Apparatus for monitoring a chemical concentration
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for monitoring a condition comprising:
- (a) a probe including a first luminescent material which absorbs light within a first band of absorption wavelengths and temporarily emits light in response to such absorption, and a second luminescent material which absorbs light in a second band of absorption wavelengths and temporarily emits light in response to the absorption in said second band, at least a portion of said second absorption band being outside of said first absorption band, said luminescent materials having different sensitivities to the condition to be monitored;
(b) means for applying first excitation light at one or more wavelengths within said first absorption band but outside of said second absorption band and second excitation light at one or more wavelengths within said second absorption band but outside of said first absorption band to said luminescent materials in said probe alternately, in alternating first and second illumination intervals whereby said luminescent materials in said probe will emit response light in an alternating sequence including first response intervals of emission by said first luminescent material and second response intervals of emission by said second luminescent material;
(c) means for detecting response light emitted by said luminescent materials and providing a first signal representing the magnitude of said response light during said first response intervals, and a second signal representing the magnitude of said response light during said second response intervals, whereby said first and second signals will represent the intensity of emission of said first and second luminescent materials respectively; and
(d) means responsive to said first and second signals for determining a quantitative relationship between said intensities as represented by said first and second signals, whereby said quantitative relationship will vary in accordance with the condition to be monitored.
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Abstract
A sensor for monitoring a condition such as a chemical concentration includes two luminescent materials having differing absorption bands and differing sensitivities to the condition to be monitored. Light in the two absorption bands is applied in alternating sequence so as to elicit emissions from the two luminescent materials in alternating sequence. These emissions are compared to one another and the relationship between them, such as the ratio of their intensities, indicates the condition. The luminescent materials may be porphyrins or derivatives thereof.
74 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring a condition comprising:
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(a) a probe including a first luminescent material which absorbs light within a first band of absorption wavelengths and temporarily emits light in response to such absorption, and a second luminescent material which absorbs light in a second band of absorption wavelengths and temporarily emits light in response to the absorption in said second band, at least a portion of said second absorption band being outside of said first absorption band, said luminescent materials having different sensitivities to the condition to be monitored; (b) means for applying first excitation light at one or more wavelengths within said first absorption band but outside of said second absorption band and second excitation light at one or more wavelengths within said second absorption band but outside of said first absorption band to said luminescent materials in said probe alternately, in alternating first and second illumination intervals whereby said luminescent materials in said probe will emit response light in an alternating sequence including first response intervals of emission by said first luminescent material and second response intervals of emission by said second luminescent material; (c) means for detecting response light emitted by said luminescent materials and providing a first signal representing the magnitude of said response light during said first response intervals, and a second signal representing the magnitude of said response light during said second response intervals, whereby said first and second signals will represent the intensity of emission of said first and second luminescent materials respectively; and (d) means responsive to said first and second signals for determining a quantitative relationship between said intensities as represented by said first and second signals, whereby said quantitative relationship will vary in accordance with the condition to be monitored. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for monitoring a condition comprising:
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(a) first and second luminescent materials selected from the group consisting of; (1) compounds according to the formulae;
##STR3## wherein R1 through R12 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted and unsubstituted alkyl moieties and substituted and unsubstituted aryl moieties;(2) metallo derivatives of said compounds; (3) combinations of said compounds; and (4) combinations of said metallo derivatives; said first and second luminescent materials having different sensitivities to the condition to be monitored; (b) means for exposing said luminescent materials to the condition to be monitored; (c) means for applying excitation light to said luminescent materials, whereby said luminescent materials will emit a first response light from said first luminescent material and second response light from said second luminescent material; (d) means for detecting said first and second response light and providing a first signal representing the intensity of the first response light from said first luminescent material and a second signal representing the intensity of the second response light from said second luminescent material; and (e) means responsive to said signals for determining a relationship between said intensities (e), line 2 are represented by said first and second signals, whereby said quantitative relationship will vary in accordance with the condition to be monitored. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification