With Calibration Steps In Measurement Process Patents (Class 250/339.09)
  • Patent number: 8274050
    Abstract: An infra-red imaging camera comprises focusing optics for gathering infra-red energy from an external scene, and an uncooled and unshielded detector arranged to detect infra red energy. Internal temperature sensing together with approximation of the temperature response of the camera provides a time varying calibration that allows the infra-red energy received at the detector to be used as a temperature measurement for objects in the camera's field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Opgal Ltd.
    Inventor: Ernest Grimberg
  • Patent number: 8101905
    Abstract: A calibration system for an infrared imaging system includes an infrared sensor having a sensor model for imaging a target having a target spectral signature. The infrared imaging system includes an atmospheric model having atmospheric spectral values. The calibration system comprises a blackbody calibration source having a calibration source spectral signature and a computer for receiving the sensor model, the target spectral signature, the calibration source spectral signature and the atmospheric spectral values. The computer predicts a target spectral signature propagation at the infrared sensor and matches the target spectral signature propagation with the calibration source spectral signature propagation to determine a blackbody calibration source temperature for radiometric calibration of the infrared sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Eldon Rogers
  • Patent number: 8063372
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for temperature mapping a rotating component (12) in a high temperature combustion environment. The apparatus includes a thermal imager (14) having a field of view to sense infrared (IR) emissions. Emissivity of a surface of the component is subject to variation in the combustion environment. A radiance emitter (18) defines a spot within the field of view of the thermal imager. The spot indicates a respective emissivity value. A processor (30) is connected to the thermal imager to generate a radiance map of the component based on the IR emissions from the component. The processor includes a thermal calibration module configured to calibrate the radiance map based on the emissivity value of the spot within the field of view of the thermal imager to generate a calibrated thermal map of the component that displays absolute temperature over the surface of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis H. Lemieux, Paul J. Zombo, Vinay Jonnalagadda
  • Patent number: 8022842
    Abstract: An optical system for detecting ice and water on the surface of an aircraft includes an elongated transparent optical element having first and second end portions. A light source and light detector are disposed in one end of the optical element and a reflective surface is disposed in the opposite end portion. The reflective surface defines a critical angle and reflects light from the light source to the light detector when the critical angle is in contact with air and refracts the light toward the external environment when the reflective surface is in contact with ice or water. The system may also incorporate an optical element wherein the reflective surface includes a continuous array of convex elements extending outwardly from and across one end of the optical element and wherein each of the convex elements defines a critical angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Safe Flight Instrument Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Levine
  • Patent number: 8013304
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a thermographic imaging device having a visual compare mode that allows a user to compare a live image of a subject to a previously captured image of the same subject to aid the user in aligning the live image with the previously captured image. In this manner, a user can capture a series of images of the subject with the device located and oriented at a common location and orientation that is consistent throughout the series. In another embodiment, trend analysis software that includes a thermographic tool copying feature for copying one or more thermographic tools from a tooled thermographic image file to one or more non-tooled thermographic image files. In some embodiments, the software includes a trend-graphing feature that generates one or more trend plots after one or more tools have been copied to one or more non-tooled thermographic image files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Thermoteknix Systems Ltd
    Inventors: Peter Haigh, Richard Salisbury, Robin Tucker
  • Patent number: 7983851
    Abstract: A measuring system for determination of at least one chemical property in an oil under transportation from a first container to a second container, where a pipe inlet is arranged to withdraw a sample part from the oil in flow and a sample handling arrangement is arranged for guiding a sample from the sample part into and out of at least one chemical property measuring instrument. The measuring system further includes a control computer unit connected to the sample handling arrangement and being programmed to performing a plurality of consecutive measuring cycles, each including i) guiding a sample from the sample part into the at least one chemical property measuring instrument, ii) performing a measurement of the at least one chemical property in the sample, and iii) withdrawing the sample from the at least one chemical property measuring instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Nanonord A/S
    Inventor: Ole Jensen
  • Patent number: 7956327
