Including Spectrometer Or Spectrophotometer Patents (Class 250/339.07)
  • Publication number: 20120032080
    Abstract: An optical frequency converter includes a waveguide including a core made of a nonlinear optical medium having a refractive index n1,light in a wavelength region of light, and cladding disposed so as to cover the core and made of a material whose refractive index n2,light in the wavelength region of light is lower than the refractive index n1,light, and a coupling section made of a material whose refractive index n3,THz in a wavelength region of a terahertz wave is higher than the refractive index n1,light and disposed in contact with the cladding. The coupling section is configured to couple the waveguide with a space in the wavelength region of the terahertz wave. The coupling section covers the cladding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Koyama, Kousuke Kajiki
  • Publication number: 20120025081
    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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Bruker Optik GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Rapp, Michael Taraschewski, Alberto Sossai
  • Patent number: 8101916
    Abstract: This patent presents a method for measuring the concentration of biodiesel in a homogeneous biodiesel-diesel oil mixture using mid infrared radiation for use as fabrication monitor, quality control, law enforcement and multi-fueled vehicles. The method is characterized by the use of mid infrared absorption measurement in the range from 1870 to 1600 cm?1 (5347.6 to 6250.0 nm) which corresponds to the carbonyl group absorption peak (C?O) that is only present in biodiesel. Both intensity and area of the carbonyl absorption peak present power law dependence with the biodiesel percentile in the biodiesel-diesel oil mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Instituto De Tecnologia Do Parana—Tecpar
    Inventors: Cyro Ketzer Saul, Marcelo Adriano Aliske, Wanderley Veiga
  • Patent number: 8098377
    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: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventors: James Lowell Gundersen, James McChesney Hargrove
  • Patent number: 8094294
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and methods for assessing occurrence of a hazardous agent in a sample by performing multipoint spectral analysis of the sample. Methods of employing Raman spectroscopy and other spectrophotometric methods are disclosed. Devices and systems suitable for performing such multipoint methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: ChemImage Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J Treado, Joseph E Demuth, Robert Schweitzer
  • Patent number: 8073639
    Abstract: A method for identifying a convolved peak is described. A plurality of spectra is obtained. A multivariate analysis technique is used to assign data points from the plurality of spectra to a plurality of groups. A peak is selected from the plurality of spectra. If the peak includes data points assigned to two or more groups of the plurality of groups, the peak is identified as a convolved peak. Principal component analysis is one multivariate analysis technique that is used to assign data points. A number of principal components are selected. A subset principal component space is created. A data point in the subset principal component space is selected. A vector is extended from the origin of the subset principal component space to the data point. One or more data points within a spatial angle around the vector are assigned to a group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Gordana Ivosev, Ronald Bonner
  • Patent number: 8063373
    Abstract: This invention relates to a compact cavity ring down spectrometer for detection and measurement of trace species in a sample gas using a tunable solid-state continuous-wave mid-infrared PPLN OPO laser or a tunable low-power solid-state continuous wave near-infrared diode laser with an algorithm for reducing the periodic noise in the voltage decay signal which subjects the data to cluster analysis or by averaging of the interquartile range of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: The George Washington University
    Inventor: J. Houston Miller
  • Patent number: 8064133
    Abstract: A light receiving optical system includes: a relay optical system for converging light to be measured which has been converged on an image plane of an objective optical system. The light receiving optical system has a relay optical system with a relay lens operable to be selectively switched between first and a second conjugate positions, and a first and a second light flux limiting aperture members selectively switched between the first and the second conjugate positions. The relay optical system selectively forms, on the image plane of the objective optical system, an enlarged image and a reduced image of a view angle defining aperture in the case where the relay lens is selectively switched between the first and the second conjugate positions to define an incident light flux through the view angle defining aperture by a first and a second light flux limiting apertures, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Sensing, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Imura
  • Patent number: 8054463
    Abstract: In a method for measuring a composition of a sample, an illumination surface area of the sample is illuminated using a light source, and light from a plurality of emitting surface areas of the sample is received, each emitting surface area at a different location, the received light scattered by the sample. A cumulative area of the illumination surface area is greater than a cumulative area of two emitting surface areas of the plurality of emitting surface areas. For each emitting surface area, spectral content information associated with received light corresponding to that emitting surface area is determined, and composition information corresponding to a sub-surface region of the sample is determined based on the determined spectral content information. Different shapes of illumination surface areas as well as the plurality of emitting surface areas may advantageously be utilized for various specimen or sample geometries or illumination sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Michael D. Morris, William F. Finney, Matthew Schulmerich
  • Patent number: 8044354
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of classifying a polymer containing surface is provided including collecting one or more spectra of infrared energy reflected from the surface over a spectrum of wavelengths; performing multivariate processing at one or more wavelengths; comparing results of the multivariate processing with one or more predetermined material classification models derived from model material infrared energy spectra collected from one or more model material surfaces, the one or more model material surfaces each having a known polymer material composition; and, sorting the polymer containing surface into the proper class based on a similarity of the results of the multivariate processing at one or more wavelengths with the predetermined material classification models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory J. Werner, Paul H. Shelley, Panagiotis E. George
  • Patent number: 8022366
    Abstract: Mid-IR spectrometer with no moving parts, which is small and compact, low power consuming, and can monitor blood sugar (glucose) and other blood and bodily fluid analytes on a continuing basis. It has many applications in the health, forensic, environmental and other areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventor: Frank Hartley
  • Patent number: 8017910
    Abstract: A method of predicting the stability of a hydrocarbon process stream is disclosed and claimed. The method includes obtaining samples from one or more process streams and measuring the actual stability and the near infrared spectral absorbance of those samples. A classification model is initially developed to identify sample subsets and correlation model is created using the stability and absorbance data by inserting that data into a mathematical function. Online or offline measurements are then taken from the hydrocarbon process stream, the classification model is used initially to identify the subset and corresponding correlation model is used to predict the stability of the stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventor: Ron Sharpe
  • Publication number: 20110215247
    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: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Elster GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Kastner
  • Patent number: 8013303
    Abstract: Apparatus for remote laser-based detection of a analyte in a remote target region; comprising a reference container for housing a reference substance identical with the analyte; a laser unit which constituted to emit a laser beam of a tuneable wavelength towards the target region to be analysed and along a reference path which passes through the reference container for detecting the reference substance; a laser control means constituted to control wavelength of the laser beam during detection periods such that the laser wavelength is changed to allow detection of an optical absorption profile of the analyte during detection periods; an analytical detection unit which detects light from the target region and generates analytical signals during the detection periods, a reference detection unit which detects laser light passed through the reference container and generates reference signals during the detection periods; and an analysing means constituted to analyse the similarity of the analytical and reference s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Pergam-Suisse AG
    Inventors: Oleg Ershov, Alexey Klimov
  • Patent number: 8015088
    Abstract: A method of rewarding loyalty of a user may include providing a personal terminal to the user, detecting whether the personal terminal is within proximity of an interaction terminal, and based at least in part on the proximity of the personal terminal to the interaction terminal, providing a benefit to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Anthony James Phillips, Leonard Frank Antao, Gerard E. Insolia, Haven Brock Kolls
  • Publication number: 20110208480
    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: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Noll, Aaron Turner, Alexnder Majewski
  • Publication number: 20110204235
