Spectral Subtraction for Pure Sample Spectrum Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spectroscopy methods struggle to isolate pure sample spectra due to the presence of illumination energy components, which can mask the spectral characteristics of the sample, often requiring the use of filters that limit the response of the sample and its spectral components.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus called Combined Spectroscopy, which involves obtaining both the combined excitation/emission spectrum and the excitation spectrum separately under the same conditions, allowing for the subtraction of the excitation spectrum from the combined spectrum to isolate the pure emission spectrum, eliminating the need for filters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If filters are used to remove illumination energy components, then the spectral purity of the sample spectrum is improved, but the response range and detection capability of the instrument are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the illumination spectrum components from the combined sample-illumination spectrum through mathematical subtraction. By obtaining the illumination spectrum separately and subtracting it from the combined spectrum, the method isolates the pure sample spectrum without using physical filters, thus maintaining full spectral response range while achieving spectral purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical filter system with a mathematical processing system. Instead of using physical barrier filters that block certain wavelengths, the invention uses computational subtraction of spectral components to remove illumination artifacts, substituting mechanical filtering with digital signal processing.
2Measurement precision
If narrow wavelength energies are used to eliminate illumination energies in fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy, then the emission energy isolation is improved, but the instrument setup complexity and knowledge requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal method that works across multiple spectroscopy types (absorption, emission, fluorescence, Raman) without requiring different instrument configurations. The mathematical subtraction approach provides a single versatile solution that eliminates illumination components across the entire spectrum, replacing the need for different narrow-band setups for different spectroscopy modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from spatial/wavelength selection (using narrow bandpass filters or specific laser lines) to temporal/mathematical separation. By capturing spectra at different conditions and using mathematical operations to separate components, the method achieves emission isolation without restricting the wavelength range or complicating the optical setup.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If filters are used to remove illumination artifacts, then the spectral artifact removal is improved, but the sample response and spectral component detection are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the illumination spectrum components for removal while preserving all sample spectral information. By separately acquiring the illumination spectrum and subtracting only those specific components, the method removes artifacts without blocking any sample signals, thus eliminating information loss that would occur with broad-band filtering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical filtering with mathematical subtraction to avoid the inherent information loss of filter-based methods. Physical filters inherently block certain wavelength ranges, potentially removing sample signals along with illumination artifacts. The computational approach selectively removes only illumination components based on spectral matching, preserving all sample information.
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 the removal of illumination components from the sample spectrum, revealing hidden spectral information and providing a more informative, single spectrum representation of multiple spectral sources, enhancing the identification of sample composition without the limitations of filter-based methods.
Implementation Method 1
obtaining both the combined excitation/emission spectrum and the excitation spectrum separately under the same conditions, allowing for the subtraction of the excitation spectrum from the combined spectrum to isolate the pure emission spectrum
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The present invention is a method of obtaining and isolating sample spectra from a wide wavelength illumination source without the use of filters. The method obtains the combined sample and illumination spectra of a sample and removes the illumination spectrum from the combined spectrum. This is accomplished by obtaining both the combined sample/illumination spectrum and the illumination spectrum separately at the same time and under the same environmental and instrument conditions. The illumination spectrum is then subtracted, wavelength by wavelength from the combined sample/illumination spectrum, leaving the pure sample spectrum which may a single spectrum or combination of two or more spectra from different types and/or compounds in the sample.