Patent ID: 9297749
Filing Date: 2016-03-29
CPC Classification: G01J,G01N

Claim Text:
1. An optical analyzer system for identifying materials through transmission spectra analysis, the system comprising: a light source comprising a light-emitting diode (LED) ring-shaped circular array constructed with between 4 and 20 individually packaged LEDs having built-in collimating lenses, wherein the optical axis of each LED in the array is pointing at center of the sample aperture and each optical axis has an angle relative to a normal plane of the LED array of between 35 degrees and 55 degrees, wherein the LEDs in the array emit on the same or different wavelength bands to continuously cover the entire range of either 700-1100 nm or 900-1700 nm, and wherein the LED array is continuously driven with a DC power supply; a sample holder system; a sample aperture located between the light source and a position for a sample within the sample holder system; an optical efficiency enhancing element comprising an optical concentrator from the set of a reflective cone shaped concentrator, a refractive solid cone shaped concentrator, a compound parabolic reflective concentrator with an end of the concentrator having a parabola foci located towards the sample, a compound parabolic refractive lens concentrator, a compound elliptical reflective concentrator, or a compound elliptical refractive lens concentrator, the optical efficiency element is positioned between the light source and sample aperture and concentrates light emitted by the light source through the sample aperture and on the sample; an optical spectrometer module operating in either of the 700-1100 nm spectral range or the 900-1700 nm spectral range, the optical spectrometer module positioned to receive light from the light source passing through the sample aperture and a sample within the sample holder system, and the optical spectrometer module having: a receiving optical fiber positioned across the sample holder system from the sample aperture and connected to the optical spectrometer such that light from the light source transmitted through the sample aperture and the sample will enter the optical fiber and pass through to the optical spectrometer; and a computer or microprocessor system interfaced with the optical spectrometer, wherein the computer or microprocessor system controls the collection of spectral data for a measurement cycle time of 2 to 15 seconds, storage of the collected spectral data, and processing and analysis of the spectral data.