Abstract:
In an optical instrument for infrared spectral analysis of powder, an improved fiber optic probe is provided. Fiber optics (13, 17) carry light to an from the probe (15) and the fiber optics terminate in the probe in a fiber optic endface (20). A sapphire road (23) is positioned to about the fiber optic endface (20). The sapphire rod (23) has a distal endface (24) arranged at slightly less than one-half the maximum acceptance angle of the optic fibers in the probe.
Abstract:
An optical grating is oscillated at a high rate to scan a narrow wavelength band of light through the spectrum dispersed by the grating. The grating is connected integrally with the rotor of a motor, which is energized to oscillate its rotor between selected limits. The direction of rotation of the motor is controlled by an H drive circuit connected to a coil of the motor. The speed of the motor is controlled by a pulse train applied to the motor coil through the H drive. The pulse train has a duty cycle varying inversely with the motor speed. The duty cycle of the pulse train is controlled by a counter which is connected to count high frequency pulses and which is reset each time the grating rotates through an angular increment. The limits of the oscillation of the grating and the rate of rotation of the grating between the limits are selectively variable. Output readings from the spectrophotometer are taken at equal angular increments of the grating and these readings are converted to values occurring at equal wavelength increments by a computer.
Abstract:
In a spectrophotometric instrument, a system is provided to correct for distortion caused by rapid scanning of the spectrum. In the instrument, photodetectors (19) detect light energy which is scanned through a spectrum at a rapid rate. An amplifier (20) amplifies the output signal generated by the photodetectors (19). The output signal of the amplifier (20) is sampled at increments and the samples are converted to digital values. A first derivative is determined from the digital values by subtracting from each value the value from the preceding increment. The first derivative values are multiplied times a constant selected to correct for the distortion and the resulting product values are added to the amplitude digital values to provide a set of corrected values representing the intensity detected by the photodetectors.
Abstract:
In a fiber optic probe for an infrared analysis instrument, a window block (37) made of sapphire is provided having an inner face (4) in the shape of a truncated cone. A fiber optic cable has its distal end adjacent to the inner face of the window block and the optic fibers in the distal end are segregated into transmitting fibers (13) adjacent to said conical section of the inner face of the window block and receiving fibers (17) abutting the central circular portion formed by the truncated cone shape of the inner face. A cylindrical separator (47) separates the receiving and transmitting fibers at the distal end of the fiber optic cable.
Abstract:
In a system for measuring moisture content of powder, such as powdered milk while the powder is being dried, the powder is contained in a fluidized bed and a fiber optic probe is inserted through the wall of the container of said bed to be immersed in the fluidized bed. The fluidized bed continuously scrubs the outer surface of the probe window and prevents it from being coated with the powder. Near infrared light is transmitted through a cable optic fiber and said probe to irradiate the powder in said fluidized bed and is reflected back from the powder into said probe and transmitted by said fiber optic cable to a spectroscopic analyzing instrument. The fiber optic probe includes a sapphire rod having a back surface abutting the end of the fiber optic cable and an angled front surface. The front of the probe is closed by a quartz window spaced from the angled front surface of the sapphire rod and held in position by an inwardly directed flange on the outer tubular casing of the fiber optic probe. The front window is provided with an outwardly directed flange and an O-ring is sandwiched between the flange on the window and the inwardly directed flange on the distal end of the probe to provide a seal to prevent powder from getting in the probe.
Abstract:
In a fiber optic probe for an infrared analysis instrument, a window block (37) made of sapphire is provided having an inner face (4) in the shape of a truncated cone. A fiber optic cable has its distal end adjacent to the inner face of the window block and the optic fibers in the distal end are segregated into transmitting fibers (13) adjacent to said conical section of the inner face of the window block and receiving fibers (17) abutting the central circular portion formed by the truncated cone shape of the inner face. A cylindrical separator (47) separates the receiving and transmitting fibers at the distal end of the fiber optic cable.