Patent ID: 9228937
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: G01J,G01N

Claim Text:
1. An optical spectrometer, comprising: two generally opposing, relatively movable side-walls, defining an adjustable sampling space, between which in use a sample for analysis is charged and in at least one of which is formed an optical interface translucent to optical energy emitted by an optical energy source; an actuator mechanically coupled to one or both of the opposing side-walls and configured to operate in response to a command signal applied thereto to effect relative movement of the opposing side-walls; and an optical position sensor configured to detect interference fringes generated by the optical energy traversing a distance between the side-walls a plurality of times, having passed through the at least one optical interface, and configured to generate the command signal in dependence thereof; wherein the position sensor is configured to process the detected interference fringes to determine therefrom a reference position of the actuator at which the two side-walls will be parallel, and configured to generate the command signal thereafter to effect movement of the actuator relative to the reference position so as to bring the side-walls into a predetermined relative angular orientation at which the interference fringe formation is mitigated, thus achieving a predetermined degree of non-parallelism of the side-walls and thereby bringing the adjustable sampling space into an analysis position at which the side-walls are relatively inclined to form a wedge shape, at which position sample analysis is performed.