Reflectance measurement apparatus with noise reduction circuitry

• US 5,177,565 A
• Filed: 02/11/1991
• Issued: 01/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UMM Electronics, Inc. (Nortech Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Medical Manufacturing Co. (Nortech Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stoughton, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANTIS, KAREN
• Application Number:
  US07/653,765
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 356/445-448, 356/41, 356/402-411, 128/689-690, 422/82.05
• US Class Current: 356/446
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4738 Diffuse reflection precedence is given to G01N21/55 - G01N21/57 if specular component is taken into consideration, e.g. also for testing fluids, fibrous materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/78 producing a change of colour

Abstract

A reflectance meter having improved noise immunity for measuring photometric quantities is disclosed. The device includes noise reduction techniques for eliminating the effects of ambient and artificial light upon the measurement signal. A gated modulator provides frequency shifting of desired information to a carrier frequency so that undesired signals may be filtered out. A gated demodulator provides a means to demodulate the information contained in frequency spectrum near the gate or chopping frequency.

Claims

1. A reflectance measuring device comprising:

a photo-detector situated to detect light reflecting from a chemically treated target strip and producing an electrical signal in accordance with the intensity of light striking said photo-detector;

a light source having a power input, said light source directed toward the target strip;

an oscillator which produces an oscillator signal;

a power source connected to said power input of said light source, said power source supplying a periodic power signal in accordance with said oscillator signal to said power input;

amplifier means responsive to said electrical signal and producing an amplified electrical signal;

a band pass filter responsive to said amplified electrical signal having an upper cutoff frequency below the frequency of oscillation of said oscillator and a lower cutoff frequency above zero hertz; and

wherein said light source produces light in a predetermined range corresponding to a particular colorization response of a chemically treated target strip.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said power source supplies a fixed current signal to said light source when activated, and said light source is a light emitting diode.