Apparatus for near-infrared spectrophotometric analysis
First Claim
1. An apparatus for obtaining spectral information and quantifying the physical properties of a sample comprising:
- a light source for providing light;
a high-efficiency fiber optic switch means, in communication with said light source through a single fiber optic strand, said high-efficiency fiber optic switch means directing said light alternatively along at least two channels, said channels comprising at least one reference channel and at least one sample channel;
a sampling means in communication with said sample channel for providing an interface between said light and said sample;
a mode scrambler;
a fiber optic means selected from the group consisting of a high-efficiency fiber optic switch and an optical coupler, in communication with said sample channels and said reference channels for directing said light alternatively from said reference and sample channels to said mode scrambler;
a wavelength discrimination device for separating said light into component wavelengths and providing spectral information for the determination of the physical properties of said sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for obtaining spectral information and quantifying the physical properties of a sample. The apparatus comprises a light source and a high-efficiency fiber optic switch means communicating with the light source for directing the light alternatively along at least two channels, the two channels comprising at least one reference channel and at least one sample channel. A sample means communicates with the sample channel for providing an interface between the light and the sample. A fiber optic means comprising a high-efficiency fiber optic switch and/or an optical coupler communicates with the sample channels and the reference channels and directs the light alternatively from the reference and sample channels to a mode scrambler. A wavelength discrimination device separates the light from the mode scrambler into component wavelengths and provides spectral information for the determination of the physical properties of the sample. The apparatus of the present invention provides superior chemometric prediction accuracy, is reliable, durable, and stable over time, and provides outstanding performance in a manufacturing or field environment.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus for obtaining spectral information and quantifying the physical properties of a sample comprising:
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a light source for providing light; a high-efficiency fiber optic switch means, in communication with said light source through a single fiber optic strand, said high-efficiency fiber optic switch means directing said light alternatively along at least two channels, said channels comprising at least one reference channel and at least one sample channel; a sampling means in communication with said sample channel for providing an interface between said light and said sample; a mode scrambler; a fiber optic means selected from the group consisting of a high-efficiency fiber optic switch and an optical coupler, in communication with said sample channels and said reference channels for directing said light alternatively from said reference and sample channels to said mode scrambler; a wavelength discrimination device for separating said light into component wavelengths and providing spectral information for the determination of the physical properties of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for obtaining spectral information and quantifying the physical properties of materials comprising:
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a polychromatic light source for providing light; a first high-efficiency fiber optic switch means, in communication with said polychromatic light source through a single fiber optic strand, said high-efficiency fiber optic switch means directing said polychromatic light alternatively along at least two channels, said channels comprising at least one reference channel and at least one sample channel; a sampling means in communication with said sample channel for providing an interface between said polychromatic light and said sample; an attenuation means along said reference channel for balancing the polychromatic light transmission between the sample and reference channels; a mode scrambler; a second high-efficiency fiber optic switch means, in communication with said sample channels and said reference channels for directing said polychromatic light alternatively from said reference and sample channels to said mode scrambler; a spectrograph for diffracting said polychromatic light into component wavelengths and providing spectral information for the determination of the physical properties of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for obtaining spectral information and quantifying the physical properties of materials comprising:
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a polychromatic light source for providing polychromatic light; a first high-efficiency fiber optic switch means, in communication with said polychromatic light source, said high-efficiency fiber optic switch means directing said polychromatic light alternatively along at least two channels, said channels comprising one reference channel and at least one sample channel; a sample cell, in communication with said sample channel for providing an interface between said polychromatic light and said sample, said sample cell comprising a reflection device for passing said polychromatic light through said sample at least once; an attenuation means along said reference path for balancing the polychromatic light transmission between the sample and reference channels; a mode scrambler; a second high-efficiency fiber optic switch means, in communication with said sample channels and said reference channel for directing said polychromatic light alternatively from said reference and sample channels to said mode scrambler; a spectrograph comprising a fixed diffraction grating, a photodiode array detector, and optical elements for imaging polychromatic light from said mode scrambler onto said diffraction grating and onto said photodiode array detector, for diffracting said polychromatic light into component wavelengths and providing spectral information for the determination of the physical properties of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification