Digital FTIR spectrometer

Abstract

The present invention relates to an FTIR spectrometer comprising a single-element detector to analyze a detector light beam emitted by a sample, with a unit to digitize the voltage available at the detector output and with a unit to process the digitized voltage. The single-element detector and the dedicated unit to digitize the detector voltage are located immediately adjacent to each other.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An infrared spectrometer comprising: 
 a housing;    an optical light source disposed in said housing;    an optical interferometer disposed in said 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 single-element detector for analyzing a detector light beam emanating from the sample;    means for digitizing signals from said detector emanating from a detector output, said digitizing means disposed in immediate proximity to said detector; and    means for processing digitized detector signals.    
     
     
         2 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 1 , wherein said single-element detector and an ADC are integrated on a chip.  
     
     
         3 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 1 , wherein said single-element detector and an ADC are both integrated on a circuit board.  
     
     
         4 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 1 , wherein said single-element detector and an ADC are integrated on two circuit boards which are immediately adjacent to each other.  
     
     
         5 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 1 , wherein said single-element detector and said digitizing means are assembled as a replaceable module.  
     
     
         6 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 2 , wherein said single-element detector and said digitizing means are assembled as a replaceable module.  
     
     
         7 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 3 , wherein said single-element detector and said digitizing means are assembled as a replaceable module.  
     
     
         8 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 4 , wherein said single-element detector and said digitizing means are assembled as a replaceable module.  
     
     
         9 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of digitized AC signals and digitized DC signals are transmitted.  
     
     
         10 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of digitized AC signals and digitized DC signals are transmitted.  
     
     
         11 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of digitized AC signals and digitized DC signals are transmitted.  
     
     
         12 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 1 , further comprising an imaging detector array which is interchangeable with said single-element detector.  
     
     
         13 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 5 , further comprising an imaging detector array which is interchangeable with said single-element detector.  
     
     
         14 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 1 , further comprising means for switching said detector light beam between at least two detectors.  
     
     
         15 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 14 , wherein said switching means comprises a hinged mirror.  
     
     
         16 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional detector, said at least one additional detector having an individual means to digitize respective additional detector signals, wherein each of said additional digitizing means is disposed immediately adjacent to its associated additional detector.  
     
     
         17 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one additional detector, said at least one additional detector having an individual means to digitize respective additional detector signals, wherein each of said additional digitizing means is disposed immediately adjacent to its associated additional detector.  
     
     
         18 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one additional detector, said at least one additional detector having an individual means to digitize respective additional detector signals, wherein each of said additional digitizing means is disposed immediately adjacent to its associated additional detector.  
     
     
         19 . The infrared spectrometer of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one additional detector, said at least one additional detector having an individual means to digitize respective additional detector signals, wherein each of said additional digitizing means is disposed immediately adjacent to its associated additional detector.