Processing system for remote chemical identification

Abstract

A fourth embodiment of the present invention is a method of generating a temperature compensated absorbance spectrum. The method includes the steps of: a. providing a sample spectrum and an estimated temperature of a backdrop object; b. from a set of known temperature spectra related to a known background temperature, selecting at least two known temperature spectra representing a background temperature above and below the estimated temperature; c. comparing the sample spectrum to the known temperature spectra in order to determine a sample background spectrum; and d. calculating an absorbance spectrum from the sample spectrum and the background spectrum.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A computer system for identifying chemical compounds using observable characteristics, said system comprising: 
 a. a chemical database associating predefined characteristics and properties with a plurality of chemical compounds;    b. a user interface accepting input of observable characteristics;    c. a processor operating on software directing said processor to identify chemical compounds in said database which correspond with said observable characteristics.    
   
   
       22 . The computer system according to  claim 21 , wherein said observable characteristics include color and smell.  
   
   
       23 . The computer system according to  claim 22 , wherein said observable characteristics include vapor density and molecular weight.  
   
   
       24 . A computer system for identifying chemical compounds based upon a location where said compounds are observed, said system comprising: 
 a. a chemical/location database associating at least one chemical compound with an assigned map location of said compound;    b. a location input for entering a system location into said system;    c. a processor operating on software directing said processor to identify chemical compounds in said database which correspond with said system location.    
   
   
       25 . The computer system of  claim 24 , wherein said location input is provided by a global positioning system.  
   
   
       26 . The computer system of  claim 24 , wherein said assigned map location in said database is in a street address format.  
   
   
       27 . The computer system of  claim 26 , wherein said system location is in a longitude/latitude format.  
   
   
       28 . The computer system of  claim 24 , wherein said system identifies all compounds in said database which are within a predetermined radius of said system location.  
   
   
       29 . The computer system of  claim 24 , wherein said system identifies one or more compounds associated with an assigned map location closest to said system location.  
   
   
       30 . The computer system of  claim 24 , wherein said chemical/location database includes information from Tier 1 and 2 sources.  
   
   
       31 . The computer system of  claim 24 , wherein said system further includes a container database associating predetermined container shapes with a set of compounds and a user interface, wherein said user interface displays container shapes for selection by a user.  
   
   
       32 . The computer system of  claim 24 , wherein said system further includes a placard database associating a predetermined placard with a set of compounds and a user interface, wherein said user interface displays placard information for selection by a user.  
   
   
       33 . A system for remote identification of chemical compounds, said system comprising: 
 a. a passive infra-red spectrometer;    b. a location identifier;    c. a range finder;    d. a user interface;    e. a database including data representing chemical reference spectrums, data associating observable properties with certain chemical compounds, and data associating a location with certain chemical compounds;    e. a computer processor communicating with said spectrometer, said location identifier, said range finder, said user interface, and said database; and    f. software for comparing data from said spectrometer, said location identifier, and    said range finder to said database in order to identify the potential presence and concentration of one or more chemical compounds.    
   
   
       34 . The system according to  claim 33 , further including a weather station and a compass communicating with said computer processor.  
   
   
       35 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein said user interface includes a touch screen.