ANALYTES MONITORING BY DIFFERENTIAL SWEPT WAVELENGTH ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY METHODS
First Claim
1. An apparatus operable to measure the content of one or more gas analytes within a gas mixture, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a measuring module, comprising;
i. a controller operable to activate a laser beam generator to generate a laser beam;
ii. a processor operable to determine the content of the one or more gas analytes within the gas mixture based upon information collected from one or more sensors;
b. a gas cell module connected to the measuring whereby information and commands are transferable between the measuring module and the gas cell module, said gas cell module comprising;
iii. closed gas cell containing the gas mixture and the one or more analytes, said closed gas cell having two transparent windows therein on opposite sides of the closed gas cell;
iv. two mirrors having reflective surfaces facing each other positioned on opposite sides of the closed gas cell and each being positioned proximate to one of the transparent windows;
v. the laser beam generator operable to generate or direct a laser beam, said laser beam generator being positioned in proximity to one of the two mirrors, when generated the laser beam being directed towards the mirror on the side of the closed gas cell opposite the laser beam generator, the laser beam being directed so is reflected one or more times between the two mirrors, and in each reflection it passes through all of following;
the window in the closed gas cell closest to the laser beam generator;
the gas mixture inside the closed gas cell; and
the other window in the closed gas cell, the laser beam generator further being operable to send laser beam input power information to the measuring module; and
vi. a laser beam output operable to receive the laser beam after it has been reflected and send laser beam output power information to the measuring module;
vii. the one more sensors being operable to sense and transfer information pertaining to the laser beam, the gas mixture, and the one or more analytes interaction with the laser beam;
wherein the measuring module utilizes the input laser power information and the output laser beam power information to determine the absorption of the one or more analytes.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and system for measuring the content of either one or more gas analytes that may be part of a gas. The present invention applies a spectroscopic method that utilizes an extremely narrow linewidth laser beam that is absorbed when its wavelength is swept across the interval containing the absorption line of the analyte. The method, apparatus and system of the present invention is applicable to any analyte in gas phase that is part of a gas mixture, or to any analyte in a plasma phase, as well as analytes in other environments.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus operable to measure the content of one or more gas analytes within a gas mixture, said apparatus comprising:
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a. a measuring module, comprising; i. a controller operable to activate a laser beam generator to generate a laser beam; ii. a processor operable to determine the content of the one or more gas analytes within the gas mixture based upon information collected from one or more sensors; b. a gas cell module connected to the measuring whereby information and commands are transferable between the measuring module and the gas cell module, said gas cell module comprising; iii. closed gas cell containing the gas mixture and the one or more analytes, said closed gas cell having two transparent windows therein on opposite sides of the closed gas cell; iv. two mirrors having reflective surfaces facing each other positioned on opposite sides of the closed gas cell and each being positioned proximate to one of the transparent windows; v. the laser beam generator operable to generate or direct a laser beam, said laser beam generator being positioned in proximity to one of the two mirrors, when generated the laser beam being directed towards the mirror on the side of the closed gas cell opposite the laser beam generator, the laser beam being directed so is reflected one or more times between the two mirrors, and in each reflection it passes through all of following;
the window in the closed gas cell closest to the laser beam generator;
the gas mixture inside the closed gas cell; and
the other window in the closed gas cell, the laser beam generator further being operable to send laser beam input power information to the measuring module; andvi. a laser beam output operable to receive the laser beam after it has been reflected and send laser beam output power information to the measuring module; vii. the one more sensors being operable to sense and transfer information pertaining to the laser beam, the gas mixture, and the one or more analytes interaction with the laser beam; wherein the measuring module utilizes the input laser power information and the output laser beam power information to determine the absorption of the one or more analytes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for measuring the content of one or more gas analytes within a gas mixture, said apparatus comprising:
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a. a measuring module, comprising; i. a controller operable to activate a laser beam generator to generate a laser beam; ii. a processor operable to determine the content of the one or more gas analytes within the gas mixture based upon Information collected from one or more sensors; b. an open gas cell module comprising; iii. an open gas cell wherein the gas mixture and the one or more analytes are present; iv. a reflecting target positioned on one side of the open gas cell; v. the laser beam generator operable to generate or direct a laser beam, said laser beam generator being positioned opposite to the reflecting target having the one or more analytes between the laser beam generator and the reflecting target, the laser beam being directed from the laser beam generator towards the reflecting target and being reflected from the reflecting target, said laser beam generator being operable to send laser beam input power information to the measuring module; and vi. a telescope integrated with a transceiver, said telescope being operable to collect the laser beam reflected by the reflective target and to send laser beam output power information to the measuring module; wherein the measuring module utilizes the input laser power information and the output laser beam power information to determine the absorption of the one or more analytes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for measuring the content of one or more gas analytes within a gas mixture and monitoring the mass of the one or more analytes, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. generating a laser beam from a laser beam generator and gathering the input power of the laser beam; b. directing the laser beam through a gas cell having a gas mixture containing the one or more analytes therein, the laser beam further being directed to a reflective surface, said reflective surface being operable to reflect the laser beam through the gas cell at least one more time; c. gathering the output power of the laser beam at the point when the laser beam passes from the gas cell for the last time; d. transferring the output power and input power to a measuring module; e. one more sensors generating sensor information related to the laser beam, the gas mixture, and the one or more analytes interaction with the laser beam, and the one or more sensors transferring such sensor information to the measuring module; and f. the measuring module utilizing the input power, the output beam and any of the sensor information to determine the absorption of the one or more analytes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification