Device for evaluation of fluids using electromagnetic energy
First Claim
1. A sampling device, comprising:
- a sample chamber, the sample chamber having an interior to receive a sample cuvette at least partially therein, the sample chamber having at least one opaque wall, a first aperture, a second aperture positioned diametrically across the sample chamber from the first aperture, and a third aperture positioned along an axis perpendicular to an optical axis that extends between the first and the second apertures, the first, the second, and the third apertures transmissive of electromagnetic energy of at least some wavelengths in an optical portion of the electromagnetic spectrum;
an emitter circuit board, the emitter circuit board spaced from the sample chamber opposed to the first aperture of the sample chamber, the emitter circuit board carrying a plurality of emitters, each of the emitters selectively operable to emit electromagnetic energy in a respective range of wavelengths toward the first aperture of the sample chamber, the ranges of wavelengths of at least some of the emitters different from the ranges of wavelengths of others of the emitters;
a calibration circuit board spaced outwardly of the sample chamber and positioned between the sample chamber and the emitter circuit board, the calibration circuit board having a first face opposed to the first aperture of the sample chamber, a second face opposite the first face, and a slit that is transmissive of electromagnetic energy of at least some wavelengths in the optical portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the calibration circuit board having at least one calibration sensor affixed to the second face of the calibration circuit board to face the emitter circuit board to receive electromagnetic energy emitted by at least one of the emitters, substantially free of electromagnetic energy emitting, if any, from the sample chamber;
a direct sensor circuit board spaced outwardly of the sample chamber opposed to the second aperture of the sample chamber, the direct sensor circuit board having at least one primary sampling sensor positioned to receive electromagnetic energy emitting from the sample chamber via the second aperture; and
an indirect sensor circuit board spaced outwardly of the sample chamber opposed to the third aperture, the indirect sensor circuit board perpendicular to the direct sensor circuit board, the indirect sensor circuit board carrying a number of second primary sampling sensors positioned to receive electromagnetic energy indirectly scattered from the sample chamber along an axis that is perpendicular to the optical axis that extends between the first and the second apertures.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable, tabletop fluid sampling device simplifies spectral analysis to produce an accurate but inexpensive chromatic fingerprint for fluid samples. In one embodiment, the sampling device uses an array of variable wavelength LED emitters and photodiode detectors to measure Rayleigh scattering of electromagnetic energy from the fluid sample contained in a cuvette. Either the fluid itself, or particles suspended in the fluid can then be identified by performing spectral pattern matching to compare results of a spectral scan against a library of known spectra. A wide range of applications include substance identification, security screening, authentication, quality control, and medical diagnostics.
194 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A sampling device, comprising:
-
a sample chamber, the sample chamber having an interior to receive a sample cuvette at least partially therein, the sample chamber having at least one opaque wall, a first aperture, a second aperture positioned diametrically across the sample chamber from the first aperture, and a third aperture positioned along an axis perpendicular to an optical axis that extends between the first and the second apertures, the first, the second, and the third apertures transmissive of electromagnetic energy of at least some wavelengths in an optical portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; an emitter circuit board, the emitter circuit board spaced from the sample chamber opposed to the first aperture of the sample chamber, the emitter circuit board carrying a plurality of emitters, each of the emitters selectively operable to emit electromagnetic energy in a respective range of wavelengths toward the first aperture of the sample chamber, the ranges of wavelengths of at least some of the emitters different from the ranges of wavelengths of others of the emitters; a calibration circuit board spaced outwardly of the sample chamber and positioned between the sample chamber and the emitter circuit board, the calibration circuit board having a first face opposed to the first aperture of the sample chamber, a second face opposite the first face, and a slit that is transmissive of electromagnetic energy of at least some wavelengths in the optical portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the calibration circuit board having at least one calibration sensor affixed to the second face of the calibration circuit board to face the emitter circuit board to receive electromagnetic energy emitted by at least one of the emitters, substantially free of electromagnetic energy emitting, if any, from the sample chamber; a direct sensor circuit board spaced outwardly of the sample chamber opposed to the second aperture of the sample chamber, the direct sensor circuit board having at least one primary sampling sensor positioned to receive electromagnetic energy emitting from the sample chamber via the second aperture; and an indirect sensor circuit board spaced outwardly of the sample chamber opposed to the third aperture, the indirect sensor circuit board perpendicular to the direct sensor circuit board, the indirect sensor circuit board carrying a number of second primary sampling sensors positioned to receive electromagnetic energy indirectly scattered from the sample chamber along an axis that is perpendicular to the optical axis that extends between the first and the second apertures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification