Galvanometer scanner and photoacoustic microscope system having the same
Inventors
Kim, Chul Hong • Kim, Jin Young • Kim, Jong Beom • BAIK, Jin Woo
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11385449-B2
Publication Date
2022-07-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a galvanometer scanner, and the galvanometer scanner includes a mirror mounting shaft having a portion inserted into a shaft insertion opening of a housing which includes the shaft insertion opening on one surface thereof and has contents contained therein; and a mirror mounted at the mirror mounting shaft and positioned inside the housing.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a galvanometer scanner in which a mirror mounting shaft has a portion inserted into a shaft insertion opening of a housing. The housing includes the shaft insertion opening on an upper surface, with contents contained therein, and a mirror is mounted at the mirror mounting shaft and positioned inside the housing. The mirror mounting shaft is inserted perpendicular to an installation surface or slopingly at a predetermined angle with respect to the installation surface.
The invention further describes a photoacoustic microscope system that includes a galvanometer scanner, a laser generator generating and outputting a laser beam, and a ring transducer positioned at a rear stage of the laser generator. The ring transducer outputs the laser beam output toward the galvanometer scanner and outputs ultrasound input from the galvanometer scanner. In this system, the galvanometer scanner includes the mirror mounting shaft and the mirror inside the housing, where the shaft insertion opening is on the upper surface of the housing.
A key aspect is preventing moisture leakage that would otherwise damage or disable motor-based galvanometer scanners. The design uses one or more waterproofing measures, including a sealing member and/or a waterproof agent filling a gap, and/or hydrophobic materials such as Teflon, and/or an external waterproof case that excludes the mirror and part of the shaft.
Claims Coverage
The consolidated claims coverage identifies three inventive feature clusters. Two clusters recite a galvanometer scanner with a mirror mounted inside a housing and a shaft insertion opening on an upper surface, and the third cluster recites a photoacoustic microscope system integrating that galvanometer scanner with a laser generator and a ring transducer.
Upper-surface shaft insertion opening with perpendicular mirror mounting shaft
A mirror mounting shaft having a portion inserted into a shaft insertion opening of a housing, the shaft insertion opening positioned on an upper surface of the housing, with contents contained therein, and a mirror mounted at the mirror mounting shaft and positioned inside the housing, wherein the mirror mounting shaft is inserted into the shaft insertion opening perpendicular to an installation surface.
Photoacoustic microscope system with ring transducer and slopingly inserted mirror mounting shaft
A photoacoustic microscope system comprising a galvanometer scanner, a laser generator generating and outputting a laser beam, and a ring transducer positioned at a rear stage of the laser generator, outputting the laser beam output from the laser generator toward the galvanometer scanner and outputting ultrasound input from the galvanometer scanner, wherein the galvanometer scanner includes a mirror mounting shaft having a portion inserted into a shaft insertion opening of a housing with contents contained therein, a mirror mounted at the mirror mounting shaft and positioned inside the housing, the shaft insertion opening positioned on an upper surface of the housing, and the mirror mounting shaft inserted into the shaft insertion opening slopingly at a predetermined angle with respect to an installation surface.
Upper-surface shaft insertion opening with perpendicular or slopingly inserted mirror mounting shaft
An apparatus comprising a mirror mounting shaft having a portion inserted into a shaft insertion opening of a housing with the shaft insertion opening on one surface and contents contained therein, and a mirror mounted at the mirror mounting shaft and positioned inside the housing, wherein the shaft insertion opening is positioned on an upper surface of the housing, and the mirror mounting shaft is inserted into the shaft insertion opening perpendicular to an installation surface or inserted into the shaft insertion opening slopingly at a predetermined angle with respect to the installation surface.
The claim coverage centers on a mirror mounted inside a housing with a shaft insertion opening on the housing’s upper surface, together with perpendicular insertion, slopingly insertion at a predetermined angle, or both. The photoacoustic microscope claim further specifies a laser generator and a ring transducer positioned at a rear stage, with laser beam output toward the galvanometer scanner and ultrasound input from the galvanometer scanner.
Stated Advantages
Improved measurement sensitivity via matched light/ultrasound focus.
Improved image acquisition efficiency/speed.
Enhanced sharpness.
Reduced manufacturing time/cost by simplifying waterproofing when the housing upper surface is opened for perpendicular installation.
Documented Applications
Use in a photoacoustic microscope system that outputs a laser beam toward a galvanometer scanner and obtains ultrasound input from the galvanometer scanner.
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