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US 6,281,501 B1Granted
Multiple gain portable near-infrared analyzer
AssigneeZeltex, Inc.
InventorsTodd C. Rosenthal, Stuart W. Wrenn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiple-gain, hand-held, near-infrared grain analyzer analyzes, e.g., protein content of grain by infrared transmittance and interactance (transflectance) has at least two gain values. A first gain value is used when calibrating the analyzer with an empty analysis chamber (empty except for the presence of air), and a second, higher gain value is used when analyzing grain samples.
Claims4
A multiple gain, hand-held analyzer, said analyzer comprising:
- an analyzer body configured to receive in a sample-receiving portion thereof of a sample to be analyzed;
- a source which emits electromagnetic radiation at a desired wavelength, said source positioned with respect to said sample-receiving portion to emit radiation through a sample received in said sample-receiving portion;
- an electromagnetic radiation receptor positioned such that electromagnetic radiation emitted by said source and passing through a sample received in said sample-receiving portion strikes said receptor, said receptor causing a first signal to be produced which is proportional to the intensity of electromagnetic radiation striking said receptor, said analyzer being configured such that said first signal is selectively amplified by a gain factor selected from a plurality of available gain factors to produce a second signal;
- and
- means for analyzing said second signal to determine a parameter of interest of a sample received in said sample-receiving portion;
- wherein said analyzer is of a size and weight which permit said analyzer to be carried by hand and transported from one location to another for non-laboratory-bound field use;
- wherein said analyzer is configured to be calibrated with said sample-receiving portion empty except for ambient air present therein, said first signal being amplified by a first gain factor when said analyzer is being calibrated and said first signal being amplified by a second gain factor when a sample is received in said sample-receiving portion and is being analyzed, said second gain factor being larger than said first gain factor;
- and
- wherein said second gain factor is of a magnitude sufficient to permit said analyzer to be used to analyze a sample of grain packed within a cuvette and disposed, in said cuvette, in said sample-receiving portion.
6 more elements
A multiple gain, hand-held analyzer, said analyzer comprising:
- an analyzer body configured to receive in a sample-receiving portion thereof a sample to be analyzed;
- a source which emits electromagnetic radiation at a desired wavelength, said source positioned with respect to said sample-receiving portion to emit radiation through a sample received in said sample-receiving portion;
- an electromagnetic radiation receptor positioned such that electromagnetic radiation emitted by said source and passing through a sample received in said sample-receiving portion strikes said receptor, said receptor causing a first signal to be produced which is proportional to the intensity of electromagnetic radiation striking said receptor, said analyzer being configured such that said first signal is selectively amplified by a gain factor selected from a plurality of available gain factors to produce a second signal;
- and
- means for analyzing said second signal to determine a parameter of interest of a sample received in said sample-receiving portion;
- wherein said analyzer is of a size and weight which permit said analyzer to be carried by hand and transported from one location to another for non-laboratory-bound field use;
- wherein said analyzer is configured to be calibrated with said sample-receiving portion empty except for ambient air present therein, said first signal being amplified by a first gain factor when said analyzer is being calibrated and said first signal being amplified by a second gain factor when a sample is received in said sample-receiving portion and is being analyzed, said second gain factor being larger than said first gain factor;
- wherein said sample-receiving portion is configured with a least one axis of symmetry such that a cuvette, used to hold a sample to be analyzed and configured to fit precisely within said sample-receiving portion, can fit within said sample-receiving portion with more than one orientation;
- and
- wherein said source and said receptor are offset relative to said axis of symmetry whereby electromagnetic radiation can be caused to pass through multiple portions of a sample to be analyzed by positioning said cuvette in said sample-receiving portion with two or more orientations.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.