Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for quantitative analysis of a material sample as a function of optical characteristics thereof that includes a light source, a solid state detector, means for positioning a material sample between said source and said detector, means for focusing light energy from said source through a sample in said positioning means onto said detector at a plurality of discrete preselected infrared wavelengths, and means responsive to light energy incident on said detector at said plurality of discrete preselected infrared wavelengths to indicate a preselected characteristic of a sample in said positioning means; characterized in that said focusing means comprises; a disc carrying a plurality of infrared filters having transmission characteristics corresponding to said plurality of discrete preselected wavelengths, and means for rotating the disc about its axis in a continuous rotation such that each filter in turn intersects light energy transmitted through the sample onto the detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for quantitative analysis of a material sample as a function of optical characteristics thereof that includes a light source, a solid state detector, means for positioning a material sample between said source and said detector, means for focusing light energy from said source through a sample in said positioning means onto said detector at a plurality of discrete preselected infrared wavelengths, and means responsive to light energy incident on said detector at said plurality of discrete preselected infrared wavelengths to indicate a preselected characteristic of a sample in said positioning means; characterized in that said focusing means comprises; a disc carrying a plurality of infrared filters having transmission characteristics corresponding to said plurality of discrete preselected wavelengths, and means for rotating the disc about its axis in a continuous rotation such that each filter in turn intersects light energy transmitted through the sample onto the detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said filters comprise individual filter elements carried in a continuous circumferential array about the disc periphery, said array including at least one opaque section for chopping light energy incident on said detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the focusing means is further characterised by means for selectively and variably controlling wavelength of radiation transmitted into the detector through each filter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said wavelength-controlling means comprisees means for varying angle of said disc with respect to direction of incidence of said light energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said wavelength-controlling means comprises means for tilting said disc on a direction orthogonal to its axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said wavelength-controlling means comprises means for selectively varying angle of incidence of light energy onto said filter means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the angle-varying means comprises tuning means positioned between the source and the filters, and having a plurality of apertures at differing radii with respect to the axis of illumination from the source to the filters, and means for controllably positioning said tuning means such that a selected one of said apertures intersects said light energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said tuning means comprises a disc having said apertures at the periphery thereof.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims wherein the plurality of discrete preselected wavelengths are in the near-infrared range of 800 to 1100nm.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein said detector comprises a silicon detector array.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 wherein said source comrises a tungsten-halogen lamp having a quartz envelope.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim for analyzing samples of whole grain wherein said sample-positioning meand comprises a vertically oriented sample chute and means for selectively holding a sample in said chute.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said sample-positioning means further comprises a vibrator for selectively feeding grain samples through said chute.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 in which the disc has a plurality of apertures at uniform radius from its axis, the filters being carried over respective areas of said aparatus.