Patent ID: 6326605
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A system for determining the amount of light received by a detector during a sampling period, where the detector produces an output which is a function of light being received, the system comprising:a first integration device operatively connected to the output of the detector and adapted to generate a first integration signal during the sampling period, the first integration signal being proportional to the amount of light received by the detector during the sampling period so long as the amount of light received during the sampling period is less than a first predetermined amount;a second integration device operatively connected to the output of the detector and adapted to generate a second integration signal during the sampling period, the second integration signal being proportional to the amount of light received by the detector during the sampling period so long as the amount of light received during the sampling period is less than a second predetermined amount, wherein the second predetermined amount is at least several times greater than the first predetermined amount; anda range selection system connected to the first and second integration devices and configured to automatically select one of the integration signals to use in determining the amount of light received by the detector based upon the amount of light received during the sampling period as represented by the integration signals.