Patent ID: 7034944

Claim:
An infrared spectrometer comprising: a first housing; an optical light source disposed in said first housing; an optical interferometer disposed in said first housing to divide an input light beam emitted by said light source into two partial beams for generating a variable optical path difference between said two partial beams and for recombining both of said partial beams into one output light beam; sample holding means disposed in the housing to accept a sample upon which said output light beam impinges; a second housing disposed in said first housing, said second housing having a light beam input opening and a signal output; a single-element detector for analyzing a detector light beam emanating from the sample, said single-element detector disposed in said second housing to accept said detector light beam after passage through said input opening; a preamplifier disposed in said second housing, said preamplifier having an input communicating with said detector to accept signals emanating from said detector in response to said detector light beam; and means for digitizing signals, said digitizing signal means disposed in said second housing and having an input communicating with an output of said preamplifier.