Volume Holographic Light Guide Spectrometer for Weak Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spectrometer systems are inefficient in using energy and struggle to measure relatively weak light sources due to the use of slits and low-efficiency thin diffraction gratings, limiting their ability to accurately measure the spectrum and uniformity of light sources.
Innovation Solution
A spectrometer system incorporating a volume holographic light guide element with first and second focusing lenses, which uses volume holographic elements to couple and focus collimated light beams efficiently, allowing for measurement of both point and surface light sources with improved energy use and uniformity analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a slit and thin diffraction grating are used in a conventional spectrometer system, then the spatial coherence of light can be increased, but the energy efficiency deteriorates and the system cannot effectively measure weak light sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light guide element as an intermediary component between the diffraction grating and the sensing element. This light guide element with its specific refractive index and geometric structure serves as a mediator that redirects and concentrates light paths, enabling weak light sources to be effectively measured while maintaining spatial coherence without requiring a slit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical slit structure with an optical field-based approach using the light guide element. Instead of physically blocking light with a slit to achieve coherence, the system uses the light guide's refractive properties and geometric configuration to achieve the same coherence effect while preserving light intensity
2Stability of the object's composition
If a slit is used to increase spatial coherence, then the coherence is improved, but the amount of light reaching the diffraction grating is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide element acts as an intermediary that collects and redirects light from multiple angles into the diffraction grating. Its specific refractive index and geometric structure enable it to capture a broader range of light rays and channel them effectively, increasing the total light quantity reaching the grating while maintaining the necessary spatial coherence
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the third dimension (depth/thickness) of the light guide element to achieve light concentration. By designing the light guide with specific thickness and refractive index, it creates multiple internal reflections and refractions that redirect light from various spatial dimensions into the diffraction grating, effectively increasing light quantity without compromising coherence
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 system achieves higher energy efficiency and can measure the spectrum, intensity, and chromatic uniformity of both point and surface light sources, overcoming the limitations of conventional systems by enhancing light convergence and spatial coherence.
Implementation Method 1
The first volume holographic element diffracts the plurality of collimated light beams and couples the plurality of collimated light beams into the light guide element
Implementation Method 2
The second volume holographic element receives the plurality of collimated light beams coupled into the light guide element and couples the plurality of collimated light beams out of the light guide element
Implementation Method 3
The first focusing lens is configured to receive the light emitted by the point light sources at different positions on the light-emitting area of a to-be-tested light source provided at a first focal plane of the first focusing lens and make the light converge and form a plurality of collimated light beams
Implementation Method 4
The second focusing lens is provided at a position corresponding to the fourth portion, and the second focusing element is configured to receive the plurality of collimated light beams coupled out of the light guide element and focus the plurality of collimated light beams on a sensing element
Data Source
AI summary
A spectrometer system with a volume holographic light guide element includes two focusing lenses in addition to the volume holographic light guide element, which has a light guide element and two volume holographic elements. The first focusing lens receives the light emitted by a to-be-tested light source at a first focal plane of the first focusing lens and makes the light converge and form plural collimated light beams that are projected to, and diffracted and coupled into the light guide element by, the first volume holographic element, are then received and coupled out of the light guide element by the second volume holographic element, and are subsequently received and focused on a sensing element by the second focusing lens. Each collimated light beam enters and exits the light guide element at the same angle. The spectrometer system can measure the intensity/chromatic uniformity of a relatively weak point/surface light source efficiently.