Scanning monochromators

Claim 2

In an automatic scanning monochromator system of the type comprising at least two primary dispersive elements on a common mounting means which mounting means is movably supported on a supporting means so as to be operably driven by a prime mover having a power source, the improvement comprising: position sensing means, one element of which is directly connected to said mounting means and another relatively movable element which is directly connected to said supporting means; so that a signal is available specifically indicating the relative positions of the mounting means and therefore the plurality of dispersive elements thereon, and a control circuit operatively connected to the output of the said position sensing means; one of the outputs of said control circuit being operatively connected to the power source driving said prime mover; whereby the control circuit is adapted to cause the prime moVer to move said common mounting means to a particular predetermined position, so as to place a particular one of said dispersive elements into a fixed operative position.

Claim 3

An automatic scanning monochromator system according to claim 1, further comprising: an angular positioning means operatively connected so as to angularly tilt at least said particular one of said dispersive elements in said operative position about a pivot axis; at least one encoder operatively connected to said angular positioning means, the relatively moving elements of said encoder being so connected to said angular positioning means as to indicate the relative condition of said angular positioning means at the output of said encoder; said output of said encoder being operatively connected to said control circuit, said control circuit thereby receiving an indication of the angle of tilt of said particular dispersive element; said control circuit also comprising means when said angle of tilt as indicated by said encoder output reaches a given final value for causing said prime mover to move said common mounting means.

Claim 4

In an automatic scanning monochromator system of the type comprising at least two primary dispersive elements on a common mounting means which mounting means is movably supported on a supporting means so as to be operably driven by a prime mover having a power source, at least three secondary spectrally active elements mounted on a movable carrier and means for moving said carrier, the improvement comprising: a first position sensing means, one element of which is directly connected to said mounting means and another relatively movable element which is directly connected to said supporting means; a second position sensing means, one element of which is directly connected to said carrier means and another element of which is directly connected to a relatively fixed element, so that signals are available specifically indicating the relative position of the mounting means and the relative position of the carrier and therefore of the secondary spectrally active elements; and a control circuit operatively connected to the output of both said first and second position sensing means; one of the outputs of said control circuit being operatively connected to the power source energizing said prime mover driving said primary dispersive element mounting means; another of the outputs of said control circuit being operatively connected to the means for moving said carrier of said secondary, spectrally-active elements; whereby the control circuit is adapted to cause both said prime mover and said carrier moving means to move each of said common mounting means and said carrier means to a respective particular predetermined position, thereby placing a particular one of said primary dispersive elements into a first operative position and moving a particular one of said secondary spectrally active elements into a second operative position.

Claim 5

In an automatic scanning monochromator system of the type comprising at least two primary dispersive elements on a common mounting means which mounting means is movably supported on a supporting means so as to be operably driven by a prime mover having a power source, at least three secondary spectrally active elements mounted on a movable carrier and means for moving said carrier, the improvement comprising: a first position sensing means, one element of which is directly connected to said mounting means and another relatively movable element which is directly connected to said supporting means; a second position sensing means, one element of which is directly connected to said carrier means and another element of which is directly connected to a relatively fixed element, so that signals are available specifically indicating the relative position of the mounting means and the relative position of the carrier and therefore of the secondary spectrally active elements; and a control circuit operatively connected to the output of both said first and second position sensing means; one of the outputs of said control circuit being operatively connected to the power source energizing said prime mover driving said primary dispersive element mounting means; another of the outputs of said control circuit being operatively connected to the means for moving said carrier of said secondary, spectrally-active elements; whereby the control circuit is adapted to cause both said prime mover and said carrier moving means to move each of said common mounting means and said carrier means to a respective particular predetermined position, thereby placing a particular one of said primary dispersive elements into a first operative position and moving a particular one of said secondary spectrally active elements into a second operative position.

