# US 5,710,625 A · Spectral oil immersion cell

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- Number: US 5,710,625 A
- Document ID: US5710625A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/641,245
- Filed: 1996-04-30
- Granted: 1998-01-20
- Earliest claimed: 1996-04-30
- Assignees: Hughes Electronics Corporation
- Inventors: Margarete Neumann; Robert Pursel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710625A

## CPC

- G01N 21/0303: {Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment (G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence)}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A device for holding and positioning a sample (22) during spectral analysis, having an optical cell (41) comprised of a base member (42), a glass cell (44), and being filled with oil (46) having substantially the same index of refraction as the glass cell (44). The device further includes a rotary stage device (48) attached to the optical cell (41) and a sample holder (50) attached to the rotary stage device (48) such that a sample (22) may be rotated over a range of angles relative to a projected beam (32) to provide a spectral analysis of the sample (22) over the range of angles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A spectral oil immersion cell for holding and positioning a sample during spectral analysis in which a beam is projected at the sample, said spectral oil immersion cell comprising:
an optical cell including a glass cell having a given index of refraction and being substantially filled with an oil having substantially the same index of refraction as said glass cell so that said optical cell effectively functions as a solid block of glass;
a rotary stage device being connected to said optical cell; and
a sample holder for holding said sample, said sample holder being attached to said rotary stage device and projecting into an interior chamber of said optical cell, said interior chamber being formed by said glass cell and a base member, wherein rotation of said sample allows for measurement of a spectral performance of said sample over a range of angles relative to said beam.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The spectral oil immersion cell of claim 1 wherein
said glass cell is constructed such that opposite sides of said glass cell are parallel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The spectral oil immersion cell of claim 2 wherein said sample holder is attached to said rotary stage device such that said sample is rotatable about an axis which is perpendicular to a plane of incidence created by said beam.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The spectral oil immersion cell of claim 3 wherein said rotary stage device includes a rotatable portion rotatable relative to said beam about an axis perpendicular to said plane of incidence, said rotatable portion being attachable to said optical cell and having said sample holder attached thereto.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The spectral oil immersion cell of claim 3 wherein said rotary stage device includes a fixed portion attached to said glass cell, and a rotatable portion being rotatable relative to said fixed portion and having said sample holder attached thereto.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The spectral oil immersion cell of claim 5 wherein said fixed portion and said rotatable portion have a course adjustment for approximately setting the angle between said fixed and rotatable portions, and a fine adjustment for accurately setting said angle to within one-minute of arc.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The spectral oil immersion cell of claim 1 wherein said sample holder is black anodized aluminum.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The spectral oil immersion cell of claim 1 wherein said sample holder is glass.

### Claim 9

A method for supporting and testing the spectral properties of a sample, said method comprising:
providing an optical cell having walls with a given index of refraction, and creating an interior chamber therein;
filling said optical cell with an oil having substantially the same index of refraction as said walls;
attaching said sample to a sample holder;
placing said sample holder into said interior chamber such that said sample is submerged in said oil;
rotating said sample holder to a first position;
transmitting a first beam from a fixed beam generator at said optical cell such that said first beam passes through said walls and said oil, and impinges upon said sample;
detecting a first component of said first beam with a first detector;
rotating said sample holder to a second position;
transmitting a second beam from said fixed beam generator at said optical cell such that said second beam passes through said walls and said oil, and impinges upon said sample; and
detecting a first component of said second beam with said first detector.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein said component of said first beam detected by said first detector is a transmitted component, and said component of said second beam detected by said first detector is a transmitted component.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein said component of said first beam detected by said first detector is a reflected component, and said component of said second beam detected by said first detector is a reflected component.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising:
detecting a second component of said first beam with a second detector; and
detecting a second component of said second beam with said second detector wherein said first component of said first beam and said second beam is a transmitted component, and said second component of said first beam and said second beam is a reflected component.

### Claim 13

An apparatus for testing the optical performance of a sample over a range of angles, said apparatus comprising:
a fixed beam generator for creating a beam;
a first detector for detecting a transmitted component of said beam;
a sample holding device having a cell with a given index of refraction and being substantially filled with an oil having substantially the same index of refraction as said cell, said sample holding device providing for rotation of said sample about an axis perpendicular to a plane of incidence created by said beam wherein said beam, having known properties, is projected at said sample and impinges upon said sample, said transmitted component of said beam being detected by said first detector after said beam impinges upon said sample.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a second detector movably positioned relative to said beam generator, said second detector position being determined by an angle between said beam and a normal to the surface of said sample, wherein said second detector detects a reflected component of said beam after said beam impinges upon said sample.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said sample holding device further comprises:
a base member;
said cell being a glass cell being constructed such that opposite sides of said glass cell are parallel, said glass cell being attached to said base member and forming an interior chamber therein;
a rotary stage device being connected to said glass cell; and
a sample holder for holding said sample, said sample holder being attached to said rotary stage device and extending into said interior chamber such that a sample attached to said sample holder is submerged in said oil.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said rotary stage device includes a rotatable portion rotatable relative to said beam about an axis perpendicular to said plane of incidence, said rotatable portion being attachable to said glass cell and having said sample holder attached thereto.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said rotary stage device includes a fixed portion attached to said glass cell, and a rotatable portion being rotatable relative to said fixed portion and having said sample holder attached thereto.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said fixed portion and said rotatable portion have a course adjustment for approximately setting the angle between said fixed and rotatable portions, and a fine adjustment for accurately setting said angle within one-minute of arc.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said sample holder is black anodized aluminum.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said sample holder is glass.