Abstract: An apparatus for isolating and sensing optical signals from a plurality of adjacent fiber optical strands. Ends of the adjacent optical fiber strands are aligned with a plurality of light reception areas on a pixel array. Each of the light reception areas is associated with one or more of the optical strands and is formed from one or more pixels from the pixel array. Adjacent light reception areas on the pixel array are separated by a pixel mask which is also formed from pixels on the pixel array. A signal processor is coupled to an output of the pixel array. The signal processor determines a total intensity value corresponding to each light reception area on the pixel array. In determining the total intensity value for a light reception area, the signal processor combines pixel intensity values only from unmasked pixels within the light reception area to determine the total intensity value for that light reception area.

Abstract: A cluster tool layer thickness measurement apparatus is part of a reactor cluster that includes a plurality of substrate processing reactors arranged around a sealed chamber in which a robot is located. The cluster tool layer thickness measurement apparatus is also mounted on the sealed chamber. After a layer is deposited on a substrate in one of the reactors, the robot removes the substrate from the reaction chamber of the reactor and places the substrate directly in the cluster tool layer thickness measurement apparatus on a substrate support. A carriage assembly moves the substrate support and consequently the substrate under an optical thickness measurement assembly. Optical thickness measurement assembly generates a signal representative of the thickness of the layer at one point that is transmitted to a monitor computer. After the measurement is completed, the carriage assembly moves the substrate so that the thickness of a layer on the substrate is measured at each of a plurality of locations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluid analysis includes a sensor for determining the index of refraction of a fluid. Advanced methods of fluid analysis relate index of refraction and other measured physical characteristics of the fluid.

Abstract: The isotopic composition of a multiatomic isotope-bearing species such as CO.sub.2 in an analyte is measured by maintaining the analyte in a condition such that isotope-bearing species are present in an excited state and directing light at wavelengths corresponding to transition energies of isotope-bearing species with different isotopes. The interaction between the analyte and light at the different wavelengths is monitored, as by monitoring the optogalvanic effect caused by the light of the different wavelengths. The light may be supplied by a laser including the isotope-bearing species. A stable isotope such as .sup.13 C or .sup.18 O can be used as a tracer in a chemical or biological test and detected using the composition-determining method.

Abstract: A fused fiberoptic probe having a protective cover, a fiberoptic probe system, and embodiments thereof for conducting electromagnetic spectral measurements are disclosed. The fused fiberoptic probe comprises a probe tip having a specific geometrical configuration, an exciting optical fiber and at least one collection optical fiber fused within a housing, preferrably silica, with a protective cover disposed over at least a portion of the probe tip. The specific geometrical configurations in which the probe tip can be shaped include a slanted probe tip with an angle greater than 0.degree., an inverted cone-shaped probe tip, and a lens head.

Abstract: A high precision alignment apparatus is provided that utilizes a semiconductor laser device, such as a laser diode, to provide a source laser beam. The alignment apparatus permits the division of a pair of beam components from the source laser beam useful for either linear or planar alignment. A centroid measurement between the beam components provides a corrected reference point that accounts for the inherent instability of the source laser beam to yield a high level of alignment accuracy. For linear alignment purposes, the beam components are collinearly directed. In the alternative, for planar alignment purposes, the beam components may be either collinear or directed in opposite directions, and rotated to sweep respective planar regions. The laser alignment apparatus is capable of providing a level of accuracy heretofore achievable only with gas lasers, while maintaining the economical attributes of commercial semiconductor laser diodes.

Abstract: A non destructive method determines the three-dimensional structure of a body opaque to visible light, by means of radiations from a single body, particularly suitable for parts of a reinforced concrete structure, wherein the distance between the source and the sensitive plate is shorter than that of the prior art, and wherein the labor time at the body site is substantially less than that of the prior art.

Abstract: The present invention has the object of preventing saturation of an optical detector by applying an inverted bias voltage so as to allow accurate measurement of optical spectra. In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides voltage applying means 8 controlled by a control section 6 for applying an inverted bias voltage to the optical detector 3 in order to prevent saturation of the optical detector 3.

Abstract: A method and portable apparatus for self-powered, sensitive analysis of solid, liquid or gas samples for the presence of elements is provided. The apparatus includes a compact sensor system which utilizes a microwave power source and a shorted waveguide to induce a plasma. The microwave power source may be a magnetron or the like. The device includes a portable power supply and preferably includes a portable battery charger. The portable power supply includes a compact generator- internal combustion engine unit. The device can be operated by directly using power from the portable power supply or in a more compact embodiment by using power from batteries that are recharged by a separate portable power supply module. Pulsed microwave operation can be used to reduce average power requirements and facilitate the use of very compact units using batteries. The device is capable of being transported to and from remote sites for analysis by an individual without the need for heavy transportation equipment.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer which is highly manufacturable at minimum cost nevertheless provides precision of measurement of spectra components of light which is projected therein by maintaining precise optical alignment of optical and electrical components thereof. These components are mounted in a module which is contained in a housing having an entrance aperture which defines an object area for light the spectrum of which is measured by a photodetector in the module at an image area. The module has a base plate provided by a printed circuit board on which a closed wall encompasses an area (a corral) on one side of the circuit board. The wall is a one piece structure which extends to the vicinity of the edge of the board. It is assembled with the board as a unitary structure so that the assembly is made torsionally rigid and resists bending in the plane of the board. The module may be of sufficiently small size so as to be located in a housing which is hand held, thereby providing a hand-held spectrophotometer.

Abstract: The invention intends to provide an atomic absorption spectrophotometer which can establish a uniform heat distribution during heating of a sample and can improve analysis accuracy and analyzing efficiency. For this purpose, a graphite tube type cuvette mounted in a graphite atomizer furnace for an atomic absorption spectrophotometer comprises a large-diameter portion for retaining a sample in place, a small-diameter portion connected to the large-diameter portion and having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion, and a step portion for demarcating between the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion. The graphite tube type cuvette is formed such that its cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the direction of passage of an electric current supplied to the cuvette is the same in any of the large-diameter portion, the small-diameter portion and the step portion. The amount of resistance heat is thereby also the same in any portions.

Abstract: A system for normalizing measurements obtained from spectrometers to correct for measurement biases in individual spectrometers. The normalization system is adapted for use in spectrometers having an optical assembly for obtaining characteristic data from a test sample. A normalization factor is obtained in each spectrometer by placing a holographic dispersion filter between the light source and detector in the position normally occupied by the test sample, the filter having been encoded with a symbol representing a nominal value of light expected to pass through the filter. The spectrometer determines the value of light passing through the filter and calculates a normalization factor based on the ratio between the nominal value of the filter and the actual value obtained by the spectrometer. The normalization factor is stored in system memory and the filter removed so that the spectrometer may thereafter be used to evaluate a plurality of test samples.

Abstract: A fused fiberoptic probe, a system, method and embodiments thereof for conducting spectral measurements are disclosed. The fused fiberoptic probe comprises a probe tip having a specific geometrical configuration, an exciting optical fiber and at least one collection optical fiber fused within a housing, preferrably silica. The specific geometrical configurations in which the probe tip can be shaped include a slanted probe tip with an angle greater than 0.degree., an inverted cone-shaped probe tip, and a lens head.

Abstract: The spectrometry apparatus of the present invention includes, in addition to conventional analysis, a first diaphragm having a first chosen variable aperture for spatially filtering a coherent-excitation beam. The apparatus also includes a first deflector stage (DF1) for sweeping an excitation beam over a sample according to a first chosen deflection. Additionally, there is included a second diaphragm having a second variable aperture conjugate with the first aperture for filtering the incoherent-scattering beam. The spectrometry apparatus further provides a second deflector stage placed downstream in order to sweep the spectral image of the incoherent-scattering beam thus filtered over the multichannel detection module according to a second chosen deflection.

Abstract: A phase fluorometer employs a baseband frequency generator to generate a sample baseband signal at a first frequency f.sub.o and a reference signal correlated to the sample baseband signal. A second signal generator generates a carrier signal having a second frequency f. The sample baseband signal and the carrier signal are combined to form an up-converted sample signal having a frequency f.+-.f.sub.o. A light source is modulated at the up-converted sample signal frequency f.+-.f.sub.o to illuminate a sample. A photo detector detects fluorescence emissions from a sample excited by the excitation light and converts the emission into a fluorescence signal. A down-converter combines the carrier signal and fluorescence signal to form a phase-shifted and down-converted sample signal. A processor digitally processes the phase-shifted and demodulated sample signal and the reference signal to determine the fluorescence lifetime.

Abstract: Analytical apparatus and methods for processing multiple samples simultaneously. Radiation such as laser light desirably including plural wavelengths is directed through multiple samples simultaneously, as by directing a beam of radiation along a single path through all of the samples. Response to each wavelength is monitored by monitoring an induced effect, other than the intensity of the applied radiation itself. Useful signal-to-noise ratios are obtained with low absorption in each sample. One sample desirably is of known composition, and serves as an internal calibration standard.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for measuring a two-dimensional deflection angle of a beam of light reflected from a disk having unknown radial and tangential tilt components by first generating reference data relating to known tilt of a reference disk and then processing the reference data with electrical signals from a two-dimensional photodetector to obtain values related to the deflection angle and the unknown radial and tangential tilt components. The photodetector is preferably a semiconductor photodiode having an active area which measures position of radiant energy in a spot of light focused in a detector plane by a focusing lens. A signal processor including a computer system programmed in accordance with a software algorithm compensates for interaction between X and Y axes of the active area of the photodiode to compensate for alignment errors or tolerances, not only up, down, left and right, but also for rotational errors as well.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for measuring in-plane distribution of surface free energy, a target substrate is immersed in a liquid, and a parameter representing a state of meniscus to be formed at an intersection area of a target surface with a surface of the liquid is measured along the surface of the liquid. This measurement is performed by descending or ascending the substrate, thereby measuring the parameter throughout the entire surface of the target surface, and then, the in-plane distribution of the surface free energy of the target surface is calculated.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out laser-induced two-photon fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (TPA-FCS), in which a plurality of volumes (6) are delimited or defined in the apparatus in such a way that samples (3) introduced into these volumes can be excited and observed in parallel by means of a single laser (1). Such an apparatus is e.g. used to screen active compounds.

Abstract: In a method and a device for optically characterizing a goniochromatic surface, for example a metallic painting surface, only a fixed measuring angle setting is used according to the invention.