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul H. Shelley, Gregory J. Werner, Joe Baratto
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7915586
    Abstract: A method of determining a film coating thickness on a substrate and/or amount one or more compositional ingredients of said film coating including making mid-IR spectra of a series of coating thickness or coating weight standards (and/or composition standards) on an appropriate substrate material to match sample material in question, pre-processing the data to prepare it for multivariate calibration methods, performing the multivariate calibration, saving the calibration model in the hand-held mid-IR device in an appropriate format, and using the calibration model to predict sample material in question from their mid IR spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul H. Shelley, Gregory J. Werner
  • Patent number: 7897923
    Abstract: A method of non-destructively determining the physical property of a material surface, the method including irradiating a surface with infrared energy over a spectrum of wavelengths; detecting said infrared energy reflected from said surface over said spectrum of wavelengths; performing multivariate calibration of said reflected infrared energy at a plurality of selected wavelengths including said spectrum of wavelengths; using results of said multivariate calibration to predict one or more physical properties of said model material; and, determining said one or more physical properties of said surface. Details are included for the case where uni-directional fiber CFRP materials are to be calibrated and predicted because special care must be taken for that material to insure the incident light from the spectrometer is at the proper orientation for calibration and for prediction of samples in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul Shelley, Greg Werner
  • 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: 7857964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in which grades of oil are refined according to their object from a feed oil. This method has a solvent extraction process that obtains an extracted oil, and a hydrogenation process that subjects the obtained extracted oil to hydrogenation process in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst to obtain a hydrorefined oil. The solvent extraction conditions are selected by using the poly-aromatic concentration as an index for calculating the concentration of heptane insoluble components in the residue of the extracted oil obtained by the solvent extraction process that cannot be fractionally distilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: JGC Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Mashiko, Akira Sugimoto, Tsuyoshi Okada
  • Patent number: 7807969
    Abstract: A focal plan array system of the bolometer type having means for determining the rate of non-uniformity which comprises: (a) an array of i×j pixel detectors of the bolometer type for sensing scenery radiation; (b) a case which accommodates said array of detectors, said case having a front window that provides exposure to the sensing element of all the i×j pixel detectors to radiation coming from the scenery; (c) at least a portion of column j+1 of blind detectors that are shielded from the scenery by a homogeneous reference surface; (d) reading circuitry for reading indication for the scenery radiation as sensed by each of the i×j detectors of the array, and for reading indication for the non uniformity as sensed by said detectors in column (j+1); (e) a register for recording the radiation values as read from all the detectors within column (j+1); and (f) a processing unit for finding the standard deviation ? of all the values in said register, and for comparing the same to a predetermined threshold Q, wherei
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Semi-Conductor Devices—An Elbit Systems—Rafael Partnership
    Inventors: Udi Mizrahi, Avraham Fraenkel, Zvi Kopolovich, Amnon Adin, Leonid Bikov
  • Patent number: 7807971
    Abstract: A method of determining moisture content of a composite material includes providing composite material standards with moisture content, collecting infrared spectra on the composite material standards, calibrating the infrared spectra to the moisture content, providing a composite material and predicting moisture content of the composite material based on the infrared spectra and the composite material standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William B. Grace, Gregory J. Werner, Paul H. Shelley
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7799835
    Abstract: The present invention provides, e.g., methods to recycle and/or reduce plastic, non-plastic, or a combination thereof, from a waste stream. The methods of the present invention include contacting the plastic waste with infrared (IR) energy at one or more frequencies and at one or more intensities, over a period of time effective to heat plastic present in the plastic waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Next-Tec, Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Anthony Smith, Adam J. Koffler, Philip Mark Smith
  • Patent number: 7772557
    Abstract: A method of scheduling offset compensation for an infrared (IR) imaging system to maintain good image quality. The method includes a scheduling algorithm for automatic offset compensation. The scheduling algorithm automatically adjusts periods between offset compensations based on the measurement of drift of the focal plane array (FPA) pixel levels. As a result, the periods are adjusted both when the camera is thermally stable and when the camera is undergoing an internal thermal change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Shane M. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7750301
