Optical instrument and parts thereof for optimally defining light pathways
View Patent ↗An optical assembly is disclosed that includes an illumination source, a detection sensor, a monitor sensor, and an optical piece having a first side adapted to face a sample. The optical piece defines an illumination channel extending from the illumination source toward the first side, a detection channel extending from the first side toward the detection sensor, and a monitor channel extending from the illumination channel toward the monitor sensor. A spectrophotometer is also disclosed that includes a circuit board, illumination source and one or more sensors. The circuit board includes an optically transparent region, wherein the illumination source is mounted and situated relative to a first surface of the circuit board, so as to direct light through the optically transparent region. Each sensor is mounted and situated relative to a second surface of the circuit board opposite the first surface.
1. An optical assembly for use with an optical instrument, the optical assembly comprising:
an illumination source for illuminating a sample;
a detection sensor for receiving and detecting light reflected by or transmitted through the sample;
a monitor sensor for receiving and monitoring light from the illumination source; and
an optical piece having a first side adapted to face the sample, the optical piece defining:
an illumination channel extending from the illumination source toward the first side;
a detection channel extending from the first side toward the detection sensor; and
a monitor channel extending from the illumination channel toward the monitor sensor;
wherein the monitor channel extends from the illumination channel so as to not define a direct optical path between the illumination source and the monitor sensor.
2. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the illumination channel is elliptical.
3. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the illumination channel is hyperbolic.
4. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the illumination channel is not a surface of revolution.
5. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the illumination channel is faceted.
6. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the detection channel is shaped as a partial cone.
7. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the detection channel is shaped as a cylinder.
8. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the illumination source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED's), and wherein each of the plurality of LED's emits light of a different wavelength.
9. The optical assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second detection sensor, and wherein the optical piece defines a second detection channel.
10. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein an interior portion of the illumination channel is polished.
11. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical piece is injection-molded.
12. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical piece further defines a first feature adapted to at least partially receive the illumination source.
13. The optical assembly of claim 12 , wherein the optical piece further defines a second feature adapted to at least partially receive the detection sensor.
14. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical piece consists of a single piece.
15. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the optical piece consists of a number of pieces and the number of pieces is less than the number of optical channels defined by the optical piece.
16. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the monitor sensor is a dual beam reference sensor capable of discerning color.
17. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the illumination source comprises a plurality of spectral output bands and wherein the detection sensor is capable of discerning color.
18. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the illumination source and illumination channel are configured such that the illumination source is positioned directly over the sample.
19. The optical assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the detection channels receives light reflected from a different area of the sample.
20. The optical assembly of claim 1 , wherein the monitor channel is configured such that a signal obtained from the monitor sensor is proportional to a signal obtained from the detection sensor.
21. A spectrophotometer comprising:
a circuit board comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the circuit board having a first optically transparent area between the first surface and the second surface;
an illumination source mounted and situated relative to the first surface of the circuit board, wherein the illumination source is mounted to direct light through the first optically transparent area; and
a plurality of sensors, each of said plurality of sensors mounted and situated relative to the second surface of the circuit board.
22. The spectrophotometer of claim 21 , further comprising a processor mounted on the circuit board.
23. The spectrophotometer of claim 22 , further comprising a display device mounted on the circuit board, the display device configured to show results of the spectrophotometer.
24. The spectrophotometer of claim 23 , further comprising an input device mounted on the circuit board, the input device configured to provide input to the spectrophotometer.
25. The spectrophotometer of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one detection sensor, the detection sensor comprising a plurality of individual sensors and a plurality of spectral filters.
26. The spectrophotometer of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one detection sensor, the detection sensor comprising an ROB CMOS chip.
27. The spectrophotometer of claim 21 , wherein the optically transparent area is one of: (i) an opening defined through the circuit board and (ii) a transparent region of the circuit board.