Optical transmission spectrometer
First Claim
1. An optical transmission spectrometer for absorbing and scattering sample readings, comprising:
- a plurality of light sources for producing light, the absorption of which in a sample is to be measured by the spectrometer;
a holder for said plurality of light sources;
a light beam-combiner for directing beams of light from said light sources by refraction to a common sample area;
said light beam combiner including first and second non-parallel refractive surfaces for refracting light from said light sources toward said common sample area;
said light beam-combiner being symmetrical about central axis;
a first collimating device adjacent said light beam-combiner for baffling stray light passing from the said light beam-combiner and the light source;
a mounting assembly for mounting a sample in said sample area in the optical transmission spectrometer adjacent said first collimating device; and
a detection assembly for detecting absorption of light passing through a sample in said mounting assembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical transmission spectrometer for transmission measurements of absorbing and scattering samples includes light sources mounted parallel to each other in a holder. The beams of light emanating from the light sources are directed through a beam-combiner. The beam-combiner includes a first refractive surface at an angle of incidence of 45°. The first refractive surface refracts light toward a common axis. The beam-combiner includes a second refractive surface parallel to the first refractive surface for refracting the beam of light along a common axis parallel to the original direction of the beam of light. The beam-combiner can include additional refractive surfaces for other beams of light to combine the beams of light into a primary beam. The spectrometer includes a collimating tube extending along the common axis for baffling stray light and directing the primary beam through a sample. A second collimating tube is provided on the side of the sample opposite the first collimating tube for baffling stray light passing through the sample. The second collimating tube directs the primary beam to a detector package mounted in a holder, where the detector viewing area of the sample is limited to that of the primary beam. As an alternative, an optic which is capable of directing multiple light beams onto a common intersection point may be used in place of the previously mentioned beam-combiner. Unlike the beam-combiner which closely aligns multiple parallel light beams and transmits them as substantially a single beam along the common axis, the alternate optical directs multiple light beams at an angle onto a common intersection point. The optic is fabricated from translucent material with first and second refractive surfaces for receiving light beams from a source and refracting the light beams toward the common intersection point.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An optical transmission spectrometer for absorbing and scattering sample readings, comprising:
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a plurality of light sources for producing light, the absorption of which in a sample is to be measured by the spectrometer; a holder for said plurality of light sources; a light beam-combiner for directing beams of light from said light sources by refraction to a common sample area;
said light beam combiner including first and second non-parallel refractive surfaces for refracting light from said light sources toward said common sample area;
said light beam-combiner being symmetrical about central axis;
a first collimating device adjacent said light beam-combiner for baffling stray light passing from the said light beam-combiner and the light source;a mounting assembly for mounting a sample in said sample area in the optical transmission spectrometer adjacent said first collimating device; and a detection assembly for detecting absorption of light passing through a sample in said mounting assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An optic for directing light from a plurality of sources to intersect at a common sample area spaced a predetermined distance from said optic, comprising:
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a body of optically clear material, said body having a longitudinal axis and including an initial refractive surface and a secondary refractive surface; said initial refractive surface being disposed at a first preselected angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and refracting incident light from said plurality of sources toward said secondary refractive surface; said secondary refractive surface being disposed at a second preselected angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and refracting said incident light toward said common sample area, said second preselected angle being different from said first preselected angle; and wherein said plurality of sources include light emitting diodes. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An optic for directing light from a plurality of sources to intersect at a common sample area spaced a predetermined distance from said optic, comprising:
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a body of optically clear material, said body having a longitudinal axis and including an initial refractive surface and a secondary refractive surface; said initial refractive surface being diposed at a first preselected angle with repect to said longitudinal axis and refracting incident light from said plurality of sources toward said secondary refractive surface; said secondary refractive surface being disposed at a second preselected angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and refracting said incident light toward said common sample area, said second preselected angle being different from said first preselected angle; and wherein said first preselected angle is 45°
. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An optic for directing light from a plurality of sources to a common intersection point spaced a predetermined distance from said optic, comprising:
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a body of optically clear material, said body having a longitudinal axis and including a first refractive surface and a second refractive surface; said first refractive surface being disposed at a first preselected angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and refracting incident light from said plurality of sources toward said second refractive surface; said second refractive surface being disposed at a second preselected angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, said second preselected angle being different from said first preselected angle, and refracting said incident light toward said common intersection point; and wherein said plurality of sources include light emitting diodes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optic for directing light from a plurality of sources to a common intersection point spaced a predetermined distance from said optic, comprising:
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a body of optically clear material, said body having a longitudinal axis and including a first refractive surface and a second refractive surface; said first refractive surface being disposed at a first preselected angle with respect to said longitudinal axis and refracting incident light from said plurality of sources toward said second refractive from said plurality of sources toward said second refractive surface; said second refractive surface being disposed at a second preselected angle with respect to said longitudinal axis, said second preselected angle being different from said first preselected angle, and refracting said incident light toward said common intersection point; and wherein said first preselected angle is 45°
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21. An optic for directing light from a plurality of sources to a common intersection point spaced a predetermined distance from said optic, comprising:
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a body of optically clear material, said body including a first refractive surface and a second refractive surface; said first refractive surface being disposed at a first preselected angle with respect to incident light from one of said plurality of sources and refracting said incident light toward said second refractive surface; said second refractive surface being disposed at a second preselected angle with respect to said incident light and refracting said incident light toward said common intersection point, said second preselected angle being different from said first preselected angle wherein said first refractive surface and said second refractive surface are other than parallel; and wherein said plurality of sources include light emitting diodes. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification