Abstract: The present invention is thus directed to an automated system of varying the optical path length in a sample that a light from a spectrophotometer must travel through. Such arrangements allow a user to easily vary the optical path length while also providing the user with an easy way to clean and prepare a transmission cell for optical interrogation. Such path length control can be automatically controlled by a programmable control system to quickly collect and stores data from different path lengths as needed for different spectrographic analysis. Moreover, the system utilizes configured wedge shaped windows to best minimize the reflections of light which cause periodic variation in transmission at different wave lengths (commonly described as “channel spectra”). Such a system, as presented herein, is able to return best-match spectra with far fewer computational steps and greater speed than if all possible combinations of reference spectra are considered.

Abstract: A novel emission and transmission optical spectrometer is introduced herein, which is capable of optically interrogating solid or liquid samples of organic, inorganic or polymeric chemistry, for pharmaceutical research, forensic and liquid analyses, used for identification, purity check, and/or structural study of chemicals. The beneficial aspects of the system are a single sample compartment as confined within the walls of the spectrometer housing, a more compact accessory, and the capability of making both emission (e.g., Raman and Fluorescence) and Infrared (IR, NIR) transmission measurements at designed sample points.

Abstract: An all-graphite interferometer bearing assembly is introduced that allows the movement of a movable mirror in a Michelson interferometer without degradation during use. The assembly includes a stationary hollow graphite tube and a movable assembly which includes a mirror and a monolithic graphite member slidably disposed within the bore of the graphite tube that is composed of the same grade of graphite material as the monolithic graphite member. The result is a robust novel moving mirror arrangement in a Michelson interferometer that enables precise mirror alignment control, a long stroke length, excellent vibration damping and reduced sensitivity to external vibrations.

Abstract: A novel means of provided velocity control of an interferometer wherein one of the moving components includes the beamsplitter element is introduced herein. Using a moving beamsplitter and coupled flexure mounting allows improved velocity control because the low mass of the beamsplitter enables the systems disclosed herein to respond faster than conventional mirror velocity controlled interferometer instruments with a resultant lower velocity error so as to provide a more stable and lower noise spectra from the analytical instrument. The control of the velocity of the beamsplitter and if desired, one or both of the configured mirrors, reduces the time wasted changing velocity at the ends of each scan. The result is an increase in data collection available in any given experiment time frame. Such desirable arrangements of the present invention thus allow scans to be collected at higher rates, which beneficially increase the ability to monitor rapidly changing systems.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) source apparatus that includes a desired infrared source element coupled to an insulating housing so to minimize overall source inefficiency at desired optical bandwidths is introduced. The insulation itself is machined or configured in a way so that the infrared source element is in contact with a designed cavity in the insulation so that the IR source image becomes the average of the insulation material and the infrared element. Such an arrangement of the present invention increases the emissivity of the IR source below about 1500 wave numbers, more often, below about 1100 wave numbers, and even more particularly, at about 1079 wave numbers. Accordingly, the combined emissivity of the infrared source and the insulation substantially enhances spectral emission and eliminates or reduces spectral artifacts from the formation of oxides on the infrared source surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is thus directed to an automated system of varying the optical path length in a sample that a light from a spectrophotometer must travel through. Such arrangements allow a user to easily vary the optical path length while also providing the user with an easy way to clean and prepare a transmission cell for optical interrogation. Such path length control can be automatically controlled by a programmable control system to quickly collect and stores data from different path lengths as needed for different spectrographic analysis. Moreover, the system utilizes configured wedge shaped windows to best minimize the reflections of light which cause periodic variation in transmission at different wave lengths (commonly described as “channel spectra”). Such a system, as presented herein, is able to return best-match spectra with far fewer computational steps and greater speed than if all possible combinations of reference spectra are considered.

Abstract: A novel soft beamsplitter mounting system as part of an interferometer to protect the beamsplitter substrate from external stresses and thus preserve optical flatness is introduced. The soft mounting system enables such protection by being more flexible that the beamsplitter substrate so external forces deforms the mount rather than the beamsplitter. Although the soft beamsplitter mounting configurations disclosed herein protects the beamsplitter, the interferometer itself is less stable because the mounts of the present invention allows the beamsplitter to tilt more easily than other components held in the interferometer. The improved tilt control embodiments of the present invention turns this seemingly deleterious effect into a cost saving benefit by using the inexpensive soft mounting system as a flexure to allow an improved active control system to maintain tilt alignment in a system that is more rugged than conventional interferometers.

Abstract: An all-graphite interferometer bearing assembly is introduced that allows the movement of a movable mirror in a Michelson interferometer without degradation during use. The assembly includes a stationary hollow graphite tube and a movable assembly which includes a mirror and a monolithic graphite member slidably disposed within the bore of the graphite tube that is composed of the same grade of graphite material as the monolithic graphite member. The result is a robust novel moving mirror arrangement in a Michelson interferometer that enables precise mirror alignment control, a long stroke length, excellent vibration damping and reduced sensitivity to external vibrations.

