Remote sensing gas analyzer

Abstract

A particular area or areas are monitored for the presence of gaseous materials, particularly pollutants by collecting background radiation (both visible and infrared radiation) present in the selected area, analyzing the radiation collected with a spectrometer and making the results of this analysis available is a form understandable to the person or device moitoring the area for the presence of specified gaseous materials. The results of the spectrometric analysis may, for example, be displayed on a video unit or they may be printed. In a preferred embodiment, the results of the spectrometric analysis are displayed on a video unit simultaneously or sequentially with the image of the area from which the background radiation had been collected. Apparatus useful in the practice of this invention generally includes large energy collecting mirrors, an interferometer of the Michaelson-Morely type, a sensitive infrared detector, electronic data processing, and a device which records and/or displays the results of the determination(s). In a preferred apparatus, a "hot" mirror, a video camera, a computer and a video display unit are also employed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.