Rotating Dove Prism for 360° Scattered Light Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for detecting scattered light from surfaces can only evaluate the light distribution along one dimension, limiting their ability to accurately determine surface roughness and defects in multiple directions, which is essential for comprehensive surface analysis.
Innovation Solution
A device with a light source and a linear array of photosensitive detector elements, combined with a rotatable Dove prism and relay optics, allows for the complete spatial evaluation of scattered light distribution by rotating the scattered light lobe across the detector array, enabling the capture of a 360° scattered light indicatrix within a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a linear detector array is used to detect scattered light, then the device has a compact design, but it can only measure scattered light distribution in one dimension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies image rotation through a Dove prism to transform the scattered light distribution in the angular domain into a spatial domain that can be captured by a linear detector array. By rotating the image of the scattered light lobe, the system effectively adds a rotational dimension to the measurement, enabling complete spatial distribution capture while maintaining the compact linear detector configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the detector array is rotated to determine areal scattered light distribution, then complete spatial information can be obtained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Dove prism as an intermediary optical element that performs image rotation. Instead of physically rotating the entire detector array or sample, the Dove prism rotates the light field image, achieving the same measurement effect with a simpler, stationary detector configuration. This intermediary approach significantly reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining full spatial measurement capability.
3Measurement precision
If a Dove prism is used to rotate the scattered light lobe, then complete spatial scattered light distribution can be captured, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The Dove prism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it rotates the scattered light lobe image, maintains the linear detector array configuration, and enables complete spatial distribution measurement. This multi-functionality justifies the addition of the optical element, as it achieves multiple measurement objectives with a single component rather than requiring separate systems for each function.
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 approach enables high-accuracy determination of surface microstructure and texture parameters, including direction-dependent defects, by recording the complete spatial scattered light distribution, enhancing the device's ability to assess surface characteristics with high precision and speed.
Implementation Method 1
An image rotator is arranged in a tube (26) which can be rotated. The image rotator can be designed, for example, as a Dove prism (44). When the tube is rotated, the image rotator causes the scattered light lobe to rotate
Implementation Method 2
a detector (50) arranged in the housing, which has a large number of photosensitive detector elements along a line (50) and to which the scattered light reflected by the sample can be supplied
Implementation Method 3
a light source (16) arranged in a housing of the device, the light from which illuminates the sample (24), and with a detector (50) arranged in the housing
Data Source
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AI summary
The device (10) has a housing (12), in which a light source (16) is arranged, whose light illuminates a sample (24), where a detector (50) is arranged in the housing along a line with multiple photosensitive detector elements. A rotatably mounted tube (26) is provided, in which an image rotator (44) is placed. The light incident from light source onto the sample, and the reflected scattered light is pushed through the image rotator. An analyzing unit, which evaluates the signals, is supplied with signals from the photosensitive detector element depending on the angle of rotation of the tube.