Rapid scan spectrophotometer
OwnerNicolas James Harrickinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spectrophotometer capable of rapid spectral scanning is achieved by mounting a low inertia reflective grating directly on the output shaft of a galvanometer type optical scanner, and sweeping the dispersed beam reflected from the grating across a spherical mirror and after reflection therefrom across a beam exit slit. Rapid wavelength switching for a laser spectrometer is also described.
Claims4
A spectrophotometer capable of rapid wavelength scanning comprising an optical path including a light source and spaced entrance and exit slits, means for imaging the entrance slit on the exit slit, means in the optical path for dispersing the light beam and sweeping the dispersed beam across the exit slit, and means for utilizing the beam emerging from the exit slit, said dispersing and sweeping means comprising a low inertia reflective grating and means for rapidly vibrating the reflective grating over a short arc within a period of 0.01 sec or less, said vibrating means comprising a galvanometer having a vibratable output shaft, the reflective grating being mounted directly on the said output shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.