Abstract:
A novel emission and transmission optical spectrometer is introduced herein, which is capable of optically interrogating solid or liquid samples of organic, inorganic or polymeric chemistry, for pharmaceutical research, forensic and liquid analyses, used for identification, purity check, and/or structural study of chemicals. The beneficial aspects of the system are a single sample compartment as confined within the walls of the spectrometer housing, a more compact accessory, and the capability of making both emission (e.g., Raman and Fluorescence) and Infrared (IR, NIR) transmission measurements at designed sample points.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/532,505, filed Sep. 8, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of optical scientific instrumentation. More specifically, the present invention relates to an optical instrument configured to perform emission (e.g., Raman and fluorescence) and transmission spectroscopy within the housing of the apparatus for identifying the chemical composition of a sample. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Emission, e.g., Raman, and infrared (IR) transmission spectroscopy are complementary techniques capable of, if arranged appropriately, measuring the complete vibrational spectrum of a given sample. Presently, transmission and emission spectroscopy can be performed on standard optical instruments wherein, for example, the Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) portion is primarily set up as a transmission instrument but because of space limitations within the sample compartment region, the emission spectroscopy portion (e.g., to include FT Raman) is often configured with the light source or sample arranged external to the housing of the instrument by way of one or more accessory units. Such resulting one or more accessories, however, can be quite bulky and require the user to move the sample from one sampling compartment to another to measure transmission and emission spectra of a single sample. 
     Background information on a system that overcomes sample compartment space limitations via accessories coupled external to the housing of the instrument, is described and claimed in, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,095, entitled, “FOURIER SPECTROMETER WITH EXCHANGEABLE ENTRANCE AND EXIT PORTS ALLOWING FOR BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RADIATION PORTS” issued Mar. 12, 1996, to Gast et al., including the following, “there are, however, a plurality of substances which cannot be prepared for a measurement with the assistance of these standard sample preparation measures. Included therein are gaseous samples, samples which must be cooled or heated, or samples whose dimensions are too large for the sample region. In order to spectroscopically measure samples of this kind it is necessary to utilize an appropriate accessory in or on which the sample can be arranged, and by means of which the measuring beam can be introduced onto the sample. Since, due to space limitations, such an accessory cannot be accommodated in the sample region of the spectrometer optics, it is necessary to position it outside of the spectrometer housing, whereby the measuring beam is guided out of the spectrometer optics.” 
     Background information on a combined infrared/Raman microscope system using moveable components but fixing the sample position, is described and claimed in, U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,139, entitled, “OPTICAL INSTRUMENT PROVIDING COMBINED INFRARED AND RAMEN ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES” issued Nov. 24, 1998, to Sostek et al., including the following, “the present invention provides the capability of performing microscopic infrared analysis and microscopic Raman spectroscopy on the same sample, on the same microscope, without removing the sample once it is set up for analysis.” 
     Accordingly, a need exists for an improved optical spectrometer, which can provide both transmission and emission (e.g., Raman and fluorescence) spectroscopy as provided by a single sample compartment configured to accept a more compact accessory within the confines of the housing. The present invention is directed to such a need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an optical instrument for use in transmission and emission spectroscopy, which includes: a spectrometer housing having a single sample compartment disposed within the walls of said spectrometer housing; an accessory coupled to the single sample compartment, the accessory further comprising an excitation source configured to generate emission from a sample coupled to a first sample platform position; a second sample platform position offset from the first sample platform position so as to be configured for infrared (IR) transmission operation; an infrared (IR) source of radiation; an interferometer adapted along a designed optical path so as to modulate either the emission or the light received from the infrared (IR) source of radiation; a first optical element configured to direct to an emission detector, the emission received along the designed optical path or to direct the infrared (IR) source of light along the designed optical path; and a second optical element configured to receive directed infrared (IR) light transmitted therethrough a sample coupled to the second platform position and further adapted to direct the infrared (IR) light transmitted therethrough to one or more infrared (IR) detectors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a spectrometer in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a more generalized illustration of the transmission optical arrangement, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a more generalized illustration of the emission optical arrangement, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a more a more detailed illustration of the Raman Accessory emission optical arrangement as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the description of the invention herein, it is understood that a word appearing in the singular encompasses its plural counterpart, and a word appearing in the plural encompasses its singular counterpart, unless implicitly or explicitly understood or stated otherwise. Furthermore, it is understood that for any given component or embodiment described herein, any of the possible candidates or alternatives listed for that component may generally be used individually or in combination with one another, unless implicitly or explicitly understood or stated otherwise. Moreover, it is to be appreciated that the figures, as shown herein, are not necessarily drawn to scale, wherein some of the elements may be drawn merely for clarity of the invention. Also, reference numerals may be repeated among the various figures to show corresponding or analogous elements. Additionally, it will be understood that any list of such candidates or alternatives is merely illustrative, not limiting, unless implicitly or explicitly understood or stated otherwise. In addition, unless otherwise indicated, numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, constituents, reaction conditions and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified by the term “about.” 
     Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the subject matter presented herein. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the subject matter presented herein are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. 
     Specific Description 
       FIG. 1  shows a beneficial plan view of an exemplary spectrometer optical arrangement, which can be configured to measure in the infrared spectral ranges of 150-400 cm −1  in the far IR, 400-4000 cm −1  in the mid IR, and 4000-10000 cm −1  in the near IR with a spectral resolution of at least 0.125 cm −1  and with the aid of an Raman accessory, measure Raman signals in the spectral range from about 50-4000 cm −1  with a spectral resolution better than about 0.8 cm −1 . It is however, to be noted that  FIG. 1  illustrates less detail of the optical components and path, as generally designated by the reference numeral  10 , but generally shows the beneficial aspects of the configuration(s) in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     Spectrometer  10  thus generally includes within the housing  1  of the spectrometer  10 , a modulator, such as, but not limited to, a Michelson interferometer  12  (as denoted by the underlined reference character within the dashed box), a sample compartment  16  (also denoted by the underlined reference character within the dashed box), a first optical directional means  17  disposed therebetween an emission detector  20  (preferably a Raman detector, e.g., a liquid nitrogen-cooled NXR Genie germanium detector) and a main bench illumination source  18  (e.g., an Infrared Source (IR)), in addition to a second optical directional means  23  disposed therebetween one or more main bench emission detectors  24  and  24 ′. 
     It is to be appreciated that what is not depicted in  FIG. 1  but is inclusive of the arrangement are one or more printed circuit boards containing conventional spectrometer electronics such as power supplies, signal processing circuitry, control circuitry, etc., including various discrete components, numerous wire routings, and several integrated circuits (ICs) including a computer (not shown) for controlling operation of the spectrometer in accordance with an operator&#39;s inputs. Also not shown in  FIG. 1  are external optical arrangements to enable additional beneficial techniques, to include but is not just limited to, Near Infrared (NIR) and Gas Chromatography (GC) coupled accessories (not shown). 
     One such accessory arrangement that is, however, expressly shown in  FIG. 1  is an Attenuated Total Internal Reflection (ATR) accessory  52  configured therein to accept modulated radiation from upstream components (e.g., source  18  and modulator  12 ). Modulated energy is thus focused by a configured objective (not shown) to a sample at a sample plane that is in contact with the bottom of a germanium hemisphere (not shown) that is typical of an ATR assembly  52 . Rays that reflect from the interface between the germanium hemisphere and a sample (not shown in this context) can be redirected by, for example, flipper mirror  41  and imaged to a detector plane (not shown), which corresponds to the imaging of the sample. Therefore, because the refractive index of Ge (n=4) provides additional magnification above the nominal magnification of infrared microscopes, the Ge ATR technique enables an embodiment herein capable of collecting spectra from areas such as a 2.5×2.5 micron sample area. As an important note, the flipper mirror arrangement  41  as disposed within the housing  1  enables input/output beams when desired, such as, for example, the ATR, GC, or NIR exemplary embodiments briefly discussed above. 
