# US 10,481,139 B2 · DMD based UV absorption detector for liquid chromatography

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- Number: US 10,481,139 B2
- Document ID: US10481139B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/772,109
- Filed: 2016-11-03
- Published: 2018-11-01
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-03
- Assignees: Waters Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: Waters Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Anthony C. Jeannotte; Daniel Gillund; Aditya Shankar Prasad; Saksham Saxena
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481139B2

## CPC

- G01N 30/95: Detectors specially adapted therefor; Signal analysis
- G01J 1/429: {applied to measurement of ultraviolet light (using counting tubes G01T)}
- G01J 3/00: Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
- G01J 3/0208: {using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction}
- G01J 3/021: {using plane or convex mirrors, parallel phase plates, or particular reflectors}
- G01J 3/0218: {using optical fibers}
- G01J 3/0262: {Constructional arrangements for removing stray light}
- G01J 3/0286: {Constructional arrangements for compensating for fluctuations caused by temperature, humidity or pressure, or using cooling or temperature stabilization of parts of the device; Controlling the atmosphere inside a spectrometer, e.g. vacuum}
- G01J 3/0291: {Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements}
- G01J 3/04: Slit arrangements {slit adjustment}
- G01J 3/10: Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
- G01J 3/18: using diffraction elements, e.g. grating (gratings per se G02B)
- G01J 3/28: Investigating the spectrum (using colour filters G01J3/51)
- G01J 3/2803: {using photoelectric array detector}
- G01J 3/42: Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry (beam switching arrangements G01J3/08)
- G01N 21/31: Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry {(G01N21/72 takes precedence)}
- G01N 30/74: Optical detectors {(measurement of intensity, velocity, spectral content, polarisation, or phase of infrared, visible or ultraviolet light G01J)}
- G01J 2003/1213: {Filters in general, e.g. dichroic, band}
- G01J 2003/2866: {Markers; Calibrating of scan}
- G01N 21/05: Flow-through cuvettes (G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10)
- G01N 2021/3181: {using LEDs}
- G02B 26/0841: {the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A detector for use in liquid chromatography is provided. The detector includes a light delivery system comprising a light source that emits one or more spectral lines of light of a light spectrum. The detector has an entrance slit configured to receive the one or more spectral lines of light and a wavelength selection module comprising a digital micro-mirror device. The digital micro-mirror device is configured to redirect the one or more spectral lines of light to a flow cell. The flow cell is optically connected to the wavelength selection module.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A detector for liquid chromatography comprising:
a light delivery system comprising a light source that emits light having a plurality of wavelengths; and
a wavelength selection module optically coupled to the light delivery system, the wavelength selection module comprising:
a digital micro-mirror device configurable as a variable slit and having a plurality of micro-mirrors each controllable to direct light along a first optical path to a beam dump or to direct light along a second optical path, wherein dimensions of the variable slit are determined by the micro-mirrors directing light along the second optical path; and
a spectrally dispersive optical element to receive light and provide diffracted light having a linear dispersion of the wavelengths.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The detector of claim 1 wherein the digital micro-mirror device is configurable as a variable entrance slit and wherein the spectrally dispersive optical element receives the light from the digital micro-mirror device that is directed along the second optical path.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The detector of claim 2 further comprising a flow cell disposed along an optical path between defined between the light delivery system and the wavelength selection module.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The detector of claim 1 wherein the digital micro-mirror device is configurable as a variable exit slit, wherein the spectrally dispersive optical element receives the light emitted from the light delivery system and wherein the digital micro-mirror device receives the diffracted light from the spectrally dispersive optical element.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The detector of claim 4 further comprising a flow cell disposed to receive the diffracted light from the spectrally dispersive optical element.