Sample holder for spectroscopy

• US 5,519,218 A
• Filed: 08/04/1993
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valence Technology Incorporated (Lithium Werks B.V.)
• Original Assignee: Valence Technology Incorporated (Lithium Werks B.V.)
• Inventors: Chang, On Kok
• Primary Examiner(s): FIELDS, CAROLYN
• Application Number:
  US08/101,880
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 250/339, 250/576, 250/343, 356/440, 356/244
• US Class Current: 250/339.07
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation

Abstract

There is provided a sample holder for use in radiant spectroscopy analysis. The sample holder comprises a plurality of openings defined by one or more solid, substantially opaque, structural elements, each of the openings being arranged to retain a solid, semi-solid, gel or liquid material sample in the opening. Desirably, the openings constitute at least a major portion of the combined area of the one or more structural elements and the openings. In one embodiment, the sample holder comprises a plurality of strips secured together at irregular (random) or regular intervals. Desirably, one first group of strips is disposed in parallel spaced apart relation and a second group of strips disposed in parallel relation with the groups intersecting at an angle of between 30 and 150 degrees and secured together at substantially regular intervals. The strips may be woven as in wire mesh, or non-woven as in expanded metal. In another embodiment, the sample holder is a sheet of metal having perforations. In each embodiment, the sample holder is of structural elements which are substantially solid and opaque to infrared (IR) radiation. The void spaces or openings are defined by the structural elements (i.e. wires). The void spaces retain the sample to be analyzed by spectroscopy.

Claims

1. An instrument for the spectroscopic analysis of a sample material having means for transmitting an infrared (IR) beam along a beam path to an infrared detector,

a sample holder positioned in the beam path,

the sample holder consisting essentially of one or more metallic structural elements constructed as a matrix, said sample holder being supported by a pair of upright supports mounted on said instrument in said beam path for holding said matrix in place in said beam path,

said one or more structural elements defining a multiplicity of completely void openings adapted to retain a solid, semi-solid, gel or liquid sample material therein,

said one or more structural elements being opaque to infrared radiation, and

said matrix lying between said uprights of said instrument in a plane at an angle of 90°

to the direction of said beam, and wherein the matrix has about 100 openings per linear centimeter.

2. An instrument for the spectroscopic analysis of a sample material having means for transmitting an infrared (IR) beam along a beam path to an infrared detector,

a sample holder positioned in the beam path,

the sample holder consisting essentially of one or more structural elements constructed as a matrix, said sample holder being supported by a pair of upright supports mounted on said instrument in said beam path for holding said matrix in place in said beam path,

said one or more structural elements defining a multiplicity of completely void openings adapted to retain a solid, semi-solid, gel or liquid sample material therein,

said one or more structural elements being opaque to infrared radiation, and

said matrix lying between said uprights of said instrument in a plane at an angle of 90°

to the direction of said beam, and

wherein the openings are defined by a plurality of said structural elements arranged in first and second groups with the structural elements of the first group in cross relation to the structural elements of the second group.