Spectrometer with absolute transmission accessory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12416571-B2
Application number	US-202318181236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2023
Priority date	Dec 23, 2022
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

An absolute transmission accessory for a spectrometer. One example spectrometer system includes a base plate, a light source configured to transmit light, and an interferometer mounted to the base plate. The interferometer receives the light from the light source and output modulated light. The spectrometer system includes a first optical element configured to receive the modulated light and direct the modulated light, and a second optical element configured to receive the modulated light and focus the modulated light to a sample compartment. The spectrometer system includes a detector compartment including one or more detectors, the detector compartment configured to receive light from the sample compartment. The spectrometer system includes a sample holder coupled to the base plate. The modulated light is directed to the sample holder, and light exiting the sample holder is directed through the sample compartment and to the detector compartment via the second optical element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spectrometer system comprising:
a base plate;
a light source configured to transmit light;
an interferometer mounted to the base plate, wherein the interferometer is configured to receive the light from the light source and output modulated light;
a first optical element configured to receive the modulated light and direct the modulated light towards a second optical element, wherein the second optical element focuses the modulated light to a sample compartment;
a detector compartment including one or more detectors, the detector compartment is configured to receive the modulated light from the sample compartment; and
a sample holder coupled to the base plate between the first optical element and the second optical element, wherein the modulated light is directed to the sample holder via the first optical element, and light exiting the sample holder is directed through the sample compartment and to the detector compartment via the second optical element.

2. The spectrometer system of claim 1 , wherein the modulated light output by the interferometer is collimated.

3. The spectrometer system of claim 1 , wherein the sample holder includes:
an accessory base; and
a sample supported by the accessory base, and wherein the modulated light travels along a first axis, and wherein the sample is defined by a plane aslant to the first axis.

4. The spectrometer system of claim 3 , wherein the sample holder includes a screen including a plurality of columns, wherein a portion of the modulated light reflects off the sample compartment as a reflected light, and wherein the plurality of columns are configured to receive the reflected light.

5. The spectrometer system of claim 2 , wherein the sample compartment is configured to hold a second sample, and wherein, when the sample holder is removed from the base plate, the modulated light is directed by the second optical element through the second sample held by the sample compartment.

6. The spectrometer system of claim 2 , wherein the accessory base includes one or more fasteners configured to couple the accessory base to the base plate.

7. The spectrometer system of claim 2 , wherein the sample holder further includes a detector device to detect coupling of the sample holder to the base plate.

8. The spectrometer system of claim 2 , wherein the sample holder includes an aperture configured to direct light toward the sample.

9. The spectrometer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more detectors are configured to detect a characteristic of the light exiting the sample holder, the characteristic usable to determine an absolute transmission of a sample held by the sample holder.

10. The spectrometer system of claim 1 , wherein the sample holder is removably coupled to the base plate, and wherein the modulated light is directed to the sample holder when the sample holder is coupled to the base plate.

11. The spectrometer system of claim 1 , wherein the modulated light is infrared (IR) light.

12. The spectrometer system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a removable cover plate configured to provide access to the sample holder.

13. The spectrometer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more detectors includes at least one selected from a group consisting of a deuterated triglycine sulfate detector, a deuterated, L-alanine doped triglycine sulfate detector, and a nitrogen-cooled mercury-cadmium-telluride detector.

14. The spectrometer system of claim 1 , further comprising a display configured to provide the absolute transmission of the sample.

15. A method for operating a spectrometer system, the method comprising:
transmitting a light via a light source;
receiving, with an interferometer, the light from the light source;
outputting, with the interferometer, a modulated light;
receiving, with a first optical element, the modulated light; and
in a first mode of operation of the spectrometer system:
directing, with the first optical element, the modulated light through a sample holder holding a sample, wherein the sample holder is situated between the first optical element and a second optical element;
focusing, with the second optical element, the modulated light to a sample compartment; and
receiving, with a detector compartment including one or more detectors, light from the sample compartment.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
detecting, in the first mode of operation, with the one or more detectors, a characteristic of light exiting the sample holder; and
determining, in the first mode of operation, with an electronic processor, an absolute transmission of the sample held by the sample holder using the characteristic.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
in the first mode of operation, directing, with an aperture, the modulated light toward the sample holder.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the sample compartment includes a second sample, and wherein the method further includes:
focusing, in a second mode of operation of the spectrometer system, with the second optical element, the modulated light through the second sample held in the sample compartment.

19. The method of claim 15 , further including:
detecting, with a detector device, coupling of the sample holder to a base plate; and
in response to detecting the coupling of the sample holder to the base plate, setting the spectrometer system to the first mode of operation.

20. The method of claim 19 , further including:
detecting removal of the sample holder from the base plate; and
in response to detecting the removal of the sample holder from the base plate, setting the spectrometer system to the second mode of operation.

Assignees

• Thermo Electron Scient Instruments Llc

Inventors

• Bradley Michael
• Yan Min

Classifications

• G01N21/3563

  for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor · CPC title

• G01N21/3577

  for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water · CPC title

• G01N21/01

  Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation · CPC title

• G01N21/552

  Attenuated total reflection · CPC title

• G01N2021/3595

  using FTIR · CPC title