     Also not shown in  FIG. 1 , but requires discussion, is a laser (e.g., a Helium Neon laser) which is energized by a laser power supply for directing a reference laser beam through and off of the configured beam-splitter of the modulator  12 . In particular, the reference laser beam operates as a position clock in providing a sine wave to determine zero crossing, or zero path difference (ZPD), between the mirrors  32 ,  33 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The reference sine wave provided by the reference laser beam is used to trigger signal detection and processing circuitry for generating an interferogram of one or more samples under investigation. An accurate determination of the reference laser beam phase permits precise determination of movable component positions for accurate sampling of the beam waveforms at any desired detector position, as discussed below. 
     Turning back to the discussion of  FIG. 1 , modulator  12 , in order to produce high quality interferogram data, can be configured as a scanning Michelson FTIR interferometer having a given servo control system (not shown) desirably configured to move the scanning parts, such as, one or both of the phase return mirrors  32  and  33  with a steady velocity. Velocity errors are minimized using techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art to correct for external vibrations, such as, but not limited to, people moving, loud conversations, and noise generating equipment via a dynamic velocity control servo system when desiring best performance. 
     In discussing a beneficial transmission aspect of the present application, when main bench illumination source  18  is configured as an Infrared Source (IR, NIR)), described in detail below, the resultant radiation is directed as a converging beam (not shown) through a system aperture  36  via first optical directional means  17  (also to be discussed in detail below) and is received by a collimating mirror  38 . The IR source itself can be a lamp or a heated infrared source chosen from any customized or conventional known source utilized in the field, such as, but not limited to, a wire, metal or ceramic element that is heated to emit a continuous band of optical radiation and coupled to the housing of the source (shown generally by the reference character  18 ), as known to those skilled in the art. The IR beam reflected by mirror  38  (e.g., a collimating mirror) is directed towards the beam-splitter (not distinguishable) of modulator  12 . 
     Thereafter, portions of the IR beam transmitted through and reflected by the beam-splitter of modulator  12  are recombined at the beam-splitter and are directed as a collimated beam to a flat mirror  40 . Mirror  40  directs the IR beam to a sample  46  under interrogation as configured on a platform (not shown). The IR interrogating beam is often a converging beam as enabled by mirror  50  (e.g., a parabolic mirror). The sample is disposed within a sample chamber, i.e., compartment  16  and is maintained in position by means of the sample platform (not shown). After passing through the sample  46 , the diverging example IR beam is incident upon second optical directional means  23  (e.g., a parabolic mirror as discussed in detail below), which directs and focuses the IR beam onto one or more IR detectors  24  and  24 ′ depending on the wavelength sensitivity, as additionally coupled to, and integrated with, desired circuitry (not shown). In particular, it is to be noted that the detectors  24  and  24 ′ can comprise any detector that is capable of being used for a specific wavelength/imaging, etc. application of the present invention that can range from the ultra-violet (UV) through the Visible up to the far-infrared (IR). Example detectors include, but are not limited to, photodiodes, CCDs, liquid nitrogen cooled CCD cameras, two-dimensional array detectors, avalanche CCD photodetectors, and/or photomultipliers, and/or a photodiode capable of point-by-point scanning. It is also to be noted that any of the detectors discussed herein are directly coupled to desired signal processing circuitry designed to increase the sensitivity of the spectrometer  10  to the detected signal. In addition, any heat generated from the sources discussed herein is removed by conduction as directed into the spectrometer&#39;s base (e.g., aluminum base) for rapid and effective dissipation. 
       FIG. 2  shows a more generalized drawing of the transmission optical arrangement, now generally designated by the reference numeral  200 , to provide the reader with a different teaching so as to further the understanding of this aspect of the invention. The transmission aspect of the spectrometer thus generally includes (all within the housing  1  of the spectrometer), a Michelson interferometer  12  (as denoted by the underlined reference character within the dashed box), a sample compartment  16  (also again denoted by the underlined reference character within the dashed box), a first optical directional means  17  disposed therebetween an emission detector  20  (preferably a Raman detector) and a main bench illumination source  18  (e.g., a Near Infrared Source (NIR)), in addition to a second optical directional means  23  disposed therebetween one or more main bench emission detectors  24  and  24 ′. 
     The illumination IR source  18  is directed as a converging beam through a system aperture  36  via first optical directional means  17  and is received by a collimating mirror  38 . The IR beam reflected by mirror  38  (e.g., a collimating mirror) is directed towards the beam-splitter  30  of modulator  12 . 
     Thereafter, portions of the IR beam transmitted through and reflected by the beam-splitter of modulator  12  are recombined at the beam-splitter  30  and are directed as a collimated beam to a flat mirror  40 . Mirror  40  directs the IR beam along beam path A to eventually be received by a sample  46  under interrogation as configured on a platform (not shown). The IR interrogating beam is often a converging beam  48  as enabled by mirror  50  (e.g., a parabolic mirror). The sample is disposed within a sample chamber, i.e., compartment  16  and is maintained in position by means of the sample platform (not shown). After passing through the sample  46 , the diverging example IR beam is incident upon second optical directional means  23  (e.g., having a curved surface  7 , such as, a parabolic reflective surface), which can rotate about an axis, and thus direct and focus the received IR beam onto one or more IR detectors  24  and  24 ′ depending on a designed wavelength sensitivity as per the application. 
     In directing energy from a source or to alternate detectors,  FIG. 2  shows the first and second optical directional means  17 ,  23  as rotating (as denoted by the curved double arrowed lines) monolithic geared reflector devices. However, it is to be noted that other directional devices, such as flip mirrors can also be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. Nonetheless, the monolithic geared reflector optical design, as shown in  FIG. 2  is highly desirable due to its applicability for easily directing energy from sources along a given beam path or directing received energy towards one or more predetermined detectors. Such monolithic geared reflectors  17 ,  23 , often include a shaft  4  having a given circular cross-sectional area and an annular shaped portion  2  with integrally configured gear teeth (not shown) so as to mesh with a primary gear to provide an accurate as well as a desired rotation when coupled to a computer-coupled control means. Such a mechanism arrangement enables such rotatable devices described and utilized herein to start rotation, change rotation direction, and move with a desired rotational velocity. The reflectors  17 ,  23  are also embodied with a surface curvature  7  by design that can include a pair of foci F 1  and F 2  (not shown) indicative of any desired mirrored design, i.e., a design having a degree of eccentricity indicative of, for example, a parabolic, elliptical, or other surface curvature  7 . 
     To provide mechanical support, the shaft  4  integrally configured from the geared reflector  17  and  23 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is provided with a hollowed portion (not specifically denoted) so as to be rotatably supported by a pin  25 . The shaft  4  is also further supported by a bearing assembly (not shown) which permits shaft  4  rotation and centering with respect to a mounting flange assembly (not shown). 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , such a general optical arrangement, now generally designated by the reference numeral  300 , is provided to simply illustrate the emission optical aspect of the present invention, which includes an accessory that is fit into the sample compartment  16  region of the overall arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  thus provides to the reader a simpler understanding of the working aspects of the emission optical arrangement part of the invention using such an accessory. Accordingly, in this illustrative example, the sample  46  positioned in the sample compartment  16  is directly illuminated by light source  56 , which is often a configured intense light source (e.g., a laser, such as a laser operating at 1064 nm) so as to enable, for example, fluorescence emission or Raman-scattered emission characteristic of the sample  46 . An example beneficial laser source (both fiber coupled and open beam) is one that can provide wavelengths ranging from about 630 nm up to about 2400 nm. 
     Light emitted by the sample is thus collected by mirror  50  and directed along beam path B (as also denoted by directional arrows) so as to, if desired, be modulated in a desired manner via modulator  12 , as known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In particular, portions of the emission beam are directed through and reflected by the beam-splitter  30  of modulator  12  and recombined at the beam-splitter  30  so as to be directed as a collimated beam to a mirror  38 . Thereafter, such modulated light as received by mirror  38  is directed through the system aperture  25  and collected by first optical directional means  17  (e.g., a geared reflector  17  as similarly discussed above) so as to be directed to an appropriate emission detector  20  (e.g., Raman detector) for interrogation of the received light. 
       FIG. 4  is a more specific illustration of an emission (e.g., Raman) accessory embodiment, as now generally referenced by the numeral  400 , which was generally shown in  FIG. 3  and can be implemented into the sample compartment region  16  shown in  FIG. 1  and within the confines of the walls of the housing  1 . In this more detailed illustration, the intense light source  417  (i.e., a laser) can be, for example, a frequency stabilized diode laser operating at 1064 nm with at least about 500 mw of optical power in a TEM00 spatial mode. Safety shutters (not shown), such as electrically controlled solenoids connected to opaque paddles, can be open when energized and shut when appropriate. Such shutters, when operated as a pair of shutters, form a safe interlock system for the accessory  400 . A bandpass filter  415  is often utilized to remove amplified stimulated emission (ASE) and other spectral artifacts from the laser  417 . In addition, a variable density filter  414  is configured to move on a slide (shown with the double directional arrowed line) as driven by, for example, a stepper motor (not shown), to adjust the laser power (as shown by the lighter dashed line with an arrow) to the sample  46  mounted on sample platform offset from the sample platform used for an IR transmission configuration. This is critical, because the IR sample cannot sit in the same position as the Raman sample if the accessory is in place. Thereafter, a defocusing lens  413  can be inserted into the laser  417  beam line by, for example, a flipper mechanism (not shown) so as to allow defocusing of the laser  417  energy at the sample  46 , thus reducing power density for samples that are easily burned and to provide some spatial averaging over inhomogeneous samples. The energy from laser  417  is thereafter received by a reflector  412  (e.g., a dichroic) capable of reflecting the laser light but also capable of transmitting visible light to be received by a camera  418 . Also shown is a laser/video lens  411  configured to bring the laser  417  energy to a focus at the sample  46  but also capable of focusing the video camera (as shown by the heavier dashed line with an arrow) at the same sample  46  plane. A light source, such as an LED  419  (e.g., a white light LED) is arranged to illuminate the sample  46  so as to be interrogated/aligned by the video camera  418 . In the light (i.e., emission) collection mode, a mirror  409 , such as an off-axis parabolic mirror, with an aperture  409 ′ in the middle collects fluorescence/Raman-scattered light. Mirror  409  causes collected emission to converge as received by mirror  407 . Such emission is thereafter directed through Raleigh filters  405  and  406 , e.g., edge filters, and directed to a folding mirror  404  to enable direction of such emission out of the Raman accessory, as situated within the sample compartment, as discussed above for  FIG. 1 . The mirror  50  (e.g., off-axis elliptical mirror) is part of the main bench optics, as also shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3 , that directs the resultant emission as a collimated beam (denoted as B) towards the modulator  12 . 
     It is to be finally noted that the system  10 , and specific components, as shown in  FIG. 1 , as well as other embodiments disclosed herein, are capable of being operated via a computer or processor (not shown), which may be a dedicated digital computer or digital signal processor, as known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The computer (not shown) is also often electronically coupled to one or more other output devices, such as display screens, printers, etc. and/or one or more other input devices, such as keyboards, internet connections, etc. 
     Thus a coupled computer or processor can orchestrate the control of moving parts, e.g., monolithic geared reflector  17  and  23  and moving mirrors configured on modulator  12 , sensors, optical elements (e.g., other reflectors), and/or turn on sources, etc., as can be incorporated in the example system of  FIG. 1 . Instructions can also be executed as provided and stored on a machine-readable medium (e.g., a computer-readable medium). A computer-readable medium, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, refers to mediums known and understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, which have encoded information provided in a form that can be read (i.e., scanned/sensed) by a machine/computer and interpreted by the machine&#39;s/computer&#39;s hardware and/or software. In particular, the computer-readable media can often include local or remote memory storage devices, such as, but not limited to, a local hard disk drive, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM or DVD, RAM, ROM, a USB memory device, and even any remote memory storage device known and understood by those skilled in the art. 
     It is to be understood that features described with regard to the various embodiments herein may be mixed and matched in any combination without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Although different selected embodiments have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be appreciated that they are exemplary, and that a variety of substitutions and alterations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.