Claim 6

An automatic scanning monochromator according to claim 3, further comprising: an angular positioning means operatively connected so as to angularly tilt at least said particular one of said primary dispersive elements in said first operative position about a pivot axis; at least one encoder operatively connected to said angular position means, the relatively moving elements of said encoder being so connected to said angular positioning means as to indicate the relative condition of said angular positioning means at the output of said encoder; said output of said encoder being operatively connected to said control circuit, said control circuit thereby receiving an indication of the angle of tilt of said particular dispersive element; said control circuit also comprising means, when said angle of tilt of said particular dispersive element reaches a given final value as indicated by said encoder output, to cause said one output of said control circuit to energize said prime movEr to move said common mounting means, thereby moving a different one of said primary dispersive elements into said first operative position; said control circuit further comprising means, when said angle of tilt of said particular dispersive element reaches an intermediary predetermined value as indicated by said encoder output, to cause said another output of said control circuit to actuate said means for moving said carrier to move said carrier, thereby moving a different one of said secondary spectrally active elements into said second operative position.

Claim 7

In an automatic scanning monochromator system of the type comprising at least two primary dispersive elements on a common mounting means which mounting means is movably supported on a supporting means so as to be operably driven by a prime mover, an angular positioning means operatively connected so as to angularly tilt at least one of said dispersive elements about a known axis the improvement comprising: at least one encoder operatively connected to said angular positioning means, the relatively moving elements of said encoder being so connected to said angular positioning means as to indicate the relative condition of said angular positioning means; a motor drivingly connected to said angular positioning means for driving said angular positioning means, thereby tilting said dispersive element; a comparator receiving the output of said encoder and an operator selected wavenumber setting, which supplies a signal when the encoder output matches said selected wavenumber setting; and control circuit means, the input of which is operatively connected to said comparator and the output of which is operatively connected to said motor to stop said motor when said comparator determines said matching of said encoder output and said operator selected wavenumber setting.

Claim 8

In an automatic scanning monochromator system of the type comprising at least two primary dispersive elements on a common mounting means which mounting means is movably supported on a supporting means so as to be operably driven by a prime mover, an angular positioning means operatively connected so as to angularly tilt at least one of said dispersive elements about a known axis the improvement comprising: at least one encoder operatively connected to said angular positioning means, the relatively moving elements of said encoder being so connected to said angular positioning means as to indicate the relative condition of said angular positioning means; a motor drivingly connected to said angular positioning means for driving said angular positioning means, thereby tilting said dispersive element; a comparator receiving the output of said encoder and an operator selected wavenumber setting, which supplies a signal when the encoder output matches said selected wavenumber setting; and control circuit means, the input of which is operatively connected to said comparator and the output of which is operatively connected to said motor to stop said motor when said comparator determines said matching of said encoder output and said operator selected wavenumber setting.

Claim 9

An automatic scanning monochromator system according to claim 5, in which: said encoder comprises a low speed encoder for determining the approximate position of said angular positioning means and a high speed encoder for determining to a high degree of precision the exact location of said angular positioning means.

Claim 10

An automatic scanning monochromator system according to claim 6, in which: a numerical readout means is provided for indicating the spectral characteristic of the radiation dispersed by the particular dispersive element being operated, at its particular tilted position as controlled by said angular positioning means, the output of said encoder means being operatively connected to said numerical readout means, whereby the numerical readout means directly indicates the actual tilted position of said particular dispersive element and therefore the spectral characteristic of the radiation actually being dispersed by the particular dispersive element at its particular tilt angle, rather than the spectral characteristic merely intended to be dispersed.

Claim 11

An automatic scanning monochromator system according to claim 5 in which: said angular positioning means comprises a scanning arm and a rotatable cam means and said encoder is operably connected to said cam means, whereby said encoder reads the angular position of said cam means.

Claim 12

An automatic scanning monochromator system according to claim 8 in which: said cam means comprises two different cam contour surfaces, each of which may be operatively engaged by said scanning arm; means for operatively moving said scanning arm so as to engage either of said cam contour surfaces; signal generating means operatively connected to said arm switching means for indicating which of said two contour surfaces said scanning arm is actually engaging, the output of said signal generating means being connected to said control circuit, whereby said control circuit determines from the position of said cam as indicated by said encoder and which of its two contour surfaces are being used, the actual tilt angle of said dispErsive element and therefore the spectral characteristic of said dispersed radiation.