Device for reproducible positioning of optical surfaces
AssigneeLeica Microsystems Inc.
InventorErin D. Spring
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Abstract
A plurality of magnets is provided in an illumination prism carrier of a transmitted light refractometer and a corresponding plurality of magnets is provided in a sample prism housing of the refractometer to align a light exit surface of the illumination prism relative to a sample surface of the sample prism and urge the optical surfaces together in an even and uniform manner. The magnets replace mechanical biasing arrangements for positioning the optical surfaces and function to consistently reproduce a measurement optical path in the instrument for improved accuracy and repeatability of measurements.
Claims6
A prism assembly for a refractometer comprising:
- a sample prism having a sample surface for receiving a sample to be tested;
- an illumination prism having a light exit surface, said illumination prism being movable to and from a measurement position wherein said exit surface is opposite said sample surface and in contact with said sample;
- and
- magnetic biasing means for providing a magnetic force urging said sample surface and said exit surface toward one another to form sequential optical path transitions from said exit surface to said sample and from said sample to said sample surface when said illumination prism is in said measurement position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.