Patent Document ID: 5450193
Application ID: 08226245
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. An apparatus for determining a spectral signature of an unknown gas in a single measurement comprising: a reflective tube, having an aperture and a highly reflective surface, receiving and holding the unknown gas; a light beam at a selected wavelength illuminating the unknown gas to produce Raman scattered light that is indicative of the spectral signature, wherein a first and a second portion of the Raman scattered light exits through the aperture and a third portion remains in the reflective tube; wherein the first portion includes Raman scattered light originating from a collection region which is proximate to the aperture and the second portion includes Raman scattered light originating from outside the collection region; the surface reflecting the second portion of the Raman scattered light such that the second portion is redirected and exits through the aperture; a spectrometer, receiving the Raman scattered light that exits the aperture, dispersing the received Raman scattered light according to spectral wavelengths; and an array of photodetectors, each photodetector corresponding to one of the spectral wavelengths, each photodetector detecting the dispersed Raman scattered light and producing an output signal at a strength proportional to [the concentration of]the detected dispersed Raman scattered light; wherein the spectral signature corresponding to the strength of the output signals identifies and quantifies the unknown gas.