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US5414508A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical cell and optical detection systems light absorption

Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1993-03-02
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Granted: 1995-05-09
•
Expires: 2013-03-02
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Abstract

Abstract An optical cell or an optical detection system, of a simple structure having a small light path length, such as, for example, an optical cell having a light path length equal to that of a capillary. Light incidence and exit surfaces of the optical cell are each formed by a half transmitting mirror, and light is made incident on the optical cell in a direction perpendicular to the cell. The reflectance of the half transmitting mirror formed at the incidence surface is set smaller than that of the half transmitting mirror formed at the exit surface. The said optical cell or optical detection system is used as an optical detector portion of a sample separation and detection system which is for separation and detection of a sample using a liquid chromatography system or an electrophoresis system. Because of multi-reflection of light between both half transmitting mirrors, an effective increase of absorbance is obtained and even a sample whose absorbance is not higher than the noise level can be detected easily in high sensitivity. Further, since even a low concentration of sample does not cause lowering in the intensity of fluorescence, it is possible to detect both absorbance and fluorescence simultaneously.

Inventors

  • 👤 Satoshi Takahashi
  • 👤 Hideki Kambara

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 19:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N21/0303; G01N2021/0346; G01N2021/0389; G01N2021/0392; G01N21/031; G01N21/05

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
An optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell comprising: a flow path having openings at first and second ends of the cell; a first half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light incident side of the cell; a second half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light output side of the cell; the first and second half transmitting mirrors being disposed so as to face each other; and an optical axis of an incident light to the cell and an optical axis of the output light from the cell being disposed on substantially a same axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 112 words
An optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell comprising: a flow path having openings at first and second ends of the cell; a first half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light incident side of the cell; a second half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light output side of the cell; the first and second half transmitting mirrors being disposed so as to face each other; and an optical axis of an incident light to the cell and an optical axis of the output light from the cell being disposed on substantially a same axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
An optical cell according to claim 1, wherein the light incident surface and the light output surface of the cell are flat surfaces disposed so as to be in parallel with one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
An optical cell according to claim 1, wherein the first half transmitting mirror has a reflectance no greater than that of said second half transmitting mirror.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 84 words
An optical cell for measuring a light absorption by a sample solution in the cell comprising: a flow path having openings at first and second ends; a first half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface at a light incident side of the cell; a second half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface at a light output side of the cell; and the first and second half transmitting mirrors being flat mirrors and disposed in parallel with one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 84 words
An optical cell for measuring a light absorption by a sample solution in the cell comprising: a flow path having openings at first and second ends; a first half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface at a light incident side of the cell; a second half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface at a light output side of the cell; and the first and second half transmitting mirrors being flat mirrors and disposed in parallel with one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
An optical cell according to claim 4, wherein the optical cell has a substantially rectangular shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 134 words
An optical detection system for light absorption comprising: separating means for separating a sample solution; and an optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell and for optically detecting a separated sample, the cell having a flow path with openings at first and second ends, a first half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light incident side of the cell, and a second half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light output side of the cell, the first and second half transmitting mirrors being disposed so as to face each other, and an optical axis of an incident light to the cell and an optical axis of output light from the cell being disposed on substantially a same axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 134 words
An optical detection system for light absorption comprising: separating means for separating a sample solution; and an optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell and for optically detecting a separated sample, the cell having a flow path with openings at first and second ends, a first half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light incident side of the cell, and a second half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light output side of the cell, the first and second half transmitting mirrors being disposed so as to face each other, and an optical axis of an incident light to the cell and an optical axis of output light from the cell being disposed on substantially a same axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
An optical detection system for light absorption according to claim 6, wherein the separating means includes one of a liquid chromatography system and a capillary electrophoresis system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 34 words
An optical detection system for light absorption according to claim 6, wherein the light incident surface and the light output surface are flat surfaces disposed so as to be in parallel to one another.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 154 words
An optical detection system for light absorption comprising: separating means for separating the sample solution; and an optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell and for optically detecting a separated sample, the cell having a flow path with openings at first and second ends, a first half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light incident side of the cell, and a second half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light output side of the cell, the first and second half transmitting mirrors being flat surfaces and disposed in parallel with one another, the first half transmitting mirror having a reflectance no greater than that of the second half transmitting mirror, and an optical axis of an incident light to the cell and an optical axis of output light from the cell being disposed on substantially a same axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 154 words
An optical detection system for light absorption comprising: separating means for separating the sample solution; and an optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell and for optically detecting a separated sample, the cell having a flow path with openings at first and second ends, a first half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light incident side of the cell, and a second half transmitting mirror being formed on an entire outside surface of a light output side of the cell, the first and second half transmitting mirrors being flat surfaces and disposed in parallel with one another, the first half transmitting mirror having a reflectance no greater than that of the second half transmitting mirror, and an optical axis of an incident light to the cell and an optical axis of output light from the cell being disposed on substantially a same axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 27 words
