Spectroscope Spatial Resolution Control via Aperture Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spectroscopic microscopes face challenges with optical vignetting, which leads to non-uniform illumination and skewed spectrometric measurements, making it difficult to achieve variable spatial resolution without compromising signal strength.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates Schwarzschild objectives and aperture arrays to ensure high light throughput and critical imaging, reducing vignetting effects while allowing for variable spatial resolution without changing optical magnification or introducing additional optical elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If spectroscopic measurements are taken over a smaller area to improve spatial resolution, then the ability to locate substances specifically is improved, but the signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detector is divided into multiple detector elements that can be independently controlled. By selectively activating only the detector elements that receive light from the region of interest, the system achieves spatial resolution while maintaining signal strength from the activated elements, avoiding the noise penalty of measuring over larger areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which detector elements are active based on the region of interest. The controller selectively activates detector elements corresponding to the illuminated area, allowing the measurement area to be optimized for both spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio depending on the application requirements.
2Reliability
If spectroscopic measurements are taken over a larger area to improve signal-to-noise ratio, then the signal strength is improved, but the spatial resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detector array is segmented into multiple independently controllable elements. This allows the system to sum signals from multiple detector elements (improving signal-to-noise) while still maintaining the ability to resolve spatial information through the selective activation and positioning of individual elements or groups of elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can combine signals from multiple detector elements that correspond to different spatial locations. By selectively combining signals from multiple elements, the system achieves enhanced signal-to-noise ratio while preserving spatial resolution through the coordinated operation of the segmented detector array.
3Measurement precision
If magnifying optics are inserted to achieve variable spatial resolution, then the spatial resolution is improved, but optical vignetting is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the magnifying optics from the optical path and instead uses a detector array with independently controllable elements. This extracts the problematic magnifying optics that caused vignetting while achieving the same spatial resolution function through direct electronic control of which detector elements are active.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical/optical magnification system is replaced with an electronic control system that selectively activates detector elements. This substitution eliminates the need for additional optical elements that would introduce vignetting, achieving spatial resolution through electronic rather than optical means.
4Measurement precision
If additional optical elements are added to achieve variable spatial resolution, then the spatial resolution is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detector array serves multiple functions: it provides spatial resolution through selective element activation, maintains consistent imaging across different resolution settings, and eliminates the need for multiple magnifying optics. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while achieving variable spatial resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using multiple physical magnifying optics for different magnification levels, the system uses a single detector array where different groups of detector elements are activated to simulate different magnification levels. This virtual copying approach eliminates the need for multiple physical optical elements.
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 enhances measurement quality by maintaining high signal strength and uniformity across different spatial resolutions, reducing light loss and enabling precise localization of substances within the specimen.
Implementation Method 1
a light source, such as an interferometer emitting modulated infrared light... The emitted light is then passed through a series of intermediate source optical elements to a source objective optical element... A collector objective optical element receives the light from the specimen... and delivers the light to intermediate collector optical elements, and thence to a camera element... and on to a detector array
Implementation Method 2
An aperture array is provided which bears a plurality of apertures... each aperture in the aperture array being imaged to a corresponding detector element... By providing supplemental aperture arrays which each bear apertures which are differently sized from the apertures in the other aperture arrays, and by placing the desired aperture array within the focal plane
Implementation Method 3
The optical elements of the illumination side are preferably selected such that the source output aperture is at least substantially critically imaged to the source objective element... and thus to the specimen... Similarly, the optical elements of the collection side are preferably selected so that the specimen is at least substantially critically imaged to the detector array
Implementation Method 4
a light source, such as an interferometer emitting modulated infrared light
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
In a spectrometer, preferably in a spectrometric microscope, light from a specimen is collected at a collector objective element and delivered to a camera element, which in turn provides the light to a photosensitive detector. A focal plane is provided between the collector objective element and the camera element, and one or more aperture arrays may be situated in the focal plane to restrict the detector's field of view of the specimen to the areas within the apertures. By utilizing aperture arrays with apertures of different sizes and shapes, the spatial resolution of the spectrometer readings may be varied without the need to vary the optics of the spectrometer. As a result, if the optics are optimized to minimize vignetting, spatial resolution may be varied without adverse increases in vignetting.