Air sampler module for enhancing the detection capabilities of a chemical detection device or system
First Claim
1. An air sampler module for use with a detection device that monitors liquids and/or solids on a surface using spectroscopy techniques, the detection device comprising an optical transceiver, the air sampler module comprising a housing, an intake port for collecting air to be analyzed, a virtual impactor in said housing that sorts the air collected to produce a first flow primarily containing aerosol particles to be analyzed and a second flow primarily containing vapor to be analyzed and a port to permit communication of the optical transceiver of the detection device into said housing to permit analysis of said first and second flows.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air sampler module is provided for use with a detection device that monitors liquids and/or solids on a surface using spectroscopy techniques. The air sampler module comprises a housing, an intake port for collecting air containing airborne threats to be analyzed by the detection device, and a port to permit communication of an optical transceiver of the detection device into the housing to permit analysis of the collected air. Thus, the capabilities of a spectroscopy detection system are expanded to include the ability to analyze airborne threats.
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Citations
22 Claims
- 1. An air sampler module for use with a detection device that monitors liquids and/or solids on a surface using spectroscopy techniques, the detection device comprising an optical transceiver, the air sampler module comprising a housing, an intake port for collecting air to be analyzed, a virtual impactor in said housing that sorts the air collected to produce a first flow primarily containing aerosol particles to be analyzed and a second flow primarily containing vapor to be analyzed and a port to permit communication of the optical transceiver of the detection device into said housing to permit analysis of said first and second flows.
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9. A spectroscopy detection system comprising:
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an optical transceiver that emits a beam of light onto a surface and detects scattered light from the surface for spectroscopy analysis of substances on the surface; and an air sampler module comprising a housing, an intake port for collecting air to be analyzed;
a virtual impactor in said housing that the air collected through the intake port to produce a first flow primarily containing aerosolized particles to be analyzed and a second flow primarily containing vapor to be analyzed and at least one port to permit communication of the optical transceiver into said housing to permit spectroscopy analysis of said first and second flows. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for analyzing airborne and non-airborne threats using spectroscopy techniques, the method comprising:
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collecting in a housing air to be analyzed; sorting the air collected in the housing into a first flow containing aerosolized liquid and/or solid particles and a second flow containing vapor; depositing the aerosolized liquid and/or solid particles onto a first surface in the housing and the vapor onto a second surface in the housing; and optically coupling the optical transceiver to at least one of said first and second surfaces in the housing to permit spectroscopy analysis of said liquid and/or solid aerosol particles or of said vapor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for analyzing airborne and non-airborne threats using spectroscopy techniques, the method comprising:
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collecting in a housing air to be analyzed; depositing the airborne particles onto at least one surface inside said housing; optically coupling the optical transceiver to said at least a first surface in the housing to permit spectroscopy analysis of the particles deposited thereon; and optically coupling the optical transceiver to a surface outside of the housing to permit spectroscopy analysis of particles on the surface outside of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. In combination, a detection device comprising an optical transceiver, and an air sampler module comprising a housing, an intake port for collecting air containing to be analyzed, and at least one port to permit communication of the optical transceiver of the detection device into said housing to permit analysis of said air, and further comprising at least one optical element that is capable of providing a first optical path between said optical transceiver of the detection device and a surface outside of said air sampler module to perform near-standoff or remote detection on the surface outside of the air sampler module and providing a second optical path between the optical transceiver and said port of said air sampler module to permit analysis of threats contained in the air collected in said housing.
Specification