Colorimeter optical measurement interference mitigation
AssigneeHach Company
InventorsRussell Paul Gorham, Nelson E. Dervaes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment provides a method for measuring an analyte of a sample using a colorimeter, including: introducing the sample into a measurement chamber of the colorimeter, wherein the measurement chamber comprises an optical path from a light source to an optical sensor; identifying and waiting a sample settling period, wherein the sample settling period comprises a dynamic length of time, wherein the identifying comprises: measuring, using the optical sensor, a light throughput of the sample; and determining, based upon the measuring, the light throughput has reached a stable baseline; and obtaining a reference measurement of the sample when the stable baseline is reached. Other aspects are described and claimed.
Claims16
A method for measuring an analyte of a sample using a colorimeter, comprising:
- introducing the sample into a measurement chamber of the colorimeter, wherein the measurement chamber comprises an optical path from a light source to an optical sensor;
- identifying and waiting a sample settling period, wherein the sample settling period comprises a dynamic length of time, wherein the identifying comprises:
- measuring, using the optical sensor, a light throughput of the sample;
- and
- determining, based upon the measuring, the light throughput has reached a stable baseline;
- averaging a portion of measured light throughput and calculating a noise level;
- performing a reference noise test by adding a fixed time to a cycle until reaching the stable baseline;
- and
- obtaining a reference measurement of the sample when the stable baseline is reached.
A measurement device for measuring an analyte of a sample using a colorimeter, comprising:
- a measurement chamber;
- a light source;
- an optical detector;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory device that stores instructions executable by the processor to:
- introduce the sample into the measurement chamber of the colorimeter, wherein the measurement chamber comprises an optical path from the light source to the optical sensor;
- identify and wait a sample settling period, wherein the sample settling period comprises a dynamic length of time, wherein the identifying comprises:
- measuring, using the optical sensor, a light throughput of the sample;
- and
- determining, based upon the measuring, the light throughput has reached a stable baseline;
- averaging a portion of measured light throughput and calculating a noise level;
- performing a reference noise test by adding a fixed time to a cycle until reaching the stable baseline;
- and
- obtain a reference measurement of the sample when the stable baseline is reached.
A product for measuring an analyte of a sample using a colorimeter, comprising:
- a non-transitory storage device having code stored therewith, the code being executable by the processor and comprising:
- code that introduces the sample into a measurement chamber of the colorimeter, wherein the measurement chamber comprises an optical path from a light source to an optical sensor;
- code that identifies and waits a sample settling period, wherein the sample settling period comprises a dynamic length of time, wherein the identifying comprises:
- measuring, using the optical sensor, a light throughput of the sample;
- and
- determining, based upon the measuring, the light throughput has reached a stable baseline;
- averaging a portion of measured light throughput and calculating a noise level;
- performing a reference noise test by adding a fixed time to a cycle until reaching the stable baseline;
- and
- code that obtains a reference measurement of the sample when the stable baseline is reached.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.