    Abstract: A system includes a transmitter is configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal through a sample cell (including a sample medium) to a receiver, which is configured to receive the electromagnetic signal and another electromagnetic signal for mixing therewith. Propagation paths of the signals to the transmitter and receiver include a first propagation path of the electromagnetic signal to the transmitter, and a second propagation path of the other electromagnetic signal to the receiver. The arrangement, which is located along either or each of the propagation paths of signals to the transmitter and receiver, is configured to alter the length of a respective propagation path. And the processor configured to recover an amplitude and phase of the transmitted electromagnetic signal, and calculate a complex index of refraction of the sample medium as a function of the amplitude and phase of the transmitted electromagnetic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Alexander Majewski, Rene Abreu
  • Patent number: 7982189
    Abstract: A spectrometer includes: a lighting device (LSRC) configured to generate a light beam covering a wavelength band, a probe configured so that the light beam coming from the lighting device interacts with a fluid to be analyzed, and a spectrum analyzing device configured to receive the light beam after it has interacted with the fluid to be analyzed, and to provide light intensity measurements for various ranges of wavelengths. The lighting device includes several light-emitting components (1a-1c) emitting light in various ranges of wavelengths, and a mixing optical component (3) fixed onto the emitting surface of the light-emitting components (1a-1g), to combine the light flows emitted by the light-emitting components into a resulting light beam covering the wavelength band, and guide the resulting light flow to the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: SP3H
    Inventors: Johan Fournel, Alain Lunati, Thierry Gergaud
  • Patent number: 7977636
    Abstract: A method for performing sub-micron optical spectroscopy, using a heated SPM probe and far-field collection optics is described. The enhanced emission characteristics at a sharp heated tip constitute a highly localized wideband IR source. Thus the IR absorption and emission properties of a sample surface adjacent can be observed and measured in the farfield even though the interaction region is sub-micron in scale. . . . providing spatial resolution mapping of sample composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Anasys Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Markus B. Raschke
  • Publication number: 20110133090
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of detecting organic materials, and more particularly, methods of detecting organic materials using terahertz spectroscopy. The method of detecting organic material using terahertz spectroscopy includes suspending organic material in a medium to form a sample; irradiating the sample with an illumination beam of electromagnetic radiation, the illumination beam having a plurality of frequencies in the range of about 100 GHz to about 2 THz; detecting radiation transmitted through and/or reflected from the sample; and, analyzing the detected radiation to identify the organic material, wherein the medium is selected from the group consisting of agar, guar gum, gellan gum, carrageenan, xantham gum, fibrous sodium pectate, and other agar substitutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Encore Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Demers, Ronald T. Logan, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110127432
    Abstract: Non-invasive THz spectroscopic apparatus and methods are provided for detecting and/or identifying constituents such as variations in a structural entity where chemical or biological entities can reside. Position dependent scattering of THz radiation is employed to image voids and defects in the internal structure of samples, enabling the determination of contamination, spoilage or readiness of products such as wine in sealed containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: New Jersey Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John F. Federici, Rose M. Federici
  • Patent number: 7952710
    Abstract: A box 14 having a body 13 is used with a transparent flexible bag containing a liquid such as an IV bag. First and second faces 12 are positioned relative to each other. The faces each have therewithin an end or fiber optic port 11 of a respective light path. A light source is optically coupled with the light path of the first face and a spectrometer is optically coupled with the light path of the second face. The light paths are coaxial and are disposed so that the transparent flexible bag is positionable therebetween. The spectrometer is disposed to detect an anomaly in the liquid within the transparent flexible bag, and to annunciate the anomaly to a human user. The box defines a reproducible light path length through the liquid. A caliper 29 having a body 22 may be used in spectrometric analysis of a transparent tube containing a liquid such as a syringe or an IV line. The caliper has finger pads 27 which permit opening the spring-loaded caliper as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Verrana LLC
    Inventors: William H. Flank, Sandra Glassman Flank, Sharon Flank, Emil Walter Ciurczak, Carl Oppedahl
  • Patent number: 7939805
    Abstract: A Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer for operation in the mid- and long-wave infrared region (about 2-15 micron wavelengths) is disclosed. The FTIR spectrometer is composed of IR-transmitting fiber and uses a broadband IR source. A fiber stretcher is provided to provide a path difference between a first path and a second path having a sample associated therewith. Stretching of the fiber provides a path difference sufficient to generate an interferogram that can subsequently be analyzed to obtain information about a sample. A method for use of the apparatus of the invention is also disclosed. The method involves stretching of an IR-transmitting fiber to create a path difference sufficient to generate an interferogram. Various aspects of these features enable the construction of compact, portable spectrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Leslie Brandon Shaw, Jasbinder S. Sanghera, Ishwar D. Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 7936453
    Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing, identifying or imaging a target including an integrated dual laser module coupled to a pair of photoconductive switches to produce CW signals in the range of frequencies from 100 GHz to over 2 THz 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 homodyne process to generate an electrical signal representative of some characteristics of the target with resolution less than 250 MHz. The photoconductive switches are activated by laser beams from the dual laser module. The lasers in the module are tuned to different frequencies and have two distinct low frequency identification tones respectively that are used in conjunction with a stable optical filter element to permit precise determination of the offset frequency of the lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Emcore Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald T. Logan, Jr., Joseph R. Demers, Bryon L. Kasper
  • Patent number: 7935929
    Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal (106) is carried on the support. The accessory includes a registration indicium which is located at a fixed position relative to the sample contacting area of the crystal. The registration indicium is preferably provided at the apex region of the crystal. The registration indicium can be used to ensure correct focussing of a sample when obtaining an image of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Singapore Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Alan Hoult, Ralph Lance Carter, Antonio Canas Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7919753
    Abstract: A method of non-destructively determining the amount of ultraviolet degradation of a surface and/or paint adhesion characteristics of the surface corresponding with UV damage including determining a physical property of a composite material/surfacing film by providing a series of composite materials/surfacing films which are subjected to increasing UV light exposure to create a set of UV damage standards, collecting mid-IR spectra on those standards, performing data pre-processing and then multivariate calibration on the spectra of the composite materials/surfacing films, and using that calibration to predict the UV damage for samples in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul H. Shelley, Greg J. Werner, Diane R. LaRiviere, Gwen M. Gross
  • Publication number: 20110068271
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: John R. IVERSON, John Magie Coffin
  • Publication number: 20110062337
    Abstract: Methods and devices relate to radiometric measurement of a thin fluid film (4) using absorption of IR radiation. At least one IR radiator (1) is directed to send signals to an IR detector (2) via a bed (3) on which the fluid film (4) is placed. The IR detector is set to receive IR radiation in a band around a characteristic absorption band of the fluid of the fluid film (4). The present invention is developed for printing presses, where the thickness of fountain solution on the printing plate and the proportion of printing ink in an emulsion of printing ink and fountain solution may be controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: Leif CRONVALL
  • Patent number: 7907273
    Abstract: A system for measuring starch gelatinization in a feed production system. The system includes a feed production system configured to generate an extruded feed from a feed mixture using a combination of steam and pressure to cook the feed in an extruder, a near infrared spectrometer configured to measure a degree of starch gelatinization for the extruded feed, and a starch gelatinization measurement engine configured to generate a measurement of the degree of starch gelatinization in the extruded feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark D. Newcomb, Jason L. Shelton, Julie R. Schuette, James E. Graves
  • Publication number: 20110046916
    Abstract: A position sensitive pyrometer includes a sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Lun Yu, Markus E. Beck
  • Publication number: 20110046489
    Abstract: A method comprising exposing a sample comprising water to near infrared (NIR) light and detecting the presence of one or more objects by measuring a Stokes shift in the emission spectra in the near infrared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA
    Inventors: Hirak Kumar PATRA, Anjan Kumar Dasgupta
  • Publication number: 20110035158
