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US 5,576,550 AGranted
Phytoluminometer
AssigneePhotonucleonics NDT, Inc.
InventorMahesh M. Koppikar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hand-held, battery operated, single photon sensitivity phytoluminometer is claimed for rapid, simple nondestructive, noninvasive evaluation of photosynthetic topography in green leaves. All the steps for generating phytoluminescence are performed within a single, light tight enclosure. The sensitivity of the instrument is such that stress induced changes in photosynthesis can be detected seconds after occurrence. Thus phytoluminography is made an easily applied technique for practical use by all those concerned with plant life.
Claims29
A portable phytoluminometer, for producing a visible image of at least a portion of a green leaf including a two-dimensional distribution of active photosynthetic sites by using the photoluminescence of such sites as the illumination reproduced in the image, comprising:
- means for having at least said portion of said leaf in direct optical coupling with an optical input surface;
- means for detecting said photoluminescence at said sites in said distribution;
- and
- means for producing a visible image of said distribution of sites by using said detected photoluminescence;
- said means together comprising a device of sufficiently small size and low weight as to be readily transportable and operated by a single individual and including a lightweight self-contained power supply carried therewith, said means further comprising at least one electron-amplifying image-intensifier powered by said self-contained supply.
2 more elements
A portable phytoluminometer, for producing a visible image of at least a portion of a green leaf including a two-dimensional distribution of active photosynthetic sites by using the luminescence of such sites as the illumination reproduced in the image, comprising:
- means for having at least said portion of said leaf in direct optical coupling with an optical input surface;
- an integrally associated light source for exciting said leaf to a state of luminescence;
- means for detecting the luminescence at said sites in said distribution;
- means for producing a visible image of said distribution of sites by using said detected luminescence;
- said light source being attached to and carried with said means for producing a visible image of photosynthetic sites;
- said means together comprising a device of sufficiently small size and low weight as to be readily transportable and operated by a single individual and including a lightweight self-contained power supply carried therewith;
- and
- said light source being electrically coupled to said power supply for operating excitation.
5 more elements
A method of imaging luminescent samples, comprising the steps:
- positioning a selected luminescent sample in direct contact with an optical input surface and directly optically coupling said input surface to at least a first stage of image intensification;
- converting luminescent light energy from said sample into a corresponding electron flow and amplifying said electron flow in at least said first stage of image intensification;
- converting the amplified electron flow into light energy of substantially greater magnitude than that initially obtained from said sample by coupling the output of said image intensification stage to a conversion device;
- displaying the resulting light energy from said conversion device as a visible image on an output member which is directly coupled optically to said conversion device;
- and
- using an active-type image-intensifier as said first stage and selecting the photocathode spectral response of said active-type image-intensifier to match the spectral emission of said luminescent sample.
3 more elements
A method of imaging luminescent samples, comprising the steps:
- positioning a selected luminescent sample in direct contact with an optical input surface and directly optically coupling said input surface to at least a first stage of image intensification;
- converting luminescent light energy from said sample into a corresponding electron flow and amplifying said electron flow in at least said first stage of image intensification;
- converting the amplified electron flow into light energy of substantially greater magnitude than that initially obtained from said sample by coupling the output of said image intensification stage to a conversion device;
- displaying the resulting light energy from said conversion device as a visible image on an output member which is directly coupled optically to said conversion device;
- and
- using a second-generation image-intensifier element having a high-output type ("H.O.T.") microchannel plate electron multiplier in said step of image intensification.
3 more elements
a method of imaging luminescent samples, comprising the steps:
- positioning a selected luminescent sample in direct contact with an optical input surface and directly optically coupling said input surface to at least a first stage of image intensification;
- converting luminescent light energy from said sample into a corresponding electron flow and amplifying said electron flow in at least said first stage of image intensification;
- converting the amplified electron flow into light energy of substantially greater magnitude than that initially obtained from said sample by coupling the output of said image intensification stage to a conversion device;
- displaying the resulting light energy from said conversion device as a visible image on an output member which is directly coupled optically to said conversion device;
- and
- using a fast output phosphor such as that known as P-11 for said solid-state conversion device.
3 more elements
a method of imaging luminescent samples, comprising the steps:
- positioning a selected luminescent sample in direct contact with an optical input surface and directly optically coupling said input surface to at least a first stage of image intensification;
- converting luminescent light energy from said sample into a corresponding electron flow and amplifying said electron flow in at least said first stage of image intensification;
- converting the amplified electron flow into light energy of substantially greater magnitude than that initially obtained from said sample by coupling the output of said image intensification stage to a conversion device;
- displaying the resulting light energy from said conversion device as a visible image on an output member which is directly coupled optically to said conversion device;
- and
- using a multi-colored current-sensitive phosphor such as PT-452 for said solid-state conversion device to achieve enhanced contrast discrimination in said visible image displayed on said member.
3 more elements
a method of imaging luminescent samples, comprising the steps:
- positioning a selected luminescent sample in direct contact with an optical input surface and directly optically coupling said input surface to at least a first stage of image intensification;
- converting luminescent light energy from said sample into a corresponding electron flow and amplifying said electron flow in at least said first stage of image intensification;
- converting the amplified electron flow into light energy of substantially greater magnitude than that initially obtained from said sample by coupling the output of said image intensification stage to a conversion device;
- displaying the resulting light energy from said conversion device as a visible image on an output member which is directly coupled optically to said conversion device;
- and
- using a first stage of image intensification which includes at least one photocathode and a conversion device which includes an output phosphor, and operating said photocathode and output phosphor at an electrical potential which is close to ground potential to reduce adverse effects such as arcing, ion flashes and leakage current.
3 more elements
A method of imaging luminescent samples, comprising the steps:
- positioning a selected luminescent sample in direct contact with an optical input surface and directly optically coupling said input surface to at least a first stage of image intensification;
- converting luminescent light energy from said sample into a corresponding electron flow and amplifying said electron flow in at least said first stage of image intensification;
- converting the amplified electron flow into light energy of substantially greater magnitude than that initially obtained from said sample by coupling the output of said image intensification stage to a conversion device;
- displaying the resulting light energy from said conversion device as a visible image on an output member which is directly coupled optically to said conversion device;
- and
- using an output member comprising a fiberoptic bundle having optically transmissive end surfaces, coating at least one such end surface with a thin layer of electrically conductive and optically transmissive material, and using said coating to electrically ground said surface.
3 more elements
A small, lightweight, manually-transportable, real-time imaging device of high sensitivity, comprising in combination:
- solid-state optical input means comprising coherent self-focussing optical fibers having a light-transmissible surface adapted for direct optical coupling with an examination subject;
- at least one stage of electron-multiplication image intensification;
- means for establishing direct optical coupling between said input means and said at least one stage of image intensification;
- and
- solid-state output means directly optically coupled to the last of said at least one stage of image intensification, for visually displaying a real-time image of said examination subject;
- said fiberoptic bundle including an optical taper for effecting image minification or magnification;
- and
- said optical taper comprising at least one lens element directly optically coupled between a pair of adjacent fiberoptic faceplates formed serially in said bundle.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.