Including Spectrometer Or Spectrophotometer Patents (Class 250/339.07)
  • Publication number: 20130193325
    Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring one or more silicon-containing compounds present in a biogas. The method includes generating a first absorption spectrum based on a ratio of a first spectral measurement and a second spectral measurement. The first spectral measurement is from a non-absorptive gas having substantially no infrared absorptions in a specified wavelength range of interest and the second spectral measurement is from a sample gas comprising the biogas. The method includes generating at least one surrogate absorption spectrum based on, at least, individual absorption spectrum for each of a subset of one or more silicon-containing compounds selected from a larger set of known silicon-containing compounds with known concentrations. A total concentration of the one or more silicon-containing compounds in the biogas can be calculated based on the first absorption spectrum and the at least one surrogate absorption spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventor: MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.
  • Patent number: 8481944
    Abstract: An infrared (IR) spectrometer (20) for IR spectroscopic investigation of a test sample (1) in a first wavenumber range WB1, comprising a sample container (1a) for the test sample (1), wherein the sample container (1a) is transparent to IR radiation in the first wavenumber range WB1, and wherein the IR spectrometer (20) comprises a measuring device for determining the temperature of the test sample (1), is characterized in that the measuring device comprises an IR sensor (2) which measures, without contact, the intensity of the IR radiation emitted by the sample container (1a), and the sample container (1a) is opaque to IR radiation in the second wavenumber range WB2. A simple and reliable measurement of the temperature of a test sample in an IR spectrometer is thereby enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Bruker Optik GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Rapp, Michael Taraschewski, Alberto Sossai
  • Patent number: 8481942
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving refinery product property value based on data produced from a globally-calibrated spectrographic analyzer and data from a non-spectrographic analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company
    Inventor: Daniel C. Mertens
  • Patent number: 8479559
    Abstract: A photoacoustic detection device includes a cylindrical acoustic resonator having an arrangement for guiding light essentially perpendicular to a cylinder axis in such a manner that a second azimuthal resonance of cylinder oscillation is excitable by absorption of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Andras Miklos, Judit Angster
  • Patent number: 8474356
    Abstract: A machine tool monitoring device having a detection unit, which is configured to detect the presence of a material type in a machine tool work area by spectral analysis of a radiation. The detection unit has a sensor unit having at least one sensitivity region for detecting radiation in a wavelength range that is situated at least partially in the infrared spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Stellmann, Sebastian Jackisch
  • Publication number: 20130146771
    Abstract: A dispersive infrared spectrometer in which only a minimum number of optical components, for example, the detector sub-system only, are housed within a cold/cryogenic dewar and the remaining optical components are at ambient temperature during operation of the spectrometer. In one example, the spectrometer includes a slit substrate with a highly reflective surface, and the optical components of the spectrometer are configured and arranged such that for all in-band wavelengths, substantially all off-slit optical paths in the detector field of view are retro-reflected off the reflective surface of the slit substrate into the cryogenic dewar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: Lacy G. Cook
  • Patent number: 8450687
    Abstract: An integrated antenna for transmitting or receiving radiation in a frequency range from 100 GHz to 3 THz, the antenna being characterized in that it comprises: a conductive ground plane (PM) deposited on a “top” surface (S) of a dielectric or semiconductor substrate (SB); a conductive ribbon (RC) extending above said ground plane (PM) and forming an angle (?) therewith, so as to form a radiating structure (SR) of the transverse electromagnetic wave horn type; and a planar waveguide (G) comprising at least first and second conductive strips (BS1, BS2) formed on said top surface of the substrate, and connected respectively to said conductive ribbon (RC) and to said conductive ground plane (PM). A terahertz transmitter and/or receiver including such an antenna and a device for generating and/or detecting a terahertz signal integrated on the same substrate (SB) as the antenna and connected thereto by said waveguide (G). A method of fabricating such an antenna and such a transmitter and/or receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Jean-François Fernand Lampin, Emilien Pascal Peytavit
  • Publication number: 20130126736
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave output device outputs an electromagnetic wave. An optical element has a total reflection surface for totally reflecting the electromagnetic wave, and causes the device under test to receive an evanescent wave generated from the total reflection surface. An electromagnetic wave detector detects the electromagnetic wave, and a spectrum deriver derives a reflectance of the electromagnetic wave on the total reflection surface or a value based on the reflectance based on a detection result by the electromagnetic wave detector while the reflectance or the value based on the reflectance is associated with the frequency of the electromagnetic wave and a manufacturing condition of the particle or the device under test. A characteristic extractor extracts a characteristic based on the manufacturing condition from a derived result by the spectrum deriver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventor: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130119254
