DETECTION OF CHEMICALS WITH INFRARED LIGHT
First Claim
1. A method for non-contact chemical detection, comprising:
- a. selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without significantly decomposing the analyte; and
b. determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal collected before and during or shortly after exciting the analyte.
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Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to a method for non-contact or stand off chemical detection that may be eye-safe by selectively exciting one ore more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without significantly decomposing the analyte and determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal made before and during or shortly after exciting the analyte. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for non-contact or stand off chemical detection that may be eye-safe by selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without significantly decomposing the analyte, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to generate a vapor plume, and wherein the plume is examined to detect the presence of the analyte. The analyte of interest may be an explosive, an additive to an explosive, a drug, a chemical warfare agent, a biochemical, or a biological warfare agent. Additionally, the present invention provides for a system for non-contact or stand off chemical detection that may be eye-safe.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method for non-contact chemical detection, comprising:
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a. selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without significantly decomposing the analyte; and b. determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal collected before and during or shortly after exciting the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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- 13. A method for non-contact chemical detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without significantly decomposing the analyte, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to generate a vapor plume, and wherein the plume is examined to detect the presence of the analyte.
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26. A system for non-contact chemical detection, comprising:
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a. an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band specific to one or more analytes of interest; and b. an IR detector; wherein, the analyte is selectively excited using the IR source without significantly decomposing the analyte, and the presence of the analyte is determined by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal collected before and during or shortly after exciting the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for non-contact chemical detection, comprising:
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a. an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band specific to one or more analytes of interest; and b. means for detecting the presence of the analyte; wherein, the analyte is selectively excited using the IR source creating a vapor plume without significantly decomposing the analyte, and the presence of the analyte is determined by examining the vapor plume. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification