Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus
Inventors
Hug, William F. • Reid, Ray D. • Bhartia, Rohit • Lane, Arthur L.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10753863-B1
Publication Date
2020-08-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
Spectroscopic chemical analysis methods and apparatus are disclosed which employ deep ultraviolet (e.g. in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range) electron beam pumped wide bandgap semiconductor lasers, incoherent wide bandgap semiconductor light emitting devices, and hollow cathode metal ion lasers to perform non-contact, non-invasive detection of unknown chemical analytes. These deep ultraviolet sources enable dramatic size, weight and power consumption reductions of chemical analysis instruments. In some embodiments, Raman spectroscopic detection methods and apparatus use ultra-narrow-band angle tuning filters, acousto-optic tuning filters, and temperature tuned filters to enable ultra-miniature analyzers for chemical identification. In some embodiments Raman analysis is conducted along with photoluminescence spectroscopy (i.e. fluorescence and/or phosphorescence spectroscopy) to provide high levels of sensitivity and specificity in the same instrument.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an apparatus for chemical analysis in which excitation radiation is directed from within a package onto a sample location external to the package. The excitation radiation has a wavelength less than 300 nm, and emission radiation arises from the excitation radiation at the external sample location and is received by at least one optical element within the package.
The optical element directs the emission radiation along at least one detection path within the package, and at least one detector within the package detects the emission radiation at at least one location along the detection path. The controller controls operation of the source and the detector, and the analyzer determines whether the detected emission radiation corresponds to a chemical compound of interest.
The apparatus provides pulses of excitation radiation and performs temporally spaced detections synchronized with the timing of the pulses. The disclosed concepts are used for non-contact chemical analysis using deep-UV excitation in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range, including Raman emission radiation and photoluminescence emission radiation, either simultaneously or in timed stages, and multi-stage combined detection across different wavelength bands.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent apparatus claim. The independent claim defines an excitation-delivery and emission-detection architecture with temporally spaced, pulse-synchronized detections, and the claim set further narrows the apparatus through dependent features.
Non-contact deep-uv excitation and external sample location
A package has a source of excitation radiation located within the package and configured to direct excitation radiation onto a sample location external to the package, wherein the excitation radiation has a wavelength less than 300 nm.
Internal optical collection and detection paths
At least one optical element within the package receives emission radiation from the sample location, where the emission radiation arises from the excitation radiation, and directs the emission radiation along at least one detection path within the package.
Pulse-synchronized temporally spaced detection with controller and analyzer
At least one detector within the package detects the emission radiation at at least one location along the detection path, with at least one controller controlling operation of the source and the detector, and an analyzer determining whether the detected emission radiation corresponds to a chemical compound of interest, wherein the source and controller provide pulses of excitation radiation and the detector and controller make a plurality of temporally spaced detections synchronized with the timing of the pulses.
Emission-type selection
The emission radiation is selected from native fluorescence emission radiation, Raman emission radiation, phosphorescence emission radiation, Rayleigh scattering, or luminescence emission radiation.
Multiple detectors without a dispersive optical element
The detector includes multiple detectors that collect emission radiation from the sample location without using a dispersive optical element.
Tunable optical element for detector collection
Detectors made of a plurality of detector units receive emission radiation from a sample location using a tunable optical element.
Stricter excitation wavelength constraint
The source provides excitation radiation with a wavelength less than 280 nm.
Battery powering within the package
A battery inside the package powers the source, detector, controller(s), and analyzer(s).
Overall claim coverage centers on an apparatus that delivers pulses of excitation radiation with wavelength less than 300 nm to an external sample location, collects emission radiation through internal optical detection paths, and performs temporally spaced, pulse-timed detections for determining correspondence to a chemical compound of interest. Dependent features further specify emission types, detector and optical collection implementations, a stricter excitation wavelength constraint, and an internal battery.
Stated Advantages
Aims at reduced size, weight, and power for miniaturized analyzers.
Documented Applications
Non-contact chemical analyte detection using deep-UV excitation in the 200 nm to 300 nm spectral range.
Integrated analysis performing Raman emission radiation and photoluminescence emission radiation, including fluorescence and phosphorescence, either simultaneously or in timed stages.
Multi-stage combined detection across different wavelength bands.
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