US3967902A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for investigating the conformation of optically active molecules by measuring parameters associated with their luminescence
Assignee: Yeda Research and Development Co Ltd
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Filing: 1974-07-22
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Granted: 1976-07-06
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Expires: 1994-07-22
Abstract
Abstract The conformation of optically active molecules is investigated by projecting a monochromatic and unpolarized beam of light into a sample cell containing such molecules for causing the latter to luminesce, providing optical modulating means for intensity modulating polarized light in the radiation incident on the modulating means, beaming a portion of the luminescent output of the sample cell on the modulating means in such a way as to minimize the amount of linearly polarized light incident on the modulating means, and measuring the intensity of light at a predetermined wavelength emerging from the modulating means. The luminescent output of the sample cell incident on the modulating means contains a small amount of circularly polarized light in the presence of a large amount of unpolarized light. Only the circularly polarized light will be intensity modulated at the frequency of operation of the modulating means enabling the quantity of circularly polarized light to be established from the magnitude of the portion of the measured intensity that varies at the same frequency. This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for investigating the conformation of optically active molecules by measuring parameters associated with their luminescence.
Inventors
- 👤 Izchak Zevi Steinberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6445; G01N21/17; G01N21/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of investigating the conformation of optically active molecules comprising the steps of: a. projecting a monochromatic and unpolarized beam of light into a sample cell containing such molecules for causing the latter to luminesce; b. beaming a portion of the luminescent output of the sample cell through optical modulating means in such a way as to minimize the amount of linear polarization incident on the optical modulating means; c. driving the optical modulating means at a predetermined frequency for intensity modulating polarized light incident thereon; d. converting the intensity of light emerging from the optical modulating means into an electrical signal; and e. measuring the amplitude of a time-variable component in said signal at said predetermined frequency for determining the amount of circularly polarized light in said portion of the luminescent output of the sample cell.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of investigating the conformation of optically active molecules comprising the steps of: a. projecting a monochromatic and unpolarized beam of light into a sample cell containing such molecules for causing the latter to luminesce; b. beaming a portion of the luminescent output of the sample cell through optical modulating means in such a way as to minimize the amount of linear polarization incident on the optical modulating means; c. driving the optical modulating means at a predetermined frequency for intensity modulating polarized light incident thereon; d. converting the intensity of light emerging from the optical modulating means into an electrical signal; and e. measuring the amplitude of a time-variable component in said signal at said predetermined frequency for determining the amount of circularly polarized light in said portion of the luminescent output of the sample cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of measuring the amplitude of the D.C. component in said signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of measuring the ratio of the amplitude of said time-variable component to the amplitude of the D.C. component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for investigating the conformation of optically active molecules comprising: a. light means for producing an unpolarized beam of light; b. a sample cell positioned in said beam and adapted to contain said molecules for producing a luminescent beam; c. means for minimizing the amount of linearly polarized light in said luninescent beam; d. modulating means positioned to intercept the luminescent beam including a polarizer serially related to an optically active element having the property of becoming birefringent in response to an outside stimulus; e. means to apply a stimulus modulated at a predetermined frequency to said optically active element; and f. a detector responsive to the output of said modulating means for producing an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of said output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
124 words
Apparatus for investigating the conformation of optically active molecules comprising: a. light means for producing an unpolarized beam of light; b. a sample cell positioned in said beam and adapted to contain said molecules for producing a luminescent beam; c. means for minimizing the amount of linearly polarized light in said luninescent beam; d. modulating means positioned to intercept the luminescent beam including a polarizer serially related to an optically active element having the property of becoming birefringent in response to an outside stimulus; e. means to apply a stimulus modulated at a predetermined frequency to said optically active element; and f. a detector responsive to the output of said modulating means for producing an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of said output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for investigating the conformation of optically active molecules comprising: a. a pair of spaced, aligned monochromators defining an optical axis; b. a light source at the input of one monochromator for causing the latter to project a beam of unpolarized, monochromatic light toward the input to the other monochromator; c. a sample cell adapted to contain said molecules and located on the axis between the monochromators; d. optical modulating means between the monochromators and including an optically active element and a polarizer serially located on the axis, said element having the property of being rendered birefringent by an outside stimulus; e. means for applying a stimulus modulated at a predetermined frequency to the optically active element of the modulating means; and f. a detector at the output of the other monochromator for producing a signal indicative of the intensity of light that exits from the other monochromator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for investigating the conformation of optically active molecules comprising: a. a pair of spaced, aligned monochromators defining an optical axis; b. a light source at the input of one monochromator for causing the latter to project a beam of unpolarized, monochromatic light toward the input to the other monochromator; c. a sample cell adapted to contain said molecules and located on the axis between the monochromators; d. optical modulating means between the monochromators and including an optically active element and a polarizer serially located on the axis, said element having the property of being rendered birefringent by an outside stimulus; e. means for applying a stimulus modulated at a predetermined frequency to the optically active element of the modulating means; and f. a detector at the output of the other monochromator for producing a signal indicative of the intensity of light that exits from the other monochromator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the sample cell is located between the one monochromator and the modulating means which is oriented so that the optically active element therein faces the sample cell, and the polarizer faces the other monochromator, and the apparatus includes a circuit responsive to the signal produced by the detector for measuring the amplitude of a component in the signal at said predetermined frequency thereby indicating the amount of circularly polarized light produced by the sample in response to its irradiation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the light modulator in a Pockels cell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the light modulator in a photo-elastic modulator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the light modulator is located between the sample cell and the one monochromator and is oriented so that the optically active element of the light modulator faces the sample cell and the polarizer faces the one monochromator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein a depolarizer plate is interposed between the sample cell and the one monochromator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said circuit includes a phase-sensitive amplifier tuned to said predetermined frequency.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3471240A
Cited
US3443090A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-06 | 1980-01-05 | 1980-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-06 | 1984-01-05 | 1984-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-06 | 1988-01-05 | 1988-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |