Adjustable-Detector Spectrograph for Defocus Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spectrographs face a trade-off between compact size and high spectral resolution, with existing designs often requiring a large design footprint to achieve optimal spectral separation of adjacent wavelengths, and typically focusing only on two wavelengths fully, leading to suboptimal resolution for the entire spectrum.
Innovation Solution
An optical instrument with adjustable detectors and dispersive optical elements, utilizing actuators and adjustment devices to optimize the position and orientation of detectors relative to the dispersive optical element, enabling fine-tuning of focus for multiple wavelength components to achieve high resolution with a minimized design footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the distance between the grating and the detector is increased to achieve high spatial separation of adjacent wavelengths, then spectral resolution is improved, but the design footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adjustable detector positioning mechanisms that allow the detector to be dynamically repositioned along the optical axis. This dynamic adjustment enables optimization of the distance between the dispersive optical element and detector based on wavelength-specific focus requirements, achieving high spectral resolution without requiring a permanently large design footprint. The system transitions from a static fixed-distance configuration to a dynamic adjustable-distance configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the detector relative to the dispersive optical element to optimize focus for different wavelength components. By adjusting this critical parameter, the system achieves optimal spectral resolution for multiple wavelengths within a compact configuration, rather than requiring a fixed large distance for all wavelengths.
2Measurement precision
If a planar detector is used with fixed position, then device complexity is reduced, but only two wavelengths can be fully optimized for focus while the entire spectrum does not achieve optimal resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability to the detector positioning system, allowing it to move along the optical axis to different positions optimized for different wavelength components. This dynamic capability enables the system to achieve optimal focus for multiple wavelengths across the spectrum, transforming a static single-position detector into a dynamic multi-position detector system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by adjusting the detector's position parameter to optimize focus for different wavelength components. This parameter adjustment enables the system to achieve high spectral resolution across the entire spectrum, not just at two fixed wavelengths, by matching the detector position to the specific focus requirements of each wavelength range.
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
The solution allows for enhanced spectral resolution by compensating for defocus effects, optimizing the focus of individual wavelength components, thereby improving the instrument's ability to distinguish between closely spaced wavelengths without increasing its physical size.
Implementation Method 1
at least one dispersive optical element configured to receive an incident optical signal propagating along an incident optical axis (AI) and diffract at least a portion of the incident optical signal as a diffracted optical signal propagating toward the at least one detector
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses various embodiments of a high-resolution spectrograph. In one embodiment, the high-resolution spectrograph includes a light source, a housing, at least one adjustment device secured to the housing, and an optical detector secured to the adjustment device. At least one dispersive optical element is positioned in optical communication with the light source and the optical detector, wherein the dispersive optical element is configured to diffract at least a portion of an incident optical signal from the light source as a diffracted optical signal propagating toward the optical detector, wherein the optical detector is configured to measure at least one property at least one wavelength component of the diffracted optical signal. The adjustment device is configured to change the position of the optical detector relative to the dispersive optical element to optimize the image width of the wavelength component of the diffracted optical signal.