US5504575A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
SLM spectrometer
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1993-06-17
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Granted: 1996-04-02
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Expires: 2013-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A SLM spectrometer is provided that employs an entrance slit or a collimator to provide parallel rays of radiation to a prism which disperses the incident radiation into an associated wavelength spectrum. The resulting spectrum from the prism is incident upon a spatial light modulator (SLM), such as a deformable mirror device (DMD). By selectively activating (or deactivating) a small portion of the surface of the SLM, i.e. a cell on the SLM, it is possible to selectively reflect or transmit a portion of the spectrum incident upon the SLM onto a focusing device, such as a parabolic focusing mirror. The focusing device in turn focuses the portion of the spectrum reflected by the selected cells on the SLM to a sensor. The wavelength selected is a function of which row of cells are activated (or deactivated) in the SLM. The SLM spectrometer of the present invention may be used to analyze visible light and light that is near visible, such as the near infrared or ultraviolet regions. The output of the sensor or detector may be appropriately amplified and after appropriate calibration employed to determine the amount of energy in a particular wavelength or band of wavelengths.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. Stafford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:31
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G01J2003/2866; G01J3/02; G01J3/0205; G01J3/021; G01J3/0229; G01N; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/06; G01N2201/067; G01N2201/0675
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A spectrometer comprising: a collimator for collimating incident radiation; a dispersing element for spectrally dispersing said collimated incident radiation into at least two portions of radiation; at least two pairs of optical fiber, each said pair of optical fibers comprised of an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber, each said input optical fiber receiving one of said portions of radiation and transmitting said portion of radiation to said output optical fiber; an optical switch associated with each said pair of optical fibers, each said optical switch for selectively enabling the transmission of said portion of radiation from said input optical fiber to said output optical fiber; and a detector for receiving said portion of radiant from said output optical fibers and for sensing the intensity of said portion of radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A spectrometer comprising: a collimator for collimating incident radiation; a dispersing element for spectrally dispersing said collimated incident radiation into at least two portions of radiation; at least two pairs of optical fiber, each said pair of optical fibers comprised of an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber, each said input optical fiber receiving one of said portions of radiation and transmitting said portion of radiation to said output optical fiber; an optical switch associated with each said pair of optical fibers, each said optical switch for selectively enabling the transmission of said portion of radiation from said input optical fiber to said output optical fiber; and a detector for receiving said portion of radiant from said output optical fibers and for sensing the intensity of said portion of radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spectrometer of claim 1 wherein said output fibers are twisted thereby focusing said portions of radiation from said output fibers onto said detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The spectrometer of claim 1 further comprising: a parabolic mirror between said output fibers and said detector for focusing said portions of radiation from said output fibers onto said detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The spectrometer of claim 1 further comprising: a lens between said output fibers and said detector for focusing said portions of radiation from said output fibers onto said detector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The spectrometer of claim 1 wherein said input optical fibers receive a higher order portion of radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The spectrometer of claim 1 wherein said optical switch is a deformable mirror device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The spectrometer of claim 1 wherein said optical switch is a liquid crystal device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
134 words
A spectrometer comprising: a collimator for collimating incident radiation; a dispersing element for spectrally dispersing said collimated incident radiation into at least two portions of radiation; at least two pairs of optical fibers, each said pair of optical fibers comprised of an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber, each said input optical fiber receiving one of said portions of radiation and transmitting said portion of radiation to said output optical fiber; a deformable micromirror device associated with each said pair of optical fibers, each said deformable micromirror device for selectively enabling the transmission of said portion of radiation from said input optical fiber to said output optical fiber; and a detector for receiving said portion of radiant from said output optical fibers and for sensing the intensity of said portion of radiation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
A spectrometer comprising: a collimator for collimating incident radiation; a dispersing element for spectrally dispersing said collimated incident radiation into at least two portions of radiation; at least two pairs of optical fibers, each said pair of optical fibers comprised of an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber, each said input optical fiber receiving one of said portions of radiation and transmitting said portion of radiation to said output optical fiber; a deformable micromirror device associated with each said pair of optical fibers, each said deformable micromirror device for selectively enabling the transmission of said portion of radiation from said input optical fiber to said output optical fiber; and a detector for receiving said portion of radiant from said output optical fibers and for sensing the intensity of said portion of radiation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spectrometer of claim 8 wherein said output fibers are twisted thereby focusing said portions of radiation from said output fibers onto said detector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The spectrometer of claim 8 further comprising: a parabolic mirror between said output fibers and said detector for focusing said portions of radiation from said output fibers onto said detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The spectrometer of claim 8 further comprising: a lens between said output fibers and said detector for focusing said portions of radiation from said output fibers onto said detector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The spectrometer of claim 8 wherein said input optical fibers receive a higher order portion of radiation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-02 | 1999-10-02 | 2000-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-02 | 2003-10-02 | 2004-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-02 | 2007-10-02 | 2008-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |