Optical instrument and components thereof

• US 20070188764A1
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X-Rite Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: X-Rite Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Berg, Bernard, Nisper, Jon, Mater, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,557,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/446
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1213 Filters in general, e.g. dichroic, band
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1282 Spectrum tailoring
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/2866 Markers; Calibrating of scan
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/467 Colour computing
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0213 using attenuators
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0272 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0275 making use of sensor-related data, e.g. for identification of sensor parts or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0289 Field-of-view determination; Aiming or pointing of a spectrometer; Adjusting alignment; Encoding angular position; Size of measurement area; Position tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/26 using multiple reflection, e.g. Fabry-Perot interferometer, variable interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/501 Colorimeters using spectrally-selective light sources, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/51 using colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/513 having fixed filter-detector pairs
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/524 Calibration of colorimeters

Abstract

An optical assembly for use with a spectrophotometer. The optical assembly may comprise 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 may define an illumination channel extending from the illumination source toward the first side. The optical piece may also define a detection channel extending from the first side toward the detection sensor. In addition, the optical piece may define a monitor channel extending from the illumination channel toward the monitor sensor. Also, a light emitting diode (LED) assembly for use with an optical measurement device. The LED assembly may comprise a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface and a plurality of LED dies positioned on the substrate to emit light in a first direction normal to the bottom surface of the substrate. The LED assembly may also comprise a plurality of leads in electrical contact with the plurality of LED dies. The plurality of leads may be positioned on the bottom surface of the substrate, and may be configured to surface-mount to a board.

Claims

1. An optical assembly for use with an optical instrument, the optical assembly comprising:

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 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.

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 1, 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. A light emitting diode (LED) assembly for use with an optical measurement device, the LED assembly comprising:

a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a plurality of LED dies positioned on the substrate to emit light in a first direction normal to the bottom surface of the substrate;

a plurality of leads in electrical contact with the plurality of LED dies, wherein the plurality of leads are positioned on the bottom surface of the substrate, and wherein the plurality of leads are configured to surface-mount to a board.

19. The LED assembly of claim 18, wherein the substrate comprises a ceramic.

20. The LED assembly of claim 19, wherein the substrate comprises a ceramic.

21. The LED assembly of claim 18, further comprising an optical filter positioned in a path of the plurality of LED'"'"'s.

22. The LED assembly of claim 21, wherein the filter is configured to attenuate infrared light.

23. The LED assembly of claim 21, wherein the filter is configured to attenuate ultraviolet light.

24. The LED assembly of claim 21, wherein the filter is a comb filter configured to selectively attenuate at least two wavelength bands.

25. The LED assembly of claim 21, wherein the filter is made of glass.

26. 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 opening between the first surface and the second surface;

an illumination source mounted on the first surface of the circuit board, wherein the illumination source is mounted to direct light through the first optically transparent opening; and

a sensor mounted on the second surface of the circuit board.

27. The spectrophotometer of claim 26, further comprising a power supply mounted on the circuit board.

28. The spectrophotometer of claim 27, further comprising a display device mounted on the circuit board, the display device configured to show results of the spectrophotometer.

29. The spectrophotometer of claim 28, further comprising an input device mounted on the circuit board, the input device configured to provide input to the spectrophotometer.

30. The spectrophotometer of claim 26, wherein the detection sensor comprises a plurality of individual sensors and a plurality of spectral filters.

31. The spectrophotometer of claim 26, wherein the detection sensor comprises an RGB CMOS chip.