Method and apparatus for measuring simultaneously a plurality of components of a test sample

Claim 1

The method of testing simultaneously for a plurality of components in the radiant energy spectrum of a test subject which comprises, providing a plurality of band pass filters having transmissIon corresponding respectively to the absorption band of the components, providing two corresponding energy beams, passing one of said beams through said test subject, interposing said band pass filters alternately within each of said beams, focusing the radiation passing said band pass filters respectively upon detector means, measuring the radiation differential passing each of said filters from said two beams, and communicating the respective measurements to separate readout means.

Claim 2

The method of testing simultaneously for a plurality of components in the radiant energy spectrum of a test subject which comprises, providing a plurality of band pass filters having transmissIon corresponding respectively to the absorption band of the components, providing two corresponding energy beams, passing one of said beams through said test subject, interposing said band pass filters alternately within each of said beams, focusing the radiation passing said band pass filters respectively upon detector means, measuring the radiation differential passing each of said filters from said two beams, and communicating the respective measurements to separate readout means.

Claim 3

The method of measuring simultaneously the quantity of a plurality of components in a test sample, which comprises, splitting a source of radiant energy into two beams, employing one beam as a control beam, and passing the other beam through the sample, providing a chopper having mirror surfaces on both sides, rotating the chopper, disposing a pair of band pass filters on opposite sides of the plane of said chopper, alternately passing each beam directly to one of said band pass filters and reflecting the beam from a mirror surface of the chopper to the other of said band pass filters, focusing the radiation passing through said band pass filters respectively upon detectors and connecting the detectors to readout devices.

Claim 4

The method of measuring simultaneously the quantity of a plurality of components in a test sample, which comprises, splitting a source of radiant energy into two beams, employing one beam as a control beam, and passing the other beam through the sample, providing a chopper having mirror surfaces on both sides, rotating the chopper, disposing a pair of band pass filters on opposite sides of the plane of said chopper, alternately passing each beam directly to one of said band pass filters and reflecting the beam from a mirror surface of the chopper to the other of said band pass filters, focusing the radiation passing through said band pass filters respectively upon detectors and connecting the detectors to readout devices.

Claim 6

A system of determining simultaneously whether a plurality of components are present in a test sample and for indicating the amount of each of said components if present, which comprises, a plurality of corresponding beams of radiant energy, a test sample comprising a plurality of components, a chopper member having a mirror surface on both sides, means for rotating the chopper member within a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the chopper thus alternately opening and closing successive areas of the portion of said plane within which the chopper rotates, a pair of band pass filters disposed on opposite sides of the plane of rotation of said chopper member, said filters being respectively transparent to the absorption energy bands of the specific gases the presence and amount of which are being measured, detectors of radiant energy disposed to receive the radiation passing said filters respectively, means for directing one of said beams through said test sample, means for thereafter directing both beams through the field of rotation of the chopper from opposite sides of the plane of the chopper thereby causing each beam to be incident alternately on each of said band pass filters, means for comparing and measuring the radiation passing each of said filters from each of said beams, and means for comparing the difference in the energy passing each of said filters from each of the beams.

Claim 7

A system of determining simultaneously whether a plurality of components are present in a test sample and for indicating the amount of each of said components if present, which comprises, a plurality of corresponding beams of radiant energy, a test sample comprising a plurality of components, a chopper member having a mirror surface on both sides, means for rotating the chopper member within a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the chopper thus alternately opening and closing successive areas of the portion of said plane within which the chopper rotates, a pair of band pass filters disposed on opposite sides of the plane of rotation of said chopper member, said filters being respectively transparent to the absorption energy bands of the specific gases the presence and amount of which are being measured, detectors of radiant energy disposed to receive the radiation passing said filters respectively, means for directing one of said beams through said test sample, means for thereafter directing both beams through the field of rotation of the chopper from opposite sides of the plane of the chopper thereby causing each beam to be incident alternately on each of said band pass filters, means for comparing and measuring the radiation passing each of said filters from each of said beams, and means for comparing the difference in the energy passing each of said filters from each of the beams.