Patent ID: 6987564
Filing Date: 2006-01-17
Classification: G01J,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of approximating a spectral continuum, comprising: (a) obtaining spectral data; (b) determining a plurality of minima in the spectral data; (c) splitting the spectral data into a predetermined number of groups N; (d) for each group of spectral data, determining major minima for the group, and calculating an average and a standard deviation for the determined major minima; (e) determining a polynomial function that can be drawn through the major minima of all groups as determined in step (d); (f) for each group of spectral data, determining minor minima; (g) calculating an average deviation (Φ (h) reducing the number of groups, and repeating steps (c)–(g) for the reduced number of groups; (i) determining a least Φ (j) splitting the spectral data into N (k) determining a polynomial function that can be drawn through both the major minima and minor minima determined for N wherein said polynomial function determined in step (k) approximates the spectral continuum.