Spectrometer Light Pipe Illumination Channel Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spectrometers often experience optical losses and reduced performance due to the separation of illumination and receiving channels, which can affect the accuracy and efficiency of light measurement across different wavelength ranges.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an illumination source and sensor into a single package with a light pipe that directs and reflects light through total internal reflection, reducing optical losses and enhancing color mixing, thereby improving the optical power emission and measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the illumination channel and receiving channel are separated in conventional spectrometers, then the device structure is simpler to manufacture, but optical losses increase and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the illumination channel and receiving channel into a single integrated package, placing the illumination source, light pipe, and sensor array in close proximity. This integration eliminates the need for separate illumination and detection devices, reducing optical losses by directing light efficiently from the source through the light pipe to the sample and then to the sensor array, while improving measurement precision through coordinated operation of the integrated components.
2Power
If a light pipe is added to direct light in the illumination channel, then optical power emission is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light pipe serves as an intermediary component between the illumination source and the sample, efficiently guiding and directing light with minimal loss. The light pipe's waveguide structure mediates the transfer of optical power from the LED source to the sample area, improving optical power emission while adding only a single structural element to the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The light pipe performs multiple functions within the illumination channel: it guides light from the source, directs light onto the sample at appropriate angles, and helps define the illumination geometry. This multi-functionality improves optical power emission without requiring multiple separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 integration enhances the spectrometer's performance by reducing optical losses, improving light emission, and increasing color mixing, leading to more accurate light measurements across various wavelength ranges.
Implementation Method 1
The light pipe can be arranged so that at least some of the light produced by the illumination source is directed out of the illumination channel by internal reflection from a lateral side of the light pipe
Implementation Method 2
A cladding layer may be present on a lateral side surface of the light pipe. A material for the cladding layer can be selected so as to achieve total internal reflection for light produced by the illumination source that is incident on the lateral side surface of the light pipe
Implementation Method 3
In some instances, the light pipe comprises a hollow metal light pipe operable to reflect the light from the illumination source by specular reflection
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a spectrometer. A housing is attached to a substrate and defines an illumination channel and a receiving channel. The illumination channel includes an illumination source mounted on the substrate and operable to produce light in a particular part of the spectrum. A light pipe is disposed over the illumination source so as to direct light from the illumination source out of the illumination channel toward a target. The receiving channel includes a sensor chip mounted on the substrate. The sensor chip includes light sensitive elements, each of which is selectively sensitive to a respective region of the particular part of the spectrum. The sensor chip further includes an electronic control unit operable to analyze signals from the light sensitive elements.