point and which respectively emit lights of different wavelength ranges, an optical device which transmits a light from one of the light sources while reflecting lights from the other light sources so as to make the lights enter an optical path of the light from the one of the light sources, and an optical device rotator which rotates the optical device in a direction in which the light sources are arranged.