Optical alignment detection system

• US 20030058445A1
• Filed: 08/21/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Padmanabhan, Aravind, Fritz, Bernard S., Reutiman, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/399
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/272 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1434 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1456 without spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle, e.g. processing of pulse signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0069 with lysing, e.g. of erythrocyts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0073 Red blood cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/008 White cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/011 with lysing, e.g. of erythrocytes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/012 Red blood cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/016 White blood cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0238 Single particle scatter
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1027 Determining speed or velocity of a particle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1075 Determining speed or velocity of a particle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/085 Flow Injection Analysis

Abstract

An optical alignment detection system for detecting the alignment of a first object relative to a second object is provided. One or more light sources and one or more light detectors, either or both of which are secured relative to the second object, are used to detect the position of one or more light scattering elements on the first object.

Claims

1. An optical alignment detection system for detecting the alignment of a first object relative to a second object, the optical alignment system comprising:

one or more light scattering elements fixed relative to the first object;

two or more light sources fixed relative to the second object, the two or more light sources adapted to provide light such that a light beam from at least one of the light sources intersects one or more of the light scattering elements to produce a scattered light profile; and

one or more detector for detecting the scattered light profile.

2. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 1 further comprising a controller for identifying which of the light sources produced the detected scattered light profile.

3. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 2 wherein the controller determines the alignment of the first object relative to a second object by correlating the location of the identified light source(s) to an alignment position.

4. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 3 further comprising an optical detection system for detecting one or more characteristics of the first object, wherein at least some of the two or more light sources and at least some of the one or more detectors are used for detecting the one or more characteristics of the first object.

5. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 4 wherein the first object includes a flow stream, and wherein at least some of the light sources are positioned laterally at different distances from a central axis of the flow stream for providing light through different parts of the flow stream, and wherein at least some of the one or more detectors are positioned to receive the light from at least some of the light sources and to provide at least one signal in response thereto.

6. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 5 wherein the optical detection system further comprises:

controller means for using the at least one signal to determine one or more characteristics of the flow stream of the first object.

7. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 5 wherein the at least some of the light sources that are positioned laterally at different distances from the central axis of the flow stream collectively provide substantially constant light intensity across the flow stream.

8. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 1 wherein the one or more of the light scattering elements include an embossed region in the first object.

9. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 1 wherein the one or more of the light scattering elements include a diffraction grating.

10. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 1 wherein the one or more of the light scattering elements include a lens.

11. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 1 wherein the two or more light sources are Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs).

12. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 1 wherein the two or more light sources are Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

13. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 1 wherein the one or more detectors include a linear array of detectors.

14. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 1 wherein the one or more detectors include an annular shaped detector.

15. A method for detecting the alignment of a first object relative to a second object, the first object having one or more light scattering elements, and the second object having two or more light sources fixed relative to the second object, the two or more light sources positioned so that at least one of the light sources produces a light beam that intersects at least one of the light scattering elements, the method comprising the steps of:

sequentially activating the two or more light sources;

identifying which of the two or more light sources produce a light beam that intersects at least one of the light scattering elements; and

determining the alignment of the first object relative to the second object from the identified light source(s).

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the one or more light scattering elements are adapted to produce a light scatter profile.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the identifying step includes the steps of:

detecting the light scatter light profile; and

identifying which of the two or more light sources were activated when the light scatter profile was detected.

18. A method according to claim 15 further comprises the steps of:

detecting one or more characteristics of the first object using at least one of the light sources that is not identified by the identifying step.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the at least one light source that is used to detect the one or more characteristics of the first object is selected based on the determined alignment of the first object relative to the second object.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the one or more characteristics include a characteristic of a flow channel that is included in the first object.

21. An optical alignment detection system for detecting the alignment of a first object relative to a second object, the optical alignment system comprising:

one or more light blocking regions and one or more non-light blocking regions, both fixed relative to the first object;

two or more light sources fixed relative to the second object, the two or more light sources adapted to provide light such that a light beam from at least one of the light sources intersects at least one of the one or more light blocking regions and a light beam from at least one other of the light sources intersects at least one of the one or more non-light blocking regions;

one or more detectors for detecting the light beams provided from the two or more light sources;

identifying means for identifying which of the two or more light sources provide a light beam that intersects the one or more light blocking regions and/or which of the two or more light sources provide a light beam that intersects the one or more non-light blocking regions; and

determining the alignment of the first object relative to the second object from the identified light source(s).

22. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 21 wherein the one or more light blocking regions include an absorptive filter for absorbing light provided by the light sources.

23. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 21 wherein the one or more light blocking regions include a film fixed to the first object.

24. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 21 wherein the first object includes two or more laminated layers, and wherein the one or more light blocking regions are included in one or more of the laminated layers of the first object.

25. An optical alignment detection system for detecting the alignment of a first object relative to a second object, the optical alignment system comprising:

a light refracting element fixed relative to the first object;

a light source fixed relative to the second object, the light source adapted to provide a light beam that intersects at least part of the light refracting element to produce a refracted light profile; and

one or more detectors fixed relative to the second object for detecting the refracted light profile.

26. An optical alignment detection system according to claim 25 further comprising a controller for identifying the alignment of the first object relative to the second object from the refracted light profile.

27. An optical emitter comprising:

two or more light sources positioned in a linear array along an axis, each light source producing a light output beam that has a beam spot size in cross section; and

beam forming means for increasing the beam spot size of each of the two or more light sources in the direction of the axis.

28. An optical emitter according to claim 27 wherein the beam forming means decreases the beam spot size of each of the two or more light sources in a direction perpendicular to the axis

29. An optical emitter according to claim 27 wherein the optical beam forming means increases the beam spot size of each of the two or more light sources in the direction of the axis such that the light output of each light source at least partially overlaps the light output of an adjacent light source

30. An optical emitter according to claim 27 wherein the optical beam forming means includes a cylinder lens.

31. An optical system, comprising:

an array of two or more light sources positioned along an array axis, each for producing a light beam with a beam spot size;

beam forming means for increasing the beam spot size of each of the two or more light sources in a direction along the array axis;

beam collimating means for receiving the light from the beam forming means; and

one or more detectors for receiving the light from the beam collimating means.

32. An optical alignment system for adjusting the alignment of a first object relative to a second object, the optical alignment system comprising:

one or more light scattering elements fixed relative to the first object;

one or more light sources fixed relative to the second object for producing light;

actuator means for moving the relative position between the first object and the second object until the light from at least selected ones of the light sources intersects one or more of the light scattering elements to produce a scattered light profile; and

one or more light detectors for detecting the scattered light profile.

33. An optical alignment system according to claim 32 further comprising a controller for controlling the actuator means.

34. An optical alignment system for adjusting the alignment of a first object relative to a second object, the optical alignment system comprising:

one or more light scattering elements fixed relative to the first object;

one or more light sources for producing light;

actuator means for moving the one or more light sources relative to the first object until the light from at least selected ones of the light sources intersects one or more of the light scattering elements to produce a scattered light profile; and

one or more light detectors for detecting the scattered light profile.

35. An optical alignment system according to claim 34 further comprising a controller for controlling the actuator means.

36. An optical alignment detection system for detecting the alignment of a first object relative to a second object, the optical alignment system comprising:

one or more light scattering elements fixed relative to the first object;

one or more light sources fixed relative to the second object, the one or more light sources adapted to provide light such that a light beam from at least one of the light sources intersects one or more of the light scattering elements to produce a scattered light profile; and

two or more detectors for detecting the scattered light profile.