Spectrometer Module Spacing to Prevent Wall Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small-sized spectrometers face challenges in maintaining positional accuracy and reliability due to vibration and thermal loads, which can cause optical elements to contact the inner wall of the package, leading to potential breakage and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
The spectrometer is designed with a support member that spaces the spectroscopic module away from the inner wall of the package, using annular support members to prevent contact and block stray light, and incorporates a lead pin for electrical connection to prevent breakage, while a hermetic package with a metal cap and stem protects the sensitive components from heat and environmental stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the spectrometer is downsized to reduce size, then the device becomes more compact and portable, but the optical elements may contact the inner wall of the package under vibration or thermal load, leading to potential breakage and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The package is divided into distinct functional zones: a vibration-absorbing portion (elastomeric material) and a thermal-insulating portion (air gap or vacuum layer). This segmentation allows each region to address specific threats independently, protecting optical elements from both vibration and thermal effects without increasing overall device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies vibration-absorbing elastomeric material and thermal insulation layers in advance, before the optical elements are subjected to harsh conditions. This preProtective measure ensures that when vibration or thermal load occurs, the optical elements are already shielded, preventing contact with the inner wall and avoiding breakage.
2Volume of moving object
If the clearance between optical elements and package wall is reduced to downsize the device, then the spectrometer becomes more compact, but the optical elements become vulnerable to contact under vibration or thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary protective layers between the optical elements and the package wall: vibration-absorbing elastomeric material and thermal insulation portions. These intermediaries absorb mechanical vibrations and thermal expansion, preventing direct contact between the optical elements and the package wall, thus eliminating the harmful effects while maintaining compact clearance.
3Volume of moving object
If the spectrometer is designed for compact size with narrow clearance, then the device is more portable, but stray light may enter the optical path and interfere with measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes stray light from the optical path using light-shielding portions positioned at critical locations. These shielding structures capture and block stray light before it can reach the detector, ensuring that only light from the intended source enters the measurement path, thus maintaining high measurement precision despite the compact design.
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 design allows for the downsizing of spectrometers while maintaining reliability and accurate spectral characteristics, preventing optical element contact and stray light interference, thus ensuring consistent performance under varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the spectroscopic module is supported by the support member on the predetermined plane of the body portion in a state that the spectroscopic portion is spaced away from the inner wall plane of the package... where the spectrometer is downsized, it is possible to prevent the spectroscopic portion from being in contact with the inner wall plane of the package upon application of vibration or thermal load
Implementation Method 2
a hermetic package with a metal cap and stem protects the sensitive components from heat and environmental stress
Implementation Method 3
a light absorbing portion is packed in a space formed inside the annular portion... block stray light
Data Source
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AI summary
The spectrometer 1 is provided with a package 2 in which a light guiding portion 7 is provided, a spectorscopic module 3 accommodated inside the package 2, and a support member 29 arranged on an inner wall plane of the package 2 to support the spectorscopic module 3. The spectorscopic module 3 is provided with a body portion 11 for transmitting light made incident from the light guiding portion 7 and a spectroscopic portion 13 for dispersing light passed through the body portion 11 on a predetermined plane of the body portion 11, and the spectroscopic portion 13 is supported by the support member 29 on the predetermined plane in a state of being spaced away from the inner wall plane.