# US 12,007,312 B2 · Method and apparatus for detecting chemical compounds in soil

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- Number: US 12,007,312 B2
- Document ID: US12007312B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/491,236
- Filed: 2023-10-20
- Published: 2024-02-08
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2022-06-08
- Assignees: S4 Mobile Laboratories, LLC
- Applicants: S4 Mobile Laboratories, LLC
- Inventors: Lamalani Suarez; David Perry; Linda Barrett
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007312B2

## CPC

- G01N 21/3563: for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
- 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 21/359: using near infrared light
- G01N 21/8507: {Probe photometers, i.e. with optical measuring part dipped into fluid sample}
- G01N 33/24: Earth materials (G01N33/42 takes precedence)
- G01S 19/26: involving a sensor measurement for aiding acquisition or tracking
- G01N 2021/8528: {Immerged light conductor}
- G01N 2021/855: {Underground probe, e.g. with provision of a penetration tool}
- G01N 2201/0636: Reflectors
- G01N 2201/0638: Refractive parts
- G01N 2201/08: Optical fibres; light guides
- 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)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

A spectrometer probe is disclosed herein including a shaft having a first end and a second end, a fiberoptic bundle located within the shaft, the fiberoptic bundle having a first end and a second end, a mirror, a transparent window, a prism, a prism support, an elastically deformable material, an index-matching elastomer, wherein the prism is completely encompassed by the index-matching elastomer, and a penetration cone operatively attached to the second end of the fiberoptic bundle, the mirror located within the second end of the shaft, wherein the transparent window is substantially parallel with the fiberoptic bundle and the shaft, wherein the prism is angled at approximately a 45 degree angle in relation to the window and the fiberoptic bundle, wherein the prism is flush with the prism support, wherein the elastically deformable material is biasly connected to the prism support.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A spectrometer probe comprising:
a shaft having an outer sleeve having a first end and a second end;
an endcap attached to the first end of the outer sleeve;
a spacer tab;
a probe sample window;
a light reflection insert, wherein the light reflection insert is attached between the probe sample window and the first end of the outer sleeve, wherein the spacer tab is connected between the probe sample window and the end cap;
a top spacer tab attached to the second end of the outer sleeve;
a protector tube top cap attached the top spacer tub at the second end of the outer sleeve;
a near-infrared probe cable connected to the protector tube top cap, wherein the near-infrared probe has a first end and a second end;
a read fiberoptic cable connected at the second end of the near-infrared probe;
a light source fiberoptic cable connected at the second end of the near-infrared probe;
a fiber bundle located within the outer sleeve, the fiber bundle having a first end and a second end, the read fiberoptic cable and the light source fiberoptic cable combine to form the fiber bundle;
a concave mirror or a sapphire prism;
a backscatter baffle;
a sapphire window;
set screws;
an inner sleeve;
a spring;
an index-matching elastomer; and
a penetration cone operatively attached to the second end of the near-infrared probe, the index-matching elastomer attached to the second end of the fiber bundle, wherein the sapphire window is substantially parallel with the fiber bundle and the outer sleeve, wherein the backscatter baffle is attached parallel to the fiber bundle, wherein the backscatter baffle has a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the backscatter baffle extends beyond the second end of the fiber bundle, wherein the penetration cone is operatively connected to outer sleeve via an inner sleeve, wherein the inner sleeve is connected to the outer sleeve by set screws.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein the concave mirror or sapphire prism is a concave mirror, wherein the concave minor is located within the second end of the outer sleeve, wherein the concavity of the concave mirror is facing the second end of the fiber bundle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The spectrometer probe of claim 1, wherein the concave mirror or sapphire prism is a sapphire prism, wherein the sapphire prism is angled at approximately a 45 degree angle in relation to the sapphire window and the fiber bundle, wherein the sapphire prism is flush with the prism support, wherein the spring is biasly connected to the prism support.

