US5473162A — Infrared emission detection of a gas

Claim 1

Independent Claim 233 words

An apparatus for detecting and making quantitative measurements of at least one selected component in a sample, in which at least one selected component of the sample, or at least one selected substance produced from the at least one selected component in the sample and characteristic of the at least one selected component, is introduced into an exciting means, and when the at least one selected component is present in the sample, gas-phase infrared-active molecules emit infrared radiation at at least one characteristic wavelength in proportion to the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample, comprising: means for exciting the gas-phase, infrared-active molecules to emit radiation over a given path, wherein when the at least one selected component is present in the sample, the gas-phase infrared-active molecules emit radiation at the at least one characteristic wavelength with an intensity proportional to the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample and wherein the means for exciting the gas-phase, infrared-active molecules is by furnace excitation, excitation by electron impact in a gas discharge or excitation by collisions with a vibrationally excited diatomic molecule; infrared discriminating and detector means located on said given path for detecting infrared radiation at the at least one characteristic wavelength and for generating an output signal representative thereof, and thereby determining the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 233 words

An apparatus for detecting and making quantitative measurements of at least one selected component in a sample, in which at least one selected component of the sample, or at least one selected substance produced from the at least one selected component in the sample and characteristic of the at least one selected component, is introduced into an exciting means, and when the at least one selected component is present in the sample, gas-phase infrared-active molecules emit infrared radiation at at least one characteristic wavelength in proportion to the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample, comprising: means for exciting the gas-phase, infrared-active molecules to emit radiation over a given path, wherein when the at least one selected component is present in the sample, the gas-phase infrared-active molecules emit radiation at the at least one characteristic wavelength with an intensity proportional to the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample and wherein the means for exciting the gas-phase, infrared-active molecules is by furnace excitation, excitation by electron impact in a gas discharge or excitation by collisions with a vibrationally excited diatomic molecule; infrared discriminating and detector means located on said given path for detecting infrared radiation at the at least one characteristic wavelength and for generating an output signal representative thereof, and thereby determining the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 55 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said infrared discriminating and detector means includes wavelength discriminating means located on said path, between the exciting means and the infrared detector means, for allowing the at least one characteristic wavelength to pass from the exciting means to the detector means while inhibiting the passage of other wavelengths.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said infrared discriminating and detector means includes means for separating the wavelengths of the emitted radiation into an infrared spectrum.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said infrared discriminating and detector means includes a monochromator.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, further including a computer means, responsive to an output signal from the infrared detector means, for performing signal processing thereon to provide an output indicative of the quantity of the at least one selected component present in the sample.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said infrared discriminating and detector means includes an interferometer.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a computer means, coupled to the interferometer, for performing a Fourier transform analysis on an output signal from the interferometer to thereby obtain a spectral analysis characteristic of the sample.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, further including vaporizing means for vaporizing a liquid sample and for conducting the resultant vapors into said exciting means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for exciting the gas-phase, infrared-active molecules is by furnace excitation.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said infrared detector means includes a thermal infrared detector.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said infrared detector means includes a quantum detector.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 59 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance contains carbonates or calcinates, further including means for acidifying the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance to generate CO 2 therefrom, wherein the CO 2 so generated is introduced into the exciting means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 58 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance contains carbon-containing compounds, further including means for oxidizing the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance to generate CO 2 therefrom, wherein the CO 2 so generated is introduced into the exciting means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 63 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance contains hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite ions, further including means for acidifying the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance with HCl to generate Cl 2 therefrom, wherein the Cl 2 so generated is introduced into the exciting means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 61 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance contains chloride ions, further including means for oxidizing and acidifying the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance to generate chlorine Cl 2 therefrom, wherein the Cl 2 so generated is introduced into the exciting means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 68 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one selected component of the sample or the at least one selected substance includes carbon-containing compounds, and said exciting means includes a means for oxidizing the at least one selected component of the sample or the at least one selected substance to generate CO 2 therefrom, wherein the CO 2 so generated is introduced into the exciting means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 62 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance includes chlorine-containing organic compounds, and said exciting means includes a means for combusting the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance to thereby generate HCl therefrom, wherein the HCl so generated is introduced into the exciting means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 62 words

