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US5793545A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical spectral filter and linear positioner therefor

Assignee: Thermo Environmental Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1996-10-25
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Granted: 1998-08-11
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Expires: 2016-10-25
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Abstract

Abstract A multi-wavelength optical filter for a portabe gas analyzer includes a filter assembly having a first opening and multiple additional openings. The first opening has a linearly variable filter disposed therein, while the additional openings have discrete filters disposed therein. The filters are linearly aligned, such that filter selection is facilitated by using the filter assembly with a linear positioning mechanism.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stephen L. Monfre
  • 👤 Anthony C. Jeannotte
  • 👤 Richard H. Seager
  • 👤 Norman P. Bridges
  • 👤 Robert E. Johnson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 09:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/007; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/31; G01N21/35; G01N21/3504

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 44 words
A multi-wavelength optical filter comprising: a filter assembly having at least two openings; a variable frequency filter disposed in a first opening of said at least two openings; and a discrete frequency filter disposed in an additional opening of said at least two openings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 44 words
A multi-wavelength optical filter comprising: a filter assembly having at least two openings; a variable frequency filter disposed in a first opening of said at least two openings; and a discrete frequency filter disposed in an additional opening of said at least two openings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The filter of claim 1, further comprising a positioning mechanism connected to said filter assembly for selectively positioning said filter assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The filter of claim 2, wherein said positioning mechanism includes a position sensor for providing positional feedback used in selectively positioning said filter assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The filter of claim 1, further comprising at least one other discrete frequency filter disposed in a further additional opening of said at least two openings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The filter of claim 1, wherein said first opening and said additional opening are linearly aligned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The filter of claim 5, wherein said first opening is substantially rectilinear in shape, and said variable frequency filter comprises a linearly variable filter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
The filter of claim 6, wherein said additional opening is substantially rectilinear in shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
The filter of claim 7, wherein said first opening has a longer side thereof being parallel to a direction of said linear alignment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
The filter of claim 8, wherein said additional opening has a longer side thereof being perpendicular to a direction of said linear alignment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
The filter of claim 9, wherein said filter assembly further comprises a plurality of additional openings, each additional opening being linearly aligned with said additional opening and being similarly shaped.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
The filter of claim 10, wherein at least some of said plurality of additional openings have a discrete frequency filter disposed therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 44 words
The filter of claim 11, wherein said linear alignment has a first end and a second end, and wherein said first opening is disposed toward said first end and at least some of said plurality of additional openings are disposed toward said second end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The filter of claim 12, wherein most of said linearly variable filter and said discrete filters have bandpass frequencies within the infra-red band.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 20 words
The filter of claim 6, further comprising a linear positioning mechanism coupled to said filter assembly for selective positioning thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 57 words
A multi-wavelength optical filter comprising: a filter assembly having a first opening and a plurality of additional openings; a variable frequency filter disposed in said first opening; at least some of said plurality of additional openings having discrete frequency filters disposed therein; and a positioning mechanism connected to said filter assembly for selectively positioning said filter assembly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 57 words
A multi-wavelength optical filter comprising: a filter assembly having a first opening and a plurality of additional openings; a variable frequency filter disposed in said first opening; at least some of said plurality of additional openings having discrete frequency filters disposed therein; and a positioning mechanism connected to said filter assembly for selectively positioning said filter assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 128 words
A multi-wavelength optical filter comprising: a filter assembly having a first opening and a plurality of additional openings; said first opening and said plurality of additional openings being substantially linearly aligned; said first opening having a substantially rectilinear shape with a longest dimension thereof being substantially parallel to said linear alignment; most of said plurality of additional openings being similarly substantially rectilinearly shaped and having a shortest dimension being substantially parallel to said linear alignment; a linearly variable frequency filter disposed in said first opening, said filter frequency changing along said linear alignment; at least some of said plurality of additional openings having discrete frequency filters disposed therein; and a linear positioning mechanism connected to said filter assembly for selectively positioning said filter assembly along said linear alignment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 128 words
A multi-wavelength optical filter comprising: a filter assembly having a first opening and a plurality of additional openings; said first opening and said plurality of additional openings being substantially linearly aligned; said first opening having a substantially rectilinear shape with a longest dimension thereof being substantially parallel to said linear alignment; most of said plurality of additional openings being similarly substantially rectilinearly shaped and having a shortest dimension being substantially parallel to said linear alignment; a linearly variable frequency filter disposed in said first opening, said filter frequency changing along said linear alignment; at least some of said plurality of additional openings having discrete frequency filters disposed therein; and a linear positioning mechanism connected to said filter assembly for selectively positioning said filter assembly along said linear alignment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 13 words
The filter of claim 16, further in combination with a portable gas analyzer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 83 words
A portable gas analyzer comprising: a comformally curved housing for positioning against an operators waist; a keyboard for operation of the portable gas analyzer; a wand for drawing gas samples for analysis by the portable gas analyzer; and a multi-wavelength optical filter which comprises: a filter assembly having at least two openings; a variable frequency filter disposed in a first opening of said at least two openings; and a discrete frequency filter disposed in an additional opening of said at least two openings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 83 words
A portable gas analyzer comprising: a comformally curved housing for positioning against an operators waist; a keyboard for operation of the portable gas analyzer; a wand for drawing gas samples for analysis by the portable gas analyzer; and a multi-wavelength optical filter which comprises: a filter assembly having at least two openings; a variable frequency filter disposed in a first opening of said at least two openings; and a discrete frequency filter disposed in an additional opening of said at least two openings.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5448070A Cited
US5508525A Cited
US5519219A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-08-10 2002-02-09 2002-08-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-08-10 2006-02-09 2006-08-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-08-10 2010-02-09 2010-08-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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