Spectroscopic probe
AssigneeRenishaw PLC
InventorsRobert Bennett, Brian J E Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spectroscopic probe includes a monolithic block (10) of transparent material and GRIN lenses (20,22,24). Light for illuminating a sample is delivered by an optical fiber (31), and light scattered by the sample is output by an optical fiber (33). The block (10) has opposing angled faces (12A, 12B), coated with a dichroic filter coating and a reflective coating respectively. A method for making blocks (10) is also disclosed in which the coatings are first provided on a large sheet, and blocks (10) are then cut from the sheet using angled cuts. Since the coated block reduces the number of components required, the probe can be miniaturized, e.g. for use in an endoscope.
Claims16
A spectroscopic probe, comprising:
- an optical input port for receiving illuminating light;
- a sampling port, for illuminating a sample with the illuminating light and collecting light scattered by the sample;
- an optical output port for outputting scattered light received from the sampling port;
- and
- a block of transparent material, having two opposed angled faces for reflection of light from one to the other within the block, light passing through the block between the optical input port, the sampling port and the optical output port;
- wherein the light between the sampling port and one of the input and the output ports is reflected between said opposed angled faces of the block.
A spectroscopic probe according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said ports comprise lenses.
A component for a spectroscopic probe, comprising a block of transparent material, having two angled faces for reflection of light from one to the other within the block, for reflecting light between a sampling port and an input or output port of the spectroscopic probe.
A method of making a component for a spectroscopic probe, the component comprising a block of transparent material, having at least one angled face for reflecting light;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- taking a sheet of transparent material, the sheet having a face;
- and
- cutting said component from the sheet with a cut which is at an angle to said face, thereby producing said block with at least one angled face.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.