Miniaturized Spectrometer Light Conduit Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The demand for miniaturization of spectrometers is increasing for various applications, but existing spectrometers are not adequately designed for compact and efficient light measurement and analysis, particularly in integrating a complete spectrometer system, including a light source, light conduit, detector, and filter array, into a small form factor.

Innovation Solution

The development of a miniaturized spectrometer system that includes a light source, a light conduit with a hyperboloidal or parabolic reflection surface, a detector, and a filter array with nanostructure layers, integrated into a compact housing, allowing for efficient light alignment and measurement, and optionally featuring a beam splitter and driver circuit for communication with external devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a complete spectrometer system (light source, light conduit, detector, filter array) is integrated into a small form factor, then miniaturization and portability are achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectrometer sizeVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple spectrometer components (light source, light conduit, detector, and filter array) into a single integrated housing, merging previously separate elements into one compact unit. This integration directly reduces the overall system volume while managing the complexity through unified design architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a nested arrangement where the light conduit is positioned within the housing, the filter array is integrated onto the detector surface, and various components are arranged in concentric or layered configurations. This nesting strategy enables compact packaging of complex components without excessive space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Measurement precision

If a hyperboloidal or parabolic reflection surface is used in the light conduit, then light alignment and spectral characteristics are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral measurement accuracyVSAvoidreflection surface precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs hyperboloidal or parabolic curved reflection surfaces within the light conduit instead of flat surfaces. These curved geometries are specifically designed to focus and collimate scattered light from the target, improving spectral characteristics and measurement accuracy by directing light efficiently onto the detector.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If a beam splitter is added to direct light paths, then light routing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight routing efficiencyVSAvoidoptical component count

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a beam splitter as an intermediary optical component that efficiently directs light between different paths - routing light from the light source through the light conduit to the detector, and separating wavelengths for the filter array. This mediator component enables sophisticated light management without requiring complex mechanical switching systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 miniaturized spectrometer system effectively aligns scattered light into a collimated beam, improving spectral characteristics and signal-to-noise ratio, while enabling compact and portable operation, suitable for applications such as health monitoring and food analysis.

Implementation Method 1

an inner surface configured to condense the light incident on the measurement hole into a collimated beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

an inner surface configured to condense the light incident on the measurement hole into a collimated beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCollimation:

Implementation Method 3

a filter array comprising filters arranged on a detection surface of the detector and transmitting a predetermined wavelength band of the light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWavelength filtering: Filter (optical)

Implementation Method 4

The filter array may include a nanostructure layer in which nanostructures are periodically arranged

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotonic crystal effect: Photonic Crystal

Data Source

PatentUS10895499B2Spectrometer

Publication Date: 2021.01.19 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A spectrometer includes a light conduit configured to align scattered light scattered in a target by light output from a light source into a collimated beam, and a beam block configured to restrict an angle of the scattered light and detect the scattered light via the light conduit or the beam block through a filter array and a detector, thereby achieving miniaturization in a pen type or a flat plate shape while maintaining a spectral characteristic.