Method and apparatus for analyzing a test material by inducing and detecting light-matter interactions
First Claim
1. A method for analyzing particles of matter, comprising the steps of:
- introducing said particles of matter into a volume partially bounded by reflective surfaces wherein light of discrete frequencies can set up at least one standing wave mode of low loss, a portion of the volume being surrounded by a totally internally reflective interface;
exciting said particles from a first state to a second state with light transported over a waveguide so that said particles thereby release quantitized energy;
capturing a portion of said quantitized energy as captured energy;
transporting a portion of said captured energy over a waveguide to a detector;
recording a portion of said captured energy with said detector; and
inferring characteristics of said particles of matter based upon said recorded portion of said captured energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for analyzing a test material by inducing and detecting light-matter interactions. Particles of matter are introduced into a volume bounded by reflective surfaces wherein light of discrete frequencies can set up a standing wave mode of low loss. Light transported over a waveguide is introduced to induce a state change in the particles of matter and to cause the release of quantitized energy from the matter. A portion of the quantitized energy is captured and transported over a waveguide to a detector. The detector records a portion of the quantitized energy. Characteristics of the particles of matter may then be determined based upon the recorded portion of the quantitized energy.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method for analyzing particles of matter, comprising the steps of:
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introducing said particles of matter into a volume partially bounded by reflective surfaces wherein light of discrete frequencies can set up at least one standing wave mode of low loss, a portion of the volume being surrounded by a totally internally reflective interface;
exciting said particles from a first state to a second state with light transported over a waveguide so that said particles thereby release quantitized energy;
capturing a portion of said quantitized energy as captured energy;
transporting a portion of said captured energy over a waveguide to a detector;
recording a portion of said captured energy with said detector; and
inferring characteristics of said particles of matter based upon said recorded portion of said captured energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
and wherein said additive is operable to increase an aggregate refractive index of said particles of matter. -
26. The method of claim 1 wherein said particles of matter comprise molecules.
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27. The method of claim 1 wherein said reflective surfaces comprise two facing mirrors.
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28. The method of claim 1 wherein said reflective surfaces derive reflectivity from a thin-film structure.
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29. The method of claim 28 wherein said thin-film structure has packing density greater than 99% in a thin film layer.
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30. The method of claim 1 wherein a portion of said light is diverted into a light trap.
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31. The method of claim 1 wherein said light is segregated from a light source using a filter.
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32. The method of claim 1 wherein said light comprises laser light.
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33. The method of claim 1 wherein said volume comprises an etalon.
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34. The method of claim 1 wherein said volume is surrounded in part by a material having a lower refractive index than said particles of matter.
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35. The method of claim 1 wherein said particles of matter enter said volume thorough a permeable matrix.
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36. The method of claim 35 wherein said permeable matrix comprises a filter.
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37. The method of claim 1 wherein said volume is bounded in part by a polymer element.
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38. The method of claim 37 wherein said polymer element is permeable to said particles of matter.
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39. The method of claim 37 wherein said polymer element comprises fluorine.
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40. The method of claim 1 wherein an isolator is applied to said waveguide.
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41. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of disposing of an assembly including said volume.
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42. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of dispersing a portion of said captured quantitized energy.
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43. An apparatus for analyzing a test material by inducing and detecting light-matter interactions comprising:
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a distal element comprising a cavity for partially resonating energy from an excitation luminous energy, a portion of the cavity comprising a totally internally reflective interface for waveguiding the excitation luminous energy;
a first carrying means for coupling the excitation luminous energy from a source to said distal element, and a second carrying means for coupling test luminous energy from said distal element to a detector. - View Dependent Claims (44)
a first optical port though which a portion of said excitation luminous energy may enter said cavity;
a second optical port through which a portion of said excitation luminous energy may exit said cavity; and
a material port through which a test material may be introduced into said cavity.
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45. An apparatus for analyzing material comprising:
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a chamber comprising partially reflective surfaces wherein photonic energy of discrete frequencies can set up at least one standing wave mode of low loss, the chamber further comprising totally internally reflective interface for waveguiding the phontonic energy;
a source for generating photonic energy;
an optical detector;
a means for coupling energy between said source and said chamber;
a means for coupling energy between said chamber and said detector;
a means for energizing said chamber with photonic energy; and
an inlet for passing material into said chamber.
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46. An apparatus for remote material analysis comprising:
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a cavity;
an optical path within said cavity along which luminous energy flows, the optical path comprising partially reflective surfaces wherein luminous energy of discrete frequencies can set up at least one standing wave mode of low loss, the optical path further comprising totally internally reflective interface for waveguiding the luminous energy wherein a first flux is established at a defined cross section of said optical path;
a waveguide connecting said optical path and an optical source so that a second flux greater than said first flux is established at a defined cross section of said waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. An apparatus for light-based material characterization of a sample, comprising:
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a housing;
a cavity comprising partially reflective surfaces wherein optical energy of discrete frequencies can set up at least one standing wave mode of low loss, the cavity further comprising totally internally reflective interface for waveguiding the optical energy;
means for delivering a first test signal to said cavity and receiving a second test signal from said cavity;
means for resonating optical energy within said cavity;
means for introducing a sample into said cavity; and
means for segregating said first and second test signals.
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Specification