Detection of chemicals with infrared light
First Claim
1. A method for non-contact chemical detection, comprising:
- (a) selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without decomposing more than five percent of the analyte; and
(b) determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal collected before and during or shortly after exciting the analyte,wherein a differential signal is created by subtracting a first signal taken before exciting the analyte from a second signal taken during or shortly after exciting the analyte and scaling by the power of the excitation IR source, wherein the differential signal is used to identify the presence of the analyte.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method for non-contact or stand off chemical detection by selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without significantly decomposing the analyte and determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal made before and during or shortly after exciting the analyte. Another embodiment provides a method for non-contact or stand off chemical detection by selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without significantly decomposing the analyte, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to generate a vapor plume, and wherein the plume is examined to detect the presence of the analyte. Additionally, the present invention provides for a system for non-contact or stand off chemical detection.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method for non-contact chemical detection, comprising:
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(a) selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without decomposing more than five percent of the analyte; and (b) determining if the analyte is present by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal collected before and during or shortly after exciting the analyte, wherein a differential signal is created by subtracting a first signal taken before exciting the analyte from a second signal taken during or shortly after exciting the analyte and scaling by the power of the excitation IR source, wherein the differential signal is used to identify the presence of the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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- 12. A method for non-contact chemical detection, comprising selectively exciting one or more analytes of interest using an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band without decomposing more than five percent of the analyte, wherein the analyte is excited sufficiently to generate a vapor plume, wherein the plume is examined to detect the presence of the analyte, wherein a differential signal is created by subtracting a first signal taken before exciting the analyte from a second signal taken during or shortly after exciting the analyte and scaling by the power of the excitation IR source, wherein the differential signal is used to identify the presence of the analyte.
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24. A system for non-contact chemical detection, comprising:
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(a) an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band specific to one or more analytes of interest; and (b) an IR detector; wherein the analyte is selectively excited using the IR source without decomposing more than five percent of the analyte, and the presence of the analyte is determined by comparing emitted photons with an IR detector signal collected before and during or shortly after exciting the analyte, and wherein a differential signal is created by subtracting a first thermal signal from a second thermal signal and scaling by the power of the excitation IR source, wherein the differential signal is used to identify the presence of the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for non-contact chemical detection, comprising:
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(a) an IR source tuned to at least one specific absorption band specific to one or more analytes of interest; and (b) means for detecting the presence of the analyte; wherein, the analyte is selectively excited using the IR source creating a vapor plume without decomposing more than five percent of the analyte, and the presence of the analyte is determined by examining the vapor plume, wherein a differential signal is created by subtracting a first signal from a second signal and scaling by the power of the excitation IR source, wherein the differential signal is used to identify the presence of the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification