Spectroscopic Sensor Unit With Fixed Optical Spacing for Raman Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spectroscopic analysis apparatuses face issues with varying flow channel diameters in flow cells affecting measurement accuracy due to changes in the interval between the focusing position of measurement light and the flow cell wall, leading to inconsistent physical property data and interference from leaked measurement light.
Innovation Solution
A sensor unit with a distal end portion that includes a built-in optical system, a facing wall surface, and a holding portion that maintains a flow space, featuring metal surfaces and controlled surface roughness, to minimize interference and stabilize measurement light paths across different flow cell diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the flow channel diameter is made large to facilitate fluid flow, then the fluid flow capability is improved, but the interval between the focusing position and the wall surface increases, causing the intensity value of physical property data to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The flow cell is divided into two separate components: a flow channel member that provides the flow path, and a sensor unit that contains the optical system. This segmentation allows the flow channel diameter to be optimized for fluid flow while the sensor unit maintains a fixed, optimal interval between the focusing position and the wall surface, resolving the contradiction between large flow channel diameter and high measurement intensity.
2Measurement precision
If the flow channel diameter is made small to increase the interval between focusing position and wall surface, then the intensity value of physical property data is improved, but the fluid flow capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the flow channel structure from the optical measurement system, the design can independently optimize both parameters: the flow channel member provides sufficient diameter for fluid flow, while the sensor unit maintains a small, optimal interval for high intensity measurements.
3Ease of manufacture
If the leg portion is made open to facilitate assembly, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement light leaks out and is emitted to the resin of the flow cell, adversely affecting physical property data
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of light leakage is eliminated by removing the open portion that caused it. The sensor unit is designed with a closed structure where the optical system is contained, preventing measurement light from escaping and interacting with the flow cell resin. This maintains ease of assembly through the modular design while eliminating the harmful light leakage effect.
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 stabilizes measurement stability and maintains a high signal-to-noise ratio for Raman spectral data, allowing consistent data collection across flow cells with varying diameters without the need for additional adaptations.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor unit of a spectroscopic analysis apparatus, the sensor unit comprising: a distal end portion that includes a built-in optical system for irradiating a measurement target substance for physical property data with measurement light to take in return light from the measurement target substance
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor unit of a spectroscopic analysis apparatus includes a distal end portion that includes a built-in optical system for irradiating a measurement target substance with measurement light to take in return light from the measurement target substance and that is attached to a container for fluid containing the measurement target substance, in which the distal end portion includes a facing wall surface that faces an emission surface of the measurement light of the optical system, and a holding portion that protrudes from an emission surface side to a facing wall surface side, that holds the facing wall surface in a state in which a space for the fluid to flow is provided between the emission surface and the facing wall surface, and that includes an inflow port and an outflow port for the fluid and side wall surfaces disposed on both sides in a flow direction of the fluid.