Photometer sphere

Claim 2

A photometer sphere including a spherical interior encompassed by a diffusely reflecting means, provided with at least one aperture for incident light, an aperture for applying a sample and an aperture for a photo detector in the diffusely reflecting means, wherein the interior is filled completely with an optically homogeneous, clear and non-scattering liquid or solid material.

Claim 3

A photometer sphere as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said apertures is sealed by a glass pane and the spherical interior is filled with an optically homogeneous, clear and non-scattering immersion liquid which has the same optical properties as the glass panes.

Claim 4

A photometer sphere as set forth in claim 1, comprising a solid sphere of an optically homogeneous, clear and non-scattering solid material, said diffusely reflecting means comprising a diffusely reflecting coating on said sphere, said apertures being located in said diffusely reflecting coating on said solid sphere.

Claim 5

A photometer sphere as set forth in claim 3, wherein the diffusely reflecting coating is encompassed externally by a mechanically solid protective coating.

Claim 6

A photometer sphere as set forth in claim 4, wherein the surface of the solid sphere underneath said diffusely reflecting coating is roughened.

Claim 7

A photometer sphere as set forth in claim 5, wherein the surface of the solid sphere is polished in the region of said apertures.

Claim 8

A photometer sphere as set forth in claim 3, wherein said solid sphere of an optically homogenous, clear and non-scattering solid material comprises plexiglass.

Claim 9

A photometer sphere comprising: (a) wall means defining a spherical chamber having a diffusely reflecting interior surface; (b) a plurality of apertures in said wall means; (c) transparent sealing means for sealing each of said apertures; (d) one of said apertures being for a sample, another of said apertures being for a standard reflectance sample and at least one other aperture being for a photodetector; and (e) an optically homogeneous, clear and non-scattering immersion liquid filling said chamber, said liquid having substantially the same optical properties as said transparent sealing means.

Claim 10

A photometer sphere comprising: (a) wall means defining a spherical chamber having a diffusely reflecting interior surface; (b) a plurality of apertures in said wall means; (c) transparent sealing means for sealing each of said apertures; (d) one of said apertures being for a sample, another of said apertures being for a standard reflectance sample and at least one other aperture being for a photodetector; and (e) an optically homogeneous, clear and non-scattering immersion liquid filling said chamber, said liquid having substantially the same optical properties as said transparent sealing means.

Claim 11

A photometer sphere comprising: (a) a solid sphere of an optically homogeneous, clear and non-scattering solid material; (b) a coating on the surface of said sphere, the interior surface of said coating being diffusely reflecting; and (e) a plurality of apertures in said coating, one of said apertures being for a sample, another of said apertures being for a standard reflectance sample and at least one other aperture being for a photodetector.

Claim 12

A photometer sphere comprising: (a) a solid sphere of an optically homogeneous, clear and non-scattering solid material; (b) a coating on the surface of said sphere, the interior surface of said coating being diffusely reflecting; and (e) a plurality of apertures in said coating, one of said apertures being for a sample, another of said apertures being for a standard reflectance sample and at least one other aperture being for a photodetector.

Claim 13

A photometer sphere as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a mechanically solid protective coating externally encompassing said first-mentioned coating having a diffusely reflecting interior surface.

Claim 14

A photometer sphere as set forth in claim 10 wherein the surface of said sphere underneath said diffusely reflecting coating is roughened.

Claim 15

A photometer sphere as set forth in claim 11 wherein the surface of said solid sphere is polished in the region of said apertures.

Claim 16

A photometer as set forth in claim 9 wherein said solid sphere comprises plexiglass.