Solid Immersion Lens Holder Vibration for Optical Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional solid immersion lens holders face difficulties in achieving close contact with observation objects, which hinders optical coupling due to fabrication errors and restricted movement of the lens.

Innovation Solution

A solid immersion lens holder with a vibration generator unit that causes the holder main body to vibrate, allowing the lens to adhere tightly to the observation object, ensuring favorable contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the solid immersion lens is held in a fixed state by the lens holding unit, then the lens position is stable, but the lens cannot freely move to contact the observation object, preventing favorable close contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens position stabilityVSAvoidlens movement freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lens holding unit is designed to hold the solid immersion lens in an unfixed state, allowing it to move freely in the vertical direction. This dynamic holding approach enables the lens to automatically contact and adhere to the observation object under vibration, resolving the contradiction between position stability and movement freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A vibration generator unit is introduced to apply vertical vibration to the holder main body, which transmits to the lens holding unit and solid immersion lens. The vibration facilitates the lens to adhere tightly to the observation object surface, enabling favorable close contact while maintaining overall system stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Ease of operation

If the solid immersion lens is made to freely move with respect to the lens holding unit, then the lens can easily contact the observation object, but fabrication errors may prevent favorable contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens movement freedomVSAvoidlens holding unit fabrication accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration generator unit compensates for fabrication errors in the lens holding unit by applying vertical vibration that enables the solid immersion lens to adhere tightly to the observation object surface. This vibration mechanism overcomes positional deviations caused by manufacturing inaccuracies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational state of the lens holding unit from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic structure that accepts vertical vibration. This parameter change allows the system to tolerate fabrication errors while achieving favorable lens-to-object contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the holder main body is caused to vibrate, then the solid immersion lens adheres tightly to the observation object surface, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclose contact qualityVSAvoidholder structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A vibration generator unit is added to the holder main body to produce vertical vibration. This vibration mechanism, while adding device complexity, ensures reliable and favorable close contact between the solid immersion lens and observation object, which is essential for optical coupling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The vibration generator unit serves multiple functions: it facilitates lens adhesion to the observation object, compensates for fabrication errors, and ensures consistent optical coupling. This multi-functionality justifies the added device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Improves close contact and achieves appropriate optical coupling between the solid immersion lens and the observation object, enhancing observation accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

when the holder main body is caused to vibrate by the vibration generator unit, the vibration is transmitted from the lens holding unit to the solid immersion lens, which causes the solid immersion lens to vibrate to adhere tightly along the surface of the observation object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2163929B1Solid immersion lens holder
Publication Date: 2014.03.19 HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KK
  • EP2163929B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2163929B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2163929B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A solid immersion lens holder 200 includes a holder main body 8 having a lens holding unit 60 that holds a solid immersion lens 6, and an objective lens socket 9 for attaching the holder main body 8 to a front end of an objective lens 21. The solid immersion lens 6 is held in a state of being unfixed to be free with respect to the lens holding unit 60. A vibration generator unit 120 that causes the holder main body 8 to vibrate is attached to the objective lens socket 9. The vibration generator unit 120 has a vibrating motor 140 held by a motor holding member 130, and a weight 142 structured to be eccentric by weight is attached to an output shaft 141 of the vibrating motor 140. A vibration generated in the vibration generator unit 120 is transmitted to the solid immersion lens 6 via the objective lens socket 9 and the holder main body 8. Thereby, achieving the solid immersion lens holder capable of improving the close contact between the solid immersion lens and an observation object.