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance includes fluorine-containing organic compounds, and said exciting means includes a means for combusting the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance to thereby generate HF therefrom, wherein the HF so generated is introduced into the exciting means.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 220 words

A method for detecting and making quantitative measurements of at least one selected component in a sample, in which at least one selected component of the sample, or at least one selected substance produced from the at least one selected component in the sample and characteristic of the at least one selected component, is introduced into an exciting means, and when the at least one selected component is present in the sample, gas-phase infrared-active molecules emit infrared radiation at at least one characteristic wavelength in proportion to the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample, comprising the steps of: exciting the gas-phase, infrared-active molecules to emit radiation, wherein when the at least one selected component is present in the sample, the gas-phase infrared-active molecule emit radiation at the at least one characteristic wavelength with an intensity proportional to the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample; and selectively detecting infrared radiation emitted at the at least one characteristic wavelength and generating an output signal representative thereof, and thereby determining the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample and wherein said exciting step is by thermal excitation using an electric furnace, excitation by electron impact in a gas discharge or excitation by collisions with a vibrationally excited diatomic molecule.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 220 words

A method for detecting and making quantitative measurements of at least one selected component in a sample, in which at least one selected component of the sample, or at least one selected substance produced from the at least one selected component in the sample and characteristic of the at least one selected component, is introduced into an exciting means, and when the at least one selected component is present in the sample, gas-phase infrared-active molecules emit infrared radiation at at least one characteristic wavelength in proportion to the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample, comprising the steps of: exciting the gas-phase, infrared-active molecules to emit radiation, wherein when the at least one selected component is present in the sample, the gas-phase infrared-active molecule emit radiation at the at least one characteristic wavelength with an intensity proportional to the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample; and selectively detecting infrared radiation emitted at the at least one characteristic wavelength and generating an output signal representative thereof, and thereby determining the quantity of the at least one selected component in the sample and wherein said exciting step is by thermal excitation using an electric furnace, excitation by electron impact in a gas discharge or excitation by collisions with a vibrationally excited diatomic molecule.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method according to claim 19, including the step of discriminating the at least one characteristic wavelength by allowing only the at least one characteristic wavelength to be detected in the detecting step while inhibiting the detection of other wavelengths.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method according to claim 20, wherein said discriminating step includes separating the wavelengths of the emitted radiation into an infrared spectrum.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method according to claim 20, wherein said discriminating step includes utilizing a monochromator.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method according to claim 20, wherein said discriminating step includes utilizing an interferometer.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method according to claim 23, wherein said discriminating step includes utilizing a computer coupled to the interferometer for performing a Fourier transform analysis on an output signal from the interferometer to thereby obtain a spectral analysis characteristic of the sample.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method according to claim 19, further including utilizing a computer for performing signal processing on the output signal produced by said detecting step to provide an output indicative of the quantity of the at least one selected component present in the sample.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method according to claim 19, including vaporizing a liquid sample and utilizing the resultant vapors in said exciting step.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method according to claim 19, wherein said exciting step is by thermal excitation using an electric furnace.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance contains carbonates or calcinates, further including acidifying the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance to generate CO 2 therefrom, and utilizing the CO 2 so generated in the exciting step.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 55 words

A method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance contains carbon-containing compounds, further including oxidizing the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance to generate CO 2 therefrom, and utilizing the CO 2 so generated in the exciting step.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance contains hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite ions, further including acidifying the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance with HCl to generate Cl 2 therefrom, and utilizing the Cl 2 so generated in the exciting step.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance contains chloride ions, further including oxidizing and acidifying the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance to generate chlorine Cl 2 therefrom, and utilizing the Cl 2 so generated in the exciting step.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one selected component of the sample or the at least one selected substance includes carbon-containing compounds and oxidizing the at least one selected component of the sample or the at least one selected substance to generate CO 2 therefrom, and utilizing the CO 2 so generated in the exciting step.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance includes chlorine-containing organic compounds and combusting the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance to generate HCl therefrom, and utilizing the HCl so generated in the exciting step.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance includes fluorine-containing organic compounds and combusting the at least one selected component or the at least one selected substance to generate HF therefrom, and utilizing the HF so generated in the exciting step.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-12-04	1999-06-05	1999-12-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-12-04	2003-06-05	2003-12-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-12-04	2007-06-05	2007-12-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Infrared emission detection of a gas

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