    Abstract: Methods of and devices for detecting a measurable characteristic of the gas sample. The methods and devices are able to detect a value of or a change of measurable characteristic (e.g., such as chemical concentrations), a change of chemical compositions and/or biological responses of a living organism that are induced by a stressor. The biological responses are able to include cellular stress, damage, and immune responses. The stressor is able to include an exposure to ionizing radiation. The effects of the stressors are able to be monitored in terms of changes in the chemical concentrations and chemical compositions in an exhaled breath. The chemicals are able to function as bio-markers. The chemicals that are to be monitored are able to include nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ethane, and other molecules related to specific disease resulting from the stressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Theophilos Banos, Robert Alfred Burmeister
  • Publication number: 20110028808
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide apparatuses for examining/diagnosing clinical disease of cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Blood, blood-derived component, urine, sweat, nail, skin, or hair is irradiated with light having a wavelength of 400 to 2,500 nm or a part of the range, of which the reflection light, the transmission light, or the transmission reflection light is then detected to give spectroscopic absorbance data, and afterward a previously prepared analysis model is used to analyze the absorbance over the whole wavelengths or at a specific wavelength for the measurement to allow the achievement of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicants: Fatigue Science Laboratory Inc., Osaka University
    Inventors: Hirohiko Kuratsune, Akikazu Sakudo, Junzo Nojima, Kazuyoshi Ikuta, Yasuyoshi Watanabe, Yukiko Kato, Takanori Kobayashi, Seiki Tajima
  • Patent number: 7868295
    Abstract: A chemical and biological sensor system (200) includes at least one micro-cantilever sensing element (202) and a mechanism for collecting aerosol, liquid, and solid particles, and depositing the particles as a film layer (146) on a stack (140) formed with the cantilever. The deposited particles include chemical or biological species to be analyzed. A polarized light (242) illuminates the stack (140) at a grazing incidence angle to a specific wavelength of light. The light is polarized in a plane parallel to the stack (140). The polarized light (242) heats the cantilever with different wavelengths of the light spectrum. Readout electronics detect movement of the cantilever (202) as a result of heat transfer from the light and provide spectral data signals corresponding to the detected movement. A spectral analyzer (840) analyzes the spectral data signals, compares spectral images of the materials present to spectral images of known materials, and identifies one or more chemical or biological species present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Innovative American Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Frank, Rodney L. Clark
  • Patent number: 7868296
    Abstract: A spectroscopic method and spectroscopy system therefrom for analyzing samples. A sample includes a first chemical component that has a characteristic first absorption peak is provided. The sample is irradiated in a measurement waveband proximate to the first absorption peak, and at a first and a second reference waveband where the first chemical component lacks characteristic absorption features. Reflected or transmitted detection data is obtained including a measured power proximate to the first absorption peak and first and second reference powers at the reference wavebands. A plurality of different waveband ratios are evaluated using pairs of detection data to generate a plurality of measured waveband ratio values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell ASCA Inc.
    Inventors: Frank M. Haran, Reena Meijer-Drees, Sebastien Tixier
  • Publication number: 20110001047
    Abstract: A method of predicting thermal or chemical effect in a painted or coated composite material includes generating a calibration model, providing a composite material having a coating layer, irradiating the coating layer with infrared energy, detecting infrared energy reflected from the coating layer and predicting a thermal or chemical history of the coating layer using the calibration model and the infrared energy reflected from the coating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Paul H. Shelley, Gregory J. Werner, Paul G. Vahey
  • Patent number: 7855780
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spectroscopic system having a fiber-optic probe for simultaneous IR and Raman measurement. The probe includes a single strand of optical fiber, such as sapphire which is suitable for IR absorption measurements as far as 4 ?m and Raman excitation at wavelengths as short as 300 nm. The probe is immersed in the sample and functions in the evanescent wave mode for both IR absorption and Raman scattering measurements. The sensing system makes possible the synergistic, and simultaneous, analysis of both IR and Raman data in an integrated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventor: Nicholas Djeu
  • Publication number: 20100314545
