Apparatus and method for measuring optically active materials
First Claim
1. A polarimeter system for sensing optical rotation caused by optically active material in a dark sugar solution, said polarimeter system comprising:
- (a) means for containing a liquid sample of optically active material in the dark sugar solution;
(b) an infrared light source for emitting infrared light;
(c) polarizer means operatively connected to intercept at least a portion of said infrared light for producing a polarized light beam therefrom;
(d) means for directing said polarized light beam through at least a portion of said liquid sample; and
(e) infrared light detection means operatively connected to intercept said light beam after passing through said liquid sample, for producing a signal in response to the rotational condition of said polarized light beam, whereby the optical rotation caused by the dark sugar solution may be determined.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A polarimeter system and method for sensing optical rotation caused by otically active materials in a solution are disclosed. The polarimeter system (10) includes a light source (11) for emitting infrared light, a polarizer (14) operatively connected to intercept the infrared light to produce a polarized beam therefrom and means for directing the beam through a sample of optically active material (15), which rotates the light beam. A beam splitting prism (16) splits the rotated polarized beam into its horizontal and vertical components. Infrared light detectors (17a) and (17b) convert the horizontal and vertical components into electrical signals representative of the optical rotation caused by the sample solution. Shaping circuitry (26) conditions the electrical signals for use by analog or digital (28) networks, that present the optical rotation or its physical correlative factor. Feedback circuitry (36) may be used to vary the light source (11) intensity in response to the detected light signals.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A polarimeter system for sensing optical rotation caused by optically active material in a dark sugar solution, said polarimeter system comprising:
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(a) means for containing a liquid sample of optically active material in the dark sugar solution; (b) an infrared light source for emitting infrared light; (c) polarizer means operatively connected to intercept at least a portion of said infrared light for producing a polarized light beam therefrom; (d) means for directing said polarized light beam through at least a portion of said liquid sample; and (e) infrared light detection means operatively connected to intercept said light beam after passing through said liquid sample, for producing a signal in response to the rotational condition of said polarized light beam, whereby the optical rotation caused by the dark sugar solution may be determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A polarimeter system for sensing optical rotation caused by optically active material in a dark sugar solution, said polarimeter system comprising:
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(a) means for containing a liquid sample of optically active material in the dark sugar solution; (b) an infrared light source for emitting infrared light, the light emitted from said infrared light source having a wavelength equal to or greater that 700 nanometers; (c) polarizer means operatively connected to intercept at least a portion of said infrared light for polarizing said portion of said infrared light to produce a polarized beam of said light; (d) means for directing said polarized beam through at least a portion of said liquid sample; (e) collimating optics operatively connected to and positioned between said light source and said containing means; (f) a band pass filter operatively connected to and positioned between said light source and said polarizer means; (g) detection means operatively connected to intercept said beam passing through said liquid sample for producing a signal in response to the rotational condition of said polarized beam; and (h) means for varying the intensity of said infrared light source, in response to the amount of said polarized light beam being asorbed by said liquid sample, whereby the optical rotation caused by the dark sugar solution may be determined.
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11. A polarimeter system for sensing optical rotation caused by a dark sugar solution without the need to clarify the dark sugar solution, said polarimeter system comprising:
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(a) a sample container for holding a liquid sample of the dark sugar solution; (b) an infrared light source for emitting infrared light; (c) polarizer means operatively connected to intercept at least a portion of said infrared light for polarizing said portion of said infrared light to produce a polarized beam of said light; (d) collimating optics operatively connected to and positioned between said light source and said polarizing means, whereby said infrared light is collimated; (e) means for positioning said container in alignment with said infrared light source for intercepting said, polarized, collimated light beam wherein said polarized, collimated light beam passes through at least a portion of said sample container holding the dark sugar solution; and (f) detection means operatively connected to intercept said beam passing through said liquid sample, producing a signal in response to the rotational condition of said polarized beam, whereby the optical rotation caused by the dark sugar solution may be determined. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for determining the optical rotation caused by optically active material in a liquid solution, such material in solution being characterized by being highly absorbent of visible light wavelengths, said method comprising:
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(a) polarizing light emitted from an infrared light source; (b) directing the polarized light through a sample of optically active material; and (c) detecting the polarized light after passing through the optically active material to determine the optical rotation caused by the optically active material in the liquid solution.
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18. A method for determining the optical rotation caused by a dark sugar solution of the type that is highly absorbent to visible light wavelengths, said method comprising:
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(a) producing infrared light waves; (b) transmitting at least portion of said infrared light waves through collimating optics; (c) polarizing said collimated light emitting from the collimating optics; (d) directing said polarized light through a dark sugar solution; and (e) analyzing the optical rotation of the polarized infrared light after passing through said sugar solution, and caused by the sugar solution. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification