US 12,687,498 B1Granted

Portable spectroscopic analysis assembly

AssigneeTriad National Security, LLC

InventorsSamuel M. Clegg, Ronald K. Martinez, Kristy L. Nowak-Lovato

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Abstract

Portable spectroscopic analysis assemblies are disclosed. In an example, an apparatus comprises an analysis subassembly, a probe subassembly, a tether subassembly interconnecting the analysis subassembly and the probe subassembly, and a laser source. The analysis subassembly comprises a spectroscopy subassembly. The laser source is configured to generate an excitation laser signal. The probe subassembly is configured to transmit the excitation laser signal to a sample and to receive an optical response signal from the sample, and the tether subassembly is configured to convey the optical response signal to the spectroscopy subassembly. The apparatus is operative to perform each of a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis and a Raman spectroscopy analysis of the optical response signal to at least partially characterize a composition of the sample.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

an analysis subassembly comprising a spectroscopy subassembly;
a probe subassembly comprising an optical probe, a probe subassembly housing supporting the optical probe, and a hood coupled to the probe subassembly housing;
a tether subassembly interconnecting the analysis subassembly and the probe subassembly;
and
a laser source configured to generate an excitation laser signal,
wherein the optical probe is configured to transmit the excitation laser signal along a probe axis, wherein the hood extends along a direction parallel to the probe axis and is configured to shield the optical probe from ambient light, wherein the hood is configured to translate relative to the probe subassembly housing along a direction at least substantially parallel to the probe axis to transition between a disengaged configuration and an engaged configuration, wherein the probe subassembly is configured to transmit the excitation laser signal to a sample and to receive an optical response signal from the sample, wherein the probe subassembly is operative to transmit the excitation laser signal when the hood is in the engaged configuration and is prevented from transmitting the excitation laser signal when the hood is in the disengaged configuration, and wherein the analysis subassembly is operative to perform each of a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis and a Raman spectroscopy analysis of the optical response signal to at least partially characterize a composition of the sample.

3 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

an analysis subassembly comprising a spectroscopy subassembly and an analysis subassembly housing supporting the spectroscopy subassembly;
a probe subassembly comprising an optical probe, a probe subassembly housing supporting the optical probe, and a hood coupled to the probe subassembly housing and configured to shield the optical probe from ambient light;
a tether subassembly interconnecting the analysis subassembly and the probe subassembly;
and
a laser source configured to generate an excitation laser signal,
wherein the probe subassembly is configured to transmit the excitation laser signal to a sample and to receive an optical response signal from the sample, wherein the tether subassembly is configured to convey the optical response signal to the spectroscopy subassembly, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in each of:
a LIBS mode, in which the spectroscopy subassembly is operative to perform a LIBS analysis of the optical response signal;
and
a Raman spectroscopy mode, in which the spectroscopy subassembly is operative to perform a Raman spectroscopy analysis of the optical response signal,
wherein the hood is configured to translate relative to the probe subassembly housing to transition between a disengaged configuration and an engaged configuration, and wherein the hood is biased toward the disengaged configuration.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.