    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 frequency shifter in the path of one laser beam allows the terahertz beam to be finely adjusted in one or more selected frequency bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Emcore Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald T. Logan, JR., Joseph R. Demers
  • Patent number: 7847935
    Abstract: An FTIR measurement is conducted on a background gas to obtain a single beam spectrum SB(BG) [C] and a synthetic single beam spectrum SSB(BG)[D], and an FTIR measurement is conducted on a sample gas to obtain a single beam spectrum SB(Samp)[E] and a synthetic single beam spectrum SSB(Samp)[F].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nitta, Yoshihiro Osawa
  • Publication number: 20100297291
    Abstract: A visible/near-infrared spectrum analyzing method for identifying components of a sample and determining characteristics of the components using visible light and/or near-infrared light having a wavelength of 400 to 2500 nm. The quantitative determination of the components, which have been conventionally hard to identify, of a grape of a small fruit cultivar for wine making can be made in a nondestructive way. A grape of a small fruit cultivar for wine making (a sample under examination) is irradiated with visible light and/or near-infrared light having a wavelength of 600 to 1100 nm and is subjected to spectrum determination of the sample and an absorption spectrum is determined from the obtained spectrum. By employing a multivariate statistical analysis (hereinafter referred to multivariate analysis) by the PLS or MLR method, a model enabling quantitative determination of the components of the sample under examination is created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Kentaro Shinoda, Eiiti Okawa, Takahiro Imai
  • Patent number: 7838835
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealable cell for measuring a liquid sample comprising a spectroscopic probe and a removable cap that can accommodate at least the head of the probe, wherein the internal wall of the cap comprises one or more grooves which are disposed so as to allow a liquid sample to enter the head of the probe and air to escape from the head of the probe to enable improved spectra to be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: BP Oil International Limted
    Inventor: Alasdair Iain Thomson
  • Publication number: 20100282969
    Abstract: A chemical and biological sensor system (200) includes at least one micro-cantilever sensing element (202) and a mechanism for collecting aerosol, liquid, and solid particles, and depositing the particles as a film layer (146) on a stack (140) formed with the cantilever. The deposited particles include chemical or biological species to be analyzed. A polarized light (242) illuminates the stack (140) at a grazing incidence angle to a specific wavelength of light. The light is polarized in a plane parallel to the stack (140). The polarized light (242) heats the cantilever with different wavelengths of the light spectrum. Readout electronics detect movement of the cantilever (202) as a result of heat transfer from the light and provide spectral data signals corresponding to the detected movement. A spectral analyzer (840) analyzes the spectral data signals, compares spectral images of the materials present to spectral images of known materials, and identifies one or more chemical or biological species present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Innovative American Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Frank, Rodney L. Clark
  • Publication number: 20100282970
    Abstract: A terahertz time-domain spectrometer scanning sensor system includes a transmitter and a receiver that are secured to a mobile scanner head. Optical pump light, in the form of short pulses launched from a stationary laser located remotely from the scanner head, is delivered to the transmitter and receiver through a controlled fiber optic cable arrangement so that variations in temporal pulse relays that are associated fiber optic transmission are minimized. In this fashion, the movement of the fiber optic cable is maneuvered along a defined path so as to control the bends in the cable and thus minimize variations in temporal delays that can otherwise arise as the pulses of light are transmitted through the fiber. Pulses of laser light launched from the laser into the optical fiber will exit the cable with consistent (i) time of arrival, (ii) phase duration, and (iii) polarization state and energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Frank Martin Haran, Ross MacHattie, Ron E. Beselt, David Jez
  • Publication number: 20100276578
    Abstract: A method of determining degree of aging of an incompletely cured polymer resin material collecting IR spectra on a series of standards with carefully controlled aging time and data collected at appropriate time intervals with the standard LC method for determining cure condition of the material, using said spectra and LC data to make a multivariate calibration model and using said model to predict the cure condition of uncured samples of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Paul H. Shelley, Gregory J. Werner, Joe Baratto
  • Publication number: 20100258727
