Abstract:
The present invention provides a programmable filter for use as a standard in correlation spectrometers. Also provided is the use of the programmable standard in a process for determining the concentration of an optically absorbing compound. Also provided is a method and apparatus for noninvasively determining the concentration of an optically absorbing biological sample which incorporates the programmable standard of the invention.
Abstract:
A method and hardware for chromosome classification by decorrelation statistical analysis to provide color (spectral) karyotypes and to detect chromosomal aberrations.
Abstract:
A differential spectrometry system detects very narrow-band spectral features, while providing much higher optical transmittance and signal-to-noise ratios than prior optical-filter-based spectrometer systems. A plurality of light detectors (10a, 10b) detect light that falls within respective wide wavebands. The wide wavebands have overlapping and non-overlapping portions, one of which is the desired narrow waveband. The detector outputs are operated upon to produce an output signal (22) which includes substantially only the desired narrow waveband. In the preferred embodiment, the light detectors (10a, 10b) are implemented with a pair of optical detectors (30a, 30b) and respective optical interference filters (24a, 24b). The filters have substantially identical cut-off wavelengths (.lambda..sub.2) and cut-on wavelengths that are shifted by .DELTA..lambda. with respect to each other (.lambda..sub.1 and (.lambda..sub.1 +.DELTA..lambda.), respectively). The detector outputs are differenced with an operational amplifier (33), so that detector signals resulting from spectral features common to both detectors (30a, 30b) are canceled. The remaining signal (36) varies according to the amount of light that falls between wavelength boundaries �.lambda..sub.1 and (.lambda..sub.1 +.DELTA..lambda.)!. A preferred method of fabricating the optical interference filters (24a, 24b) is also provided.
Abstract:
A differential spectrometry system detects very narrow-band spectral features, while providing much higher optical transmittance and signal-to-noise ratios than prior optical-filter-based spectrometer systems. A plurality of light detectors (10a, 10b) detect light that falls within respective wide wavebands. The wide wavebands have overlapping and non-overlapping portions, one of which is the desired narrow waveband. The detector outputs are operated upon to produce an output signal (22) which includes substantially only the desired narrow waveband. In the preferred embodiment, the light detectors (10a, 10b) are implemented with a pair of optical detectors (30a, 30b) and respective optical interference filters (24a, 24b). The filters have substantially identical cut-off wavelengths (.lambda..sub.2) and cut-on wavelengths that are shifted by .DELTA..lambda. with respect to each other (.lambda..sub.1 and (.lambda..sub.1 +.DELTA..lambda.), respectively). The detector outputs are differenced with an operational amplifier (33), so that detector signals resulting from spectral features common to both detectors (30a, 30b) are canceled. The remaining signal (36) varies according to the amount of light that falls between wavelength boundaries [.lambda..sub.1 and (.lambda..sub.1 +.DELTA..lambda.)]. A preferred method of fabricating the optical interference filters (24a, 24b) is also provided.
Abstract:
A non-invasive apparatus and related method for measuring the concentration of glucose or other blood analytes utilizes both diffuse reflected and transmissive infrared absorption measurements and may be applied to either in vitro or in vivo sampling. The apparatus and method utilize non-dispersive correlation spectrometry and apply it to liquid blood serum analysis. Spectrally-modified near infrared light from the sample containing the analyte is split into two beams, one of which is directed through a negative correlation filter which blocks light in the absorption bands for the analyte to be measured, and the other of which is directed through a neutral density filter capable of blocking light equally at all wavelengths in the range of interest. Differencing the light intensity between the two light paths provides a measure proportional to analyte concentration.
Abstract:
In the monitoring of gas or vapor concentrations in a gas sample by comparing the transmission of light through the sample at different wavelengths corresponding to behaviorial maxima and minima of the gas, the different wavelengths are selected by permitting light to fall alternately on different sets of slits in an entrance mask of a spectroscope so that light diffracted by a grating in the spectroscope at the wavelengths represented by the slits in the two sets will fall on an exit slit in an exit mask of the spectroscope and thence pass to a photodetector. This arrangement enables the shift between the different sets of wavelengths to be achieved without introducing mechanical jitter, since the photodetector output may be electronically gated so as to be measured only for predetermined periods when light is passing first through one and then through the other set of slits.
