Patent ID: 7295330
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. A materials properties measuring system for using electromagnetic radiation interactions with selected materials positioned at a measuring location to determine selected properties thereof, said system comprising: an electromagnetic radiation source for providing propagating selected electromagnetic radiation beams at an output thereof; an initial radiation redirector for receiving, at a source incidence location thereon, said selected electromagnetic radiation beams and for spatially redirecting electromagnetic radiation incident at said source incidence location thereon into corresponding uncollimated departing electromagnetic radiation initial output beams; a beamsplitter for receiving, at corresponding ones of a plurality of incidence surfaces thereof including a first incidence surface, incoming beams of electromagnetic radiation incident thereon, including receiving said initial output beams at said first incidence surface thereof, and for splitting said incoming beams fractionally into corresponding pluralities of departing electromagnetic radiation beamsplitter output beams each propagating therefrom in a corresponding one of a plurality of directions differing from one another; an illuminating radiation redirector for receiving, at a splitter incidence location thereon, said beamsplitter output beams corresponding to fractions of said initial output beams incident on said beamsplitter first incidence surface and for redirecting electromagnetic radiation incident at said splitter incidence location thereon into corresponding departing electromagnetic radiation illumination output beams at least some portion of which propagate to said measuring location with said illuminating radiation redirector being free of any optical lens therein receiving any diverging electromagnetic radiation beam for transmission therethrough so as to form a collimated output beam; and an electromagnetic radiation receiver for receiving beams of electromagnetic radiation propagating thereto from said beamsplitter which are a fraction of electromagnetic radiation having propagated to a said incidence surface of said beamsplitter from said measuring location.