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method which enable acquisition of a temporal waveform of a propagating terahertz wave by changing a propagation velocity of the terahertz wave. A waveform information acquisition apparatus includes a generation portion for generating a terahertz wave, a propagation portion for allowing the terahertz wave generated by the generation portion to propagate therethrough, a detection portion for detecting waveform information of the terahertz wave, a first delay portion for changing a propagation velocity of the terahertz wave, and a control portion for controlling the first delay portion to change the propagation velocity of the terahertz wave in the propagation portion, and acquires information regarding the temporal waveform of the terahertz wave detected by the detection portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Itsuji, Shintaro Kasai
  • Patent number: 7812311
    Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide for methods and systems of 2D spectroscopy using ultrafast, first light and second light beams and a CCD array detector. A cylindrically-focused second light beam interrogates a target that is optically interactive with a frequency-dispersed excitation (first light) pulse, whereupon the second light beam is frequency-dispersed at right angle orientation to its line of focus, so that the horizontal dimension encodes the spatial location of the second light pulse and the first light frequency, while the vertical dimension encodes the second light frequency. Differential spectra of the first and second light pulses result in a 2D frequency-frequency surface equivalent to double-resonance spectroscopy. Because the first light frequency is spatially encoded in the sample, an entire surface can be acquired in a single interaction of the first and second light pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Matthew F. DeCamp, Andrei Tokmakoff
  • Publication number: 20100252738
    Abstract: An apparatus for acquiring information on a time waveform of a terahertz wave is comprised of a terahertz wave-generating unit, a waveform information-detecting unit, and a delay unit for changing the time after the terahertz wave is generated in the generating unit until it is detected as waveform information of the terahertz wave in the detecting unit, wherein the delay unit is configured so as to change a propagating distance of the terahertz wave generated by the generating unit, and associates waveform information of the terahertz wave, which is detected in the detecting unit, and the propagating distance every terahertz wave generated by the generating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shintaro Kasai, Toshihiko Ouchi, Takeaki Itsuji
  • Publication number: 20100252737
    Abstract: A spectrometer includes: a lighting device (LSRC) configured to generate a light beam covering a wavelength band, a probe configured so that the light beam coming from the lighting device interacts with a fluid to be analyzed, and a spectrum analyzing device configured to receive the light beam after it has interacted with the fluid to be analyzed, and to provide light intensity measurements for various ranges of wavelengths. The lighting device includes several light-emitting components (1a-1c) emitting light in various ranges of wavelengths, and a mixing optical component (3) fixed onto the emitting surface of the light-emitting components (1a-1g), to combine the light flows emitted by the light-emitting components into a resulting light beam covering the wavelength band, and guide the resulting light flow to the probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: SP3H
    Inventors: Johan FOURNEL, Alain LUNATI, Thierry GERGAUD
  • Publication number: 20100243900
    Abstract: A spectroscopic method and spectroscopy system therefrom for analyzing samples. A sample includes a first chemical component that has a characteristic first absorption peak is provided. The sample is irradiated in a measurement waveband proximate to the first absorption peak, and at a first and a second reference waveband where the first chemical component lacks characteristic absorption features. Reflected or transmitted detection data is obtained including a measured power proximate to the first absorption peak and first and second reference powers at the reference wavebands. A plurality of different waveband ratios are evaluated using pairs of detection data to generate a plurality of measured waveband ratio values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: HONEYWELL ASCA INC.
    Inventors: Frank M. HARAN, Reena Meijer DREES, Sebastien TIXIER
  • Publication number: 20100243901
    Abstract: A pellet 4 for use in spectrometry includes a first powder 41 of a light transmitting material in a compression-molded form, and a second powder 42 which is hydrophilic and water-insoluble and is dispersedly mixed in the first powder. A sample 40 to be subjected to spectrometry is e.g. in a powdery form and dispersedly mixed in the first and the second powders 41 and 42. When the sample 40 is a hydrate, the second powder 42 exerts the effect of accelerating dehydration of the sample 40, so that stable spectrum data on the sample in the dehydrated state is obtained early. This makes it possible to perform a processing such as identification of the sample 40 early and precisely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicants: Arkray Inc., Tohoku Univeristy
    Inventors: Masashi Okamoto, Yuichi Ogawa