US5171995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sample holder for optical spectrometer and method for taking a spectrum
Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbH
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Filing: 1991-09-24
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Granted: 1992-12-15
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Expires: 2011-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A sample holder for placing a sample substance for transmission measurements with optical radiation into a spectrometer, in particular, a FTIR spectrometer which is at least partially made from a material transparent to the optical radiation in a intermeshing wavelength region and which exhibits an index of refraction in excess of 1 is configured as a converging lens with a concave surface (11) and a convex surface (12). To take an absorption spectrum of a powder and/or fluid dissolved or suspended sample substance, the sample substance is brought onto the concave surface (11) of the sample holder before the measurement where it, in consequence of the curvature and in contrast to a flat surface, is concentrated in a substantially smaller surface region. The configuration of the sample holder as a converging lens increases the yield of the radiation penetrating through the sample substance onto the detector of the spectrometer configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Jurgen Gast
- 👤 Arno Simon
- 👤 Eckhard Reh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N2021/0339; G01N2021/0346; G01N2021/035; G01N35/00; G01N2035/00178; G01N2035/00237; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/06; G01N2201/063; G01N2201/0638
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
Sample holder for the introduction of a sample substance for transmission measurements with optical radiation in a spectrometer, said sample holder having an optical axis and comprising a converging lens having means defining a concave surface, with a radius of curvature R, for receiving the sample substance and means defining a convex surface, with a radius of curvature r, for refracting the optical radiation passing through the sample substance and the concave surface toward the optical axis such that the optical radiation becomes less divergent or parallel, said sample holder being formed, at least in part, from a material transparent to the optical radiation and having an index of refraction in excess of 1 and the convex radius of curvature r is less than the concave radius of curvature R.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
Sample holder for the introduction of a sample substance for transmission measurements with optical radiation in a spectrometer, said sample holder having an optical axis and comprising a converging lens having means defining a concave surface, with a radius of curvature R, for receiving the sample substance and means defining a convex surface, with a radius of curvature r, for refracting the optical radiation passing through the sample substance and the concave surface toward the optical axis such that the optical radiation becomes less divergent or parallel, said sample holder being formed, at least in part, from a material transparent to the optical radiation and having an index of refraction in excess of 1 and the convex radius of curvature r is less than the concave radius of curvature R.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the sample holder is configured as a cylinder lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Sample holder according to claim 1 wherein the sample holder is configured as a lens rotationally symmetrical about an optical axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Sample holder according to claim 3 wherein the sample holder is configured for a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Sample holder according to claim 1 wherein the sample holder is configured from material which is solvent resistant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Sample holder according to claim 5 wherein the sample holder is at least partially constructed from ZnSe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
Sample holder according to claim 1 wherein the concave surface and the convex surface are polished.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
Sample holder according to claim 1 wherein the concave surface exhibits a roughness of about one order of magnitude below the wavelength of the optical radiation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
Sample holder according to claim 3 wherein the convex surface abuts a conical surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
Sample holder according to claim 3 wherein the convex surface abuts a plane surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
121 words
Method for taking an absorption spectrum of a sample substance through transmission measurements with optical radiation in a spectrometer with an optical detector comprising the steps of introducing the sample substance onto a concave surface of a sample holder having an optical axis and which is at least partially transparent to the optical radiation in an interesting wavelength region, introducing the sample holder into an optical path of the spectrometer in such a way that the sample holder concave surface carrying the sample substance is essentially perpendicular to the optical path thereof and faces away from the detector and refracting optical radiation passing through the sample holder with a convex surface on said sample holder towards the sample holder optical axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
Method for taking an absorption spectrum of a sample substance through transmission measurements with optical radiation in a spectrometer with an optical detector comprising the steps of introducing the sample substance onto a concave surface of a sample holder having an optical axis and which is at least partially transparent to the optical radiation in an interesting wavelength region, introducing the sample holder into an optical path of the spectrometer in such a way that the sample holder concave surface carrying the sample substance is essentially perpendicular to the optical path thereof and faces away from the detector and refracting optical radiation passing through the sample holder with a convex surface on said sample holder towards the sample holder optical axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
Method according to claim 11 wherein the optical path of the spectrometer runs at least section-wise vertically from above to below and that the sample holder, for purposes of measurement, is introduced with its concave surface directed upwards into a vertical section of the optical path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Method according to claim 11, whereby the sample substance is dissolved or suspended in a fluid and the fluid is completely brought into a gaseous state before introducing the sample holder into the optical path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method according to claim 12, whereby the sample substance is dissolved or suspended in a fluid and the fluid is only partially brought into a gaseous state before introducing the sample holder into the optical path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
Method according to claim 14 wherein the index of refraction of the fluid is matched to the index of refraction of the sample in the manner of an immersion system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method according to claim 11 wherein the fluid is a low boiling point, easily vaporized solvent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
Method according to claim 11 wherein a first absorption spectrum is initially taken of the sample holder without a sample substance, a second absorption spectrum is taken with the sample substance brought onto the sample holder, and thereafter, in an analysis step, the difference between the first and the second absorption spectra is formed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
Method according to claim 11 wherein a plurality of sample holders are simultaneously arranged in a sample changer device in the spectrometer, and a plurality of absorption spectra from various sample holders are taken without any intermediate exchanging of the sample holders.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-15 | 1996-06-15 | 1996-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-15 | 2000-06-15 | 2000-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-15 | 2004-06-15 | 2004-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |