Patent ID: 8859969
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: G01J,G01N,G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical analyzer system for identifying materials through reflectance spectral analysis, the system comprising: a light source comprising a ring-shaped circular array containing between 4 and 20 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) continuously driven with a DC power supply and constructed with individually packaged LEDs having built-in collimating lenses and with the individual LEDs emitting on the same or different wavelengths to continuously cover the entire wavelength range of 700-1100 nm or 900-1700 nm; a bifurcated fiber-optic reflection probe consisting of: an optical efficiency enhancing element comprising an optical concentrator from the set of a reflective cone shaped concentrator, a refractive solid cone shaped concentrator, a compound parabolic reflective concentrator with an end of the concentrator having a parabola foci located towards the sample, a compound parabolic refractive lens concentrator, a compound elliptical reflective concentrator, or a compound elliptical refractive lens concentrator, wherein the optical efficiency element concentrates light emitted by the light source onto an end of the illumination fiber bundle of the fiber-optic reflection probe that is closest to the light source; a dispersive optical spectrometer connected to an end of the separate single receiving fiber of the fiber-optic reflect probe that is away from the probe tip, the dispersive optical spectrometer having: a computer or microprocessor system, interfaced with the optical spectrometer, that includes a computer memory module for storing and retrieving data (preferably a magnetic or electronic hard drive memory), wherein the computer or microprocessor system controls the collection of spectral data, storage of the collected spectral data, and processing, analysis, and display of the spectral data; wherein the optical axis of each LED in the array is pointing at an end of the illumination fiber bundle of the fiber-optic reflection probe.