Compact, thermally stable fiber-optic array mountable to flow cell
First Claim
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1. A laser system for directing light for optical measurements, the laser system comprising:
- a flow cell connector configured to receive a flow cell configured to provide a sample fluid for measurement;
a housing defining an interior chamber, wherein the housing is thermally conductive;
a plurality of optical fibers within the interior chamber, the plurality of optical fibers configured to receive light from a plurality of lasers disposed outside the housing, said optical fibers having a plurality of output ends;
an optical fiber mount configured to orient the plurality of optical fibers with said output ends positioned to emit light toward said flow cell;
a plurality of optical input ports coupled to the housing, the optical input ports configured to interchangeably couple to the plurality of lasers such that the plurality of optical fibers are configured to receive the light from the plurality of lasers through the optical input ports and such that the plurality of lasers are interchangeable with other lasers;
a thermoelectric controller thermally coupled to the housing, wherein the thermoelectric controller is configured to maintain the interior chamber at a substantially constant temperature to reduce temperature instability and resulting pointing errors.
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Abstract
Various embodiments of an optical system for directing light for optical measurements such laser-induced fluorescence and spectroscopic analysis are disclosed. In some embodiments, the optical system includes a thermally conductive housing and a thermoelectric controller, a plurality of optical fibers, and one or more optical elements to direct light emitted by the optical fibers to illuminate a flow cell. The housing is configured to attach to a flow cell.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A laser system for directing light for optical measurements, the laser system comprising:
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a flow cell connector configured to receive a flow cell configured to provide a sample fluid for measurement; a housing defining an interior chamber, wherein the housing is thermally conductive; a plurality of optical fibers within the interior chamber, the plurality of optical fibers configured to receive light from a plurality of lasers disposed outside the housing, said optical fibers having a plurality of output ends; an optical fiber mount configured to orient the plurality of optical fibers with said output ends positioned to emit light toward said flow cell; a plurality of optical input ports coupled to the housing, the optical input ports configured to interchangeably couple to the plurality of lasers such that the plurality of optical fibers are configured to receive the light from the plurality of lasers through the optical input ports and such that the plurality of lasers are interchangeable with other lasers; a thermoelectric controller thermally coupled to the housing, wherein the thermoelectric controller is configured to maintain the interior chamber at a substantially constant temperature to reduce temperature instability and resulting pointing errors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A laser system for directing light for optical measurements, the laser system comprising:
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a flow cell connector configured to receive a flow cell configured to provide a sample fluid for measurement; a housing defining an interior chamber; a plurality of optical fibers within the interior chamber, the plurality of optical fibers configured to receive light from a plurality of lasers disposed outside the housing, said optical fibers having a plurality of output ends; an optical fiber mount configured to orient the plurality of optical fibers with said output ends positioned to emit light toward said flow cell; a plurality of optical input ports coupled to the housing, the optical input ports configured to interchangeably couple to the plurality of lasers such that the plurality of optical fibers are configured to receive the light from the plurality of lasers through the optical input ports and such that the plurality of lasers are interchangeable with other lasers; one or more lenses within the interior chamber, the one or more lenses configured to receive the light output by the plurality of optical fibers, to modify the light, and to output a plurality of beams of light; wherein the one or more lenses are configured such that the plurality of beams of light produced by the one or more lenses comprise a plurality of substantially elliptical beams of light; wherein each of the plurality of substantially elliptical beams of light have a long axis and a short axis, and wherein the flow cell connector is configured to position the flow cell such that each of the plurality of substantially elliptical beams of light intersect the flow cell with the long axis extending substantially laterally across the flow cell and with the short axis extending substantially longitudinally along the flow cell. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A laser system for directing light for optical measurements, the laser system comprising:
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a flow cell connector configured to receive a flow cell configured to provide a sample fluid for measurement; a housing defining an interior chamber, wherein the housing is sealed to insulate the interior chamber from ambient air; a plurality of optical fibers within the interior chamber, the plurality of optical fibers configured to receive light from a plurality of lasers disposed outside the housing, said optical fibers having a plurality of output ends; an optical fiber mount configured to orient the plurality of optical fibers with said output ends positioned to emit light toward said flow cell; and a plurality of optical input ports coupled to the housing, the optical input ports configured to interchangeably couple to the plurality of lasers such that the plurality of optical fibers are configured to receive the light from the plurality of lasers through the optical input ports and such that the plurality of lasers are interchangeable with other lasers. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A laser system for directing light for optical measurements, the laser system comprising:
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a flow cell connector configured to receive a flow cell configured to provide a sample fluid for measurement; a housing defining an interior chamber, wherein the flow cell connector is configured to attach the flow cell outside the interior chamber of the housing such that the flow cell is not disposed inside the interior chamber of the housing; a plurality of optical fibers within the interior chamber, the plurality of optical fibers configured to receive light from a plurality of lasers disposed outside the housing, said optical fibers having a plurality of output ends; an optical fiber mount configured to orient the plurality of optical fibers with said output ends positioned to emit light toward said flow cell; and a plurality of optical input ports coupled to the housing, the optical input ports configured to interchangeably couple to the plurality of lasers such that the plurality of optical fibers are configured to receive the light from the plurality of lasers through the optical input ports and such that the plurality of lasers are interchangeable with other lasers. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification