Method and apparatus for modulated differential analysis

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute at least one deconvoluted signal comprises deconvoluting the signal into rapidly reversible and non-rapidly reversible components.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of adjusting the frequency of the modulation of the temperature according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of adjusting the amplitude of the modulation of the temperature according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 6

The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of controlling the underlying heating rate according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6, wherein the step of deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute at least one deconvoluted signal comprises deconvoluting the signal into rapidly reversible and non-rapidly reversible components.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of adjusting the frequency of the modulation of the temperature according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of adjusting the amplitude of the modulation of the temperature according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 12

The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of controlling the underlying heating rate according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 13

A differential scanning calorimeter comprising: (a) means for varying the temperature of a sample in the differential scanning calorimeter according to an underlying heating rate; (b) means for selecting a modulation frequency and a modulation amplitude; (c) means for controlling the temperature of the sample according to the selected underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (d) means for detecting the heat flow to and from the sample with respect to a reference as a function of temperature, as the temperature is varied according to the modulation frequency and the modulation amplitude; (e) means for recording a signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample; and (f) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 14

A differential scanning calorimeter comprising: (a) means for varying the temperature of a sample in the differential scanning calorimeter according to an underlying heating rate; (b) means for selecting a modulation frequency and a modulation amplitude; (c) means for controlling the temperature of the sample according to the selected underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (d) means for detecting the heat flow to and from the sample with respect to a reference as a function of temperature, as the temperature is varied according to the modulation frequency and the modulation amplitude; (e) means for recording a signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample; and (f) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 15

The differential scanning calorimeter of claim 11, wherein the means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute at least one deconvoluted signal comprises means for deconvoluting the signal into rapidly reversible and non-rapidly reversible components.

Claim 16

The differential scanning calorimeter of claim 12, further comprising means for adjusting the frequency of the modulation of the temperature according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 17

The differential scanning calorimeter of claim 12, further comprising means for adjusting the amplitude of the modulation of the temperature according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 18

The differential scanning calorimeter of claim 12, further comprising means for controlling the underlying heating rate according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 19

A differential thermal analyzer comprising: (a) means for varying the temperature of a sample in the differential thermal analyzer according to an underlying heating rate; (b) means for selecting a modulation frequency and a modulation amplitude; (c) means for controlling the temperature of the sample according to the selected underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (d) means for detecting the heat flow to and from the sample with respect to a reference as a function of temperature, as the temperature is varied according to the modulation frequency and the modulation amplitude; (e) means for recording a signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample; and (f) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 20

A differential thermal analyzer comprising: (a) means for varying the temperature of a sample in the differential thermal analyzer according to an underlying heating rate; (b) means for selecting a modulation frequency and a modulation amplitude; (c) means for controlling the temperature of the sample according to the selected underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (d) means for detecting the heat flow to and from the sample with respect to a reference as a function of temperature, as the temperature is varied according to the modulation frequency and the modulation amplitude; (e) means for recording a signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample; and (f) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 21

The differential thermal analyzer of claim 16, wherein the means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute at least one deconvoluted signal comprises means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample into rapidly reversible and non-rapidly reversible components.

Claim 22

The differential thermal analyzer of claim 17, further comprising means for adjusting the frequency of the modulation of the temperature according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 23

The differential thermal analyzer of claim 17, further comprising means for adjusting the amplitude of the modulation of the temperature according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 24

The differential thermal analyzer of claim 17, further comprising means for controlling the underlying heating rate according to the at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 27

The method of claim 21, wherein the step of deconvoluting the signal representative of the differential change in the heat flow to the sample material with respect to the reference to compute at least one deconvoluted signal comprises deconvoluting the signal representative of the differential change in the heat flow to the sample material with respect to the reference, into rapidly reversing, and non-rapidly reversing components.

Claim 28

The method of claim 21, wherein the modulation function is a sinusoidal oscillation.

Claim 29

The method of claim 21, wherein the modulation function is a combination of at least two sinusoidal oscillations.

Claim 30

The method of claim 21, wherein the modulation function is selected from the group of modulation functions consisting of square waves, sawtooth waves, triangular waves, pulse waves, polynomial waves, and combinations thereof.

Claim 31

The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of deconvoluting the signal representative of the differential change in the heat flow to the sample material with respect to the reference, using a discrete Fourier transform.

Claim 32

The method of claim 26, wherein the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample is differential temperature.

Claim 33

The method of claim 21, wherein the differential signal representative of the differential change in the heat flow to the sample material with respect to the reference, is differential temperature.

Claim 34

A thermal analysis instrument comprising: (a) a furnace comprising a heater, a heater controller, and a furnace chamber; (b) a sample pan and a reference pan in the furnace chamber; (c) means for monitoring the temperature of the sample pan and the temperature difference between the sample pan and the reference pan; (d) means for controlling the temperature of the furnace chamber; (e) means for receiving a signal representative of the temperature of the sample pan and of the temperature difference between the sample pan and the reference pan, for calculating a signal representative of differential changes in heat flow to the sample pan with respect to heat flow to the reference pan from the signal representative of the temperature of the sample pan and of the temperature difference between the sample pan and the reference pan, and for controlling the means for controlling the temperature of the furnace chamber; (f) means for (i) selecting an underlying heating rate for the furnace chamber, (ii) selecting a modulation frequency and a modulation amplitude, and (iii) controlling the temperature of the sample pan according to the selected underlying heating, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (g) means for recording the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample pan with respect to the heat flow to the reference pan; and (h) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample pan with respect to the heat flow to the reference pan to compute at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 35

A thermal analysis instrument comprising: (a) a furnace comprising a heater, a heater controller, and a furnace chamber; (b) a sample pan and a reference pan in the furnace chamber; (c) means for monitoring the temperature of the sample pan and the temperature difference between the sample pan and the reference pan; (d) means for controlling the temperature of the furnace chamber; (e) means for receiving a signal representative of the temperature of the sample pan and of the temperature difference between the sample pan and the reference pan, for calculating a signal representative of differential changes in heat flow to the sample pan with respect to heat flow to the reference pan from the signal representative of the temperature of the sample pan and of the temperature difference between the sample pan and the reference pan, and for controlling the means for controlling the temperature of the furnace chamber; (f) means for (i) selecting an underlying heating rate for the furnace chamber, (ii) selecting a modulation frequency and a modulation amplitude, and (iii) controlling the temperature of the sample pan according to the selected underlying heating, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (g) means for recording the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample pan with respect to the heat flow to the reference pan; and (h) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample pan with respect to the heat flow to the reference pan to compute at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 36

The thermal analysis instrument of claim 29, wherein the means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample pan with respect to the heat flow to the reference pan to compute at least one deconvoluted signal comprises means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample pan with respect to the heat flow to the reference pan into rapidly reversible an non-rapidly reversible components.

Claim 37

The thermal analysis instrument of claim 30, wherein the means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample pan with respect to the heat flow to the reference pan into rapidly reversible and non-rapidly reversible components uses a discrete differential Fourier transform technique.

Claim 38

The thermal analysis instrument of claim 29, wherein the sample pan and the reference pan are on a support in the furnace chamber, and wherein the support serves as the major heat flow path for transferring heat from the furnace to the sample pan and to the reference pan.

Claim 39

A thermal analysis instrument comprising: (a) a sample position and a reference position; (b) means for heating a sample placed at the sample position and a reference placed at the reference position; (c) means for monitoring the heat flow to the sample and the heat flow to the reference; (d) means for receiving a signal representative of the heat flow to the sample and the heat flow to the reference; (e) means for recording the signal representative of the heat flow to the sample and the heat flow to the reference; (f) means for selecting an underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (g) means for controlling the temperature of the sample according to the selected underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (h) means for calculating a signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample with respect to the heat flow to the reference; and (i) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample with respect to the heat flow to the reference to compute at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 40

A thermal analysis instrument comprising: (a) a sample position and a reference position; (b) means for heating a sample placed at the sample position and a reference placed at the reference position; (c) means for monitoring the heat flow to the sample and the heat flow to the reference; (d) means for receiving a signal representative of the heat flow to the sample and the heat flow to the reference; (e) means for recording the signal representative of the heat flow to the sample and the heat flow to the reference; (f) means for selecting an underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (g) means for controlling the temperature of the sample according to the selected underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (h) means for calculating a signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample with respect to the heat flow to the reference; and (i) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample with respect to the heat flow to the reference to compute at least one deconvoluted signal.

Claim 41

The thermal analysis instrument of claim 33, wherein the means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample with respect to the heat flow to the reference to compute at least one deconvoluted signal comprises means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample with respect to the heat flow to the reference into rapidly reversible and non-rapidly reversible components.

Claim 42

The thermal analysis instrument of claim 34, wherein the means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to the sample with respect to the heat flow to the reference into rapidly reversible and non-rapidly reversible components uses a discrete differential Fourier transform technique.

Claim 43

The thermal analysis instrument of claim 33, wherein the sample and the reference are on a support, and wherein the support serves as the major heat flow path for heat transfer.

Claim 46

The method of claim 37, wherein the step of deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute two deconvoluted signals comprises deconvoluting the signal into a rapidly reversible component and a non-rapidly reversible component.

Claim 49

The method of claim 39, wherein the step of deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute two deconvoluted signals comprises deconvoluting the signal into a rapidly reversible component and a non-rapidly reversible component.

Claim 50

A differential scanning calorimeter comprising: (a) means for varying the temperature of a sample in the differential scanning calorimeter according to an underlying heating rate; (b) means for selecting a modulation frequency and a modulation amplitude; (c) means for controlling the temperature of the sample according to the selected underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (d) means for detecting the heat flow to and from the sample with respect to a reference as a function of temperature, as the temperature is varied according to the modulation frequency and the modulation amplitude; (e) means for recording a signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample; and (f) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute two deconvoluted signals.

Claim 51

A differential scanning calorimeter comprising: (a) means for varying the temperature of a sample in the differential scanning calorimeter according to an underlying heating rate; (b) means for selecting a modulation frequency and a modulation amplitude; (c) means for controlling the temperature of the sample according to the selected underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (d) means for detecting the heat flow to and from the sample with respect to a reference as a function of temperature, as the temperature is varied according to the modulation frequency and the modulation amplitude; (e) means for recording a signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample; and (f) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute two deconvoluted signals.

Claim 52

The differential scanning calorimeter of claim 41, wherein the means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute two deconvoluted signals comprises means for deconvoluting the signal into a rapidly reversible component and a non-rapidly reversible component.

Claim 53

A differential thermal analyzer comprising: (a) means for varying the temperature of a sample in the differential thermal analyzer according to an underlying heating rate; (b) means for selecting a modulation frequency and a modulation amplitude; (c) means for controlling the temperature of the sample according to the selected underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (d) means for detecting the heat flow to and from the sample with respect to a reference as a function of temperature, as the temperature is varied according to the modulation frequency and the modulation amplitude; (e) means for recording a signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample; and (f) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute two deconvoluted signals.

Claim 54

A differential thermal analyzer comprising: (a) means for varying the temperature of a sample in the differential thermal analyzer according to an underlying heating rate; (b) means for selecting a modulation frequency and a modulation amplitude; (c) means for controlling the temperature of the sample according to the selected underlying heating rate, modulation frequency and modulation amplitude; (d) means for detecting the heat flow to and from the sample with respect to a reference as a function of temperature, as the temperature is varied according to the modulation frequency and the modulation amplitude; (e) means for recording a signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample; and (f) means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute two deconvoluted signals.

Claim 55

The differential thermal analyzer of claim 43, wherein the means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample to compute two deconvoluted signals comprises means for deconvoluting the signal representative of differential changes in the heat flow to and from the sample into a rapidly reversible component and a non-rapidly reversible component.