### Claim 4

A spectrometer probe comprising:
a shaft having a first end and a second end;
a fiberoptic bundle located within the shaft, the fiberoptic bundle having a first end and a second end;
an elastically deformable material, wherein the elastically deformable material is biasly connected to a minor support or prism support; and
a mirror or a prism, wherein the mirror or prism located within the second end of the shaft, wherein the mirror or prism is angled at approximately a 45 degree angle in relation to the fiberoptic bundle, wherein the shaft has no light source or spectrocope located within the shaft, wherein there are no air gaps in the shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The spectrometer probe of claim 4, further comprising:
an index-matching elastomer, wherein the minor or prism is completely encompassed by the index-matching elastomer; and
a penetration cone operatively attached to the second end of the fiberoptic bundle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The spectrometer probe of claim 4, further comprising:
wherein the mirror or prism is a prism, wherein the prism is flush with the prism support; and
a backscatter baffle having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the backscatter baffle extends beyond the second end of the fiberoptic bundle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The spectrometer probe of claim 4, further comprising:
a transparent window, wherein the transparent window is substantially parallel with the fiberoptic bundle and the shaft, wherein the mirror or prism is angled at approximately a 45 degree angle in relation to the transparent window and the fiberoptic bundle;
a probe sample window; and
a light reflection insert, wherein the light reflection insert is attached between the probe sample window and the first end of the shaft.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The spectrometer probe of claim 4, further comprising:
an outer sleeve having a first end and a second end, wherein the outer sleeve surrounds the shaft;
an endcap attached to the first end of the outer sleeve; and
a spacer tab, wherein the spacer tab is connected between a probe sample window and the end cap.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The spectrometer probe of claim 4, wherein the minor or prism is a minor, the spectrometer probe further comprising:
a transparent window, wherein the transparent window is substantially parallel with the fiberoptic bundle and the shaft, wherein the mirror is angled at approximately a 45 degree angle in relation to the transparent window and the fiberoptic bundle, wherein the minor is concave, wherein the concavity of the concave mirror is facing the second end of the fiberoptic bundle, wherein the transparent window is substantially parallel with the fiberoptic bundle and the outer sleeve.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The spectrometer probe of claim 9 further comprising an index-matching elastomer, wherein the minor is completely encompassed by the index-matching elastomer, wherein the index-matching elastomer is silicone elastomer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The spectrometer probe of claim 8, wherein the fiberoptic bundle is bonded to the outer sleeve with epoxy, wherein there are no air gaps and no etaloning.

### Claim 12

A method for determining chemical compositions in soil, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a spectrometer probe comprising:
a portable carrier;
an actuator;
a shaft having a first end and a second end;
a fiberoptic bundle located within the shaft, the fiberoptic bundle having a first end and a second end;
a mirror or a prism;
an elastically deformable material, wherein the elastically deformable material is biasly connected to a mirror support or prism support;
an index-matching elastomer, wherein the minor or prism is completely encompassed by the index-matching elastomer; and
a penetration cone operatively attached to the second end of the fiberoptic bundle, the minor or prism located within the second end of the shaft, wherein the minor or prism is angled at approximately a 45 degree angle in relation to the fiberoptic bundle, wherein the shaft has no light source or spectroscope located within the shaft;
using the actuator to insert the penetration cone into associated soil to a predetermined depth in the soil;
passing light through the fiberoptic bundle;
receiving light diffusively reflected back from the soil; and
analyzing the diffusively reflected light with a spectrometer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, the spectrometer probe further comprising:
wherein the mirror or prism is flush with the mirror support or prism support; and
a backscatter baffle having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the backscatter baffle extends beyond the second end of the fiberoptic bundle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, the spectrometer probe, further comprising:
a transparent window, wherein the transparent window is substantially parallel with the fiberoptic bundle and the shaft, wherein the prism is angled at approximately a 45 degree angle in relation to the transparent window and the fiberoptic bundle;
a probe sample window; and
a light reflection insert, wherein the light reflection insert is attached between the probe sample window and the first end of the shaft.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, the spectrometer probe, further comprising:
an outer sleeve having a first end and a second end, wherein the outer sleeve surrounds the shaft;
an endcap attached to the first end of the outer sleeve; and
a spacer tab, wherein the spacer tab is connected between the probe sample window and the end cap.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the mirror or prism is a mirror, the spectrometer probe further comprising:
a transparent window, wherein the transparent window is substantially parallel with the fiberoptic bundle and the shaft, wherein the prism is angled at approximately a 45 degree angle in relation to the transparent window and the fiberoptic bundle, wherein the mirror is concave, wherein the concavity of the concave minor is facing the second end of the fiberoptic bundle, wherein the transparent window is substantially parallel with the fiberoptic bundle and the outer sleeve.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the index-matching elastomer is silicone elastomer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the fiberoptic bundle is bonded to the outer sleeve with epoxy.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein there are no air gaps surrounding the prism and no etaloning.