    Abstract: Gas within a ventilation circuit (12) is analyzed by a spectrometer included in gas measurement module (16) that is inserted into the respiratory circuit. The gas measurement module includes an infrared source and a movable filter member comprising at least two filter elements. The optical path length of the spectrometer is reduced. This includes removing optical components configured to collimate or focus electromagnetic radiation within the spectrometer. However, path length of the spectrometer is reduced to the point that other enhancements associated with path length reduction outweigh losses to precision and/or accuracy caused by beam expansion in the spectrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: James T. Russell
  • Patent number: 8441644
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the photo-acoustic identification and quantification of one or more analyte species present in a gaseous or liquid medium in low concentration utilizing a laser and a resonant optical cavity containing the medium and having within the cavity at least two partially transparent mirrors, one of which is a cavity coupling mirror and one of which is moveably mounted on an assembly responsive to an input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: LI-COR, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Kachanov, Serguei Koulikov
  • Patent number: 8422756
    Abstract: A method of generating a susceptibility map of an object utilizes a regularizing inverse function, oversampling k-space, removing external phase noise and rapid phase change effects, accounting for the known geometry of the object, and using modified SWI phase data to generate reasonable susceptibility maps and digital images therefrom, such as SWI images. The inventors refers to the inventive methods set forth herein as Susceptibility Weighted Imaging and Mapping (SWIM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Magnetic Resonance Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: E. Mark Haacke, Jaladhar Neelavalli
  • Publication number: 20130082180
    Abstract: A system and method for multipoint assessment of a biological sample, which may comprise a bodily fluid. The sample is irradiated to generate a plurality of interacted photons. These photons are assessed to evaluate a component of the sample. The component may comprise at least one of: a protein, a flavonoid, a keratinoid, a metabolite, an electrolyte, an enzyme, and combinations thereof. The component may also comprise at least one of: a chemical agent, a biological toxin, a microorganism, a bacterium, a protozoan, a virus, and combinations thereof. The evaluation may comprise determining at least one of: a disease state, a disease stage, a metabolic state, a hydration state, an inflammatory state, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Chemlmage Corporation
    Inventor: Chemlmage Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130075614
    Abstract: A method for identifying and quantifying one or more analytes included in a sample comprising a background solvent is disclosed. The present invention locates a sample fluid at a sample region by virtue of a sample holder that comprises work-hardened silver halide. The sample fluid at the sample region is then spectrally characterized via a mid-infrared spectrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: ROC8SCI CO.
    Inventor: Roc8Sci Co.
  • Patent number: 8401271
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for evaluating and sorting seeds based on characteristics of the seeds. One system includes an imaging and analysis subsystem that collects image data from the seeds and analyzes the collected image data for characteristics of the seeds. This subsystem can include an imaging theater having mirrors that reflect image data from the seeds to an imaging device for collection. The system can also include an off-loading and sorting subsystem configured to sort the seeds based on their characteristics. And, one method includes illuminating the seeds and collecting image data from the seeds for determining their characteristics. The image data can be collected from at least three portions of the seeds at each of a plurality of sequentially changing spectral wavelengths. In addition (or alternatively), the image data can be collected from top and bottom portions of the seeds using a single imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, James Crain, Sam R. Eathington, Mike Graham, Steven H. Modiano
  • Publication number: 20130062523
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for quantitating one or more biomolecules in a sample using IR based techniques, sample holder devices for use in such methods as well as methods for manufacturing such sample holder devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Elena Chernokalskaya, Vivek Joshi, Phillip Clark, Christopher Utzat, Ryan Amara, Timothy Scott Rider
  • Publication number: 20130048859
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analysing the material of a sample (3) using terahertz spectroscopy in order to identity material irregularities of the sample (3), having the following steps: (a) a terahertz wave transmitting device (5, 8) is used to transmit electromagnetic waves (6, 9) at a frequency in that terahertz range to the sample (3) to be analysed, (b) a terahertz wave receiving device (1, 8) is used to receive electromagnetic waves (7, 9) in the terahertz range from the sample (3), (c) the terahertz wave receiving device (1, 8) supplies the received waves (7, 9), in the form of a time domain signal or a frequency domain signal, to an evaluation device (10), (d) if a signal supplied to the evaluation device (10) is a time domain shier, the evaluation device (10) converts the time domain signal into a frequency domain signal (11) by means of a first spectral transformation, (e) the evaluation device (10) converts the frequency domain signal (H) into an output function (Q(x)) by means of a seco
