Patent ID: 6310686
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: G01J,G01N

Abstract:
Optical apparatus for use in an instrument for identifying the composition of samples from characteristic Raman spectra comprising:a light source of known wavelength and deviation,transmission optics coupled to the light source so that light emitted from the light source is directed toward a sample causing the sample to produce a characteristic Raman spectrum,sampling optics situated to receive the characteristic Raman spectrum produced from the sample, the sampling optics including:an objective lens system situated adjacent to the sample to receive radiation reflected from and emitted by the sample including the characteristic Raman spectrum produced by the sample and generate a collimated beam of the radiation,an optical filter positioned to receive the collimated beam of radiation from the objective lens and allow past primarily only a selected spectral portion including the characteristic Raman spectrum produced from the sample,a lens positioned to received the selected spectral portion passing through the optical filter and direct it toward a focal point,a spatial filter having an input positioned at about the focal point to receive the selected spectral portion and having an output, the spatial filter attenuating unwanted radiation so that the output receives substantially only the characteristic Raman spectrum produced from the sample, andan optical fiber bundle coupled to the output of the spatial filter for transmitting the characteristic Raman spectrum produced from the sample to apparatus for identifying the composition of the sample from the characteristic Raman spectra.