Abstract: An optical device is provided that includes a converging lens device, a transmitting optical fiber, a sample holder, and a receiving optical fiber. The converging lens device focuses light onto the transmitting optical fiber, which receives the focused light through an entrance face and transmits the light from an exit face, through a sample, and onto the receiving optical fiber. The sample holder holds the sample for analysis. The receiving optical fiber receives the light through an entrance face of the receiving optical fiber after transmission through the sample. The converging lens device is positioned to focus the light onto the entrance face of the transmitting optical fiber such that a half-angle of the angular distribution of the focused light that reaches the entrance face of the transmitting optical fiber is selected to underfill an entrance aperture of the entrance face of the receiving optical fiber in both a spatial dimension and an angular dimension.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention are directed to addressing the complexity, sample geometry, and even pressure feedback issues associated with mechanical-only mechanisms. In particular, by utilizing one or more bellows capsules in an attenuated total internal reflection (ATR) instrument as a pressure vessel that can expand, contract, and tilt in all directions, the mechanisms disclosed herein can substantially apply uniform pressure to an interposed sample surface to include non-orthogonal sample surfaces, and thus conform to any sample geometry within such instruments. The result of the novel arrangements described herein is to provide a user with a convenient and simple interface for operating the interrogating ATR optical instrument.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a novel spectrometer configured with a built-in attenuated total reflectance (ATR) and accessory compartment. In particular, an arranged sample analysis compartment provided by the spectrometer performs attenuated total reflectance analysis of a sample and includes a crystal, a tip configured to press the sample against the crystal, and a detector configured to detect light after reflection within the crystal. As part of the configuration, an actuator moves an optical element between a first position wherein the optical element receives modulated light and reflects the modulated light toward the crystal and a second position wherein the optical element does not receive the modulated light so as to instead allow an additionally configured optical component to receive the modulated light.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus provide correction of chemical images collected with a germanium hemisphere ATR microscope. A model is developed for rays passing through a simulated germanium (Ge) hemisphere attenuated total reflection (ATR) microscope. The model determines a data set for rays reaching the detector plane. Movement of the hemisphere is simulated along a first axis between each data set determination. A calculated background spectrum is produced by multiplying the percentage of rays by a background spectrum to produce a calculated background spectrum. A real Ge hemisphere ATR microscope having parameters that substantially match those of the simulated Ge hemisphere microscope is then used to collect a chemical image of a sample that is in contact with the Ge hemisphere. The collected image is then corrected to produce a corrected chemical image.

Abstract: A novel software application method, as integrated with various scientific instruments, is introduced herein that allows new capabilities to be added to the language at runtime without, if desired, having to re-compile the application. As part of the software capabilities, the macro programming language presented herein enables automated connection between inputs and outputs of action statements within a script with visual feedback for configuration verification. As another aspect, the macro programming language of the present invention provides for automation of different spectroscopic applications, which if desired, also allows for the automatic generation of a configurable user interface connected to the intent of the macro.

Abstract: An X-ray spectroscope collects an energy-dispersive spectrum from a sample under analysis, and generates a list of candidate elements that may be present in the sample. A wavelength dispersive spectral collector is then tuned to obtain X-ray intensity measurements at the energies/wavelengths of some or all of the candidate elements, thereby verifying whether or not these candidate elements are in fact present in the sample. Additionally, the alignment of the wavelength dispersive spectral collector versus the sample can be optimized by tuning the wavelength dispersive spectral collector to the energy/wavelength of a selected one of the candidate elements—preferably one whose presence in the sample has been verified, or one which has a high likelihood of being present in the sample—and then varying the alignment of the wavelength dispersive spectral collector versus the sample until the wavelength dispersive spectral collector returns the maximum intensity reading for the selected candidate element.

Abstract: A system is provided wherein spectrometer measurements, and/or measurements from other analytical instruments, are transmitted to a processing station which determines the component substances of the sample(s) subjected to the measurements. The names of the component substances are then inserted into database search queries related to matters such as handling precautions, causes/sources of the substances, remedies and neutralizing agents for the substances, regulations related to the substances, etc. The results of the search queries are then provided to the personnel who made the measurements, preferably wirelessly and almost immediately after the measurements were made. The system therefore provides nearly immediate guidance as to what substances are present and how to handle them, which can be useful for inexperienced personnel in hazardous response, contraband detection, industrial process control, and other situations.

Abstract: A Raman optical method and apparatus is utilized to automatically and accurately recognize laser power measurements made at a desired illumination sample plane. From such a configuration, the methods and systems disclosed herein, enable the support of multiple optical wavelengths coupled with essential components, such as, but not limited to, filters, objectives, reflectors, etc., to provide the capability of displaying and controlling the optical power at the desired sample plane through storage of power calibration factors that are associated with such components. In particular, the system utilized herein, can recognize the installation of components and recalls stored calibration factors that are associated with such components to ensure an accurate power measurement at the illuminated sample plane.

Abstract: In an energy dispersive spectrometer wherein event (particle/photon) detection is performed by counting events spaced by greater than a shaping time, events which are spaced by less than the shaping time are also collected and counted. These “combined events” are treated similarly to “single events” which are spaced by greater than the shaping time, and can be used to generate combined-event spectra for comparison and/or use with the conventional single-event spectra. The combined-event spectra can be compared to the single-event spectra to provide an indication of data quality; can be subtracted from the single-event spectra to remove artifacts, and/or can be deconvolved into a single-event spectrum to increase the resolution of the single-event spectrum.

Abstract: A mixing bin for the blending of materials (e.g., pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, etc.) bears a spectrometer which monitors the characteristics of the material being tumbled within the bin interior to thereby obtain an indication of the degree to which the material is mixed. An accelerometer also rides on the mixing bin with the spectrometer, and it monitors the position of the mixing bin as it rotates. The accelerometer measurements can then be used to trigger the taking and/or recordation of spectrometer measurements at times during which the material within the bin falls against the spectrometer's input window, thereby promoting greater accuracy in spectrometer measurements, and/or at the same bin position, thereby promoting greater uniformity between spectrometer measurements.