Abstract:
Solar spectral irradiance (SSI) measurements are important for solar collector / photovoltaic panel efficiency and solar energy resource assessment as well as being important for scientific meteorological/climate observations and material testing research. To date such measurements have exploited modified diffraction grating based scientific instruments which are bulky, expensive, and with low mechanical integrity for generalized deployment. A compact and cost-effective tool for accurately determining the global solar spectra as well as the global horizontal or tilted irradiances as part of on-site solar resource assessments and module performance characterization studies would be beneficial. An instrument with no moving parts for mechanical and environment stability in open field, non-controlled deployments could exploit software to resolve the global, direct and diffuse solar spectra from its measurements within the 280-4000 nm spectral range, in addition to major atmospheric processes, such as air mass, Rayleigh scattering, aerosol extinction, ozone and water vapour absorptions.
Abstract:
A measurement system (5) comprises a radiation source (10) and a detection system (15), wherein the radiation source is arranged such that radiation from the radiation source is incident on a sample (25) and the detection system is configured to receive at least part of the radiation via the sample, wherein the system is reconfigurable so as to vary a path length that the radiation travels through the sample and/or a reflectance of at least one surface upon which the radiation is incident after passing through at least part of the sample. A prop¬ erty of the sample may be determined based on at least the first and second measurements.
Abstract:
A structure for testing a luminescent film includes a Lambertian light source, an integrating sphere having an input port, and a measuring device. The Lambertian light source includes a mixing chamber having an input port and an output port, and a light emitter coupled to the input port. During testing the luminescent film is positioned between the output port of the mixing chamber and the input port of the integrating sphere. The measuring device is optically coupled to the integrating sphere.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method for the measurement of the spectrum of isotropic luminous radiation of a gas excited by a laser light, utilizing an apparatus comprising at least a transparent measurement chamber (41 ), and performs the following steps: A. Making said gas pass in said at least a measurement chamber (41); B. Sending a laser beam (21) on said gas in said at least a measurement chamber (41 ). The method uses an integrating sphere (42) substantially enclosing said at least a measurement chamber (41), as well as one or more photo - detectors for measuring the luminous signal collected by the integrating sphere. Before step A a calibration step is performed and, subsequently to step B, the following further steps are performed: C. collecting the light diffused by said gas hit by said laser beam (21 ), by means of said integrating sphere (42), thus obtaining a measurement luminous signal; D. transforming the measurement luminous signal into an electrical signal by means of suitable photo - detectors; E. analysing said electric signal in order to obtain the measurement of the gas spectrum. The invention further concerns a measurement apparatus implementing the method according to the invention.
Abstract:
This invention describes an improved method and apparatus for the analysis of fluid borne particles and which is especially suitable for the detection of airborne biological particles. In one aspect the invention provides an apparatus for the detection of fluid borne particles which comprises: a zone through which a fluid to be analysed flows, in use; a source of illumination to illuminate / irradiate fluid borne particles present in said zone; and a detector to detect light from the particles as an indicator of the presence or characteristics of the particles, wherein the apparatus comprises an integrating sphere and the zone is within the integrating sphere. The apparatus is highly sensitive and can be used for detecting airborne particles even where the particles are present at very low particle concentrations in the air.
Abstract:
A system for predicting blood constituent values in a patient includes a remote wireless noninvasive spectral device (2) for generating a spectral scan of a body part of the patient. The system also includes a remote invasive device (1) and a central processing device (3). The remote invasive device (1) generates a constituent value for the patient, which the central processing device (3) predicts a blood constituent value of the patient based upon the spectral scan and the constituent value.
Abstract:
A method to change the color of hair. The method includes measuring an initial reflectance spectrum of a sample of the hair and analyzing a contribution of a plurality of natural hair factors to the initial reflectance spectrum. The method also includes calculating a hair treatment based on another reflectance spectrum. A system to measure a reflectance spectrum of a sample includes an integrating sphere having a sampling port and an inner surface and a window disposed near the sampling port. The window is configured for being placed in close contact with the sample. The system also includes a light source configured to project light onto the sample via the window and a light detector configured to analyze light reflected from the inner surface to produce the reflectance spectrum of the sample.