Handheld OES Analyzer Spectrometer Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-held optical emission spectroscopy (OES) analyzers are not fully self-contained and lack the spectral range and temperature stability needed to detect key elements like carbon and phosphorous, limiting their utility in identifying common materials, particularly in outdoor metal recycling and quality control applications.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held, self-contained OES analyzer with a spectrometer that extends from 178 nm to 400 nm, powered by a battery, featuring a cross-dispersed design with a holographic diffraction grating and carbon-filled polymer structural members, enabling detection of carbon, phosphorous, and other essential elements without the need for external cooling or heating, and equipped with a processor for automatic wavelength calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spectrometer is designed to cover the spectral range required to detect carbon, phosphorous, sulfur and other elements, then the analyzer can identify a wide range of common materials, but the device becomes large and requires external power and cooling units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spectrometer, power supply, cooling system, and control electronics into a single integrated hand-held unit. The spectrometer is miniaturized to fit within the handheld form factor while maintaining the spectral range from 175-370 nm necessary for detecting carbon, phosphorous, sulfur and other elements in common materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand-held analyzer is designed as a self-contained multi-functional device that performs excitation, spectral analysis, data processing, and material identification all in one unit. The device can identify a wide range of common materials including cast iron and various alloys by detecting multiple elements simultaneously across the required spectral range.
2Measurement precision
If fixed-wavelength detectors are included in the hand-held probe for carbon, phosphorous, sulfur and iron, then these elements can be detected, but the probe requires connection via cable to a separate analysis unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the analysis unit directly into the hand-held probe, eliminating the need for external connection via cable. The spectrometer, processor, and control systems are all contained within the handheld unit, allowing users to perform complete spectral analysis and material identification directly at the measurement location.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand-held analyzer is designed as a self-contained device with built-in power supply, cooling system, and data processing capabilities. The device performs all necessary functions including excitation, spectral detection, wavelength calibration, and material identification without requiring connection to external equipment, enabling truly portable operation.
3Ease of operation
If the spectrometer operates without external cooling, then the device becomes more portable, but temperature stability becomes challenging to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The hand-held analyzer incorporates an integrated cooling system that is self-contained within the device. The cooling mechanism operates autonomously without requiring external cooling equipment, maintaining the spectrometer at stable operating temperatures during field measurements while preserving the portable hand-held form factor.
4Measurement precision
If automatic wavelength calibration is implemented, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the processor and associated electronics add weight and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual wavelength calibration procedures with an automatic electronic calibration system. The processor automatically performs wavelength calibration using stored reference spectra and algorithms, eliminating the need for manual adjustment mechanisms and reducing the overall device weight while improving measurement accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The analyzer provides accurate and portable elemental analysis, capable of detecting a wide range of common materials, including carbon, phosphorous, and sulfur, over a broad temperature range, while maintaining a compact and lightweight design, thus overcoming the limitations of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is a mature, robust technology for the elemental analysis of materials. In OES, a small quantity of sample material is vaporized and excited above atomic ground state. Emissions characteristic of elements in the vaporized sample are captured by a light guide
Implementation Method 2
a first dispersive element disposed within the hand-held instrument for receiving the optical signal and creating an intermediate optical signal dispersed in a first plane
Implementation Method 3
a second dispersive element disposed within the hand-held instrument disperses the intermediate optical signal so as to place a first resolved optical order on a corresponding first plurality of detector elements and a second resolved optical order on a corresponding second plurality of detector elements
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held, self-contained, battery-powered test instrument for analyzing composition of a sample includes an exciter for exciting at least a portion of the sample, a compact cross-dispersed spectrometer for receiving an optical signal from the excited portion of the sample and a processor for processing spectral data about the optical signal from the spectrometer. The exciter may include a spark generator and a counter electrode, a laser or other device for generating the optical signal from the sample portion. The spectrometer has a wavelength range broad enough to enable the test instrument to detect and determine relative quantities of carbon, phosphorous, sulfur, manganese, silicon, iron and other elements necessary to identify common alloys. The spectrometer includes a structural member made of a light-weight material having a small coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The spectrometer is dimensionally stable over a range of expected ambient temperatures, without controlling the temperature of the spectrometer.