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Maik Scheller, Martin Koch, Christian Jansen, Steffen Wietzke
  • Patent number: 8370082
    Abstract: A method for predicting a physical property of a residue obtainable from a crude oil by a process of distillation, wherein the conditions during the process are represented by a processing parameter, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: a) using a spectroscopic technique to acquire a spectrum for the crude oil; and b) applying a predictive model based upon a correlation between the spectrum, the physical property and the processing parameter. The method may be used to predict the suitability of crude oil for bitumen production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Peter De Peinder, Fred Adrianus Johannes Singelenberg, Tom Visser, Bert Marc Weckhuysen
  • Patent number: 8359903
    Abstract: A photoacoustic detector for providing a measurement, includes a first light source and a second light source each configured to provide light of a same intensity while retaining a same spectral distribution. Additionally, the photoacoustic detector includes a first beam path allocated to the first light source and at least one second beam path allocated to the second light source, wherein a different absorption of light occurs in the first path and the second beam path in at least one selected wavelength range. Further, the photoacoustic detector includes a photoacoustic measuring cell; and a mechanism for alternately guiding light from the first beam path and from the second beam path into the photoacoustic measuring cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Andras Miklos, Judit Angster
  • Publication number: 20130015354
    Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting an engineering material or food product comprising: a controller arranged to generate a time-variant drive signal; a source of Near Infra-, Red (NIR) radiation, the source being operable by the controller to emit a repetitive time-varying beam thereby to illuminate an article; and a detector, the detector being configured to detect that portion of the source beam that has been transmitted through at least a portion of the article, and to generate an electrical signal that has a time variant modulation corresponding to the modulation of said portion of the source NIR beam, the controller being further configured to generate an output corresponding to a variation in the amplitude of the received NIR source beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Inspection Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Geoffrey Graham Diamond
  • Publication number: 20130013239
    Abstract: A system and method for excitation generation in soft-field tomography are provided. One method includes applying a plurality of phase modulated (or phase and amplitude modulated) excitations to a plurality of transducers of a data acquisition system positioned proximate a surface of an object and measuring a response to the applied phase modulated (or phase and amplitude modulated) excitations at the plurality of transducers. The method also includes determining a property of the object based on the measured responses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alexander Seth Ross, Sakethraman Mahalingam, Arvind Tiwari, Somakumar Ramachandra Panicker, Manoj Kumar Koyithitta Meethal
  • Patent number: 8351040
    Abstract: A cavity ring down system is optimized to precisely measure trace gases or particles in an air sample by using time sampling detection and multiple-sample averaging resulting in a high signal-to-noise ratio. In one embodiment, a cavity ring down system is programmed to measure the rise time and the fall time of the light level in an optical cavity. The cavity ring down system is programmed to integrate a plurality of sample portions during a rise time and a plurality of sample portions during a fall time (in alternate intervals) to obtain a time constant with no sample present and a time constant with sample present. The measurements are used to calculate trace gases in the air sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: James Lowell Gundersen, James McChesney Hargrove
  • Publication number: 20120326039
    Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing, identifying or imaging an target including first and second laser beams coupled to a pair of photoconductive switches to produce CW signals in one or more bands in a range of frequencies greater than 100 GHz focused on, and transmitted through or reflected from the target; and a detector for acquiring spectral information from signals received from the target and using a multi-spectral heterodyne process to generate an electrical signal representative of some characteristics of the target. The lasers are tuned to different frequencies and a phase modulator in the path of one laser beam allows the constructive or destructive interference of the signals on the detector as the laser beams are swept in frequency to be adjusted to achieve greater resolution in one or more selected frequency bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Emcore Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Demers, Ronald T. Logan, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120318981
