Automated focusing, cleaning, and multiple location sampling spectrometer system
AssigneeSciAps, Inc.
InventorDavid Day
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An analysis system includes a moveable focusing lens, a laser (typically an eye safe laser) having an output directed at the focusing lens, and a spectrometer outputting intensity data from a sample. A controller system is responsive to the spectrometer and is configured to energize the laser, process the output of the spectrometer, and adjust the position of the focusing lens relative to the sample until the spectrometer output indicates a maximum or near maximum intensity resulting from a laser output focused to a spot on the sample.
Claims32
A handheld analysis system comprising:
- a moveable focusing lens;
- a laser having an output directed at the focusing lens;
- a spectrometer outputting spectral intensity data from a sample;
- and
- a programmed controller system, responsive to the spectrometer, controlling the moveable focusing lens, and configured to:
- energize the laser,
- process the spectral intensity data output of the spectrometer, and
- automatically adjust the position of the focusing lens relative to the sample until the spectrometer output indicates a maximum or near maximum intensity of the spectral intensity data resulting from a laser output focused to a spot on the sample.
A handheld analysis system comprising:
- an adjustable focusing lens;
- a laser having an output directed at the focusing lens;
- a moveable component configured to direct laser energy to multiple locations on a sample;
- a spectrometer outputting spectral intensity data from the sample;
- and
- a programmed controller system responsive to the spectrometer, controlling the adjustable focusing lens, and configured to:
- initiate a focusing cycle wherein the laser is energized, the spectrometer output is analyzed, and the position of the focusing lens is automatically adjusted until the spectrometer output is optimized resulting from a laser output focused on the sample,
- initiate a cleaning cycle wherein the laser is energized, the spectrometer output is analyzed, and the cleaning cycle terminates when the spectrometer output stabilizes, and
- initiate a moving spot cycle wherein the movable component is adjusted and the spectrometer output is analyzed for multiple locations on the sample.
A spectroanalysis method comprising:
- directing a laser output at an adjustable focusing lens;
- detecting spectral intensity data from the sample;
- initiating a focusing cycle wherein the laser is energized, the spectral intensity data is analyzed, and the position of the focusing lens is automatically adjusted until the spectral intensity data is optimized resulting in a laser output focused on the sample;
- initiating a cleaning cycle wherein the laser is energized, the intensity data is analyzed, and the cleaning cycle terminates when the intensity data stabilizes;
- and
- initiating a moving spot cycle wherein the laser output is moved to a new location on the sample and the intensity data is analyzed for multiple locations on the sample.
A handheld LIBS analysis system comprising:
- a movable focusing lens;
- a laser having an output directed to the focusing lens to produce a plasma on a sample;
- a spectrometer configured to produce a spectrum of intensity data for a plurality of wavelengths;
- and
- a programmed controller system, responsive to the spectrometer, controlling the moveable focusing lens, and configured to:
- energize the laser to produce a plasma,
- process the spectrum and compute elemental concentrations present in the sample based on the plasma, and
- automatically adjust the position of the focusing lens relative to the sample based on spectral intensity values for a plurality of wavelengths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.