Patent ID: 7796251
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: G01J,G01N

Abstract:
1. A standoff hazard detection and identification system capable of detecting and identifying contaminants on a surface, comprising: a first unit that emits a beam of light onto a surface that is located a distance away from the first unit and captures scattered radiation from said surface as a result of said beam of light; a second unit comprising a spectrograph that converts said scattered radiation to spectral data, wherein the second unit comprises a processor configured to control said second unit to operate in one of first and second modes of operation, where in the first mode, the spectrograph accumulates a relatively small number of returns of scattered radiation for a measurement frame to provide a relatively higher rate for faster scanning on said surface and relatively lower fidelity analysis, and in the second mode, the spectrograph accumulates a relatively high number of returns of scattered radiation for a measurement frame to provide a relatively slower rate for slower scanning on said surface and relatively higher fidelity analysis; and a link between said first unit and said second unit to couple said scattered radiation from said first unit to said second unit.