An optical detection system for light absorption according to claim 9, wherein the separating means includes one of a light chromatography system and a capillary electrophoresis system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 111 words
An optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell comprising: a flow path having openings at first and second ends and being formed in a central axial portion of a block of glass, the block being formed by cutting a spherical glass member so as to provide surfaces at the first and second ends; a half transmitting mirror being provided on the entire outside spherical surface of the block of glass; and an optical axis of incident light focusing on a center of the spherical glass of the cell and an optical axis of output light from the cell being disposed on substantially a same axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 111 words
An optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell comprising: a flow path having openings at first and second ends and being formed in a central axial portion of a block of glass, the block being formed by cutting a spherical glass member so as to provide surfaces at the first and second ends; a half transmitting mirror being provided on the entire outside spherical surface of the block of glass; and an optical axis of incident light focusing on a center of the spherical glass of the cell and an optical axis of output light from the cell being disposed on substantially a same axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 136 words
An optical detection system for light absorption comprising: separating means for separating a sample solution; and an optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell and for optically detecting a separated sample, the cell having a flow path with openings at first and second ends and being formed in a central axial portion of a block of glass, the block being formed by cutting a spherical glass member so as to provide surfaces at the first and second ends, a half transmitting mirror being provided on an entire outside spherical surface of the block of glass, and an optical axis of incident light focusing on a center of the spherical glass of the cell and an optical axis of output light from the cell being disposed on substantially a same axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 136 words
An optical detection system for light absorption comprising: separating means for separating a sample solution; and an optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell and for optically detecting a separated sample, the cell having a flow path with openings at first and second ends and being formed in a central axial portion of a block of glass, the block being formed by cutting a spherical glass member so as to provide surfaces at the first and second ends, a half transmitting mirror being provided on an entire outside spherical surface of the block of glass, and an optical axis of incident light focusing on a center of the spherical glass of the cell and an optical axis of output light from the cell being disposed on substantially a same axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 27 words
An optical detection system for light absorption according to claim 12, wherein the separating means includes one of a liquid chromatography system and a capillary electrophoresis system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 96 words
A cylindrical optical cell for measuring a light absorption by a sample solution in the cell comprising: a flow path having openings at first and second ends and being formed in a central axial portion of the cylindrical optical cell; a 100% reflection film covering the cylindrical outside surface of the cell other than at a light incident portion and a light output portion formed on the cylindrical outside surface; and a half transmitting mirror being disposed at the light output portion so as to face the light incident portion on a straight line path therewith.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 96 words
A cylindrical optical cell for measuring a light absorption by a sample solution in the cell comprising: a flow path having openings at first and second ends and being formed in a central axial portion of the cylindrical optical cell; a 100% reflection film covering the cylindrical outside surface of the cell other than at a light incident portion and a light output portion formed on the cylindrical outside surface; and a half transmitting mirror being disposed at the light output portion so as to face the light incident portion on a straight line path therewith.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 120 words
An optical detection system for light absorption comprising: separating means for separating a sample solution; and a cylindrical optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell and for optically detecting a separated sample, the cell including a flow path having openings at first and second ends and being formed in a central axial portion of the cylindrical cell, a 100% reflection film covering a cylindrical outside surface of the cylindrical cell other than at a light incident portion and a light output portion formed on the cylindrical outside surface, and a half transmitting mirror being disposed at the light output portion so as to face the light incident portion on a straight line path therewith.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 120 words
An optical detection system for light absorption comprising: separating means for separating a sample solution; and a cylindrical optical cell for measuring light absorption by a sample solution in the cell and for optically detecting a separated sample, the cell including a flow path having openings at first and second ends and being formed in a central axial portion of the cylindrical cell, a 100% reflection film covering a cylindrical outside surface of the cylindrical cell other than at a light incident portion and a light output portion formed on the cylindrical outside surface, and a half transmitting mirror being disposed at the light output portion so as to face the light incident portion on a straight line path therewith.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 160 words
An optical detection system for light absorption comprising: a sheath flow cell having a sheath flow solution inlet, a sample inlet portion, and a longitudinal cylindrical portion through which a sheath flow solution and a sample solution flow, the sheath flow cell having a light incident portion and a light output portion disposed on an outside surface of the cylindrical portion so as to face one another along a straight line path, a 100% reflection film covering the outside surface of the cylindrical portion other than at the light incident portion and the light output portion, a half transmitting mirror being disposed on the outside surface of the cylindrical portion at the light output portion so as to face the light incident portion on a straight line path therewith; and light detecting means for detecting a light passing through the light incident portion and the light output portion of the sheath flow cell for determining light absorption by the sample.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 160 words
An optical detection system for light absorption comprising: a sheath flow cell having a sheath flow solution inlet, a sample inlet portion, and a longitudinal cylindrical portion through which a sheath flow solution and a sample solution flow, the sheath flow cell having a light incident portion and a light output portion disposed on an outside surface of the cylindrical portion so as to face one another along a straight line path, a 100% reflection film covering the outside surface of the cylindrical portion other than at the light incident portion and the light output portion, a half transmitting mirror being disposed on the outside surface of the cylindrical portion at the light output portion so as to face the light incident portion on a straight line path therewith; and light detecting means for detecting a light passing through the light incident portion and the light output portion of the sheath flow cell for determining light absorption by the sample.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4523841A Cited
US4348107A Cited
US4455089A Cited
US4750837A Cited
US5104218A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-05-08 1998-11-07 1999-05-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-05-08 2002-11-07 2003-05-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-05-08 2006-11-07 2007-05-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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