Patent ID: 6864984

Claim:
A measuring apparatus utilizing the phenomenon of attenuation in total internal reflection comprising a plurality of measuring units each comprising a dielectric block, a film layer which is formed on a surface of the dielectric block and a sample holder which holds a sample on the surface of the film layer, a support which supports the measuring units, a light source which emits a light beam, an optical system which causes the light beam to enter the dielectric block at various angles of incidence so that the total internal reflection condition is satisfied at an interface of the dielectric block and the film layer, a photodetector which detects attenuation in total internal reflection by detecting the intensity of the light beam which is reflected in total internal reflection at the interface, a drive means which causes relative movement between the support and an assembly of the optical system and the photodetector to bring the measuring units in sequence to a predetermined position with respect to the optical system and the photodetector where the total internal reflection condition is satisfied at the interface of the dielectric block and the film layer and various angles of incidence to the interface can be obtained, and an automatic sample feeding means which automatically feeds a sample to the sample holder of each of the measuring units.