Single Filter Wheel Layout for Faster Fluorescence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light detection modules face challenges in reducing detection time, increasing cost, and space inefficiency due to separate actuators for excitation and emission light filters, leading to asynchronous filter movements and delayed detection.
Innovation Solution
A light detection module with a single filter wheel integrating excitation and emission light filters, rotated by a single motor, ensuring synchronized movement and continuous light detection, and a compact design with a filter wheel assembly, optical fiber mounting unit, and a printed circuit board for light sources and detectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate filter wheels with multiple motors are used for excitation and emission light filters, then filtering precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple filter wheels (excitation light filter wheel and emission light filter wheel) into a single integrated filter wheel structure. This single filter wheel contains both excitation light filters and emission light filters arranged in corresponding positions, allowing one motor to rotate the entire wheel to simultaneously select both excitation and emission filters for the same detection channel, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining filtering precision
Solution Approach 2:
The single filter wheel serves multiple functions by integrating both excitation light filtering and emission light filtering capabilities. The filter wheel structure is designed to handle both types of filters in a unified manner, making the system more versatile and reducing the need for separate dedicated components for each function
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate motors drive excitation and emission filter wheels, then filtering accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases due to synchronized movement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the excitation and emission filter selection into a single rotating filter wheel controlled by one motor, the system eliminates the need for complex synchronization between multiple motors. The single motor rotates the filter wheel to bring both excitation and emission filters into position simultaneously, improving detection speed while maintaining filtering accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The filter wheel is pre-configured with excitation and emission filters arranged in corresponding positions relative to each other. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the filter wheel rotates to a specific position, both the correct excitation and emission filters are automatically aligned with their respective light paths, enabling rapid filter selection without real-time synchronization complexity
3Measurement precision
If separate filter wheels are used for excitation and emission light, then detection precision is improved, but volume of the module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate filter wheel assemblies into a single integrated filter wheel structure that contains both excitation and emission filters. This consolidation significantly reduces the volume occupied by the filter wheel assembly while maintaining the ability to perform both excitation and emission light filtering with high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The emission light filters are effectively nested within the same rotational structure as the excitation light filters. By arranging both types of filters in the same filter wheel at different radial positions or layers, the system achieves compact integration that reduces overall module volume while preserving detection precision
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
Enables rapid and continuous detection by synchronizing excitation and emission light filters, reducing scan time, and optimizing space efficiency while maintaining accurate detection results.
Implementation Method 1
Light sources emit excitement light to samples, and fluorescent materials in the samples which are excited by the excitation light emit fluorescence
Implementation Method 2
a filter for a light source is placed on an excitation light path between the light source and the sample to selectively pass only light of a specific wavelength among the light radiated from the light source
Data Source
AI summary
A light detection module according to the present disclosure includes an optical fiber mounting unit having a plurality of optical fibers disposed on one side thereof; a filter wheel spaced apart from the other side of the optical fiber mounting unit, the filter wheel having a plurality of filters; a drive unit for rotating the filter wheel; a light source unit for generating excitation light passing through the filter wheel; and a detection unit for detecting emission light passing through the filter wheel, wherein the plurality of filters includes a plurality of excitation light filters for filtering the excitation light and a plurality of emission light filters for filtering the emission light.