EP0177861A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Readhead with reduced height sensitivity
Assignee: Bayer Corp
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Filing: 1985-09-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A read head with reduced height sensitivity for use in a reflectance photometer that measures reflectance of diffuse light from a sample disposed outside the readhead includes a housing with an upper spherical portion and a lower conical portion. The inner peripheral surface of the upper portion is hemispherically configured and the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion is conically configured to permit illumination of a sample disposed outside the readhead. The angle of the cone defined in the conical portion of the housing is in the range of 45°-60°. The inner peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower portions are coated with a highly reflective material, such as barium sulfate. The apex of the conically configured housing portion is truncated to provide a light transmitting aperture for sample illumination. A sample is positioned adjacent the light-transmitting aperture below and outside the conically shaped readhead housing portion. The housing includes a second aperture for receiving a high intensity light from a flash lamp or incandescent light to illuminate the interior of the housing and diffusely illuminate the sample. A baffle is located adjacent the second aperture to avoid direct illumination of the sample. Fiberoptic bundles and photodetectors as well as lenses and reflecting surfaces are provided to detect the amount of diffuse light reflected from the sample.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph S. Hernicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/4738; G01N21/474; G01N2021/4742; G01N2021/4776; G01N2021/478; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/06; G01N2201/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A reflectance photometer of the type including a housing, a high intensity light source for directing high intensity light into a readhead; and light sensing means for sensing light reflected from a sample; the improvement comprising: a readhead including a housing with a first interior surface portion of a hemispherical configuration and a second interior surface portion of a truncated conical configuration operatively connected to the first housing portion for transmitting diffuse light through said truncated conical housing portion to illuminate a sample.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A reflectance photometer of the type including a housing, a high intensity light source for directing high intensity light into a readhead; and light sensing means for sensing light reflected from a sample; the improvement comprising: a readhead including a housing with a first interior surface portion of a hemispherical configuration and a second interior surface portion of a truncated conical configuration operatively connected to the first housing portion for transmitting diffuse light through said truncated conical housing portion to illuminate a sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The reflectance photometer of claim 1 wherein said readhead housing includes wall structure defining an aperture for receiving high intensity light within the readhead housing; a high intensity light source disposed with respect to said aperture to transmit high intensity light into said readhead housing, wherein said wall structure is disposed to prevent said high intensity light from directly illuminating a reflective sample disposed adjacent and outside of said truncated conical portion of the readhead.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The reflectance photometer of claim 1 wherein the cone angle of said second interior surface portion is 45°-60°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The reflectance photometer of claim 1 wherein said readhead housing includes wall structure defining a second aperture disposed to receive light reflected from said sample and further including a fiberoptic bundle and means for focusing reflected light into said fiberoptic bundle disposed in operative relationship with said second aperture to direct said reflected light, received by said second aperture, into said fiberoptic bundle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
155 words
A readhead with reduced height sensitivity for reflectance measuring instrument capable of quantitatively measuring diffuse light reflected from a sample disposed outside the readhead, comprising: a housing, including a first, hemispherically shaped interior wall portion operably connected to a second, truncated conically shaped interior wall portion; said second interior wall portion including a smallest diameter wall portion defining a first aperture for transmittal of light reflected from said first and second interior wall portions to a sample disposed adjacent said first aperture; said housing including wall structure defining a second aperture for receiving light reflected from said sample; means operatively associated with said second aperture for sensing reflected light received by said second aperture; a light source mounted to transmit source light into said housing to reflect a portion of the source light from said interior wall portions through said first aperture, and means for measuring the amount of light received by said second aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
155 words
A readhead with reduced height sensitivity for reflectance measuring instrument capable of quantitatively measuring diffuse light reflected from a sample disposed outside the readhead, comprising: a housing, including a first, hemispherically shaped interior wall portion operably connected to a second, truncated conically shaped interior wall portion; said second interior wall portion including a smallest diameter wall portion defining a first aperture for transmittal of light reflected from said first and second interior wall portions to a sample disposed adjacent said first aperture; said housing including wall structure defining a second aperture for receiving light reflected from said sample; means operatively associated with said second aperture for sensing reflected light received by said second aperture; a light source mounted to transmit source light into said housing to reflect a portion of the source light from said interior wall portions through said first aperture, and means for measuring the amount of light received by said second aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The readhead of claim 5 wherein the cone angle of said second interior surface portion is 45°-60°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
124 words
A readhead for a reflectance photometer, comprising: a housing, said housing including an inner peripheral surface having a hemispherical portion and a truncated conical portion for reflecting light onto a sample, housing wall structure defining a first aperture in said housing for receiving diffuse light reflected from a sample, a light source mounted to transmit light onto said inner peripheral surface of said housing, housing wall structure defining a second aperture in said housing for transmittal of diffuse light from said readhead to the sample, means for positioning a sample adjacent said second aperture for contact by light received through said second aperture, means for sensing the quantity of diffuse light reflected from said sample and received by said first aperture for quantitative analysis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
124 words
A readhead for a reflectance photometer, comprising: a housing, said housing including an inner peripheral surface having a hemispherical portion and a truncated conical portion for reflecting light onto a sample, housing wall structure defining a first aperture in said housing for receiving diffuse light reflected from a sample, a light source mounted to transmit light onto said inner peripheral surface of said housing, housing wall structure defining a second aperture in said housing for transmittal of diffuse light from said readhead to the sample, means for positioning a sample adjacent said second aperture for contact by light received through said second aperture, means for sensing the quantity of diffuse light reflected from said sample and received by said first aperture for quantitative analysis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The readhead of claim 7 wherein the cone angle of said truncated conical portion is 45°-60°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
Spectrophotometer apparatus including a light source directed into a readhead and capable of providing a bright light for illumination of a sample with diffuse light reflected from said readhead; sample light sensing means for sensing light reflected from the sample; and reference light sensing means; the improvement comprising: a readhead shaped to include a hemispherically shaped first interior reflective surface portion secured to or integral with a truncated conically shaped second interior reflective surface portion for illumination of a sample disposed adjacent and outside of the truncated conically shaped . portion through the truncation of the conical portion while maintaining the sample outside the readhead.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
Spectrophotometer apparatus including a light source directed into a readhead and capable of providing a bright light for illumination of a sample with diffuse light reflected from said readhead; sample light sensing means for sensing light reflected from the sample; and reference light sensing means; the improvement comprising: a readhead shaped to include a hemispherically shaped first interior reflective surface portion secured to or integral with a truncated conically shaped second interior reflective surface portion for illumination of a sample disposed adjacent and outside of the truncated conically shaped . portion through the truncation of the conical portion while maintaining the sample outside the readhead.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of determining an amount of predetermined component in a body fluid by photometric analysis comprising: disposing a sample of said body fluid on a sample strip reactive with said predetermined component to form an analyzable sample strip carrying a reaction product including said predetermined component; disposing said analyzable sample strip adjacent and outside of a readhead of a reflectance photometer, said readhead shaped to include a hemispherically shaped first interior reflective surface , portion secured to or integral with a truncated . conically shaped second interior reflective surface portion, said first and second surface portions adapted to reflect source light through a first aperture in said truncation of the truncated conically shaped portion of the readhead; transmitting light into said readhead to illuminate the analyzable sample strip with diffuse light reflected from said first and second interior reflective surfaces; and quantitatively sensing the amount of light reflected from the sample.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of determining an amount of predetermined component in a body fluid by photometric analysis comprising: disposing a sample of said body fluid on a sample strip reactive with said predetermined component to form an analyzable sample strip carrying a reaction product including said predetermined component; disposing said analyzable sample strip adjacent and outside of a readhead of a reflectance photometer, said readhead shaped to include a hemispherically shaped first interior reflective surface , portion secured to or integral with a truncated . conically shaped second interior reflective surface portion, said first and second surface portions adapted to reflect source light through a first aperture in said truncation of the truncated conically shaped portion of the readhead; transmitting light into said readhead to illuminate the analyzable sample strip with diffuse light reflected from said first and second interior reflective surfaces; and quantitatively sensing the amount of light reflected from the sample.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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