USRE41744EExpiredUtility

Raman probe having a small diameter immersion tip

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Assignee: AXIOM ANALYTICAL INCPriority: Jun 10, 2002Filed: Apr 4, 2007Granted: Sep 21, 2010
Est. expiryJun 10, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Walter M. Doyle
G02B 6/29361G01N 2021/656G01N 21/8507G02B 6/32G02B 6/3624G01N 2201/08G02B 6/4206G02B 6/4246G02B 6/4214G01N 21/65
49
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
7
References
28
Claims

Abstract

A probe for use in Raman spectroscopy that can be inserted into a chemical vessel through a small diameter fitting while maximizing the amount of Raman shifted radiation collected and minimizing spurious effects.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1. An immersion probe for use in Raman spectroscopy which includes  comprising:
 an extended immersion tip that includes an internally reflecting lightguide;  
 first optical element for collecting laser radiation emerging from a first optical fiber and directing it, after subsequent reflections, into the end of said internally reflecting lightguide in such a way that it is as nearly collimated as possible consistent with substantially all of the radiation entering the lightguide;  
 second optical element for collecting Raman shifted radiation emerging from said internally reflecting light guide and focusing it on a second optical fiber in such a way that the size and shape of the image of the end of the lightguide matches the size and shape of said second optical fiber; and  
 reflecting means for redirecting the beam formed by said first optical element so that its axis is anti-parallel to and coaxial with the axis of the Raman shifted radiation emerging from said lightguide.  
 
     
     
       2. The immersion probe of  claim 1  wherein the numeric apertures corresponding to the diameter and longitudinal positions of said first and second optical elements are at least as great as the numeric apertures of the associated optical fibers. 
     
     
       3. The immersion probe of  claim 2  wherein the diameter of said second optical fiber is substantially greater than the diameter of said first optical fiber. 
     
     
       4. The immersion probe of  claim 3  wherein the distance from said first optical element to said first optical fiber is set so that the image of said first optical fiber is falls at the end or within said lightguide and is no greater in diameter than said lightguide. 
     
     
       5. The immersion probe of  claim 4  wherein the ratio of the distance from said first optical element to said first optical fiber to the distance from said first optical element to said lightguide is approximately equal to the diameter of said first optical fiber to the internal diameter of said lightguide, and
 Wherein the ratio of the distance from said second optical element to said second optical fiber to the distance from said second optical element to said lightguide is approximately equal to the diameter of said second optical fiber to the internal diameter of said lightguide.  
 
     
     
       6. The immersion probe of  claim 2  in which said reflecting means comprises two totally reflecting, parallel surfaces. 
     
     
       7. The immersion probe of  claim 6  in which the area of the reflecting surface which overlaps the collected radiation is small compared to the cross section of said collected radiation in the vicinity of said reflecting surface. 
     
     
       8. The immersion probe of  claim 7  in which said reflecting means is an internally reflecting rhomboid. 
     
     
       9. The immersion probe of  claim 1  wherein the diameter of said second optical fiber is substantially greater than the diameter of said first optical fiber. 
     
     
       10. The immersion probe of  claim 9  wherein the distance from said first optical element to said first optical fiber is set so that the image of said first optical fiber is falls at the end or within said lightguide and is no greater in diameter than said lightguide. 
     
     
       11. The immersion probe of  claim 10  wherein the ratio of the distance from said first optical element to said first optical fiber to the distance from said first optical element to said lightguide is approximately equal to the diameter of said first optical fiber to the internal diameter of said lightguide, and
 Wherein the ratio of the distance from said second optical element to said second optical fiber to the distance from said second optical element to said lightguide is approximately equal to the diameter of said second optical fiber to the internal diameter of said lightguide.  
 
     
     
       12. The immersion probe of  claim 1  in which said reflecting means comprises two totally reflecting, parallel surfaces. 
     
     
       13. The immersion probe of  claim 12  in which the area of the reflecting surface which overlaps the collected radiation is small compared to the cross section of said collected radiation in the vicinity of said reflecting surface. 
     
