Method of spectral analysis

Claim 1

A method of identifying and locating a plurality of materials within a field of view by simultaneously comparing the spectral characteristics of the field of view through a number of selected wavelengths with reference spectral signatures of said plurality of materials, comprising the steps of: scanning said field of view to obtain said spectral characteristics; relaying the scanned spectral characteristics to a focusing lens array; dispersing said scanned spectral characteristics by said focusing lens array into a plurality of wavelengths, transporting said plurality of wavelengths to a detector means; sending a series of signals representative of said plurality of wavelengths from said detector means to an analyzer means; processing said series of signals by said analyzer means to create an unidentified spectral signature extending over the entire number of selected wavelengths; comparing said unidentified spectral signatures with said reference spectral signatures; indicating through output means when said unidentified spectral signature substantially matches a reference spectral signature from said plurality of materials within the scanned field of view; confirming the matches through an incremental segment mathematical characteristic in said selected wavelengths; and providing a visible signal upon said match being confirmed.

Claim 2

A method of identifying and locating a plurality of materials within a field of view by simultaneously comparing the spectral characteristics of the field of view through a number of selected wavelengths with reference spectral signatures of said plurality of materials, comprising the steps of: scanning said field of view to obtain said spectral characteristics; relaying the scanned spectral characteristics to a focusing lens array; dispersing said scanned spectral characteristics by said focusing lens array into a plurality of wavelengths, transporting said plurality of wavelengths to a detector means; sending a series of signals representative of said plurality of wavelengths from said detector means to an analyzer means; processing said series of signals by said analyzer means to create an unidentified spectral signature extending over the entire number of selected wavelengths; comparing said unidentified spectral signatures with said reference spectral signatures; indicating through output means when said unidentified spectral signature substantially matches a reference spectral signature from said plurality of materials within the scanned field of view; confirming the matches through an incremental segment mathematical characteristic in said selected wavelengths; and providing a visible signal upon said match being confirmed.

Claim 5

A method of locating a plurality of materials within a field of view through spectral characteristics recognized by a multi-spectral processor comprising the steps of: scanning the field of view to obtain said spectral characteristics by sequentially moving a variably controlled rotating mirror through the field of view at a speed to provide a predetermined overlap for successive scans, said rotating mirror being located in a plane substantially 45* to the axis of rotation; reflecting the spectral characteristics of each scan by the rotating mirror along a path to lens means, said lens means diverging and directing the spectral characteristics through a spectrograph; breaking the spectral characteristics into a selected number of wavelengths while in said spectrograph; focusing said selected number of wavelengths on a bundle of light carrying rods, said rods relaying the selected number of wavelengths to a detector means, said detector means receiving the selected wavelengths; sending a series of operational signals representative of said selected wavelengths to an analyzer means; processing said series of operational signals by said analyzer means to create an unidentified spectral signature extending over the entire selected wavelengths; comparing said unidentified spectral signature with a plurality of known spectral signatures of materials stored in a memory means; indicating through an output means when said unidentified spectral signature coincides with one of said plurality of known spectral signatures confirming the coincidence through an incremental segment mathematical characteristic in said selected wavelength of the known spectral signature; and providing a visible signal upon said coincidence being confirmed.

Claim 6

A method of locating a plurality of materials within a field of view through spectral characteristics recognized by a multi-spectral processor comprising the steps of: scanning the field of view to obtain said spectral characteristics by sequentially moving a variably controlled rotating mirror through the field of view at a speed to provide a predetermined overlap for successive scans, said rotating mirror being located in a plane substantially 45* to the axis of rotation; reflecting the spectral characteristics of each scan by the rotating mirror along a path to lens means, said lens means diverging and directing the spectral characteristics through a spectrograph; breaking the spectral characteristics into a selected number of wavelengths while in said spectrograph; focusing said selected number of wavelengths on a bundle of light carrying rods, said rods relaying the selected number of wavelengths to a detector means, said detector means receiving the selected wavelengths; sending a series of operational signals representative of said selected wavelengths to an analyzer means; processing said series of operational signals by said analyzer means to create an unidentified spectral signature extending over the entire selected wavelengths; comparing said unidentified spectral signature with a plurality of known spectral signatures of materials stored in a memory means; indicating through an output means when said unidentified spectral signature coincides with one of said plurality of known spectral signatures confirming the coincidence through an incremental segment mathematical characteristic in said selected wavelength of the known spectral signature; and providing a visible signal upon said coincidence being confirmed.

Claim 9

A method of identifying and locating a plurality of materials within a field of view by comparing the spectral characteristics of the field of view at different wavelengths with reference spectral signatures of said plurality of materials, comprising the steps of: presenting a series of signals representative of the spectral characteristics of an unidentified object to an analyzer means; processing said series of signals by said analyzer means to create an unidentified spectral signature the entire selected wavelength; comparing said unidentified spectral signatures with said reference spectral signatures; suggesting through an output means when said unidentified spectral signature substantially matches a reference spectral signature from said plurality of materials within the scanned field of view; confirming the matches through an incremental segment mathematical characteristic to positively identify the unidentified spectral signature; and referencing the matches on a coordinate system to locate the object within the field of view.

Claim 10

A method of identifying and locating a plurality of materials within a field of view by comparing the spectral characteristics of the field of view at different wavelengths with reference spectral signatures of said plurality of materials, comprising the steps of: presenting a series of signals representative of the spectral characteristics of an unidentified object to an analyzer means; processing said series of signals by said analyzer means to create an unidentified spectral signature the entire selected wavelength; comparing said unidentified spectral signatures with said reference spectral signatures; suggesting through an output means when said unidentified spectral signature substantially matches a reference spectral signature from said plurality of materials within the scanned field of view; confirming the matches through an incremental segment mathematical characteristic to positively identify the unidentified spectral signature; and referencing the matches on a coordinate system to locate the object within the field of view.

Claim 11

A method of identifying an unidentified ordered set of data by comparing curve characteristics with a library set of curves, comprising the steps of: presenting a series of signals representative of the unidentified ordered set of data to an analyzer means; processing said series of signals by said analyzer means to create an unidentified curve signature extending over the entire spectral wavelength; comparing said unidentified curve signature with said library; suggesting through output means when said unidentified curve signature substantially matches a curve in said library; conforming said matches through an incremental mathematical characteristic to positively identify the curve signature; and providing a visible displaY upon said match being confirmed.

Claim 12

A method of identifying an unidentified ordered set of data by comparing curve characteristics with a library set of curves, comprising the steps of: presenting a series of signals representative of the unidentified ordered set of data to an analyzer means; processing said series of signals by said analyzer means to create an unidentified curve signature extending over the entire spectral wavelength; comparing said unidentified curve signature with said library; suggesting through output means when said unidentified curve signature substantially matches a curve in said library; conforming said matches through an incremental mathematical characteristic to positively identify the curve signature; and providing a visible displaY upon said match being confirmed.