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (1, 100) for determining the sex of fertilized, nonincubated bird eggs (13, 130), where an egg (13, 130) has a solid egg shell (14), an egg yolk (2) which is surrounded by the egg shell and further egg integuments and a blastodisc (3) associated with the egg yolk (2), and where a probe (4, 40) for measuring a spectrum is introduced through a hole (17) of the egg shell (14) towards the blastodisc (3) with blastodisc cells (23), with the following steps: —positioning of the probe (4, 40) in the region of the blastodisc (3), —spectroscopic in-ovo characterization of the blastodisc cells (23), and —identification of the sex by an automatic classification of spectra.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Gerald Steiner, Edmund Koch, Maria-Elisabeth Krautwald-Junghanns, Thomas Bartels
  • Publication number: 20120318967
    Abstract: The present invention provides a terahertz wave measuring apparatus and measurement method capable of improving the quantitativeness of obtained frequency spectrum information. In a measurement method in which a terahertz wave measuring apparatus is used, the terahertz wave measuring apparatus measures a time waveform of a terahertz wave relating to a calibration sample whose shape of a calibration spectrum is already known and obtains a measurement spectrum by transforming the time waveform. The calibration spectrum and the measurement spectrum are compared, and, on the basis of results of the comparison, time intervals of measurement data that form a time waveform are adjusted in order to calibrate the terahertz wave measuring apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeaki Itsuji
  • Publication number: 20120310538
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for analyzing biological samples to thereby provide a diagnosis. A system may comprise an illumination source, a filter and a detector configured to generate at least one of: a visible data set representative of a biological sample, a SWIR data set representative of a biological sample, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: ChemImage Corporation
    Inventors: Shona Stewart, Arny Drauch, Jeffrey Cohen, John Maier
  • Publication number: 20120305773
    Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely detecting nuclear and non-nuclear materials such as chemical agents and gas-phase explosives are disclosed. Nuclear and non-nuclear materials may be detected by transmitting electromagnetic energy toward a remote target area, collecting scattered electromagnetic energy reflected from the remote target area, analyzing an absorption spectrum of the collected scattered electromagnetic energy, and detecting a presence of at least one nuclear or non-nuclear material in the remote target area based on the analyzed absorption spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Temple University of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: DONG HO WU, RONGJIA TAO, BENJAMIN D. GRABER
  • Patent number: 8319182
    Abstract: A system for the measurement of degradation of electrical wire insulation is described. The system includes an infrared (IR) spectrometer, a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, where the first end is configured to interface to the IR spectrometer, and a clamping device for engaging the electrical wire to be tested for insulation degradation. The second end of said fiber optic cable is mounted within the clamping device such that the second end is adjacent the wire insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven Kenneth Brady, Paul H. Shelley, Paul Griffin Vahey
  • Patent number: 8309929
    Abstract: Compact tunable optical cavities are provided for in-situ NIR spectroscopy. MEMS-tunable VCSEL platforms represents a solid foundation for a new class of compact, sensitive and fiber compatible sensors for fieldable, real-time, multiplexed gas detection systems. Detection limits for gases with NIR cross-sections such as O2, CH4, COx and NOx have been predicted to approximately span from 10ths to 10s of parts per million. Exemplary oxygen detection design and a process for 760 nm continuously tunable VCSELS is provided. This technology enables in-situ self-calibrating platforms with adaptive monitoring by exploiting Photonic FPGAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
    Inventors: Tiziana Bond, Garrett Cole, Lynford Goddard
  • Publication number: 20120274933
    Abstract: This invention relates to a detection system for particles suspended in a gas. The detection system includes an electrostatic precipitator constructed to collect the particles from the gas onto a collection surface using the force of an induced electrostatic charge on the particles. The detection system also includes an optical probe coupled with the electrostatic precipitator and constructed to probe the particles with a beam in order to detect the particles. The body of the electrostatic precipitator has a geometry that allows the beam to travel from the optical probe to the collection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Luke D. Doucette, Carl P. Tripp, Brian J. Ninness
  • Patent number: 8296106
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes receiving and processing a sample signal scan. Processing the sample signal scan includes applying an inner-product operation on the sample signal scan and each of a plurality of eigenvectors to generate a plurality of corresponding coefficients, and subtracting the sample signal scan from a linear combination of the eigenvectors and corresponding coefficients to thereby produce a corrected sample signal scan. In this regard, the eigenvectors have been generated by decomposing a plurality of background reference signal scans according to a singular value decomposition technique. The signal scans include a plurality of electromagnetic signal measurements at a discrete set of frequencies, where each measurement has been taken by a spectrometer system passing an electromagnetic signal through a sample cell including just a base medium (for the background reference signal scans), or both a base medium and a sample medium (for the sample signal scan).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Noll, Aaron Turner, Alexander Majewski
  • Publication number: 20120261578
    Abstract: An infrared laser spectrometer employs a laser and a thermoelectrically cooler detector. The spectrometer uses a monolithic ring mirror with a single aperture that serves to accept the input laser illumination and the output optical signal. The laser is tunable. The number of passes of the input laser illumination can be controlled, so as to define a laser path length. In some embodiments, the ring mirror is open to the atmosphere, and in other embodiments the ring mirror is closed from the ambient atmosphere to allow samples of known origin to be measured in the spectrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David C. Scott, Kelly M. Rickey, Alexander Ksendzov, Warren P. George, Abdullah S. Aljabri, Joel M. Steinkraus
  • Patent number: 8283635
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the gas quality of a sample gas mixed at least in part with biogas, having the main components CH4, CO2, N2, O2, H2, proceeding from a spectrum of the sample gas determined by means of infrared-spectroscopy measurement methods, under operating conditions, from which the mole ratios of the sample gas are determined by means of correlative methods, and converted to characteristic variables of the gas quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Elster GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Kastner
  • Publication number: 20120235038
    Abstract: An infrared gas detector includes an infrared reception member, a package configured to accommodate the infrared reception member, and an optical filter. The infrared reception member includes a plurality of thermal infrared detection elements each configured to detect infrared based on heat caused by received infrared. The thermal infrared detection elements are placed side by side. The package is provided with a window opening configured to allow the infrared reception member to receive infrared. The optical filter is attached to the package so as to cover the window opening, and includes a plurality of filter elements respectively corresponding to the plurality of the thermal infrared detection elements. Each of the filter elements includes a filter substrate made of an infrared transparent material, a transmission filter configured to transmit infrared of a selected wavelength, and a cut-off filter configured to absorb infrared of a wavelength longer than the selected wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Takayuki Nishikawa, Yoshifumi Watabe, Yuichi Inaba, Takahiko Hirai, Hiroaki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8269174
    Abstract: A method and a portable device for assessing the occurrence of an agent in a sample. A sample is illuminated with photons emanating from a portable device to produce photons reflected, emitted, or absorbed from a set of multiple points in the sample having a defined geometric relationship. The portable device is used to simultaneously illuminate the sample and analyze the photons reflected, emitted, or absorbed from the set of multiple points using spectroscopic methods, including infrared, fluorescence, and UV/visible. The agent assessed may include a hazardous agent, a chemical agent, a biological agent, a microorganism, a bacterium, a protozoan, a virus, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: ChemImage Corporation
    Inventors: Charles W. Gardner, Patrick J. Treado, Matthew Nelson, Robert Schweitzer
  • Publication number: 20120206725
    Abstract: A tunable laser source that includes multiple gain elements and uses a spatial light modulator in an external cavity to produce spectrally tunable output is claimed. Several designs of the external cavity are described, targeting different performance characteristics and different manufacturing costs for the device. Compared to existing devices, the tunable laser source produces high output power, wide tuning range, fast tuning rate, and high spectral resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Spectral Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Pajo Vukovic-Cvijin, Neil Goldstein
  • Publication number: 20120199743
    Abstract: A spectrometer system for providing information about a target with terahertz radiation. The system may receive incident radiation from the target through fore optics, a slit aperture, secondary optics and a dispersive element which images a slit on an array of terahertz sensitive detectors. The detectors may include uncooled sensors. Each sensor may be connected to its own micro antenna. The array of detectors may be situated proximate to the dispersive element so that radiation from the element may be dispersed according to wavelength to the respective detectors optimally sensitive to the various respective wavelengths. Detector signals indicating the impingement of terahertz radiation may provide information for identifying a material of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Cox, Bernard S. Fritz, Fouad Nusseibeh
  • Patent number: 8227256
    Abstract: Two-color (two-photon) excitation with two confocal excitation beams is demonstrated with a Raman shifter as excitation light source. Two-color excitation fluorescence is obtained from Coumarin 6H dye sample (peak absorption=394 nm, peak fluorescence=490 nm) that is excited using the first two Stokes outputs (683 nm, 954 nm, two-color excitation=398 nm) of a Raman shifter pumped by a 6.5 nsec pulsed 532 nm-Nd:YAG laser (Repetition rate=10 Hz). The two Stokes pulses overlap for a few nanoseconds and two-color fluorescence is generateven with focusing objectives of low numerical apertures (NA?0.4). We observed the linear dependence of the two-color fluorescence signal with the product of the average intensities of the two Stokes excitation beams. The two-color fluorescence distribution is strongly localized around the common focus of the confocal excitation beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventors: Caesar A. Saloma, Wilson O. Garcia, Jonathan A. Palero