     
       14. The immersion probe of  claim 13  in which said reflecting means is an internally reflecting rhomboid. 
     
     
       15. An immersion probe for use in Raman spectroscopy which includes  comprising:
 an extended immersion tip that includes an internally reflecting lightguide;  
 first optical element for collecting laser radiation emerging from a first optical fiber and directing it, after subsequent reflections,  into the end of said internally reflecting lightguide in such a way that it is as nearly collimated as possible consistent with substantially all of the radiation entering the lightguide;  
 second optical element for collecting Raman shifted radiation emerging from said internally reflecting light guide and focusing it on a second optical fiber in such a way that the size and shape of the image of the end of the lightguide matches the size and shape of said second optical fiber; and  
 reflecting means for redirecting the beam formed by  Raman shifted radiation to said second optical element so that its axis is anti-parallel to and coaxial with the axis of the Raman shifted  laser radiation emerging from said lightguide. ;  
   wherein the ratio of the distance from said first optical element to said first optical fiber to the distance from said first optical element to said lightguide is approximately equal to the diameter of said first optical fiber to the internal diameter of said lightguide, and    
   wherein the ratio of the distance from said second optical element to said second optical fiber to the distance from said second optical element to said lightguide is approximately equal to the diameter of said second optical fiber to the internal diameter of said lightguide.    
 
     
     
       16. The immersion probe of  claim 15  wherein the numeric apertures corresponding to the diameter and longitudinal positions of said first and second optical elements are at least as great as the numeric apertures of the associated optical fibers. 
     
     
       17. The immersion probe of  claim 16  wherein the diameter of said second optical fiber is substantially greater than the diameter of said first optical fiber. 
     
     
       18. The immersion probe of  claim 17  wherein the distance from said first optical element to said first optical fiber is set so that the image of said first optical fiber is falls at the end or within said lightguide and is no greater in diameter than said lightguide. 
     
     
       19. The immersion probe of  claim 18  wherein the ratio of the distance from said first optical element to said first optical fiber to the distance from said first optical element to said lightguide is approximately equal to the diameter of said first optical fiber to the internal diameter of said lightguide, and
 Wherein the ratio of the distance from said second optical element to said second optical fiber to the distance from said second optical element to said lightguide is approximately equal to the diameter of said second optical fiber to the internal diameter of said lightguide.    
     
     
       20. The immersion probe of  claim 16  in which said reflecting means comprises two totally reflecting, parallel surfaces. 
     
     
       21. The immersion probe of  claim 20  is which the area of the reflecting surface which overlaps the collected radiation is small compared to the cross section of said collected radiation in the vicinity of said reflecting surface. 
     
     
       22. The immersion probe of  claim 21  in which said reflecting means is an internally reflecting rhomboid. 
     
     
       23. The immersion probe of  claim 15  wherein the diameter of said second optical fiber is substantially greater than the diameter of said first optical fiber. 
     
     
       24. The immersion probe of  claim 23  wherein the distance from said first optical element to said first optical fiber is set so that the image of said first optical fiber is falls at the end or within said lightguide and is no greater in diameter than said lightguide. 
     
     
       25. The immersion probe of  claim 24  wherein the ratio of the distance from said first optical element to said first optical fiber to the distance from said first optical element to said lightguide is approximately equal to the diameter of said first optical fiber to the internal diameter of said lightguide, and
 Wherein the ratio of the distance from said second optical element to said second optical fiber to the distance from said second optical element to said lightguide is approximately equal to the diameter of said second optical fiber to the internal diameter of said lightguide.    
     
     
       26. The immersion probe of  claim 15  in which said reflecting means comprises two totally reflecting, parallel surfaces. 
     
     
       27. The immersion probe of  claim 26  in which the area of the reflecting surface which overlaps the collected radiation is small compared to the cross section of said collected radiation in the vicinity of said reflecting surface. 
     
     
       28. The immersion probe of  claim 27  in which said reflecting means is an internally reflecting rhomboid.

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