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US 11,079,333 B2Granted
Analyzer sample detection method and system
AssigneeSciAps, Inc.
InventorDavid R. Day
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spectrometer system and method including a laser source for directing a laser beam to a sample producing plasma radiation on the sample. At least one fiber of a fiber bundle is connected to an illumination source for directing light to the sample. A spectrometer subsystem receives plasma radiation from the sample via the detection fiber bundle. A camera receives light from the illumination source reflected off the sample for detecting the presence of the sample.
Claims23
A handheld LIBS spectrometer comprising:
- a housing;
- an optic stage in the housing and moveable with respect to the housing and including a laser focusing lens;
- a laser source mounted in the housing for directing a laser beam to a sample via the laser focusing lens for producing a plasma on the sample;
- at least one spectrometer in the housing for analyzing plasma radiation;
- an illumination source in the housing for directing light to the sample via the laser focusing lens;
- a camera in the housing for imaging the sample;
- and
- a controller subsystem responsive to images of the sample and controlling the illumination source, the laser source, and the camera and configured to:
- energize the illumination source to direct light to the sample via the laser focusing lens,
- control the camera to take a first image of the sample,
- deenergize the illumination source,
- control the camera to take a second image of the sample,
- subtract one of the first and second images of the sample from the other of the first and second images of the sample to produce intensity data, and
- disable the laser source if the intensity data falls below a predetermined threshold.
11 more elements
A handheld LIBS spectrometer comprising:
- a housing;
- an optic stage in the housing and moveable with respect to the housing and including a laser focusing lens;
- a laser source mounted in the housing for directing a laser beam to a sample via the laser focusing lens for producing plasma on the sample;
- at least one spectrometer in the housing for analyzing plasma radiation;
- an illumination source in the housing for directing light to the sample via the laser focusing lens;
- a camera in the housing for imaging for imaging the sample;
- and
- a controller subsystem configured to:
- energize the illumination source to direct light to a sample via the laser focusing lens, and
- analyze camera images to determine if a sample is present and in response to the analysis, if no sample is present, inhibit energizing the laser source.
7 more elements
A method of LIBS spectroscopy comprising:
- directing light to a sample before spectroscopically analyzing the sample;
- imaging the sample with a camera while light is directed to the sample;
- imaging the sample when no light is directed to the sample;
- subtracting the image of the sample when no light is directed to the sample from the image of the sample when light is directed to the sample to produce intensity data;
- if the intensity data is below a predefined threshold, inhibiting laser firing;
- and
- if the intensity data is above the predefined threshold, then directing a laser beam to the sample and analyzing plasma radiation created when the laser beam is incident on the sample.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.