Patent ID: 11867601
Assignee: COPENHAGEN NANOSYSTEMS APS
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A method of liquid characterisation using an optical characterisation system, the optical characterisation system comprising:
an optical element comprising a light source and light detector, and defining a light path extending between the light source and light detector, the detector being able to resolve light intensities at varying wavelengths;
a liquid container comprising first and second container surfaces defining at least part of an interior of the liquid container, at least part of the first and second container surfaces being transparent and parallel; and
a photonic crystal being attached to or being integrally formed with the first container surface and facing the interior, the photonic crystal comprising a first grating part having a first modulation period defined in a first plane,
wherein the method comprises the steps of:
recording a first transmission spectrum, wherein at least part of the first and second container surfaces, the interior containing liquid and the photonic crystal intercept the light path, and the interior intercepts the light path before the photonic crystal; and
recording a second transmission spectrum, wherein at least part of the first and second container surfaces, the interior containing liquid and the photonic crystal intercept the light path, and the photonic crystal intercepts the light path before the interior,
wherein the method comprises a step of deriving a quantitative measure of scattering from any particles in the liquid by analysing the first and second transmission spectra, and
wherein the method comprises a step of deriving the average size of particles in the liquid comprising comparatively analysing the first and second transmission spectra, and/or
wherein the method comprises a step of deriving the size distribution of particles in the liquid comprising comparatively analysing the first and second transmission spectra.