Patent GB-1397286-A (GB)
Title: Atomic spectrophotometers
IPC: G01J3/06
Filed: 1972-11-30
Abstract: 1397286 Spectrophotometers PYE Ltd 30 Nov 1972 55340/72 Heading G1A [Also in Division G2] A photo-electric spectrometer is provided with means for automatically fine tuning the monochromator on to a selected spectral line. Fine tuning. In the arrangement of Fig. 1, a hollow cathode discharge lamp 1 is used to provide light emission, in narrow spectral lines characteristic of a particular element, which is passed through sample spray 31 burning in burner 4. A particular line is selected by drive 10 of the mono-chromator 8 to allow measurement of the amount of characterized element in the sample, by sensing the degree of absorption using detector 9. In setting up the fine tuning facility 25, the coarse tuning at 10 is first adjusted to bring a selected resonance line within the mono-chromator exit slit. The fine tuning circuit 25 is effective when switches 23, 24 are in the positions shown. Since the source 1 is modulated at frequency fi under control of modulator 3, and the fine tuning drive 22 is modulated at frequency f 2  under the control of oscillator 21 a frequency sorter 13 is provided after detector amplifier 12 to separate the main signal from the fine tuning component. The amplitude of this component is detected by phase sensitive detector 17 and integrated at 18 for use in providing an amplified, (at 19) D.C. signal, to bias the drive 22 so as to centre the oscillations of a movable mono-chromator component on the exit slit of the mono-chromator. The apparatus is then zero standardized using a zero absorbance sample e.g. water at 31, the fine tuning circuit switches 23, 24 being operated to cut off the modulated supply from 21 to the mono-chromator and to connect the sample hold circuit 20 instead to maintain the fine tuning adjustment position. The meter 16 of the main measurement system is then adjusted to zero. Subsequently, an unknown sample may be tested. When a series of samples are being tested, it is unnecessary to retune the mono-chromator manually. Instead, the switches 23, 24 are momentarily operated to allow the fine tuning device to operate. This switching may be linked with the sample delivery mechanism. Mono-chromator details. The mono-chromator may be the Ebert-Fastie type, Fig. 5, comprising entry and exit slits 50, 54, mirrors 51, 53, and dispersion grating 52. The coarse setting of the mono-chromator is by calibrated drum 57 causing tilting of the grating. The fine tuning apparatus operates in the plane mirror 53. As shown in Fig. 6, the mirror 53 can be vibrated angularly by Piezo-electric crystal 62. Under control of the sample/hold circuit the mirror can be retained at a particular angular position. An alternative electromechanical transducer is a magneto strictive crystal, or the mirror can be mounted on a galvanometer suspension. In an alternative arrangement, the mirror 53 is absent and the exit slit 54 or grating 62 is used in fine tuning adjustment. A further alternative is to provide a pivotal refracting quartz plate between entrance slit 50 and mirror 51. Automatic coarse tuning may be provided in addition to automatic fine tuning, by linking the sample changing arrangement to a set of reference potential devices. Automatic lamp changing is also possible, Fig. 7 (not shown). Besides absorption analysis, atomic fluorescence and emission spectrometry is possible.