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US 2016/0252397 A1Published application
Libs analyzer sample presence detection system and method
AssigneeSciAps, Inc.
InventorsDavid R. Day, Donald W. Sackett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A LIBS analyzer, preferably handheld, includes a laser configured to produce a plasma on a sample and a spectrometer responsive to radiation emitted from the plasma and configured to produce a spectrum. A controller subsystem is configured to control energizing the laser and to analyze the resulting spectrum from each laser pulse to determine if the laser is aimed at a sample. If the analyzed spectrum reveals the laser is not aimed at the sample, the controller subsystem halts the laser puke sequence.
Claims19
A LIBS analyzer comprising:
- a laser configured to produce a plasma on a sample;
- a spectrometer responsive to radiation emitted from the plasma and configured to produce a spectrum;
- and
- a controller subsystem configured to control energizing of the laser and including computer instructions which:
- initiate a laser pulse sequence in response to a fire command,
- analyze the resulting spectrum from each laser pulse to determine if the laser is aimed at a sample,
- if the analyzed spectrum reveals the laser is aimed at the sample, continue pulsing the laser to test the sample for a test duration;
- and
- if the analyzed spectrum reveals the laser is not aimed at the sample, halt the laser pulse sequence.
6 more elements
A LIBS analysis method comprising:
- initiating a laser pulse sequence in response to a firing command;
- receiving radiation and providing a spectrum for each laser pulse;
- analyzing the spectrum to determine if the laser is aimed at a sample and producing a plasma on the sample;
- continue pulsing the laser to test the sample if the analysis reveals the laser is aimed at the sample;
- and
- stopping the test if the analysis reveals the laser is not aimed at the sample.
3 more elements
A LIBS analyzer comprising:
- a laser having a power, a wavelength range, and an emission duration which meets a class I single pulse laser standard;
- a spectrometer responsive to radiation emitted by a plasma created by a laser beam from the laser on a sample and configured to produce a spectrum;
- and
- a controller subsystem configured to:
- initiate a laser pulse sequence,
- analyze the resulting spectrum for each laser pulse,
- halt the laser pulse sequence if a maximum signal amplitude in a predetermined wavelength range of the spectrum is less than a predetermined amplitude, and
- continue pulsing the laser if the maximum signal amplitude in the predetermined wavelength range of the spectrum is greater than the predetermined amplitude.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.