Apparatus for the measurement of light transmittance through a liquid sample using multiple LED light sources

An apparatus for measuring the transmittance of several wavelengths of light through a liquid sample, the apparatus comprising:

• a first region defined by a first enclosing structure comprising:
• at least two (2) light emitting diode (LED) modules whereby each of the at least two LED modules comprises a cylindrical rigid structure, an LED mounted to a first end of the cylindrical rigid structure, and a beam splitter mounted to a second end of the cylindrical rigid structure, such that light from the LED propagates along a center of the cylindrical rigid structure and is both partially reflected at 90 degrees and also partially transmitted at 0 degrees by the beam splitter;
• an optical module comprising a mounting structure and said at least two LED modules whereby each of the at least two LED modules is configured to contribute a specific wavelength or group of wavelengths of light, whereby the at least two LED modules are mounted substantially orthogonal to a length of the mounting structure, and whereby the at east two LED modules are adjustable in their alignment to each other through mechanical translation and rotation of at least one of the at least two LED modules about an axis of the cylindrical rigid structure of the at least one of the at least two LED modules in order to align resulting reflected light beams from the beam splitter of each of the at least two LED modules into one (1) resulting reflected light beam through a length of the optical module;
• and
• at least one LED light detector mounted substantially at 180 degrees to the axis of the cylindrical rigid structure of the at least one LED module, the at least one LED light detector being configured to sense a light intensity of said LED light from said at least one LED module;
• and
• a second region defined by second enclosing structure comprising:
• a liquid sample light detector mounted within said second region, substantially 180 degrees to said reflected light beams of the at least two LED modules;
• first and second windowed apertures substantially transparent to said reflected light beams positioned in registration with said reflected LED light beams of the at least two LED modules such that a normal of each of the first and second windowed apertures is substantially collinear with said reflected LED light beams of the at least two LED modules;
• a liquid sample present between the first and second windowed apertures defining a path therethrough for transmitting said reflected LED light beams of the at least two LED modules, said liquid sample light detector being configured to sense a light intensity of the reflected LED light beams of the at least two LED modules, after the reflected LED light beams of the at least two LED modules pass through said first and second windowed apertures and said liquid sample;
• and
• at least one (1) microprocessor connected to said LEDs, said at least one LED light detector, and said liquid sample light detector, wherein the at least one microprocessor is programmed to:
• activate each of the LEDs independently;
• record light intensity measurements from the at least one LED light detector and the liquid sample light detector;
• control the LEDs such that the LEDs are energized one at a time or in sub-groups of a total number of the LEDs, and subsequently measure and record via the liquid sample light detector an amount of light for a specific wavelength through said liquid sample, as defined by each of the LEDs or the sub-group of the total number of LEDs;
• and
• process the recorded amount of light using spectrophotometric computation techniques to calculate and output information, wherein re information comprises concentration information about a particular compound in the liquid sample.