Automatic shutter system

Claim 1

A computer controlled radiation-protective shutter system for a spectrophotometer of the type having a high intensity radiation source disposed for projecting an optical beam onto optical elements thereof comprising: shutter means for selectively alternately occluding and passing said optical beam onto said optical elements in response to actuation by a microprocessor means, said shutter means having a shutter element adapted to shield said optical elements from deleterious radiation from said radiation source when said shutter means is occluding said optical beam, microprocessor means for directing actuation of said shutter means to pass said optical beam in response to a test showing the presence of an activity signal signifying an operational condition of the associated spectrophotometer requiring the optical beam to be projected onto the optical elements and for allowing said shutter means to occlude said optical beam if said test shows said activity signal is not detected, said microprocessor means being electrically interconnected to said shutter means, means for generating an activity signal signifying any of a preselected plurality of operating conditions of the associated spectrophotometer requiring the optical beam to be projected on the optical elements, said generating means being interconnected to said microprocessor means, and a software routine directing said microprocessor means to enter a timed cycle of testing for the presence of said activity signal at preselected intervals, continuing said timed cycle as long as said presence of said activity signal is detected by said test, and allowing said timed cycle to terminate if said presence of said activity signal is not detected by said test.