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein, as an example, to provide microbolometer resonant cavity tuning techniques and calibration techniques in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. For example, in accordance with one embodiment, a method of operating an array of microbolometers on a substrate of an infrared camera system includes filtering infrared radiation to pass a first infrared radiation wavelength and to block a second infrared radiation wavelength, wherein the first infrared radiation wavelength is different than the second infrared radiation wavelength; setting a spacing between the microbolometers and the substrate to approximately tune the microbolometers to the second infrared radiation wavelength which is blocked by the filtering; and determining calibration data for the microbolometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Flir Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Woolaway, Austin A. Richards
  • Patent number: 7679047
    Abstract: An infrared gas sensing apparatus for sensing gas includes an infrared source for emitting infrared light, a wavelength tunable filter for selectively allows passage of the infrared light at a specific wavelength, an infrared detector for detecting the amount of the filtered infrared light, and a control circuit for controlling the wavelength tunable filter. The control circuit has a check circuit that checks whether the wavelength tunable filter selects a collect wavelength. The check circuit controls the wavelength tunable filter so that the wavelength tunable filter allows passage of the infrared light at a wavelength within a wavelength range where atmospheric gases do not absorb the infrared light. The check circuit checks whether the wavelength tunable filter operates normally by comparing the amount of the filtered infrared light with a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7679058
    Abstract: Methods and systems related to soil testing are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment of a system of the present disclosure includes a calibrated near-infrared (NIR) spectrophotometer and a soil sample with an unknown value of at least one of pH and b disposed in proximity to the calibrated NIR spectrophotometer, the NIR spectrophotometer configured to produce a spectrum from a reading of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Kissel, Miguel L. Cabrera
  • Publication number: 20100051794
    Abstract: A calibration system for an infrared imaging system includes an infrared sensor having a sensor model for imaging a target having a target spectral signature. The infrared imaging system includes an atmospheric model having atmospheric spectral values. The calibration system comprises a blackbody calibration source having a calibration source spectral signature and a computer for receiving the sensor model, the target spectral signature, the calibration source spectral signature and the atmospheric spectral values. The computer predicts a target spectral signature propagation at the infrared sensor and matches the target spectral signature propagation with the calibration source spectral signature propagation to determine a blackbody calibration source temperature for radiometric calibration of the infrared sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Eldon Rogers
  • Publication number: 20100038544
    Abstract: A method of determining a physical property of a composite material includes providing a series of composite materials/surfacing films, which are subjected to increasing thermal experience to create a set of thermal effect 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 thermal effect for samples in question.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Paul H. Shelley, Gregory J. Werner, Paul G. Vahey
  • Publication number: 20090321647
    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 experience 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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Paul H. Shelley, Greg J. Werner, Diane R. LaRiviere, Gwen M. Gross
  • Publication number: 20090321648
    Abstract: A method of non-destructively determining the physical property of a material surface, the method including irradiating a surface with infrared energy over a spectrum of wavelengths; detecting said infrared energy reflected from said surface over said spectrum of wavelengths; performing multivariate calibration of said reflected infrared energy at a plurality of selected wavelengths including said spectrum of wavelengths; using results of said multivariate calibration to predict one or more physical properties of said model material; and, determining said one or more physical properties of said surface. Details are included for the case where uni-directional fiber CFRP materials are to be calibrated and predicted because special care must be taken for that material to insure the incident light from the spectrometer is at the proper orientation for calibration and for prediction of samples in question.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Paul Shelley, Greg Werner
  • Patent number: 7616796
    Abstract: A system and method for providing image calibration data for calibrating a digital medical image are disclosed. The system comprises a computer-based platform hosting a medical imaging software application. The computer-based platform is used for accessing a digital medical image, using at least the medical imaging software application. The computer-based platform is further used for reading manufacturer, device, size, and/or resoluton information associated with the digital medical image, using at least the medical imaging software application. The computer-based platform is also used for accessing stored image calibration data corresponding to the digital medical image based on the read manufacturer, device, size, and/or resolution information, using at least the medical imaging software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Apteryx, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Crucs
  • Publication number: 20090242770
    Abstract: An automatic and continuous quantitative analysis method and apparatus capable of accurately and quickly quantifying the concentration of each component of a plurality of known components having close infrared absorption regions and similar infrared absorption curve shapes, included in a measurement sample. As a quantification wave number for each component of the plurality of components, a wave number at a tip of one absorption peak that overlaps as little as possible with absorption peaks in infrared absorption spectra of the other components, selected as a particular absorption peak for the component, is specified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: JASCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chihiro Jin
  • Publication number: 20090230306
    Abstract: A process for spectroscopic measurement of the emission of formaldehyde from refined wood products destined to be used in the manufacture of composite wood products such as medium density fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, and plywood. The process employs near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to measure the absorption of light by the wood furnish; the level of absorption is then related to the formaldehyde emission and thickness swell of the finished wood panel. This process allows for real-time quantitative prediction of future formaldehyde emissions and thickness swell of a composite wood panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Nicolas ANDRE, Timothy M. Young, Timothy G. Rials
  • Publication number: 20090127463
    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: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: PerkinElmer Singapore PTE Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Alan Hoult, Ralph Lance Carter, Antonio Canas Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7536266
    Abstract: A non-flat sample is analyzed by a first spectrometer which has previously been calibrated for flat sample analysis. The non-flat sample is then analyzed by a second spectrometer calibrated for flat samples. The values collected from analysis of the non-flat sample by the first spectrometer are plotted against values collected from analysis of non-flat samples by the second spectrometer. The plot identifies a differences between the first spectrometer values and the second spectrometer values. The plot values are used in conjunction with the standard values from the first spectrometer to calculate final standard values for the second spectrometer. Final standard values for the second spectrometer are then used to generate calibration curves for the second spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Butler, Patrick R. Brennan
  • Publication number: 20090045342
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that permit an analyte concentration to be estimated from a measurement in the presence of compounds that interfere with the measurement. The method reduces the error in the analyte concentration in the presence of interferents. The method includes the use of a set of measurements obtained for a large population having a range of known analyte and interfering compound concentrations. From a sample measurement, which may or may not be one of the population, likely present interferents are identified, and a calibration vector is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Bernhard B. Sterling, W. Dale Hall, Kenneth G. Witte, Mark Wechsler, Peng Zheng, Richard Keenan
  • Patent number: 7486388
    Abstract: A method, a portable device and a measuring instrument for standardization of a satellite measuring instrument to a corresponding master measuring instrument are disclosed. The portable device includes a device for containing a reference material, and an information unit for storing information about the reference material and measurements of the reference material on the master measuring instrument. When placed in a satellite measuring instrument, information from the master instrument stored in the information unit of the portable device is transmitted automatically and wirelessly to the satellite instrument and, together with measurements by the satellite instrument of the reference masterial in the portable device, a standardization model for the satellite instrument and the sample type is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Foss Tecatur AB
    Inventors: Bo Büchmann, Mark Westerhaus, Sven-Anders Nilsson, Anders Ebelin
  • Patent number: 7436500
    Abstract: A chemical imaging system is provided which uses a near infrared radiation microscope. The system includes an illumination source which illuminates an area of a sample using light in the near infrared radiation wavelength and light in the visible wavelength. A multitude of spatially resolved spectra of transmitted, reflected, emitted or scattered near infrared wavelength radiation light from the illuminated area of the sample is collected and a collimated beam is produced therefrom. A near infrared imaging spectrometer is provided for selecting a near infrared radiation image of the collimated beam. The filtered images are collected by a detector for further processing. The visible wavelength light from the illuminated area of the sample is simultaneously detected providing for the simultaneous visible and near infrared chemical imaging analysis of the sample. Two efficient means for performing three dimensional near infrared chemical imaging microscopy are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: ChemImage Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J Treado, Matthew Nelson, Scott Keitzer
  • Publication number: 20080230700
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for quantifying the composition of a product, including: irradiating the product with a radiation source in the near infrared range; receiving radiation which is reflected by or transmitted through the product; providing an output signal corresponding to the intensity of the radiation received at a number of different wavelengths; and determining whether or not the product lies within predetermined integrity criteria on the basis of the output signal using a mathematical method. The moving product contains a solution or homogeneous dispersion and the content of at least one substance contained in the dispersion or solution is quantitatively determined on the basis of the output signal. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicants: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Uhlmann Visiotec GmbH
    Inventors: Christian-Peter Christiansen, Hans-Joachim Ploss, Richard Mertens, Heino Prinz
  • Publication number: 20080135761
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring a phase fraction of a flow stream are disclosed. An infrared phase fraction meter includes a light source for emitting into a flow stream infrared radiation that includes first and second wavelength bands. The first wavelength band substantially transmits through first and second phases of the flow stream and is substantially absorbed by a third phase. In contrast, the second wavelength band is substantially absorbed by the second phase relative to the first and third phases. One or more detectors simultaneously detect attenuation of the first and second wavelength bands upon the infrared radiation passing through at least a portion of the flow stream, and a phase fraction of the second phase is determined based on the attenuation. As an example, the first, second and third phases are gas, water and oil, respectively, produced from a well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: John Lievois, David Atkinson
  • Patent number: 7365328
    Abstract: A dispersive, diffraction grating, NIR spectrometer that automatically calibrates the wavelength scale of the instrument without the need for external wavelength calibration materials is shown. The device shows: 1) a low power He—Ne laser at right angles to the source beam of the spectrometer; 2) a folding mirror to redirect the collimated laser beam so that it is parallel to the source beam; 3) the tendency of diffraction gratings to produce overlapping spectra of higher orders; 4) a “polka dot” beam splitter to redirect the majority of the laser beam toward the reference detector; 5) PbS detectors and 6) a software routine written in Lab VIEW that automatically corrects the wavelength scale of the instrument from the positions of the 632.8 nm laser line in the spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Busch, Dennis H. Rabbe
  • Patent number: 7339169
    Abstract: An infrared spectrometer sample rotating turntable kit has a rotatable sample cup containing the sample. The infrared spectrometer has an infrared spectrometer probe for analyzing the sample and the rotatable sample cup is adapted to receive the infrared spectrometer probe. A reflectance standard is located in the rotatable sample cup. A sleeve is positioned proximate the sample cup and adapted to receive the probe. A rotator rotates the rotatable sample cup. A battery is connected to the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Joel Del Eckels, Gregory L. Klunder
  • Patent number: 7317516
    Abstract: A chemical imaging system is provided which uses a near infrared radiation microscope. The system includes an illumination source which illuminates an area of a sample using light in the near infrared radiation wavelength and light in the visible wavelength. A multitude of spatially resolved spectra of transmitted, reflected, emitted or scattered near infrared wavelength radiation light from the illuminated area of the sample is collected and a collimated beam is produced therefrom. A near infrared imaging spectrometer is provided for selecting a near infrared radiation image of the collimated beam. The filtered images are collected by a detector for further processing. The visible wavelength light from the illuminated area of the sample is simultaneously detected providing for the simultaneous visible and near infrared chemical imaging analysis of the sample. Two efficient means for performing three dimensional near infrared chemical imaging microscopy are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: ChemImage Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J Treado, Matthew Nelson, Scott Keitzer
  • Patent number: 7307257
    Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for on-line measurement of polymer properties such as moisture content, ethylene content, Epoxidized Soy Bean Oil (ESBO) content, calcium stearate content and ethylidene norbornene (ENB) content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Long, Stephen K. Morgan, Carl J. Thomas, Oscar K. Broussard, III
  • Patent number: 7304311
    Abstract: A method and device for evaluating a printing medium for use in a printing process, in which a set of spectral data is generated from a sample of the printing medium, and the set of spectral data is analysed. The analysis of the set of spectral data comprises detecting spectral data of the set indicative of features of the printing medium related to performance of that printing medium in the printing process. The performance of the printing medium in the printing process is predicted in response to the detected spectral data of the set indicative of performance-related printing medium features, and the printing medium is accepted or refused for use in the printing process in response to this printing medium performance prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Institut des Communications Graphiques du Quebec
    Inventors: Robert St-Amour, Christine Canet, Karine Lapointe
  • Patent number: 7279684
    Abstract: Method of use of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for quantitative analysis of resin-wood composites, and methods of making engineered wood products using calibrated near infrared (NIR) spectroscopic instrumentation for quantitative analysis of resin-wood composites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Huber Engineered Woods LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer J. Cowan, Albert G. Landers
  • Patent number: 7268862
    Abstract: A chemical imaging system is provided which uses a near infrared radiation microscope. The system includes an illumination source which illuminates an area of a sample using light in the near infrared radiation wavelength and light in the visible wavelength. A multitude of spatially resolved spectra of transmitted, reflected, emitted or scattered near infrared wavelength radiation light from the illuminated area of the sample is collected and a collimated beam is produced therefrom. A near infrared imaging spectrometer is provided for selecting a near infrared radiation image of the collimated beam. The filtered images are collected by a detector for further processing. The visible wavelength light from the illuminated area of the sample is simultaneously detected providing for the simultaneous visible and near infrared chemical imaging analysis of the sample. Two efficient means for performing three dimensional near infrared chemical imaging microscopy are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Chem Image Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Treado, Matthew Nelson, Scott Keitzer
  • Patent number: 7253905
    Abstract: A process for the determination and correction of laser induced damages of the optical and electronic components within the beam path of a monitor module of a 193 nm excimer lasers is provided herein. Especially state of the art detectors like CCD cameras degrade under UV radiation. With a special correction of the sensitivity of each camera pixel this problem can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventors: Dirk L. Basting, Kai Schmidt, Holger Bald, Christian Schramm
  • Patent number: 7067811
    Abstract: A method is described for providing rapid on-line analyses of chemical compositions such as chemical process streams, utilizing near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics. In the method, for each type of analysis to be conducted, a database is provided by analyzing a series of samples using standard laboratory analytical procedures, utilizing the results as reference values to establish quantitative calibration models from NIR spectroscopy using chemometric techniques and storing this information in a computer database. An NIR spectroscopic system is also provided comprising a transflectance or a transmittance probe coupled via fiber-optic cables to a stable white light source and a spectrograph. The probe is inserted into a test sample or chemical process stream to be analyzed, a stable white light of selected wavelength range is beamed to the probe and the spectra obtained on the spectrograph are recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources Canada
    Inventors: Yicheng Long, Tadeusz Dabros, Hassan Hamza
  • Patent number: 7068357
    Abstract: A chemical imaging system is provided which uses a near infrared radiation microscope. The system includes an illumination source which illuminates an area of a sample using light in the near infrared radiation wavelength and light in the visible wavelength. A multitude of spatially resolved spectra of transmitted, reflected, emitted or scattered near infrared wavelength radiation light from the illuminated area of the sample is collected and a collimated beam is produced therefrom. A near infrared imaging spectrometer is provided for selecting a near infrared radiation image of the collimated beam. The filtered images are collected by a detector for further processing. The visible wavelength light from the illuminated area of the sample is simultaneously detected providing for the simultaneous visible and near infrared chemical imaging analysis of the sample. Two efficient means for performing three dimensional near infrared chemical imaging microscopy are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: ChemImage Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Treado, Matthew Nelson, Scott Keitzer
  • Patent number: 7009180
    Abstract: A method uses spectroscopy to determine an analyte concentration in a sample. The method includes producing an absorbance spectrum of the sample. The method further includes shifting the absorbance spectrum to zero in a wavelength region. The method further includes subtracting a water or other substance contribution from the absorbance spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Optiscan Biomedical Corp.
    Inventors: Bernhard B. Sterling, James R. Braig, Daniel S. Goldberger, Philip C. Hartstein, Robert D. Gaffney
  • Patent number: 6958479
    Abstract: A method of processing data from at least one spectrophotometer characterized by the steps of transferring the data from the spectrophotometer to a control processing unit, processing the data at the central processing unit, and transferring the processed data to the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Inventors: Geordie Robert Burling-Claridge, Peter James Davey, John C. M Lea
  • Patent number: 6919566
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of calibrating a spectroscopic device for providing a non-invasive measurement of an analyte level in a sample. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of calibration algorithms; (b) taking a set of non-invasive measurements on said sample with said spectroscopic device; (c) calculating a predicted set of analyte levels for each of the calibration algorithms in response to the set of non-invasive measurements, each of the predicted sets of analyte levels being characterized by a variability range, a slope, an R2 (a square of the correlation between said set of non-invasive measurements and said predicted set of analyte levels), and a standard error of prediction; and (d) selecting an appropriate calibration algorithm by using a suitability score based on the variability range, the slope, the R2 an the standard error of prediction for each of the predicted sets of analyte levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: NIR Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore E. Cadell
  • Patent number: 6885003
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device for the objective qualitative analysis of liquid vinification compositions, comprising memory means (8) in which are recorded calibrating values of spectroscopic criteria for a group of characteristic parameters comprising the concentration levels of at least a compound produced by Botrytis cinerea, at least a compound produced by yeasts, at least a compound produced by the acetic bacteria, and at least a compound produced by lactic acid bacteria, means (1, 2, 3, 4, 6) for producing a continuous infrared spectrum, and means (7) for calculating the value (VP) of each characteristic parameter in the composition from the spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Foss Electric A/S
    Inventor: Marc Dubernet
  • Patent number: 6881381
    Abstract: A liquid can be marked for identification purposes with at least first and second miscible markers. The markers are mixed in the liquid so that the ratio of the concentration of the first marker to the concentration of the second marker is substantially equal to a predetermined value. Thus, by comparing the ratio of the measured concentration of the first marker to the measured concentration of the second marker with predetermined values the liquid can be uniquely identified. The detectors can be connected to a processor and control unit (22) for initiation of testing, for processing of detection signal from the detectors, and for display of readout information. Processor and control unit (22) can include a look up table (23) for storing information about marking patterns, a comparison element (35) for comparing measured values with values supplied by look up table (23), and a display (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: On-Site Analysis, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Asher, Richard H. Clarke, Mohammad S. Farahat
  • Patent number: RE39977
    Abstract: A chemical imaging system is provided which uses a near infrared radiation microscope. The system includes an illumination source which illuminates an area of a sample using light in the near infrared radiation wavelength and light in the visible wavelength. A multitude of spatially resolved spectra of transmitted, reflected, or emitted or scattered near infrared wavelength radiation light from the illuminated area of the sample is collected and a collimated beam is produced therefrom. A near infrared imaging spectrometer is provided for selecting a near infrared radiation images of the collimated beam. The spectrometer comprises a liquid crystal tunable filter. The filtered selected images are collected by a detector for further processing. The visible wavelength light from the illuminated area of the sample is simultaneously detected providing for the simultaneous visible and near infrared chemical imaging analysis of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: ChemImage Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Treado, Matthew Nelson, Scott Keitzer