Reference switch architectures for noncontact sensing of substances

Abstract

This relates to systems (600) and methods for measuring a concentration and type of substance in a sample (620) at a sampling interface. The systems (600) includes a light source (602), one or more optics (606, 610, 612), one or more modulators (634, 636), a reference (608), a detector (630), and a controller (640). The systems and methods disclosed can be capable of accounting for drift originating from the light source, one or more optics, and the detector by sharing one or more components between different measurement light paths. Additionally, the systems can be capable of differentiating between different types of drift and eliminating erroneous measurements due to stray light with the placement of one or more modulators between the light source and the sample or reference. Furthermore, the systems can be capable of detecting the substance along various locations and depths within the sample by mapping a detector pixel and a microoptics to the location and depth in the sample.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This patent application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62 / 213,004, filed September 1, 2015, which patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. technical field [0003] This patent application generally relates to reference switch architectures capable of detecting one or more species in a sample at a sampling interface, and more specifically, capable of reconstructing one or more optical paths in the sample. Background technique [0004] Absorption spectroscopy is an analytical technique that can be used to determine the concentration and type of substances in a sample at the sampling interface. Conventional systems and methods for absorption spectroscopy can include emitting light at a sample. When light is transmitted through a sample, a portion of the light energy may be absorbed at one or more wavelengths. This absorption can cause a change in the proper...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] Although comparisons can determine the concentration and type of species in a sample, at an early stage (rather than after a large number (e.g. tens or hundreds) of sample points have been measured), due to the inability to distinguish and compensate for stray light as well as fluctuations, drift and , measurement and determination results may be erroneous

Additionally, some conventional systems and methods may not be able to measure concentrations at multiple locations within a sample

Those systems and methods capable of measuring concentrations at multiple locations may require complex components or detection schemes to correlate the depth of locations within the sample or the path length of light exiting the sample

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