Apparatus and method for spectroscopic measurement as a deflection of a bimorph carrying a sample that is heated by radiation
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsChristoph Gerber, James Kazimierz Gimzewski, Bruno Reihl, Rato Rudolf Schlittler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spectrometer is described with a new intensity detector for electromagnetic radiation. The detector comprises means for detecting the deflection of a cantilever which has a bimetallic/bimorph structure. The deflection is proportional to the absorbed amount of radiation.
Claims9
A spectrometer with at least one source of electromagnetic radiation, monochromator means for selecting a defined wavelength or wavelength range of said electromagnetic radiation, a flexible element having a sample of interest on or within said flexible element, means for irradiating said sample with said selected electromagnetic radiation, said sample and flexible element being heated by absorption of said selected electromagnetic radiation by said sample, and means for measuring a deflection of said flexible element, said flexible element having at least two layers of materials with different thermal expansion coefficients so that said flexible element deflects when heated by absorption of said selected electromagnetic radiation by said sample, said measured deflection of said flexible element being a measurement of the absorption of said selected electromagnetic radiation by said sample.
Method for spectroscopic measurements of a sample, comprising the steps of:
- carrying the sample upon or within a flexible element having at least two layers of materials with different thermal expansion coefficients so that the flexible element deflects when heated;
- irradiating the sample with a beam of electromagnetic radiation, the sample and the flexible element carrying the sample being heated by absorption of the electromagnetic radiation by the sample, the flexible element thereby deflecting;
- and
- measuring the deflection of the flexible element as a measurement of the absorption of the electromagnetic radiation by the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.