Stable Light Source Device with Neutral Density Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stable light source devices for detecting faint light, such as bioluminescence or chemoluminescence, require varying light emission amounts and complex operations to measure dynamic ranges, making it difficult to provide consistent light for sensitivity and locality checks in area sensors.
Innovation Solution
A stable light source device with multiple light emission portions, each equipped with neutral density filters of different attenuation amounts, controlled by a light detection sensor to ensure consistent light emission, utilizing a pinhole and aperture for constriction and diffusion of light, and a branching section for uniform distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single light emission portion is used, then the device structure is simple, but it requires varying light emission amounts and complex operations to measure dynamic range
Solution Approach 1:
The light emission portion is divided into multiple sub-portions (first light emission portion and second light emission portion) with different light emission amounts. This segmentation allows the device to provide multiple light levels simultaneously, eliminating the need for complex operations to vary light emission amounts and simplifying dynamic range measurement.
2Ease of operation
If light emission amounts are varied electronically, then operation is simplified, but it is difficult to provide consistent faint light amounts
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the light emission portion are designed with different light emission characteristics. The first light emission portion emits faint light while the second emits brighter light. This local quality differentiation ensures consistent faint light amounts without requiring complex electronic control, as the physical structure itself provides the desired light emission properties.
3Ease of operation
If multiple light emission portions with different light amounts are provided, then dynamic range measurement is simplified, but the device structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light emission portions with different light emission amounts are merged into a single integrated device structure. The first and second light emission portions are combined within the same device housing, allowing dynamic range measurement to be performed by capturing images of both portions simultaneously or sequentially, thereby simplifying measurement operations while maintaining a unified device structure.
4Illumination intensity
If light flux is constricted by pinhole and aperture, then light intensity is reduced for faint light detection, but light transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pinhole and aperture are designed to constrict light flux to the extent necessary for faint light detection while minimizing excessive light loss. The opening sizes are optimized to provide sufficient light constriction for achieving faint light intensities required for detection, while maintaining adequate light transmission efficiency for practical operation.
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 device provides consistent and varying light amounts from multiple emission portions, enhancing the dynamic range and simplifying the operation for sensitivity checks in biochemical analysis applications, ensuring accurate imaging and detection.
Implementation Method 1
a pinhole that constricts optical flux emitted from the light source
Implementation Method 2
a first integrating element inside which optical flux from the pinhole is multiply reflected
Implementation Method 3
The optical flux is then diffused uniformly in the diffusion-transmission member
Implementation Method 4
a branching section that is disposed at a light emission side of the diffusion-transmission member, and that branches incident light towards a plurality of light emission portions
Implementation Method 5
neutral density filters that are provided at the plurality of light emission portions, transmitted light amounts of the neutral density filters respectively differing such that light amounts at the light emission portions are respectively different
Implementation Method 6
a light detection sensor that monitors a light amount
Data Source
AI summary
A stable light source device is provided with a light source, a pinhole constricting optical flux emitted from the light source, a first integrating element inside which optical flux from the pinhole is multiply reflected, a light detection sensor monitoring a light amount, a control section controlling the light source on the basis of the light amount monitored by the light detection sensor and making the light amount consistent, an aperture formed in the first integrating element and emitting light outside the first integrating element, a diffusion-transmission member disposed at a light emission side of the aperture, a branching section disposed at a light emission side of the diffusion-transmission member and branching incident light towards plural light emission portions, and neutral density filters provided at the light emission portions, transmitted light amounts thereof respectively differing such that light amounts at the light emission portions are respectively different.