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: An infrared spectrometer includes an infrared source system that is stabilized to provide a substantially constant output light intensity. The infrared source system includes a source element adapted to receive electrical power and to emit light at an intensity related to the electrical power received by the source element. A light detector is mounted in position to receive light emitted from the source element and to provide an output signal related to the intensity of the light received by the detector. A feedback control loop receives the signal from the detector and provides electrical power to the source element to maintain the intensity of the light output from the source element at a selected level as detected by the detector.

Abstract: An interferometer that may be used in an infrared spectrometer has a housing with a fixed mirror, a perpendicular moving mirror, and a beamsplitter diagonally between them. A moving bearing is mounted to a stationary bearing for translation back and forth along a longitudinal axis, and the moving mirror is mounted to a support member which itself is mounted to the moving bearing to allow pivoting of the mirror support member about a pivot point. A permanent magnet is mounted to the support member and extends along the longitudinal axis, with one of the poles of the magnet formed at the free end of the magnet along the longitudinal axis. A main magnet coil mounted to the housing has an inner bore which extends around the free end of the permanent magnet such that current supplied to the main coil attracts or repels the magnet to drive the moving bearing and the moving mirror in translation back and forth along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A microprogram controller selects a sequence of low, gate level instructions (microcode) to execute a higher level (assembly language level) instruction. The controller includes a plurality of accessing elements for accessing a microinstruction from a corresponding plurality of different possible blocks of a microprogram store. All accessing elements are executed in parallel to provide a plurality of possible microinstructions. Control logic selects which one of the three accessed microinstructions is to be used next in sequence. The parallel nature of this process is fast. A unique instruction set minimizes the number of gates required for microcode storage. A subset of these instructions increase the efficiency of the microcode in terms of both the number of microinstructions required to perform a function and the microcode store address space-consumed by those microinstructions.

Abstract: An infrared source for use in an infrared spectrometer includes an insulator core having a containment cavity, an outlet port in communication with the containment cavity, and an electrically heated infrared element mounted in the containment cavity with a portion thereof facing the outlet port and with the walls of the containment cavity closely spaced to the infrared element. The insulator core is formed of a ceramic fiber material which has excellent resistance to heat and very low thermal conductivity so that very little heat from the infrared element escapes from the insulator core except as infrared radiation through the outlet port. The insulator core is preferably mounted within a central cavity of a metal housing, and may be sealed off from the ambient atmosphere by an infrared transmissive window sealed to an outlet opening in the housing.