  • Publication number: 20120184827
    Abstract: A miniature medical spectrometer is provided, the spectrometer comprises: a room temperature, electrically excited, solid state two photon laser generating high intensity broad wavelength; a light projection optics, projecting said generated light on biological subject; a light collection optics, collecting reflected light from said biological subject; a wavelength selector spectrally analyzing said collected light; a detector, detecting said analyzed light; and a controller analyzing the reflected spectra and calculating result indicative of the medical state of the biological subject based on said spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Shoulamit Cohen Shwartz, Meir Orenstein
  • Patent number: 8222605
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the determination of the total acid number and naphthenic acid number of petroleum, petroleum cuts and petroleum emulsions of water-in-oil type by mid-infrared spectroscopy utilising correlation between data gathered by means of absorption spectrums obtained with a Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer operating in the mid-infrared band equipped with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) accessory, and acidity results obtained through reference methods utilising a multivariate regression model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.—Petrobras
    Inventors: Monica Teixeira Da Silva, Geciliane Henriques De Andrade, Maria Isabel Calicchio Lopes, Claudia Maria Silva Braga
  • Publication number: 20120153158
    Abstract: A method for measuring a spectrum of an optical sensor, advantageously in the infrared region, in which a light beam impinges on an optical sensor in contact with a medium to be measured, wherein the optical sensor transmits a measurement beam changed by the medium to be measured and the measurement beam is fed to a pyrodetector, which issues output signals corresponding to the spectrum. The intensity of the measurement signal is modulated before impinging on a pyrodetector. In order to provide a cost effective, vibration free measuring apparatus, which has a long lifetime, intensity modulation of measurement beam occurs by tuning-in wavelengths contained in the optical spectrum of measuring beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft für Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Hakon Mikkelsen, Ralf Bernhard
  • Publication number: 20120145906
    Abstract: A portable device for detecting explosives and other target materials using SWIR spectroscopic imaging, including hyperspectral imaging. The device may comprise a lens, a tunable filter, and a detector. The device may use solar radiation, or may comprise an illumination source such as a laser, to illuminate at target material and thereby produce interacted photons. The device may utilize multi-conjugate liquid crystal filter technology to filter interacted photons. The disclosure also provides for a method for using the portable device comprising illuminating a target material to produce interacted photons. The interacted photons are used to form a SWIR spectroscopic image, which may be a hyperspectral image. This image is analyzed to thereby identify the target material. This analysis may comprise comparing at least one spectrum or image representative of the target material to a reference spectrum or image. This comparison may be accomplished using a chemometric technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Chemlmage Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Treado, Matthew Nelson, Charles W. Gardner, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120145907
    Abstract: The invention provides a high pressure dynamic environmental chamber for analysis of solids in a liquid suspension in motion at pressures ranging from vacuum to 2000 bars or more and temperatures from ?50° C. to 500° C., using a liquid and/or a gas phase as pressurizing medium. The chamber is equipped with an entry window and an exit window so that the suspension can be illuminated and analyzed, using X-ray Diffraction, Raman Spectroscopy, Infrared Spectroscopy, or other photon radiation. The concept of direct analysis of a solid in suspension in motion over a wide range of pressures and temperatures is an important aspect of this invention. This motion is useful for X-ray diffraction analysis of the dispersed solid material, because it allows for a continuous change in the crystallographic orientation of the solid phase with respect to the primary X-rays while keeping the solid material in suspension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: August F. Koster van Groos
  • Patent number: 8189901
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for sorting seeds based on identified phenotypes of the seeds. In various embodiments, the system includes an optics and controller station structured and operable to collect image data of a top portion, a bottom portion and a plurality of side portions of each respective seed in a set of seeds, and to analyze the collected image data to determine whether each seed exhibits a desired phenotype. The system further includes a seed loading, transporting and sorting station structured and operable to singulate each seed of the set of seeds from a plurality of seeds in a bulk seed hopper, transport the set of seeds to the optics and controller station, and selectively sort each seed to a respective one of a plurality of seed repositories based on whether each respective seed exhibits the desired phenotype.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Steven H. Modiano, Kevin L. Deppermann, James Crain, Sam R Eathington, Mike Graham
  • Patent number: 8180581