Abstract:
1. IN A SPECTROMETER HAVING AN ENTRANCE SLIT, MEANS FOR DISPERSING LIGHT PASSING THROUGH THE ENTRANCE SLIT TO RESOLVE THE CHARACTERISTIC SPECTRA OF A PARTICULAR SUBSTANCE WHEN THE CHARACTERISTIC SPECTRA ARE PRESENT IN THE LIGHT, THE DISPERSING MEANS INCLUDING FOUCSSING MEANS MEANS FOR PRODUCING A SET OF IMAGES OF THE ENTRACE SLIT CORRESPONDING TO SAID CHARACTERISTIC SPECTRA, THE SLIT IMAGES BEING DISPERSED IN A GIVEN DIRECTION OF DISPERSION AND BEING FORMED IN A FOCAL PLANE, MASK MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY OPAQUE AND TRANSPARENT REGIONS, SAID REGIONS BEING CORRELATIVE WITH THE SET OF SLIT IMAGES CORRESPONDING TO THE CHARACTERISTIC SPECTRA OF A PARTICULAR SUBSTANCE, THE MASK MEANS BEING LOCATED IN SAID FACAL PLANE, AND A PHOTODETECTOR POSITIONED FOR RECEIVING LIGHT WHICH HAS PASSED THROUGH THE MASK MEANS, THE PHOTODETECTOR PRODUCING AN OUTPUT SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO THE INTENSITY OF THE LIGHT SHINING UPON, IT THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: (A) MEANS FOR CYCLICALLY VARYING THE RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE SLIT IMAGES AND THE MASK MEANS AT A RAPID AND CONSTANT RATE OF REPETITION BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN THE SLIT IMAGES CORRELATE WITH SAID REGIONS OF THE MASK MEANS AND A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN THERE IS A SLIGHT RELATIVE DISPLACEMENT, IN THE SAID DIRECTION OF DISPERSION, BETWEEN THE SLIT IMAGES AND CORRESPONDING CORRELATIVE REGIONS OF THE MAKS MEANS, WHEREBY THE INTENSITY OF THE LIGHT PASSING THROUGH THE MASK MEANS IN CYCLICALLY VARIED
FROM A MAXIMUM IN SAID FIRST POSITION TO A MINIMUM IN SAID SECOND POSITION IN RESPONSE TO THE VARYING RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE SLIT IMAGES AND THE MASK MEANS WHEN THE CHARACTERISTIC SPECTRA ARE PRESENT IN THE LIGHT, SO THAT SAID OUTPUT SIGNAL OF SAID PHOTODECTOR IS THEREBY MODULATED BY AN ALTERNATING CURRENT SIGNAL ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE EXISTENCE OF THE SAID CHARACTERISTIC SPECTRA IN THE LIGHT, (B) MEANS COUPLED TO THE PHOTODECTRO FOR AMPLIFYING THE SAID ALTERNATING CURRENT SIGNAL SEPARATELY FROM OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE SAID OUTPUT SIGNAL, AND (C) MEANS COUPLED TO SAID AMPLIFYING MEANS FOR MEASURING THE LEVEL OF THE AMPLIFIED ALTERNATING CURRENT SIGNAL INDEPENDENTLY OF OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE OUTPUT SIGNAL.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the presence, location and relative concentration of certain fluorescent materials in a scene that is illuminated by sunlight. The particular fluorescent materials are characterized in that they fluoresce at wavelengths coincident with one or more Fraunhofer absorption bands. Two images are formed from light collected from the scene. One of the images consists mainly of light from the scene having a spectral band-pass inside a Fraunhofer absorption band and the other image consists mainly of light from the scene having a spectral bandpass in the continuum near the same Fraunhofer absorption band. The two images are normalized so that intensities on corresponding portions of each image due to reflected solar radiation are equal. The ''''continuum'''' image is then subtracted from the ''''Fraunhofer'''' image. The resulting difference image consists primarily of fluorescent radiation derived from the fluorescent materials or objects in the scene and provides a direct visual indication of their presence, location and relative concentration.
Abstract:
A scanning spectrometer having means for scanning entrance slit images across an exit slit. A predetermined spectrum is recorded photographically or magnetically, and means synchronized with the scanning means is provided for obtaining correlation signals from the recorded spectrum. The correlation signals are precisely synchronized with the scanning means, and are used for correlation with the light passing through the exit slit.