# US 6,721,049 B1 · Device for efficient light collection from a sample

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- Number: US 6,721,049 B1
- Document ID: US6721049B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/532,851
- Filed: 2000-03-22
- Granted: 2004-04-13
- Earliest claimed: 2000-03-22
- Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
- Inventors: Neelam Gupta; Rachid Dahmani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6721049B1

## CPC

- G01J 3/02: Details
- G01J 1/04: Optical or mechanical part {supplementary adjustable parts}
- G01J 1/0422: {using light concentrators, collectors or condensers}
- G01J 1/0425: {using optical fibers}
- G01J 1/0451: {using means for illuminating a slit efficiently, e.g. entrance slit of a photometer or entrance face of fiber}
- G01J 3/0216: {using light concentrators or collectors or condensers}
- G01J 3/0218: {using optical fibers}
- G01J 3/024: {using means for illuminating a slit efficiently (e.g. entrance slit of a spectrometer or entrance face of fiber)}
- G01N 21/65: Raman scattering
- G01N 2021/651: {Cuvettes therefore}
- G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N)
- 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 spectrometric or photo-detector device accessory for illumination of a sample and highly efficient collection of light therefrom includes an ellipsoidal mirror having focal points f1 and f2; a first optical fiber leg having a terminus positioned at or near f1 and containing fibers for conveying light to f1 and collecting light emitted from a sample positioned at f1, a second optical fiber having a terminus positioned at or near f2, for collecting light reflected by the mirror and focussed at f2 and a rigid stand for holding the mirror and fiber optic cables in fixed alignment.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An accessory for illumination of a sample and collection of light therefrom, comprising:
an ellipsoidal mirror having focal points f1 and f2;
a first optical fiber leg comprising multiple fibers for conveyance of light both to and from the sample having a terminus positioned at or near f1;
a sample holder positioned at f1;
a second optical fiber for conveyance of light from the sample having a terminus positioned at or near f2.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An accessory according to claim 1 further comprising a rigid structure for maintaining the fiber optic cables in fixed relation to the mirror.

### Claim 3

An accessory for illumination of a sample and collection of light therefrom, comprising:
a light source;
an ellipsoidal mirror comprising a first focal point f1 and a second focal point f2;
a first fiber optic cable, having a terminus positioned at or near f1, comprising at least one optical fiber for transmission of light from the light source to the sample and at least one optical fiber for collecting light emitted from the sample;
a second fiber optic cable, having a terminus positioned at or near f2 for collection of light from the vicinity of f2;
a sample holder for positioning a sample at f1.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An accessory according to claim 3 wherein the sample holder comprises a capillary tube.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

An accessory according to claim 4 wherein the ellipsoidal mirror comprises an aperture for insertion of the capillary tube.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

An accessory according to claim 3 wherein the sample holder comprises a sample chamber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

An accessory according to claim 3 further comprising a rigid structure for aligning and maintaining the fiber optic cables in fixed relation to the mirror.

### Claim 8

A method for the efficient collection of light from a sample, comprising positioning a sample at a first focal point f1 of an ellipsoidal mirror;
conveying light to f1 by a first fiber optic cable comprising at least one optical fiber for transmission of light from the light source to the sample and at least one optical fiber for collecting light emitted from the sample, having a terminus in the vicinity of f1;
collecting light emitted from the sample by the first optic fiber cable;
collecting light emitted from the sample by a second fiber optic cable having a terminus positioned at or near f2;
maintaining the mirror and fiber optic cables in a fixed alignment.

### Claim 9

A spectrometer comprising an accessory for illumination of a sample and collection of light therefrom, comprising:
an ellipsoidal mirror having focal points f1 and f2;
a first optical fiber leg comprising multiple fibers for conveyance of light both to and from the sample having a terminus positioned at or near f1;
a sample holder positioned at f1;
a second optical fiber for collection of light from the vicinity of f2 having a terminus positioned at or near f2.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A spectrometer according to claim 9 further comprising a rigid structure for maintaining the fiber optic cables in fixed relation to the mirror.

### Claim 11

A spectrometer for illumination of a sample and collection of light therefrom, comprising:
a light source;
an ellipsoidal mirror comprising a first focal point f1 and a second focal point f2;
a first fiber optic cable, having a terminus positioned at or near f1, comprising at least one optical fiber for transmission of light from the light source to the sample and at least one optical fiber for collecting light emitted from the sample;
a second fiber optic cable, having a terminus positioned at or near f2 for collection of light from the vicinity of f2;
a sample holder for positioning a sample at f1.