Method, apparatus, and article to facilitate evaluation of substances using electromagnetic energy
AssigneeVisualant, Inc.
InventorsRichard Ian Mander, Thomas A. Furness, III, Brian T. Schowengerdt, Michael Vivian Denton, Allan David Beach, Alan Charles Tompkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Sampling device geometry reduces specular reflectance, using lenses to focus electromagnetic energy to predominately return scattered rather than reflected electromagnetic energy to detector(s), reducing effect of non-matte surfaces and/or window. Sampling device includes inherent automatic optical calibration, and optionally thermal calibration. Calibration detectors are optically isolated with respective emitters.
Claims54
A sampling system, comprising:
- a sampling device, the sampling device including:
- a housing;
- a plurality of emitters received in the housing, each of the emitters selectively operable to emit electromagnetic energy in a respective range of wavelengths in an optical portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the ranges of wavelengths of at least some of the emitters different from the ranges of wavelengths of others of the emitters;
- an endless array of compartments which isolate each of a number of the emitters from one another;
- at least one primary sampling sensor received in the housing and positioned to receive electromagnetic energy returned to the sampling device by a sample, if any, illuminated by the electromagnetic energy emitted by at least one of the emitters, the at least one primary sampling sensor responsive to a number of wavelengths of electromagnetic energy returned to the sampling device;
- and
- a plurality of calibration sensors received in the housing, each of the calibration sensors positioned in a respective one of the compartments of the endless array of compartments to receive electromagnetic energy emitted by at least one of the emitters substantially free of electromagnetic energy returned to the sampling device, the at least one calibration sensor responsive to a number of wavelengths of electromagnetic energy emitted by the emitters.
The sampling system of claim wherein the calibration sensors each consist of a single optical sensor chip that detects from near-infrared (N-IR) through near-ultraviolet (N-UV) wavelengths of electromagnetic energy.
A sampling device operable to sample specimens, the sampling device comprising:
- a housing having a first end, a second end, and a sampling aperture at least proximate the first end;
- a plurality of emitters at least partially housed by the housing and arrayed about a first location, the emitters selectively operable to emit electromagnetic energy in respective ranges of wavelengths, the ranges of wavelengths of at least some of the emitters different from the ranges of wavelengths of others of the emitters;
- a first circuit board on which the emitters are arrayed in a circular array;
- an endless array of compartments which isolate each of the emitters from one another;
- a plurality of calibration sensors, each of the calibration sensors positioned in a respective one of the compartments of the endless array of compartments;
- at least one annular lens structure at least partially housed by the housing, the at least one annular lens structure positioned with respect to the emitters and the sampling aperture to focus electromagnetic energy emitted by the emitters outwardly from the sampling aperture toward a focal locus;
- and
- at least one primary sampling sensor at least partially housed by the housing at least proximate the first location and positioned to receive electromagnetic energy returned to the sampling device from a specimen, if any, positioned at the focal locus via the sampling aperture, the at least one primary sampling sensor responsive to at least some of the electromagnetic energy returned to the sampling device via the sampling aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.