Patent ID: 7903243
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A refractometer comprising a light source, said light source capable of emitting a known spectrum of light waves at a substantially constant intensity and directing said light waves at a test subject; a light detector, said light detector capable of recording the intensity of light waves directed thereon; a polarizer, said polarizer suitably positioned to act upon said light waves; a subject mount, said mount capable of securing a test subject to the refractometer in a specific orientation in relation to the light source and light detector; a positioning device, said positioning device capable of dynamically orienting the light source and the light detector in relation to the subject when the subject is mounted on the subject mount, whereby for all orientations of the light source relative to the subject the light detector is oriented at substantially the same angle to the subject; a data gathering device, said data gathering device capable of measuring the angle of the light source and light detector to the subject and the intensity of light waves directed onto the light detector; and a computational device, said computational device using an algorithm to analyze input data from the data gathering device to calculate a numeric value representing the refractive index of the subject; whereby data is gathered by the data gathering device over multiple angles of orientation of the light source and light detector to the subject.