Beam-adjusting optics

• US 20090073579A1
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yong Qin Chen
• Original Assignee: Yong Qin Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Yong Qin
• Granted Patent: US 7,787,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/793
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1434 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1459 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1452 Adjustment of focus; Alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism

Abstract

The present invention provides an optical analyzer having illumination optics that include a light source, such as a laser or other source, adapted to emit a collimated, or approximately collimated, light beam, a focusing lens that focuses the beam onto a focus spot within a detection region, and beam-adjusting optics positioned in the light path between the light beam source and the focusing lens, which allow for precise positioning of the focus spot within the detection region. The beam-adjusting optics of the present invention comprise at least one movable focusing lens, mounted in a positioning device that allows repositioning of the lens in a plane perpendicular to the light path.

Claims

1. An optical analyzer comprising:

(a) an light source adapted to emit an approximately collimated light beam along a light path;

(b) a focusing lens positioned in the light path, adapted to focus the light beam onto a focal spot within a sample analysis region, wherein said focusing lens has a focal length f₁,

(c) beam-adjusting optics positioned in the light path between the light source and the focusing lens, wherein said beam-adjusting optics comprises at least one beam-adjusting lens that is mounted in a positioning device that allows movement of the beam-adjusting lens in a plane perpendicular to the light path.

2. The optical analyzer of claim 1, wherein said beam-adjusting optics consists of a focusing lens.

3. The optical analyzer of claim 2, wherein said beam-adjusting optics consists of a focusing lens having a focal length f₂, wherein said adjusting lens and said focusing lens are separated by a distance z along the light path, and wherein |f₂−

z|≧

2·

f₁.

4. The optical analyzer of claim 3, wherein |f₂−

z|≧

4·

f₁.

5. The optical analyzer of claim 4, wherein |f₂−

z|≧

6·

f₁.

6. The optical analyzer of claim 1, wherein said beam-adjusting lens is a spherical lens.

7. The optical analyzer of claim 1, wherein said beam-adjusting lens is a cylindrical lens.

8. The optical analyzer of claim 1, wherein said beam-adjusting optics comprise a divergent lens having a focal length f₂, wherein f₂ is negative, and a convergent lens having a focal length f₃, wherein f₃ is positive, wherein said beam-adjusting lens is said divergent lens or said convergent lens.

9. The optical analyzer of claim 8, wherein f₂=−

f₃.

10. The optical analyzer of claim 1, wherein said beam-adjusting optics comprise a plano-concave lens having a focal length f₂ and a plano-convex lens having a focal length f₃, wherein said adjustment lens is said plano-concave lens or said plano-convex lens.

11. The optical analyzer of claim 10, wherein f₂≧

2·

f₁ and −

f₃≧

2·

f₁.

12. The optical analyzer of claim 10, wherein f₂≧

4·

f₁ and −

f₃≧

4·

f₁.

13. The optical analyzer of claim 10, wherein f₂≧

6·

f₁ and −

f₃≧

6·

f₁.

14. The optical analyzer of claim 10, wherein f₂=−

f₃.

15. The optical analyzer of claim 14, wherein f₂≧

2·

f₁.

16. The optical analyzer of claim 14, wherein f₂≧

4·

f₁.

17. The optical analyzer of claim 14, wherein f₂≧

6·

f₁.