Multi-mode illumination system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12320749-B2
Application number	US-202418584021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2024
Priority date	Jan 18, 2019
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

A multi-mode illumination system, including: a first illumination module; a second illumination module; and a third illumination module, as disclosed herein.

First claim

We claim:

1. A dual-mode illumination system for illuminating a sample, comprising:
(a) a first illumination module, comprising:
a right-angle prism; and
a first light source oriented toward the right-angle prism, wherein the right-angle prism reflects or redirects light emitted from the first light source toward the sample; and

(b) a second illumination module, comprising:
a light extraction plate that comprises a light scattering structure on a surface thereof;
a second light source configured to emit light into the light extraction plate;
a second optical filter; and
a light diffuser film disposed between the second optical filter and the light extraction plate,

wherein the light diffuser film is configured to filter the extracted non-coherent light and provide a more uniform non-coherent light distribution over a surface area of the light extraction plate.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an imager including a field of view and a collection angle, wherein the imager is configured to image the sample disposed on a sample holder.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sample holder.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the right-angle prism is disposed adjacent to the second optical filter.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second light source is embedded in the light extraction plate.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the right-angle prism comprises a first leg face and a second leg face that are adjacent to a hypotenuse leg face of the right-angle prism.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light diffuser film is disposed adjacent to the light scattering structure of the light extraction plate.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light diffuser film is disposed on the light scattering structure of the light extraction plate.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light diffuser film is adhered to the light scattering structure of the light extraction plate.

10. A dual-mode illumination system, comprising:
a sample holder;
a first illumination module, comprising:
a right-angle prism; and
a first light source oriented toward the right-angle prism, wherein the right-angle prism reflects or redirects light emitted from the first light source toward the sample holder; and

a second illumination module, comprising:
a light extraction plate that comprises a light scattering structure on a surface thereof;
a second light source configured to emit light into the light extraction plate;
a second optical filter; and
a light diffuser film disposed between the second optical filter and the light extraction plate,

wherein the light diffuser film is configured to filter the extracted non-coherent light and provide a more uniform non-coherent light distribution over a surface area of the light extraction plate.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second optical filter is configured to allow a specific wavelength of the extracted non-coherent light to pass therethrough toward the sample holder.

12. A dual-mode illumination system, comprising:
an imager;
a sample holder;
a first illumination module, comprising:
a right-angle prism; and
a first light source oriented toward the right-angle prism, wherein the right-angle prism reflects or redirects light emitted from the first light source toward the sample holder; and

a second illumination module, comprising:
a light extraction plate that comprises a light scattering structure on a surface thereof;
a second light source configured to emit light into the light extraction plate;
a second optical filter; and
a light diffuser film disposed between the second optical filter and the light extraction plate,

wherein the light diffuser film is configured to filter the extracted non-coherent light and provide a more uniform non-coherent light distribution over a surface area of the light extraction plate.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the right-angle prism comprises a first leg face, a second leg face, a hypotenuse leg face, and a dielectric/air interface, wherein the first light source is oriented toward the hypotenuse leg face of the right-angle prism, and wherein the hypotenuse leg face of the right-angle prism reflects or redirects light emitted from the second light source to the sample holder.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising an alternative of the right-angle prism that is a plate comprising or consisting of a dielectric/air interface and the plate is oriented in an angle, wherein the first light source is oriented toward the dielectric/air interface, and wherein the dielectric/air interface reflects or redirects light emitted from the second light source to the sample holder.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plate is oriented at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the first light source's illumination direction.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the right-angle prism comprises a first leg face, a second leg face, a hypotenuse leg face, and a metallic/air interface, wherein the first light source is oriented toward the hypotenuse leg face of the right-angle prism, and wherein the hypotenuse leg face of the right-angle prism reflects or redirects light emitted from the first light source to the sample holder.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the right-angle prism is disposed between the light extraction plate and the imager.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the right-angle prism is aligned with the center of the field of view of the imager and the center of the light extraction plate.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the extracted non-coherent light illuminates the sample holder under the field of view of the imager to provide non-coherent illumination.

Assignees

• Essenlix Corp

Inventors

• Qi Ji
• Chou Stephen Y
• Ding Wei

Classifications

• G01N2201/0636

  Reflectors · CPC title

• G01N2201/0634

  Diffuse illumination · CPC title

• G01N2201/021

  Special mounting in general · CPC title

• G01N2021/6439

  with indicators, stains, dyes, tags, labels, marks · CPC title

• G01N21/6458

  Fluorescence microscopy (fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16) · CPC title