US4591268A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Accumulative absorption-dispersion spectrophotometer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-11-23
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Granted: 1986-05-27
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Expires: 2004-11-23
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a spectrophotometer that detects the types and amounts of certain chemical elements dissolved or suspended in a liquid or gas medium. A light beam of desirable frequency emitted from a light source passes through the mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to a filter surface, which filter functions as a selective barrier selectively blocking chemical elements or impurities under detection from moving thereacross. Prior to the start of a measurement, the filter surface is washed with the sample medium to be analyzed by allowing the sample medium to flow parallel to the filter surface without flowing across the filter. The measurement starts at the moment the outlet of the washing flow is shut-off whereupon a light sensor such as photoelectric sensor records the intensity of the light beam passing through the mass configuration boundary layer. As the dissolved or suspended chemical elements accumulates in the mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to the filter, the read out by the light sensor decreases in intensity because of the light adsorption or dispersion by the chemical elements accumulating in the mass concentration boundary layer. The time rate of the decrease of the normalized light intensity measured by the light sensor depends only on the rate of the sample flow across the filter and the percent mass of the chemical elements dissolved or suspended in the medium, but it is absolutely independent of the physical or optical boundary conditions of the measuring apparatus. The normalized light intensity is the instant light intensity divided by the initial light intensity measured at the beginning of the measuring cycle immediately after the completion of the washing cycle. The normalized light intensity of the dispersed light through the mass concentration boundary layer can be used to measure the turbidity of the sample medium. When the filter is opaque, the light beam is directed substantially parallel to the surface of the filter through the mass concentration boundary layer. When the filter is light-transparent, the light beam may be directed across the filter. When the filter surface is light-reflective, the light sensor may measure the intensity of the reflected light that passes twice through the mass concentration boundary layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Hyok S. Lew
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/251
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A device for measuring the concentration of chemical substances dissolved or suspended in a medium comprising in combination: (a) a cell for holding said medium with dissolved or suspended substances, wall of said cell including at least in part a filter blocking the movement of said substances while allowing the movement of said medium thereacross, said cell including window arrangement allowing a beam of a radiant energy to enter said cell, pass by said filter in a close proximity and leave said cell; (b) a source of said beam of a radiant energy disposed exteriorly to said cell; (c) a sensor receiving and measuring the intensity of said beam of a radiant energy leaving said cell after passing through a mass concentration boundary layer formed adjacent to said filter, said sensor disposed exteriorly to said cell; (d) means for continuously supplying said medium to said cell and for continuously removing said medium leaving said cell through said filter wherein said filter creates said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side surface of said filter during a measuring period; (e) means for washing off said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side surface of said filter during a washing period; and (f) means for measuring the amount of flow of said medium across said filter; wherein said sensor measures the increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer during a measuring period following a washing period and said means for measuring the amount of flow measures the flow of said medium causing said increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer; whereby, the concentration of said substances in said medium is obtained.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
283 words
A device for measuring the concentration of chemical substances dissolved or suspended in a medium comprising in combination: (a) a cell for holding said medium with dissolved or suspended substances, wall of said cell including at least in part a filter blocking the movement of said substances while allowing the movement of said medium thereacross, said cell including window arrangement allowing a beam of a radiant energy to enter said cell, pass by said filter in a close proximity and leave said cell; (b) a source of said beam of a radiant energy disposed exteriorly to said cell; (c) a sensor receiving and measuring the intensity of said beam of a radiant energy leaving said cell after passing through a mass concentration boundary layer formed adjacent to said filter, said sensor disposed exteriorly to said cell; (d) means for continuously supplying said medium to said cell and for continuously removing said medium leaving said cell through said filter wherein said filter creates said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side surface of said filter during a measuring period; (e) means for washing off said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side surface of said filter during a washing period; and (f) means for measuring the amount of flow of said medium across said filter; wherein said sensor measures the increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer during a measuring period following a washing period and said means for measuring the amount of flow measures the flow of said medium causing said increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer; whereby, the concentration of said substances in said medium is obtained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said source of said beam of a radiant energy includes means for producing a beam of monochromatic or a narrow bands of a radiant energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said combination includes another sensor receiving and measuring the intensity or flux of scattered radiant energy orginating from said beam of a radiant energy passing through said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side surface of said filter; whereby the turbidity of said medium is obtained.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
280 words
A device for measuring the turbidity of a medium including dissolved or suspended substances, said device comprising in combination: (a) a cell for holding said medium with dissolved or suspended substances, wall of said cell including at least in part a filter blocking the movement of said substances while allowing the movement of said medium thereacross, said cell including window arrangement allowing a beam of a radiant energy to enter said cell and pass by said filter in a close proximity; (b) a source of said beam of a radiant energy disposed exteriorly to said cell; (c) a sensor receiving and measuring the intensity or flux of scattered radiant energy orginating from said beam of a radiant energy passing through a mass concentration boundary layer formed adjacent to said filter, said sensor disposed exteriorly to said cell; (d) means for continuously supplying said medium to said cell and for continuously removing said medium leaving said cell through said filter wherein said filter creates said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side surface of said filter during a measuring period; (e) means for washing off said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side surface of said filter during a washing period; and (f) means for measuring the amount of flow of said medium across said filter; wherein said sensor measures the increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer during a measuring period following washing period and said means for measuring the amount of flow measures the flow of said medium causing said increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer; whereby, the turbidity of said medium is obtained.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
280 words
A device for measuring the turbidity of a medium including dissolved or suspended substances, said device comprising in combination: (a) a cell for holding said medium with dissolved or suspended substances, wall of said cell including at least in part a filter blocking the movement of said substances while allowing the movement of said medium thereacross, said cell including window arrangement allowing a beam of a radiant energy to enter said cell and pass by said filter in a close proximity; (b) a source of said beam of a radiant energy disposed exteriorly to said cell; (c) a sensor receiving and measuring the intensity or flux of scattered radiant energy orginating from said beam of a radiant energy passing through a mass concentration boundary layer formed adjacent to said filter, said sensor disposed exteriorly to said cell; (d) means for continuously supplying said medium to said cell and for continuously removing said medium leaving said cell through said filter wherein said filter creates said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side surface of said filter during a measuring period; (e) means for washing off said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side surface of said filter during a washing period; and (f) means for measuring the amount of flow of said medium across said filter; wherein said sensor measures the increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer during a measuring period following washing period and said means for measuring the amount of flow measures the flow of said medium causing said increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer; whereby, the turbidity of said medium is obtained.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
292 words
A device for measuring the concentration of chemical substances dissolved or suspended in a medium comprising in combination: (a) a cell for holding said medium with dissolved or suspended substances wherein said cell is divided into two compartments by a transparent filter blocking the movement of said substances while allowing the movement of said medium thereacross, said cell including window arrangement allowing a beam of a radiant energy to enter said cell, pass through said transparent filter and leave said cell; (b) a source of said beam of a radiant energy disposed exteriorly to said cell; (c) a sensor receiving and measuring the intensity or flux of said beam of a radiant energy leaving said cell after passing across a mass concentration boundary layer formed adjacent to said transparent filter, said sensor disposed exteriorly to said cell; (d) means for continuously supplying said medium to one of said two compartments included in said cell and for continuously removing said medium from the other of said two compartments included in said cell wherein said transparent filter creates said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said transparent filter during a measuring period; (e) means for washing off said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said transparent filter during a washing period; and (f) means for measuring the amount of flow of said medium across said transparent filter; wherein said sensor measures the increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer during a measuring period following a washing period and said means for measuring the amount of flow of said medium measures the flow of said medium causing said increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer; whereby, the concentration of said substances is obtained.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
292 words
