Method and apparatus for gold detection
AssigneeKendall Technology Inc.
InventorsJames Douglas Kendall, John Henry Cole, Adam Joseph Bucek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gold detection apparatus capable of detecting gold in field mineral samples such as rock or soil with little or no preparation. Light in red, green and violet wavelengths is directed at a surface of a mineral sample and the reflected light intensity is measured by an array of sensors or photosites. Based on the characteristic reflectance properties of gold, the reflected light intensity in each wavelength is used to determine the presence of gold particles and the gold concentration of the mineral sample.
Claims22
1-11. (canceled)
A method for detecting gold in a material sample, the method comprising:
- illuminating the material sample with light in a first preselected wavelength range, a second preselected wavelength range, and a third preselected wavelength range;
- detecting the light reflected by the material sample in the first, second and third preselected wavelength ranges;
- and
- comparing, using a processor, a relative intensity of the reflected light in the second preselected wavelength range to the reflected light in the first preselected wavelength range, and intensity of the reflected light in the third preselected wavelength range to intensity of the reflected light in the first and second preselected wavelength ranges.
16-34. (canceled)
An apparatus for detecting gold in a material sample, the apparatus comprising:
- a) at least one light source for illuminating the material sample with light in a first preselected wavelength range, a second preselected wavelength range, and a third preselected wavelength range;
- b) an image sensor for detecting the light in the first, second and third preselected wavelength ranges reflected by the material sample;
- and
- c) a processor configured to compare a relative intensity of the reflected light in the second preselected wavelength range to the reflected light in the first preselected wavelength range, and compare intensity of the reflected light in the third preselected wavelength range to intensity of the reflected light in the first and second preselected wavelength ranges.
(canceled)
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon, the executable program configured to instruct a processor to perform a method for detecting gold in a material sample, the method comprising:
- illuminating the material sample with light in a first preselected wavelength range, a second preselected wavelength range, and a third preselected wavelength range;
- detecting the light reflected by the material sample in the first, second and third preselected wavelength ranges;
- and
- comparing, using a processor, a relative intensity of the reflected light in the second preselected wavelength range to the reflected light in the first preselected wavelength range, and intensity of the reflected light in the third preselected wavelength range to intensity of the reflected light in the first and second preselected wavelength ranges.
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the image sensor is selected from the group consisting of a CCD image sensor and a CMOS image sensor.
The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a portable enclosure, the portable enclosure housing the at least one light source, the image sensor and the processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.