Patent ID: 6235242
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
Apparatus for characterization of liquid sample drops during drop build-up and during descent thereof, comprising:(a) a sample drop characterization head defining an internal chamber and defining lateral emitter and detector receptacles intersecting said internal chamber and having a sample supply element for liquid sample drop build-up thereon and descent therefrom;(b) a tubular infrared transparent filter being located within said internal chamber of said sample drop characterization head and having opposed portions thereof exposed at said lateral emitter and detector receptacles;(c) an infrared light emitter being located within said lateral emitter receptacle of said sample drop characterization head and being positioned for directing infrared light through said infrared transparent filter, onto liquid sample drops during build-up thereof and through the path of descent of the liquid sample drops falling from said sample supply element;(d) at least one infrared light detector being located within said lateral detector receptacle of said sample drop characterization head and being positioned for receiving infrared light characterizing the liquid sample drops, said infrared light detector providing an electronic signal output representing characterization of the liquid sample drops during build-up and descent; and(e) means electronically processing said electronic signal output and providing a display representing characterization of the liquid sample drops during build-up and during descent.