Infrared trace element detection system
First Claim
1. An infrared trace element detection system comprising:
- an optical cell;
means for introducing to and removing from said optical cell a sample fluid to be examined;
means for introducing to said optical cell a sample beam of infrared radiation including a first wavelength band which is significantly absorbed by the trace element and a second wavelength band which is not significantly absorbed by the trace element for passage through said optical cell a number of times through the sample fluid;
a detector for selectively detecting in said first and second wavelength bands the output intensities of said sample beam of radiation from said optical cell and the intensities of a reference beam of said radiation;
means, responsive to said means for selectively detecting, for normalizing the sensed output intensity of the sample beam in one of said first and second wavelength bands with respect to the other;
means, responsive to said means for selectively detecting, for normalizing the sensed intensity of the reference beam of radiation in one of said first and second wavelength bands with respect to the other;
means for comparing the normalized output intensity and the normalized reference intensity; and
means, responsive to said means for comparing, for determining the amount of trace element in the sample fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An infrared trace element detection system including an optical cell into which the sample fluid to be examined is introduced and removed. Also introduced into the optical cell is a sample beam of infrared radiation in a first wavelength band which is significantly absorbed by the trace element and a second wavelength band which is not significantly absorbed by the trace element for passage through the optical cell through the sample fluid. The output intensities of the sample beam of radiation are selectively detected in the first and second wavelength bands. The intensities of a reference beam of the radiation are similarly detected in the first and second wavelength bands. The sensed output intensity of the sample beam in one of the first and second wavelength bands is normalized with respect to the other and similarly, the intensity of the reference beam of radiation in one of the first and second wavelength bands is normalized with respect to the other. The normalized sample beam intensity and normalized reference beam intensity are then compared to provide a signal from which the amount of trace element in the sample fluid can be determined.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An infrared trace element detection system comprising:
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an optical cell; means for introducing to and removing from said optical cell a sample fluid to be examined; means for introducing to said optical cell a sample beam of infrared radiation including a first wavelength band which is significantly absorbed by the trace element and a second wavelength band which is not significantly absorbed by the trace element for passage through said optical cell a number of times through the sample fluid; a detector for selectively detecting in said first and second wavelength bands the output intensities of said sample beam of radiation from said optical cell and the intensities of a reference beam of said radiation; means, responsive to said means for selectively detecting, for normalizing the sensed output intensity of the sample beam in one of said first and second wavelength bands with respect to the other;
means, responsive to said means for selectively detecting, for normalizing the sensed intensity of the reference beam of radiation in one of said first and second wavelength bands with respect to the other;means for comparing the normalized output intensity and the normalized reference intensity; and means, responsive to said means for comparing, for determining the amount of trace element in the sample fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An infrared trace element detector for an optical cell containing a sample fluid to be examined comprising:
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means for introducing to the optical cell a sample beam of infrared radiation including a first wavelength band which is significantly absorbed by the trace element and a second wavelength band which is not significantly absorbed by the trace element for passage through said optical cell through the sample fluid; a detector means for selectively detecting in said first and second wavelength bands the output intensities of said sample beam of radiation from said optical cell and the intensities of a reference beam of said radiation; means, responsive to said means for selectively detecting, for normalizing the sensed output intensity of the sample beam in one of said first and second wavelength bands with respect to the other; means, responsive to said means for detecting, for normalizing the sensed intensity of the reference beam in one of said first and second wavelength bands with respect to the other;
means for comparing the normalized sample beam intensity and the normalized reference beam intensities; andmeans, responsive to said means for comparing, for determining the amount of trace element in the sample fluid.
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22. A fluid sample transmission system for an optical detection system comprising:
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an optical cell for receiving a sample beam of radiation; and a plurality of substantially confronting orifices arranged in opposite sides of said optical cell for introducing sample fluid to said cell.
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23. An infrared trace element detection system comprising:
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an optical cell; means for introducing to and removing from said optical cell a sample fluid to be examined including a plurality of substantially confronting orifices arranged in opposite sides of said optical cell; means for introducing to said optical cell a sample beam of infrared radiation including a first wavelength band which is significantly absorbed by the trace element and a second wavelength band which is not significantly absorbed by the trace element for passage through said optical cell through the sample fluid; a detector for selectively detecting in said first and second wavelength bands the output intensities of said sample beam of radiation from said optical cell and the intensities of a reference beam of said infrared radiation; means responsive to said detector for normalizing the sensed output intensity of the sample beam in one of said first and second wavelength bands with respect to the other; means responsive to said detector for normalizing the sensed intensity of the reference beam in one of said first and second wavelength bands with respect to the other;
means for comparing the normalized sample beam intensity and the normalized reference beam intensity; andmeans responsive to said means for comparing for determining the amount of trace element in the sample fluid.
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Specification