Optical instrument and parts thereof for optimally defining light pathways

• US 7,557,925 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: X-Rite Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: X-Rite Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Nisper, Jon K., Mater, Michael J., Berg, Bernard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, FANNIE L
• Application Number:
  US11/504,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 356406-407, 356/445, 356/446, 356/419
• US Class Current: 356/419
• 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 is disclosed that includes 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 defines 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. A spectrophotometer is also disclosed that includes a circuit board, illumination source and one or more sensors. The circuit board includes an optically transparent region, wherein the illumination source is mounted and situated relative to a first surface of the circuit board, so as to direct light through the optically transparent region. Each sensor is mounted and situated relative to a second surface of the circuit board opposite the first surface.

Claims

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

an illumination source for illuminating a sample;

a detection sensor for receiving and detecting light reflected by or transmitted through the sample;

a monitor sensor for receiving and monitoring light from the illumination source; and

an optical piece having a first side adapted to face the 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;

wherein the monitor channel extends from the illumination channel so as to not define a direct optical path between the illumination source and 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 12, 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. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the illumination source and illumination channel are configured such that the illumination source is positioned directly over the sample.

19. The optical assembly of claim 9, wherein each of the detection channels receives light reflected from a different area of the sample.

20. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the monitor channel is configured such that a signal obtained from the monitor sensor is proportional to a signal obtained from the detection sensor.

21. 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 area between the first surface and the second surface;

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

a plurality of sensors, each of said plurality of sensors mounted and situated relative to the second surface of the circuit board.

22. The spectrophotometer of claim 21, further comprising a processor mounted on the circuit board.

23. The spectrophotometer of claim 22, further comprising a display device mounted on the circuit board, the display device configured to show results of the spectrophotometer.

24. The spectrophotometer of claim 23, further comprising an input device mounted on the circuit board, the input device configured to provide input to the spectrophotometer.

25. The spectrophotometer of claim 21, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one detection sensor, the detection sensor comprising a plurality of individual sensors and a plurality of spectral filters.

26. The spectrophotometer of claim 21, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one detection sensor, the detection sensor comprising an ROB CMOS chip.

27. The spectrophotometer of claim 21, wherein the optically transparent area is one of:

(i) an opening defined through the circuit board and (ii) a transparent region of the circuit board.