US 8,477,311 B2 · Filter wheel spectrometer

Abstract

A filter wheel and a spectrometer including the filter wheel are disclosed. The filter wheel has a first support structure on which a first plurality of filters are mounted and a second support structure on which at least one filter is provided. A radiation source generates a radiation beam, and a beam splitter splits the radiation beam into a first detection path and a second detection path. The first plurality of filters are selectively movable into the first detection path. The at least one filter on the second support structure is arranged to be disposed in the second detection path. The spectrometer includes a first radiation detector that detects radiation that passes through the selected filter in the first detection path, and a second radiation detector that detects radiation passing through the filter in the second detection path.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A filter wheel for use in a spectrometer, comprising:

a body having a base and a sidewall connected to the base, the body configured to be rotatable about an axis of rotation;
a plurality of radiation filters disposed on the base arranged to transmit radiation to a first radiation detector;
and
a plurality of radiation filters disposed on the sidewall arranged to transmit radiation to a second radiation detector, wherein the first radiation detector is disposed along an axis connecting the first radiation detector and the base of the filter wheel, which is perpendicular to an axis connecting the second radiation detector and the sidewall of the filter wheel.

1 more element

A spectrometer, comprising:

(a) a filter wheel comprising:
(1) a body comprising a base and a sidewall, the body configured to be rotatable about an axis of rotation,
(2) a plurality of radiation filters disposed on the base;
and
(3) a plurality of radiation filters disposed on the sidewall;
and
(b) a first radiation detector arranged to detect radiation received by the filters disposed on the base;
(c) a second radiation detector arranged to detect radiation received by the filters disposed on the sidewall;
and
(d) at least one radiation beam splitter configured to split a beam of radiation into a first radiation beam portion and second radiation beam portion so that the first radiation beam portion is received by the first, radiation detector and the second radiation beam portion is received by the second radiation detector, wherein the first radiation detector is disposed along an axis connecting the first radiation detector and the base of the filter wheel, which is perpendicular to an axis connecting the second radiation detector and the sidewall of the filter wheel.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Filter wheel spectrometer

Life of this patent

Filter wheel spectrometer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20