Spectrometer for analysis of multiple samples
First Claim
1. A spectrometer comprising:
- a. an interferometer providing an output light image;
b. sample chambers for receiving samples to be spectrometrically analyzed;
c. multiple light pipes, each light pipe extending between input end and an opposing output end, wherein;
(1) the input ends are bundled, with the bundled input ends receiving the output light image from the interferometer;
(2) the light pipes branch into sets between their input ends and output ends, wherein at least some of the sets;
(a) include two or more of the light pipes, wherein at least some of these light pipes have their input ends spaced from each other within the bundle by input ends of light pipes of other sets;
(b) each extend to have their output ends provide the output light image from the interferometer to one of the sample chambers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A spectrometer (100) includes a light source (102) providing output light (106) to the bundled input ends (108) of multiple light pipes (110). The light pipes (110) branch into sets (118) between their input ends (108) and output ends (114), with each set (118) illuminating a sample detector (126) (via a sample chamber (122)) for measuring light scattered or emitted by a sample, or a reference detector (128) for obtaining a reference/datum measurement of the supplied light, so that comparison of measurements from the sample detector (126) and the reference detector (128) allows compensation of the sample detector measurements for drift. Efficient and accurate measurement is further assured by arraying the multiple light pipes (110) in each set (118) about the input bundle (116) so that each set receives at least substantially the same amount of light from the light source (102).
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A spectrometer comprising:
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a. an interferometer providing an output light image;
b. sample chambers for receiving samples to be spectrometrically analyzed;
c. multiple light pipes, each light pipe extending between input end and an opposing output end, wherein;
(1) the input ends are bundled, with the bundled input ends receiving the output light image from the interferometer;
(2) the light pipes branch into sets between their input ends and output ends, wherein at least some of the sets;
(a) include two or more of the light pipes, wherein at least some of these light pipes have their input ends spaced from each other within the bundle by input ends of light pipes of other sets;
(b) each extend to have their output ends provide the output light image from the interferometer to one of the sample chambers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A spectrometer comprising:
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a. a light source;
b. at least two sample chambers;
c. multiple light pipes having input ends adjacently arrayed in a bundle and opposing output ends, wherein;
(1) the bundled input ends receive light from the light source, and (2) the light pipes define independent optical paths providing light from the light source to each of;
(a) the sample chambers, and (b) a reference location isolated from the sample chambers, wherein none of the paths receives light from any of the other optical paths;
d. at least two detectors wherein;
(1) at least one of the detectors is a reference detector receiving light from the reference location, and (2) at least one of the detectors is a chamber detector receiving light from the light source via one of the sample chambers, whereby measurements generated by the reference and may be compared. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A spectrometric method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing light along several light pipes from a light source to several sample chambers, the sample chambers bearing samples to be spectrometrically analyzed, with the light then being received by chamber detectors from the sample chambers, and wherein;
(1) the light pipes include input ends which receive the light from the light source, with the input ends being bundled;
(2) at least some of the sample chambers each receive light from the light source via several of the light pipes; and
(3) at least some of these several light pipes have input ends spaced from each other within the bundle by light pipes providing light to other ones of the sample chambers;
b. providing light along several light pipes from the light source to a reference detector, with the reference detector being isolated from receiving light from the sample chambers;
c. comparing chamber light measurements generated by the chamber detectors to a reference light measurement generated by the reference detector. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification