HANDHELD SPECTROMETER INCLUDING WIRELESS CAPABILITIES

• US 20090195776A1
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruker BioSciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bruker BioSciences Corporation
• Inventors: Durst, Roger David, Price, Larry Stephen, Landefeld, John Hooper, Lea, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 7,889,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/326
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0272 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements

Abstract

A method for collecting and analyzing spectrum data to identify a composition of a sample material is described. The method includes obtaining a sample material, receiving a geographical location of the sample material at a handheld instrument, and analyzing the sample material to obtain sample spectrum data using the handheld instrument. The method also includes determining whether to perform an analysis of the sample spectrum data using the handheld instrument, or to perform the analysis of the sample spectrum data using a remote computer. The method also includes determining a composition of the sample material based on an analysis of the sample spectrum data and recording in a memory area at least one of the composition and the geographical location of the sample material.

Claims

1. A method for collecting and analyzing spectrum data to identify a composition of a sample material, said method comprising:

obtaining a sample material;

receiving a geographical location of the sample material at a handheld instrument, the handheld instrument in communication with a memory area;

analyzing the sample material to obtain sample spectrum data using the handheld instrument;

determining whether to perform an analysis of the sample spectrum data using the handheld instrument, or to perform the analysis of the sample spectrum data using a remote computer;

determining a composition of the sample material based on the analysis of the sample spectrum data; and

recording in the memory area at least one of the composition and the geographical location of the sample material.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein receiving the geographical location of the sample material comprises at least one of entering geographical information into the handheld instrument and receiving geographical information at a global positioning system (GPS) transponder coupled to the handheld instrument.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein determining whether to perform the analysis of the sample spectrum data using the handheld instrument or using the remote computer comprises at least one of a user inputting a selection into the handheld instrument, and configuring the handheld instrument to determine whether to perform the analysis of the sample spectrum data using the handheld instrument or using the remote computer.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein configuring the handheld instrument to determine whether to perform the analysis of the sample spectrum data using the handheld instrument or using the remote computer comprises programming the handheld instrument to determine whether to perform the analysis of the sample material using the handheld instrument or using the remote computer based on at least one of a type of analysis to be performed on the sample material and a complexity of calculations necessary to determine the composition of the sample material from the spectrum data.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising transmitting at least one of the sample spectrum data and the geographical location of the sample material to the remote computer for analysis.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein transmitting at least one of the sample spectrum data and the geographical location of the sample material to the remote computer comprises transmitting the sample spectrum data and the geographical location data of the sample material from the handheld instrument to the remote computer at a remote location.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising transmitting at least one of instructions for a user of the handheld instrument and analysis results from the remote computer to the handheld instrument.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein recording in the memory area further comprises at least one of:

recording data representing the composition and data representing the geographical location of the sample material in a memory area included within the handheld instrument, and transmitting data representing the composition and data representing the geographical location of the sample material from the handheld instrument to a database at a remote location.

9. A system for collecting and analyzing spectrum data used to identify a composition of a sample material, said system comprising:

at least one handheld instrument comprising a processor, a spectrometer, an input device, and wireless communication capabilities, said at least one handheld instrument configured to;

receive a geographical location of the sample material,

analyze the sample material to obtain sample spectrum data, and

process the spectrum data; and

a computer located remotely from said at least one handheld instrument, said computer communicatively coupled to said at least one handheld instrument.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said at least one handheld instrument is further configured to determine at least one of:

whether to perform a compositional analysis using said at least one handheld instrument or using said remote computer, and

a composition of the sample material based on a compositional analysis of the sample spectrum data.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said input device facilitates a user inputting a selection of whether to perform the compositional analysis of the sample material using said at least one handheld instrument or to perform the compositional analysis of the sample material using said remote computer.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one handheld instrument is further configured to determine whether to perform the compositional analysis of the sample material using said handheld instrument or to perform the compositional analysis of the sample material using said remote computer, based on one or more of:

a type of analysis to be performed and a complexity of the calculations necessary to determine the composition of the sample material from the spectrum data.

13. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said input device comprises at least one of a touch screen, a microphone, a keypad, a dial, a plurality of switches, and a global positioning system (GPS) transponder.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said GPS transponder is configured to receive data corresponding to the geographical location of the sample material.

15. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said input device facilitates a user inputting the geographical location of the sample material being tested into said at least one handheld instrument.

16. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said at least one handheld instrument is configured to transmit at least one of the sample spectrum data and the data corresponding to the geographical location of the sample to said remote computer.

17. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said remote computer is configured to perform the compositional analysis of the sample material based on the sample spectrum data.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said remote computer is further configured to transmit at least one of a user instruction and data representing compositional analysis results to said at least one handheld instrument.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said handheld instrument further comprises a display device configured to display at least one of geographical information, the sample spectrum data, the compositional analysis results, and the user instruction.

20. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said handheld instrument further comprises a memory area, said memory area is configured to store at least one of the data representing compositional analysis results and the data corresponding to the geographical location of the sample material.

21. A handheld instrument for collecting and analyzing spectrum data to identify a composition of a sample material, said handheld instrument comprising:

a processor;

a spectrometer coupled to said processor, said spectrometer configured to collect the spectrum data from the sample material; and

at least one wireless transmitter/receiver coupled to said processor, said at least one transmitter/receiver configured to at least one of;

transmit data to at least one remote computer, and receive data from said at least one remote computer.

22. A handheld instrument in accordance with claim 21 further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) transponder coupled to said processor, said GPS transponder configured to receive geographical information corresponding to a location of the sample material.

23. A handheld instrument in accordance with claim 21 wherein said processor is configured to determine whether to perform a compositional analysis of the sample material using said processor or to transmit the spectrum data to said at least one remote computer for compositional analysis.

24. A handheld instrument in accordance with claim 23 wherein said processor is configured to determine whether to transmit the spectrum data of the sample material to said at least one remote computer, based on one or more of:

a type of analysis to be performed and a complexity of the calculations necessary to determine the composition of the sample material from the spectrum data.

25. A handheld instrument in accordance with claim 21 wherein said at least one transmitter/receiver is configured to transmit/receive at least one of data representing compositional analysis results and data representing an instruction for use by a user of said handheld instrument.

26. A handheld instrument in accordance with claim 25 wherein said instruction for use by the user comprises at least a location of a desired sample material.