Up-conversion Infrared Microscope Large Aperture Objective Lens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing up-conversion microscopes face challenges with large entrance apertures requiring high laser power for imaging, leading to reduced resolution and less illuminated images, or they have small apertures that result in low-power laser usage but with reduced resolution and less illuminated areas.
Innovation Solution
An up-conversion infrared microscope design featuring a non-linear crystal and an optical component system with a large entrance pupil diameter compared to the area of the external image, utilizing refractive lenses or curved mirrors to enhance light collection and reduce laser power requirements, allowing for high-resolution imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a large entrance aperture is used in the objective lens, then light collection capability is improved, but laser power requirements increase and resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into two distinct functional parts: a large-aperture objective lens for light collection and a separate beam-shaping optical system that creates a reduced image of the back focal plane. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the objective lens maximizes light collection while the beam-shaping system controls laser power distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system consisting of beam-shaping components that act as a mediator between the large-aperture objective lens and the non-linear crystal. This intermediary creates a reduced image of the back focal plane, effectively decoupling the entrance aperture size from the illumination area in the crystal, thereby reducing laser power requirements while maintaining high light collection capability.
2Illumination intensity
If a large entrance aperture is used in the objective lens, then light collection capability is improved, but image resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into a large-aperture objective for light collection and a separate beam-shaping subsystem that independently controls the spatial distribution of illumination. This allows the objective lens to have a large numerical aperture for maximum light collection while the beam-shaping optics ensure that the laser illumination in the non-linear crystal is properly confined to maintain resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam-shaping optical system serves as an intermediary that reconciles the conflicting requirements of large aperture and high resolution. By creating a reduced image of the back focal plane, it ensures that the large entrance aperture does not lead to excessive illumination area in the crystal, thereby preserving image resolution while maintaining light collection capability.
3Power
If a small aperture is used in the objective lens, then laser power requirements are reduced, but light collection capability and image illumination deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the light collection function (performed by the large-aperture objective lens) from the laser illumination function (controlled by the beam-shaping optical system). This segmentation allows the objective to maximize light collection independent of laser power requirements, while the beam-shaping system optimizes laser delivery to the non-linear crystal.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam-shaping optical system acts as an intermediary that enables the use of a large-aperture objective lens without proportionally increasing laser power requirements. By creating a reduced image of the back focal plane, it confines the laser illumination area in the non-linear crystal, thereby decoupling light collection capability from laser power consumption.
4Power
If a small aperture is used in the objective lens, then laser power requirements are reduced, but image illumination area deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into a large-aperture objective lens that determines the light collection area and a beam-shaping optical system that independently controls the illumination area in the non-linear crystal. This segmentation allows the illumination area to be optimized separately from the objective aperture size, enabling reduced laser power requirements while maintaining adequate illumination area through proper beam shaping.
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 enables high-resolution imaging with reduced laser power consumption by collecting light from a large solid angle, improving image quality and resolution while minimizing power requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a non-linear crystal (120) arranged for up-conversion of infrared electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 2
an objective optical component (100) having an entrance pupil with a first diameter D1
Implementation Method 3
the optical component system is arranged for forming an external image, of the back-focal plane of the objective optical component, wherein the external image, is formed in an infinity space
Data Source
AI summary
There is presented an up-conversion infrared microscope (110) arranged for imaging an associated object (130), wherein the up-conversion infrared microscope (110) comprises a non-linear crystal (120) arranged for up-conversion of infrared electromagnetic radiation, and wherein an objective optical component (100) has an entrance pupil with a first diameter D1, and an optical component system which is arranged for forming an external image (136) of the back-focal plane (132) of the objective optical component (100), which has a diameter (given by the diameter of a circle enclosing all optical paths at the plane of the 10 external image) which is denominated D2 and wherein D1 is larger than a second diameter D2.