US 8,305,571 B2 · Spectroscopic apparatus and methods

Abstract

A sample is illuminated by laser light and the resulting Raman spectrum is dispersed at a high spectral resolution along one or more rows or columns of detector elements of a CCD. The resulting charge is shifted in a direction Y′ and binned in an output register of the CCD. The dispersed spectrum is moved along the rows or columns in a direction X′, synchronously with the shifting of charge in the output register. Thus, data from a given wavenumber in the spectrum continues to accumulate in the output register during the movement. This enables data from a wide spectrum to be collected at high resolution, without the need to subsequently stitch blocks of data together in a computer, even where the CCD is arranged such that row-by-row transfer of charge towards the output register is orthogonal to the direction of dispersion.

Claims18

Dependent claims

Spectroscopic apparatus comprising:

a light source for illuminating a sample so as to produce therefrom a spectrum of scattered light;
a detector for detecting the scattered light;
the detector comprising at least one column or row of detector elements each of which accumulate data in accordance with the intensity of light incident thereon, and an output register comprising a row of storage elements for receiving data from the detector elements;
and
a dispersive device for analysing the spectrum received from the sample and dispersing it along the detector;
wherein:
the output register is arranged parallel to the direction of dispersion;
the apparatus is arranged to move the dispersive device such that the spectrum moves in the direction of dispersion;
and
the apparatus is also arranged to move the data from one storage element of the output register to the next, so that data for a given wavenumber within spectrum continues to accumulate as it moves through the output register, synchronously with the movement of the spectrum.

7 more elements

A method of operating a spectroscopic apparatus comprising a light source for illuminating a sample so as to produce therefrom a spectrum of scattered light, a detector for detecting the scattered light, the detector comprising at least one column or row of detector elements each of which accumulate data in accordance with the intensity of light incident thereon, and an output register comprising a row of storage elements for receiving data from the detector elements, and a dispersive device for analysing the spectrum received from the sample and dispersing it along the detector, wherein the output register is arranged parallel to the direction of dispersion, the method comprising:

exposing the at least one column or row of detector elements to a spectrum of scattered light;
shifting data from the at least one column or row of detector elements into the output register;
moving the dispersive device such that the spectrum of scattered light moves in the direction of dispersion;
and
moving the data from one storage element of the output register to the next, so that the data for a given wavenumber within the spectrum continues to accumulate as it moves through the output register, synchronously with the movement of the spectrum of scattered light.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spectroscopic apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Spectroscopic apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18