A device for measuring the concentration of chemical substances dissolved or suspended in a medium comprising in combination: (a) a cell for holding said medium with dissolved or suspended substances wherein said cell is divided into two compartments by a transparent filter blocking the movement of said substances while allowing the movement of said medium thereacross, said cell including window arrangement allowing a beam of a radiant energy to enter said cell, pass through said transparent filter and leave said cell; (b) a source of said beam of a radiant energy disposed exteriorly to said cell; (c) a sensor receiving and measuring the intensity or flux of said beam of a radiant energy leaving said cell after passing across a mass concentration boundary layer formed adjacent to said transparent filter, said sensor disposed exteriorly to said cell; (d) means for continuously supplying said medium to one of said two compartments included in said cell and for continuously removing said medium from the other of said two compartments included in said cell wherein said transparent filter creates said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said transparent filter during a measuring period; (e) means for washing off said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said transparent filter during a washing period; and (f) means for measuring the amount of flow of said medium across said transparent filter; wherein said sensor measures the increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer during a measuring period following a washing period and said means for measuring the amount of flow of said medium measures the flow of said medium causing said increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer; whereby, the concentration of said substances is obtained.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said source of said beam of a radiant energy includes means for producing a beam of monochromatic or a narrow bands of a radiant energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said combination includes another sensor receiving and measuring the intensity or flux of scattered radiant energy orginating from said beam of a radiant energy passing across said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said transparent filter; whereby, the turbidity of said medium is obtained.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
293 words
A device for measuring the concentration of chemical substances dissolved or suspended in a medium comprising in combination: (a) a cell for holding said medium with dissolved or suspended substances, wall of said cell including at least in part a filter with a radiant energy reflecting surface, said filter blocking the movement of said substances while allowing the movement of said medium thereacross, said cell including window arrangement allowing a beam of a radiant energy to enter said cell, impinge on and reflected by said filter, and leave said cell; (b) a source of said beam of a radiant energy disposed exteriorly to said cell; (c) a sensor receiving and measuring the intensity or flux of said beam of a radiant energy leaving said cell after repeatedly passing across a mass concentration boundary layer formed adjacent to said cell-side reflecting surface of said filter; (d) means for continuously supplying said medium to said cell and for continuously removing said medium leaving said cell through said filter wherein said filter creates said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side reflecting surface of said filter during a measuring period; (e) means for washing off said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side reflecting surface of said filter during a washing period; and (f) means for measuring the amount of flow of said medium across said filter; wherein said sensor measures the increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer during a measuring period following a washing period and said means for measuring the amount of flow measures the flow of said medium causing said increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer; whereby, the concentration of said substances in said medium is obtained.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
293 words
A device for measuring the concentration of chemical substances dissolved or suspended in a medium comprising in combination: (a) a cell for holding said medium with dissolved or suspended substances, wall of said cell including at least in part a filter with a radiant energy reflecting surface, said filter blocking the movement of said substances while allowing the movement of said medium thereacross, said cell including window arrangement allowing a beam of a radiant energy to enter said cell, impinge on and reflected by said filter, and leave said cell; (b) a source of said beam of a radiant energy disposed exteriorly to said cell; (c) a sensor receiving and measuring the intensity or flux of said beam of a radiant energy leaving said cell after repeatedly passing across a mass concentration boundary layer formed adjacent to said cell-side reflecting surface of said filter; (d) means for continuously supplying said medium to said cell and for continuously removing said medium leaving said cell through said filter wherein said filter creates said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side reflecting surface of said filter during a measuring period; (e) means for washing off said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side reflecting surface of said filter during a washing period; and (f) means for measuring the amount of flow of said medium across said filter; wherein said sensor measures the increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer during a measuring period following a washing period and said means for measuring the amount of flow measures the flow of said medium causing said increase of the concentration of said substances in said mass concentration boundary layer; whereby, the concentration of said substances in said medium is obtained.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said source of said beam of a radiant energy includes means for producing a beam of monochromatic or a narrow bands of a radiant energy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said combination includes another sensor receiving and measuring the intensity or flux of scattered radiant energy originating from said beam of a radiant energy passing through said mass concentration boundary layer adjacent to said cell-side reflecting surface of said filter; whereby, the turbidity of said medium is obtained.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cell-side reflecting surface of said filter comprises a parabolic surface with a focal point substantially coinciding with said sensor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3306157A
Cited
US4341471A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-26 | 1989-11-25 | 1990-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-26 | 1993-11-25 | 1994-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-26 | 1997-11-25 | 1998-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |