Apparatus and method for measuring the distribution of radiant energy produced in particle investigating systems
First Claim
1. A method of measuring the directional distribution properties of the radiant energy of a particle for particle identification or the like which comprises:
- A. passing the particle through a sensing zone and illuminating the particle with an incident beam of radiant energy,B. collecting at least some of the directionally distributed radiant energy produced by the intersection of the particle and the beam and projecting the same toward a focal point in space remote from the sensing zone,C. intercepting the projected portion of radiant energy and deviating the same along a plurality of different paths independently of the collecting,i. each path being arranged to comprise the radiant energy gathered from a particular geometric area of the projected portion,ii. the geometric areas being different,iii. the axis of each path being deviated from extending toward said remote point in space,iv. each path serving to cause confluence of the radiant energy of its said path at a particular location,v. the locations of the respective confluences of radiant energy being spaced from one another, andD. measuring the respective intensities of the radiant energy confluence at the respective locations where confluenced.
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Abstract
In an apparatus in which particles are passed through an optical sensing zone to measure their radiant energy distribution such as, for example, light scattering characteristics for the purpose of identifying the particles, means and a method are provided for deviating the collected light in accordance with predetermined different paths to a plurality of different photodetecting devices. The deviation is effected independently of collection by optical radiant energy transmitting or reflecting means. The different photodetecting devices enable the measurement of energy directed along the particular path which is identified with that device. The paths are established by the deviating means rather than permitted to evolve by the scattering phenomena themselves whereby the photodetecting devices can be located in convenient arrangements and may be conventional in construction. Different forms of the invention combine optical reflection or refraction for collecting the scattered radiant energy with optical reflection or refraction for deviation to achieve different advantages and results.
95 Citations
84 Claims
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1. A method of measuring the directional distribution properties of the radiant energy of a particle for particle identification or the like which comprises:
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A. passing the particle through a sensing zone and illuminating the particle with an incident beam of radiant energy, B. collecting at least some of the directionally distributed radiant energy produced by the intersection of the particle and the beam and projecting the same toward a focal point in space remote from the sensing zone, C. intercepting the projected portion of radiant energy and deviating the same along a plurality of different paths independently of the collecting, i. each path being arranged to comprise the radiant energy gathered from a particular geometric area of the projected portion, ii. the geometric areas being different, iii. the axis of each path being deviated from extending toward said remote point in space, iv. each path serving to cause confluence of the radiant energy of its said path at a particular location, v. the locations of the respective confluences of radiant energy being spaced from one another, and D. measuring the respective intensities of the radiant energy confluence at the respective locations where confluenced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. The method of making a fresnel element for use in measuring light scattering properties of particles which comprises:
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A. forming a disc of segments of prisms, there being a plurality of concentric annuli of said segments, the annuli decreasing in radial dimension toward the axis of the disc, B. at least each annulus of segments having its projected axis of deviation oriented differently from the orientation of the projected axes of deviation of the other annuli, C. each of said axes of deviation being spaced from one another at least on a plane normal to the said axis of the disc and symmetrical about said disc at said plane, D. using said disc as a master to make a mold and molding said fresnel element out of light transmitting material from said mold. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. Apparatus for measuring the directional distribution of radiant energy produced by particles for identification or the like of said particles which comprises:
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A. a source of radiant energy arranged to project a beam of radiant energy along a first axis, B. a sensing zone on said first axis, C. means for moving particles through said sensing zone to produce scattering of the radiant energy from the beam, D. means for collecting some of said scattered radiant energy and projecting same toward a focal point in space, E. means for receiving the collected radiant energy before it reaches the focal point and deviating the same selectively with respect to different geometric portions of the collected energy to generate a plurality of different respective paths having different respective axes and confluence of radiant energy in said respective paths at different respective locations, and F. means for measuring the intensity of the confluence of radiant energy at each location. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. Apparatus for measuring the scattering of radiant energy produced by particles for identification or the like of said particles which comprises:
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A. a source of radiant energy arranged to project a concentrated beam of said radiant energy along a first axis, B. a sensing zone, said concentrated beam being directed to pass through said sensing zone, C. means for moving particles in a stream of fluid to flow through said sensing zone at such an angle relative to said first axis and with such dilution in said fluid as to cause scattering of radiant energy by each particle as it passes through said sensing zone, D. means for collecting at least some of said scattered radiant energy from certain scattering angles about said sensing zone and projecting same as a composite cone of varying intensity considered on a planar frontal aspect, the variations in intensity being related generally to the respective certain scattering angles, said composite cone being projected toward a focussing point in space on said first axis remote from said sensing zone, E. radiant energy deviating means having a front surface and a rear surface interposed between said collecting means and said point in space and arranged to receive the projected radiant energy composite cone on its rear surface, transmit the same and have the radiant energy emerge from its front surface albeit in a different composition, F. said radiant energy deviating means including a plurality of deviating components each constructed and arranged to deviate and focus and confluence the radiant energy of respective different geometric portions of the frontal aspect of said composite cone at locations forward of said front surface and lateral of said first axis whereby to produce a plurality of said locations, the locations being spaced apart and each being individual to a different geometric portion, and G. photoresponsive means at said locations producing a separate signal for each location related respectively to the intensity of radiant energy confluenced at said locations. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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- 60. A composite mirror of multiple reflecting surfaces adapted to receive distributed radiant energy from a source that is directing such distributed radiant energy in a conical solid angle generally along an optical axis toward a focal point remote from said source, the mirror adapted to be disposed with its reflecting surfaces facing said source and arranged to reflect and deviate different geometric zones of the distributed radiant energy away from the focal point in different angles relative to said axis and to confluence thereof at respective separate locations where said confluenced portions of radiant energy from said respective zones can be measured.
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67. Apparatus for measuring the scattering of radiant energy produced by particles for identification or the like of said particles which comprises:
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A. a source of radiant energy arranged to project a beam of radiant energy along a first axis, B. a sensing zone on said first axis, C. means for moving particles through said sensing zone to produce scattering of the radiant energy from the beam, D. means for collecting some of said scattered radiant energy and projecting same toward a focal point in space and comprising an ellipsoidal reflector, said focal point lying on the optical axis of the reflector, the radiant energy being projected in the form of a conical solid angle whose apex would extend to said focal point, E. means for receiving the collected radiant energy of said conical solid angle before it reaches said focal point and deviating the same selectively with respect to different geometric portions of the collected energy whereby to cause confluence of radiant energy at different locations, the deviation being a folding back of said projected radiant energy toward said reflector, F. said locations being adjacent said reflector and G. means for measuring the intensity of the confluence of radiant energy at each location. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70)
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71. A deviator element for use in an apparatus for measuring polar distribution radiant energy, said element being adapted for receiving a composite beam of distributed radiant energy on one surface, transmitting the radiant energy and deviating different portions of the composite beam in different directions and to different locations where the respective deviated beams can be measured, said element being formed of a plurality of prismatic components each having a geometric relation to a specific geometric portion of the composite beam adapted to be received and said components being joined in unitary form, wherein said element is generally circular, about half of the element being formed of semiannular portions of different radial dimension which are coaxial and the other half being formed of wedge shaped segments centered on the center of the circle.
- 72. A deviator element for use in an apparatus for measuring polar distribution radiant energy, said element being adapted for receiving a composite beam of distributed radiant energy on one surface, transmitting the radiant energy and deviating different portions of the composite beam in different directions and to different locations where the respective deviated beams can be measured, said element being formed of a plurality of prismatic components each having a geometric relation to a specific geometric portion of the composite beam adapted to be received and said components being joined in unitary form, wherein the respective components include a plurality of annuli of different radial dimension arranged coaxially, and wherein the angle of deviation of all components is the same but the axes of the deviated beams are pointed in different directions circumferentially spaced around the central element axis.
- 74. A deviator element for use in an apparatus for measuring polar distribution radiant energy, said element being adapted for receiving a composite beam of distributed radiant energy on one surface, transmitting the radiant energy and deviating different portions of the composite beam in different directions and to different locations where the respective deviated beams can be measured, said element being formed of a plurality of prismatic components each having a geometric relation to a specific geometric portion of the composite beam adapted to be received and said components being joined in unitary form, wherein the prismatic components are annuli of different radial dimension arranged coaxially with the radial width dimension of said respective annuli decreasing from the periphery toward the center.
- 79. A deviator element for use in an apparatus for measuring polar distribution radiant energy, said element being adapted for receiving a composite beam of distributed radiant energy on one surface, transmitting the radiant energy and deviating different portions of the composite beam in different directions and to different locations where the respective deviated beams can be measured, said element being formed of a plurality of prismatic components each having a geometric relation to a specific geometric portion to the composite beam adapted to be received and said components being joined in unitary form, wherein the prismatic components are annuli of different radial dimension arranged coaxially with the radial width dimension of said respective annuli decreasing from the periphery toward the center, all the components being dimensionally based upon the same angle of deviation but are oriented to point the axes of the deviated beams emerging therefrom in different directions circumferentially spaced around the central element axis, and wherein each annulus is formed of a plurality of different segments arranged side by side circumferentially.
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82. Method of making a deviator element for use in measuring radiant energy directional distribution properties of particles which comprises:
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A. producing a prism of a given deviation angle, B. cutting a plurality of mostly cylinders of graduated size from the prism, C. assembling the cylinders telescopically and orienting each said cylinder by independent rotation thereof so its deviation direction is different from all others, D. fixing the assembly to form a master; and E. molding a deviator element from the master out of a radiant energy transmitting material. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84)
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Specification