Laser based system for bitumen content determination, E.G., using discrete wavelength spectroscopic analysis
First Claim
1. A laser-based system for bitumen content determination of an ore sample, comprising:
- a laser combination having discrete lasers configured to illuminate the ore sample with discrete laser wavelengths of light specifically targeting and corresponding to a reflectance band and an adjacent absorption band of bitumen;
a detector combination having narrow band optical filters and detectors centered at the discrete laser wavelengths of light and configured todetect spectral reflectances reflected off the ore sample corresponding to the reflectance band and the adjacent absorption band of bitumen, andprovide signaling containing information about the spectral reflectances detected; and
a signal processor configured toreceive the signaling; and
determine corresponding signaling containing information about a bitumen content of the ore sample by comparing the spectral reflectances detected and associated with the reflectance band and the adjacent absorption band using a 2-band spectroscopic analysis of specifically targeted discrete laser wavelengths of light in combination with narrow band filtering of unwanted light, based at least partly on the signaling received.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a technique that uses discrete wavelengths of illumination of an ore sample, and through the use of optical filters and laser illumination the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement can be greatly improved, and may take the form of apparatus featuring a signal processor configured to: receive signaling containing information about a spectral reflectance caused by discrete wavelengths illuminating an ore sample; and determine information about a bitumen content of the ore sample based at least partly on the signaling. The signal processor may provide corresponding signaling containing information about the bitumen content of the ore sample, including for further processing, printing or displaying.
12 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A laser-based system for bitumen content determination of an ore sample, comprising:
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a laser combination having discrete lasers configured to illuminate the ore sample with discrete laser wavelengths of light specifically targeting and corresponding to a reflectance band and an adjacent absorption band of bitumen; a detector combination having narrow band optical filters and detectors centered at the discrete laser wavelengths of light and configured to detect spectral reflectances reflected off the ore sample corresponding to the reflectance band and the adjacent absorption band of bitumen, and provide signaling containing information about the spectral reflectances detected; and a signal processor configured to receive the signaling; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a bitumen content of the ore sample by comparing the spectral reflectances detected and associated with the reflectance band and the adjacent absorption band using a 2-band spectroscopic analysis of specifically targeted discrete laser wavelengths of light in combination with narrow band filtering of unwanted light, based at least partly on the signaling received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for determining a bitumen content of an ore sample using a laser-based system, comprising:
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illuminating with a laser combination having discrete lasers the ore sample with discrete laser wavelengths of light specifically targeting and corresponding to a reflectance band and an adjacent absorption band of bitumen; detecting with a detector combination having narrow band optical filters and detectors centered at the discrete laser wavelengths of light spectral reflectances reflected off the ore sample corresponding to the reflectance band and the adjacent absorption band of bitumen; providing from the detector combination signaling containing information about the spectral reflectances detected; and receiving in a signal processor the signaling; and determining in the signal processor corresponding signaling containing information about a bitumen content of the ore sample by comparing the spectral reflectances associated with the reflectance band and the adjacent absorption band using a 2-band spectroscopic analysis of specifically targeted discrete laser wavelengths of light in combination with narrow band filtering of unwanted light, based at least partly on the signaling received. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A laser-based system for bitumen content determination of an ore sample comprising:
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two discrete lasers configured to illuminate the ore sample with discrete laser wavelengths of light specifically targeting and corresponding to a reflectance band and an adjacent absorption band of bitumen; two narrow band filters and detectors centered at the disclosed laser wavelengths of light configured to detect spectral reflectances reflected off the ore sample corresponding to the reflectance band and the adjacent absorption band of bitumen, and provide signaling containing information about the spectral reflectances detected; and a signal processor configured to receive the signaling; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a bitumen content of the ore sample by comparing spectral reflectances associated with the reflectance band and the adjacent absorption band using an n-band spectroscopic analysis of specifically targeted discrete laser wavelengths of light in combination with narrow band filtering of unwanted light, where n is at least 2, based at least partly on the signaling received. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification