| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090237647 | PREPARING SAMPLES FOR OPTICAL MEASUREMENT - We disclose an apparatus comprising: a hand-portable optical analysis unit including an optical interface; and a device configured to receive and releasably engage the hand-portable optical analysis unit. The device comprises: a housing; a sample unit in the housing; and a resilient member configured to bias the sample unit and the hand-portable analysis unit towards each other when the hand-portable optical analysis unit is received in the device to compress a sample disposed between the sample unit and the optical interface of the optical analysis unit. Methods of analyzing samples are also disclosed. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20100290042 | Use of Free-space Coupling Between Laser Assembly, Optical Probe Head Assembly, Spectrometer Assembly and/or Other Optical Elements for Portable Optical Applications Such as Raman Instruments - An apparatus includes: a handheld Raman analyzer that can include: a common platform; a laser assembly mounted on a laser platform, the laser platform supported on the common platform by a first material and a second thermally conductive material wherein the first material is softer than the second material; an optical probe head assembly disposed on the common platform, the optical probe head assembly spaced apart from the laser assembly; a spectrometer assembly disposed on the common platform, the spectrometer assembly spaced apart from the optical probe head assembly; and an analysis apparatus configured to identify a specimen based on a Raman signature received from the spectrometer. The laser assembly can be optically coupled to the optical probe head assembly by at least a first free-space coupling region and the optical probe head assembly optically coupled to the spectrometer assembly by at least a second free-space coupling region. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100315629 | Optical Scanning - Disclosed are apparatus, kits, methods, and systems that include a radiation source configured to direct radiation to a sample; a detector configured to measure radiation from the sample; an electronic processor configured to determine infotmation about the sample based on the measured radiation; a housing enclosing the source, the detector, and the electronic processor, the housing having a hand-held form factor; an arm configured to maintain a separation between the sample and the housing, the arm including a first end configured to connect to the housing and a second end configured to contact the sample; and a layer positioned on the second end of the arm, the layer being configured to contact the sample and to transmit at least a portion of the radiation from the sample to the detector. | 12-16-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080291426 | OPTICAL MEASUREMENT OF SAMPLES - We disclose apparatus that includes: (a) an enclosure including an aperture; (b) a prism mounted in the enclosure so that a surface of the prism is exposed through the aperture; (c) an optical assembly contained within the enclosure, the optical assembly including a radiation source and a radiation detector, the source being configured to direct radiation towards the prism and the detector being configured to detect radiation from the source reflected from the exposed surface of the prism; and (d) an electronic processor contained within the enclosure, the electronic processor being in communication with the detector. The apparatus can be configured so that, during operation, the electronic processor determines information about a sample placed in contact with the exposed surface of the prism based on radiation reflected from the exposed prism surface while it is in contact with the sample. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20100133437 | HANDHELD INFRARED AND RAMAN MEASUREMENT DEVICES AND METHODS - We disclose apparatus that includes: (a) an enclosure including an aperture; (b) a prism mounted in the enclosure so that a surface of the prism is exposed through the aperture; (c) an optical assembly contained within the enclosure, the optical assembly including a radiation source and a radiation detector, the source being configured to direct radiation towards the prism and the detector being configured to detect radiation from the source reflected from the exposed surface of the prism; and (d) an electronic processor contained within the enclosure, the electronic processor being in communication with the detector. The apparatus can be configured so that, during operation, the electronic processor determines information about a sample placed in contact with the exposed surface of the prism based on radiation reflected from the exposed prism surface while it is in contact with the sample. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100191493 | Spectrum Searching Method That Uses Non-Chemical Qualities of the Measurement - Methods and systems for determining information about a sample are disclosed. The methods can include measuring spectral information for the sample and determining a quantity related to a signal-to-noise ratio for the spectral information, repeating the measuring and determining until a value of the quantity is beyond a threshold value, and comparing the spectral information to reference information to determine the information about the sample. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100198524 | Spectrum Searching Method That Uses Non-Chemical Qualities of the Measurement - Methods and systems for determining information about a sample are disclosed. The methods can include measuring spectral information for the sample and determining a quantity related to a signal-to-noise ratio for the spectral information, repeating the measuring and determining until a value of the quantity is beyond a threshold value, and comparing the spectral information to reference information to determine the information about the sample. | 08-05-2010 |