Optical detection device with reduced light throughput oscillations

• US 7,420,665 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Mueller, Beno
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury; Tarifur R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pajoohi; Tara S
• Application Number:
  US11/238,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20070076204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 356/432, 385 66- 68
• US Class Current: 356/73.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/746 detecting along the line of flow, e.g. axial
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/74 Optical detectors measurement of intensity, velocity, spectral content, polarisation, or phase of infrared, visible or ultraviolet light G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/30 for use between fibre and thin-film device

Abstract

A method is provided to perform an optimized setting of an optical detection device, with the detection device comprising a first and a second waveguide, each having an end face adapted for emitting and receiving light and facing each other in a distance d, and an envelope which at least partially envelopes said distance d and which is adapted for at least partially guiding light between the end sides. The method comprises measuring of a transmission characteristic between the waveguides, which transmission characteristic shows at least one of a minimum and a plateau and which is dependent on the distance d, and setting of the distance d to a working point on the distance d in the minimum or plateau, wherein the variation of the transmission around the working point is low, accordingly the derivation of the measured transmission characteristic is low.

Claims

1. A method to perform a setting of an optical detection device, which detection device comprises a first and a second waveguide, each having an end face adapted for emitting and receiving light and facing each other in a distance d, and an envelope at least partially enveloping the distance d and being adapted for at least partially reflecting and guiding emitted light between the end faces, the method comprising:

measuring a transmission characteristic of a fluid between the waveguides while varying the distance d, wherein the transmission characteristic shows at least one of a minimum and a plateau, and

setting the distance d to a working point in said minimum or plateau,

wherein a variation of the transmission around the working point is low, accordingly a derivation of the measured transmission characteristic is low.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

moving of the waveguides along a longitudinal axis of the envelope towards each other or in opposite directions, thereby varying the distance d.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

measuring of the transmission characteristics by performing transmission measurements between the waveguides for a plurality of distances d under maintenance of the device parameters.

4. A detection device adapted to perform optical analysis, comprising:

a first and a second waveguide, each having an end face adapted for emitting and receiving light and facing each other in a distance d, and an envelope at least partially enveloping the distance d and being adapted for at least partially reflecting and guiding emitted light between the end faces,

wherein the distance d is set, based on a previously derived measurement of a transmission characteristic of a fluid between the waveguides while varying the distance d, which transmission characteristic showing at least one of a minimum and a plateau, to a working point within the minimum or the plateau,

wherein the variation of the transmission around the working point is low, accordingly the derivation of the measured transmission characteristic is low.

5. The detection device of claim 4, wherein the envelope is made of a material such as an amorphous fluoropolymer or quartz that provides a total reflectance of the light inside said envelope.

6. The detection device of claim 4, wherein the envelope is coated with a reflecting substance which substance is a fluoropolymer or dye.

7. The detection device of claim 4, wherein the envelope has an longitudinal axis and wherein at least one of the first and the second waveguides is movable along said longitudinal axis.

8. The detection device of claim 4, wherein the end faces are spherically domed or lens shaped.

9. The detection device of claim 4, comprising a light source providing the light being emitted by the waveguide, said light source is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

diode, diode array, incandescent lamp, deuterium lamp, mercury low-pressure or high-pressure discharge lamp, and any other suitable lamp.

10. A detection device adapted to perform optical analysis, comprising:

a first and a second waveguide, each having an end face adapted for emitting and receiving light and facing each other in a distance d, and

an envelope at least partially enveloping the distance d and being adapted for at least partially guiding light between the end faces,

wherein the envelope has an inner and an outer surface providing a plurality of refractive angles and reflection angles, at least one of the inner and an outer surface having a pattern for increasing said plurality of refractive angles and said plurality reflection angles, thereby providing a homogeneous illumination of the distance d wherein the distance d is set, based on a previously derived measurement of a transmission characteristic relying on said refractive angles and said reflection angles, which transmission characteristic shows at least one of a minimum and a plateau and being dependent on the distance d, to a working point of the distance d, wherein the variation of the transmission around the working point is low, accordingly the derivation of the measured transmission characteristic is low.

11. The detection device of claim 10, wherein the distance d is set, based on a previously derived measurement of a transmission characteristic relying on said refractive angles and said reflection angles, which transmission characteristic shows at least one of a minimum and a plateau and being dependent on the distance d, to a working point of the distance d, wherein the variation of the transmission around the working point is low, accordingly the derivation of the measured transmission characteristic is low.

12. The detection device of claim 10, wherein said pattern is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

an embosses pattern of helical shape, a rippled or ragged pattern, and an irregular pattern, wherein said pattern is aligned with the envelope.

13. The detection device of claim 10, wherein the envelope is made of a material such as an amorphous fluoropolymer or quartz that provides a total reflectance of the light inside said envelope.

14. The detection device of claim 10, wherein the envelope is coated with a reflecting substance which substance is a fluoropolymer or dye.

15. The detection device of claim 10, wherein the envelope has an longitudinal axis and wherein at least one of the first and the second waveguides is movable along said longitudinal axis.

16. The detection device of claim 10, wherein the end faces are spherically domed or lens shaped.

17. The detection device of claim 10, comprising a light source providing the light being emitted by the waveguide, said light source is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

diode, diode array, incandescent lamp, deuterium lamp, mercury low-pressure or high-pressure discharge lamp, and any other suitable lamp.