US 7,623,225 B2Granted

Photometer with modular light emitter

AssigneeNanodrop Technologies, LLC

InventorsCharles W. Robertson, Jr., Joel B. Hansen, Dale Heintzelman, Thomas A. Tokash, Paul S. Zdinak, Damian W. Ashmead, Jonathan Pundt

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A photometer is provided with modular lighting units wherein each lighting unit includes one or more light emitters. A user may select a desired lighting unit and install it within a photometer base unit, and thereafter activate one or more of the emitters (which may emit light of different wavelengths) to illuminate a specimen. The light provided by the specimen in response can then be captured at a detector, and analyzed to provide an indication of the specimen's characteristics. Different lighting units may optionally include one or more input light adapters (filters or polarizers which modify the light provided by the emitter(s) to the specimen), and/or one or more output light adapters (filters or polarizers which modify the light provided by the specimen to the detector). Users may therefore select lighting units with emitters and light adapters which are particularly suited for detection/analysis of particular specimens and/or components therein.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A photometer including:

a. a base unit having:
(1) a detector;
(2) a light transmitter directing light from a transmitter input end toward the detector;
and
(3) a socket extending inwardly from an outer surface of the base unit, the socket being situated adjacent the transmitter input end;
b. a modular lighting unit having:
(1) a communications end configured to be complementarily received within the socket of the base unit;
(2) an emitter end adjacent the communications end, the emitter end including a light emitter aligned to emit light outwardly from the emitter end toward the light transmitter when the communications end is received within the socket of the base unit;
wherein the modular lighting unit is removable from, and replaceable within, the socket of the base unit;
c. a pedestal whereupon a specimen being situated, the pedestal being:
(1) situated on one of the base unit and the modular lighting unit;
(2) at least partially transparent;
(3) aligned with the light transmitter at least when the communications end of the modular lighting unit is received within the socket of the base unit,
wherein the pedestal transmits light provided by the specimen to the light transmitter.

11 more elements

A photometer including:

a. a modular lighting unit having:
(1) an emitter end;
(2) a communications end extending from the emitter end;
(3) a light emitter situated on the emitter end, the light emitter being aligned to emit light outwardly from the emitter end;
(4) an emitter communications connection in communication with the light emitter, the emitter communications connection allowing communication of power to the light emitter to activate light emission therefrom;
b. a base unit having:
(1) a base unit outer surface into which a socket extends, the socket being configured to complementarily receive the communications end of the modular lighting unit with the emitter end situated outside the socket adjacent the base unit outer surface;
(2) a light transmitter within the base unit, the light transmitter receiving light from any specimen:
(a) receiving light from the light emitter, and
(b) situated adjacent the light emitter;
and
(3) a detector receiving the light from the light transmitter.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/256,786Filed 23 Oct 2008 · us provisional application
Priority: 23 Oct 2007
Published: US 2009/0103077 A123 Apr 2009
Granted: 24 Nov 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G01J 3/02
Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours: details
G01J 3/0202
Details: mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements
G01J 3/0218
Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows: using optical fibers
G01J 3/0224
Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows: using polarising or depolarising elements