Abstract:
Encoded spatio-spectral information processing is performed using a system having a radiation source (12), wavelength dispersion device (16) and two-dimensional switching array (18), such as digital micro-mirror array (DMA). In one aspect, spectral components from a sample (24) are dispersed in space and modulated separately by the switching array, each element of which may operate according to a predetermined encoding pattern. The encoded spectral components can then be detected and analyzed. In a different aspect, the switching array (18) can be used to provide a controllable radiation source for illuminating a sample (24) with radiation patterns that have predetermined characteristics and separately encoded components. Various applications are disclosed.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a controlled interference polarization spectrometer for determining the concentration of a substance within a sample. The spectrometer includes first and second filters for filtering first and second portions of radiation transmitted by the sample. The filters having a number of pass bands at wavelengths corresponding to absorption peaks in the absorption spectrum of the substance to be detected, and are responsive to an applied signal to modulate the wavelengths of the pass bands in respective first and second directions. A detector detects the filtered radiation and determines the difference in the maximum and the minimum intensities of the radiation transmitted by the sample to thereby determine the concentration of the substance.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining concentrations of a predetermined tissue chromophore with respect to the total concentration of a different, but related tissue chromophore within a predetermined tissue of interest which may, but need not have physiological characteristics observed in blood-containing tissue. The aforesaid is achieved by first measuring an absorbance spectrum for the tissue at a multiplicity of predetermined wavelengths. The absorbance spectrum is transformed into a second derivative spectrum which is subsequently scaled, rendering a spectrum which is robust to changes in amplitude and constant slope bias as well as to changes in optical pathlength and total chromophore concentration. Selected spectra obtained from the scaled second derivative spectrum is manipulated within a neural network to generate quantified output data values representative of actual concentrations of the predetermined tissue chromophore with respect to the total concentration of the different, but related chromophore.
Abstract:
Provided is a novel method for wavelength stabilization in a laser spectrometer useful in spectroscopic measurement. According to the method, an initial scan is performed which comprises applying a current or voltage signal to a laser. In the scan, a current or voltage signal value is increased incrementally from a minimum signal value to a maximum signal value over a predetermined total number of signal values. The minimum and maximum signal values are selected such that an absorption feature of a species to be measured falls within the scan bounded by the minimum and the maximum signal values. The relative position of the absorption feature is determined with respect to the applied signal values in the previous scan by analysis of detector outputs corresponding to the signal values in the previous scan. An absorption value corresponding to the absorption feature is determined, and the concentration of the species to be measured can optionally be calculated. A new current or voltage signal scan is defined by resetting the signal values from the previous scan, so as to set the absorption feature in the new current or voltage scan in the same relative position with respect to the applied signal values as in the previous scan. An additional scan is performed, and the steps can be repeated until completion of the spectroscopic measurement. The inventive method allows for automatic correction and stabilization of wavelength in real time without the need for significant computation beyond what is typically required for determining the concentration of the species of interest from the spectroscopic data. Particular applicability is found in tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS).
Abstract:
Provided is a novel chamber effluent monitoring system. The system comprises a chamber having an exhaust line connected thereto. The exhaust line includes a sample region, wherein substantially all of a chamber effluent also passes through the sample region. The system further comprises an absorption spectroscopy measurement system for detecting a gas phase molecular species. The measurement system comprises a light source and a main detector in optical communication with the sample region through one or more light transmissive window. The light source directs a light beam into the sample region through one of the one or more light transmissive window. The light beam passes through the sample region and exits the sample region through one of the one or more light transmissive window. The main detector responds to the light beam exiting the sample region. The system allows for in situ measurement of molecular gas impurities in a chamber effluent, and in particular, in the effluent from a semiconductor processing chamber. Particular applicability is found in semiconductor manufacturing process control and hazardous gas leak detection.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for measuring the concentration of a very small amount of impurities in an object gas by an infrared spectroscopic analysis using a semiconductor laser. In order to carry out the analysis with a high sensitivity and a high accuracy, an object gas is introduced into a sample cell (5) and the cell is evacuated by a vacuum pump (16). An infrared beam of a wavelength in a region in which a high absorption peak due to impurities appears is emitted from a semiconductor laser (1) and passed through the sample cell (5) and a reference sample cell (8) in which impurities alone are sealed to measure a differential value absorption spectrum. The impurities are identified by comparing the spectrum of the object gas with that of impurities alone and determining a plurality of absorption peaks concerning the impurities, and the quantity of the impurities is determined on the basis of the absorption intensity at the highest peak. When impurity gas molecules form clusters in the object gas, the light of not less than 0.5 eV is applied to the clusters to dissociate the same, and the analysis of the gas is then carried out. This invention is suitably utilized, especially, for analyzing a very small amount of impurities in a semiconductor material gas.
Abstract:
Radiation in the near infrared over a limited range of wavelengths about 1660 nanometers is projected on a portion (31) of the body, for example, the ear, of the patient. The resulting radiation emitted by the portion, either scattered from the portion or transmitted after absorption and scattered by the portion, is processed to derive an expression of the resulting radiation as a function of the wavelength. The second derivative of this function over a very narrow range of this function between 1640 and 1670 nanometers is expanded and the glucose concentration is determined from the magnitude, or intensity, of the scattered or transmitted radiation at the maximum or minimum point of this derivative. Also disclosed is apparatus for non-invasive determination of glucose concentration in the patient. Radiation in the near infrared is transmitted through a first fiber-optic radiation conductor (29) to the outer surface of a portion (31) of the patient's body, penetrating into the portion. A second fiber-optic conductor (33) transmits the resulting radiation emitted from the portion to data processing means (23) which produces the desired second derivative as a function of the wavelength of the incident radiation. The processor includes a spectrum analyzer (21) which produces a spectrum of the resulting radiation.