    Abstract: Groups of correlated representations of variables are identified from a large amount of spectrometry data. A plurality of samples is analyzed and a plurality of measured variables is obtained from a spectrometer. A processor executes a number of steps. The plurality of measured variables is divided into a plurality of measured variable subsets. Principal component analysis followed by variable grouping (PCVG) is performed on each measured variable subset, producing one or more group representations for each measured variable subset and a plurality of group representations for the plurality of measured variable subsets. While the total number of the plurality of group representations is greater than a maximum number, the plurality of group representations is divided into a plurality of representative subsets and PCVG is performed on each subset. PCVG is performed on the remaining the plurality of group representations, producing a plurality of groups of correlated representations of variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Gordana Ivosev, Ronald Bonner
  • Publication number: 20120112072
    Abstract: A device for determining the composition of a mixture of fluids by spectral absorption, comprises: a radiation source; a detector for detecting radiation that has been attenuated by the mixture; and a device for separating the radiation into a wavelength band corresponding to an absorption band of one of the fluids, a wavelength band corresponding to an absorption band of another of the fluids, and at least one reference wavelength band substantially adjacent to each of the absorption bands, and especially adjacent to each side of the absorption band or group of absorption bands. The device may be used to determine the composition of mixtures of oil, water and gaseous hydrocarbons in oil wells where there is a very large degree of time varying scattering e.g. Rayleigh and Mie scattering due to turbulence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: PIETRO FIORENTINI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Robert Jones, Matthew James Hayes, Paul David Ryder
  • Patent number: 8153979
    Abstract: A device for interference spectroscopic analysis of radiation is of the interference type. The device includes at least a first reflecting layer onto which is deposited a multilayer of alternately transparent and photo-absorbing films. Each photo-absorbing layer is connected to an electronic detection unit supplying a primary electronic signal. The device also includes an electronic analyzing unit for analyzing the primary signals and configured in such a manner as to determine the spectral distribution of the original radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Pascale Parrein, Pierre Gidon
  • Patent number: 8154731
    Abstract: The present invention offers an alternative strategy for the correlation of interference information to chemical and/or physical properties of a sample. This strategy can be implemented in a method and a system, which offer substantial technical and commercial advantages over state of the art techniques based on interference spectroscopy. The invention further provides a method for standardizing an interferometer, as well as a method and a system using the standardized interferometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Chemometec A/S
    Inventors: Börkur Arnvidarson, Hans Larsen
  • Patent number: 8148689
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of methods and apparatus related to detection of substance(s) at a distance. For example, an apparatus can have a mount structure and an emitter mounted to the mount structure and configured to be trained on a target. The emitter can have a source configured to emit radiation and a mirror configured to direct the radiation toward the target. The apparatus can also have a collector mounted to the mount structure and configured to be trained on the target at the same time the emitter is trained on the target and concentrate collected radiation on a sensor. The apparatus can also have a detection system comprising the sensor and an interferometer configured to produce an interferogram. The processor can be configured to perform a Fourier transform on the interferogram to produce a spectrogram and analyze the spectrogram to determine presence or absence of known substances in or around the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Stephen T. Braunheim
  • Patent number: 8147134
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus to identify alpha-emitting radionuclides and to measure absolute alpha radioactivity using a low temperature detector. A 4? metallic absorber which encloses a radioactive material containing alpha-emitting radionuclides absorbs the total alpha decay energy in the form of thermal energy. The corresponding temperature changes are measured by a low temperature detector attached to the 4? absorber with high energy resolution. The identification of alpha-emitting radionuclides is declared by comparing the measured temperature signal with characteristic decay energy of radionuclides. The absolute amount of the radionuclides is determined by counting the number of the pulses for each of the identified nuclides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: Yong Hamb Kim, Kyoung Beom Lee, Min Kyu Lee, Sang Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 8148690
    Abstract: Web measurement system monitors properties of a web during manufacture without chopping measuring radiation during web measurement. A single chop is performed at each sheet edge or every nth sheet edge to measure edge temperature and edge thermal radiation for correction for Planckian radiation. Correction factors, including Planckian radiation correction factors, are derived for each point in a web profile. The measuring system also enables derivation of correction factors during operation in a single point and similar machine operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ABB, Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven P. Sturm, Michael S. O'Hora, Rodney D. Maxson