Patent ID: 11971351
Assignee: AUTOMOTIVE COALITION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  A | IPC A  G

Claim 0:
1. A sample interface device for use in identifying the presence of an analyte in a sample, wherein the sample interface device delivers a plurality of monochromatic light beams to a sample and receives back scattered light from the sample, the sample interface device comprising:
a substrate;
a low-absorbance injection area carried by the substrate for receiving a plurality of monochromatic light beams and delivering the plurality of monochromatic light beams to the sample; and
a plurality of photosensors carried by the substrate, wherein the plurality of photosensors are disposed outboard of the low-absorbance injection area, and further wherein each of the photosensors produces an electrical signal which corresponds to the amount of light received by that photosensor;
wherein one of the plurality of photosensors comprises a reference photosensor for measuring the light delivered to the sample, and the remainder of the plurality of photosensors comprise signal photosensors for measuring the scattered light returning from the sample;
wherein the sample interface device further comprises:
a diffuser disposed distal to the low-absorbance injection area, wherein the diffuser receives a plurality of monochromatic light beams and directs those monochromatic light beams to the reference photosensor;
a first mask disposed about the perimeter of the diffuser to prevent the monochromatic light beams from passing to the signal photosensors; and
a second mask disposed between the reference photosensor and the sample, wherein the second mask prevents scattered light from passing from the sample to the reference photosensor.