Optical barrel assembly, camera including the same, analyte detector including the same, and associated methods

1. An optical barrel assembly, comprising:

a barrel having an inner bottom surface and an inner lateral surface extending from the inner bottom surface, the inner bottom and lateral surfaces defining a cylindrical housing;

a first element surrounded by the inner lateral surface of the barrel, wherein a polygonal outer perimeter of the first element has a different shape than a perimeter defined by the cylindrical housing, and wherein the polygonal outer perimeter has straight side surfaces facing outward and towards the inner lateral surface of the barrel; and

wherein the inner bottom surface of the barrel includes a pocket having a polygonal interior perimeter having straight side surfaces facing inwards and away from the inner lateral surface of the barrel, with the first element within the pocket such that the polygonal interior perimeter straight side surfaces face the polygonal outer perimeter straight side surfaces of the first element.

2. The optical barrel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first element is a first optical element of a high-index material.

3. The optical barrel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a width of the pocket equals a width of the first element.

4. The optical barrel assembly as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a second optical element of a high-index material on the first optical element and inside the cylindrical housing.

5. The optical barrel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a second element; and

a spacer between the first and second elements.

6. The optical barrel assembly as claimed in claim 5 , wherein:

an inner diameter of the spacer has a non-uniform width,

the pocket is a first pocket,

the spacer has a first surface facing the first element and a second surface facing the second element, and

the spacer includes a second pocket having a polygonal interior perimeter configured to receive the second element therein.

7. The optical barrel assembly as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising an epoxy dispensed around edges of the second element for support, wherein the non-uniform width of the inner diameter of the spacer is configured to minimize stray light.

8. The optical barrel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the barrel is a bore of a sampling tip and the first element is a light blocking cartridge having an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication with one another wherein a fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port has at least two angular transitions and wherein a portion of the fluid path is defined by an inner wall of the bore of the sampling tip and wherein the light blocking cartridge provides fluid communication between an exterior of the barrel and a sensor assembly.

9. The optical barrel assembly as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising sealing material between the light blocking cartridge and the bore adjacent the outlet port.

10. The optical barrel assembly as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the sampling tip includes an inwardly projecting flange adjacent the outlet port, the light blocking cartridge contacting the inwardly projecting flange.

11. The optical barrel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lateral surface includes an inwardly projecting structure in contact with the first element.

12. A detector, comprising:

a sensor; and

an optical barrel assembly including:

a barrel having an inner bottom surface and an inner lateral surface extending from the inner bottom surface, the inner bottom and lateral surfaces defining a cylindrical housing;

a first element surrounded by the inner lateral surface of the barrel, wherein a polygonal outer perimeter of the first element has a different shape than a perimeter defined by the cylindrical housing, and wherein the polygonal outer perimeter has straight side surfaces facing outward and towards the inner lateral surface of the barrel; and

wherein the inner bottom surface of the barrel includes a pocket having a polygonal interior perimeter having straight side surfaces facing inwards and away from the inner lateral surface of the barrel, with the first element within the pocket, and wherein the polygonal interior perimeter straight side surfaces face the polygonal outer perimeter straight side surfaces of the first element.

13. The detector as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the sensor is a long wavelength infrared (LWIR) sensor.

14. The detector as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first element is an optical element of a high-index material.

15. The detector as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the sensor is a light sensor, and wherein the optical barrel assembly further comprises a second element and a spacer between the first and second elements.

16. The detector as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the barrel is a bore of a sampling tip and the first element is a light blocking cartridge having an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication with one another wherein a fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port has at least two angular transitions and wherein a portion of the fluid path is defined by an inner wall of the sampling tip and wherein the light blocking cartridge provides fluid communication between an exterior of the barrel and a sensor assembly.

17. A method of assembling a lens barrel, comprising:

singulating a first optical element die of a high-index material from a wafer of a plurality of first optical elements, the first optical element die having a polygonal outer perimeter;

providing a barrel having an inner bottom surface and an inner lateral surface extending from the inner bottom surface, the inner bottom and lateral surfaces defining a cylindrical housing, wherein the inner bottom surface of the barrel includes a pocket having a polygonal interior perimeter having straight side surfaces facing inwards and away from the inner lateral surface of the barrel and configured to receive the first element within the pocket; and

providing the first optical element die inside the cylindrical housing and surrounded by the inner lateral surface of the barrel, wherein the polygonal outer perimeter has straight side surfaces facing outward and towards the inner lateral surface of the barrel such that the polygonal interior perimeter straight side surfaces face the polygonal outer perimeter straight side surfaces.