Varian Australia Pty Ltd

Peter G Layton

Michael Ron Hammer

Martin Keith Masters

Stewart R Campbell

Philip V Wilson

Dower Cameron Bricker

Mark R Williams

A method and apparatus for the spectrochemical analysis of a sample in which a solid state array detector ( ) is used to detect radiation ( ) of spectrochemical interest. The invention involves the use of a shutter ( ) adjacent the entrance aperture ( ) of a polychromator ( ) to expose the detector ( ) to the radiation ( ) for varying lengths of time whereby for short duration exposure times charge accumulation in elements (i.e. pixels) of the detector ( ) due to high intensity components of the radiation is limited and for longer exposure times charge accumulation in elements (pixels) of the detector ( ) due to feeble intesity components of radiation ( ) is increased. This ensures that each reading of the detector ( ) includes at least one exposure in which the amount of charge accumulated at each wavelength of interest is neither too little or too great. The problems of feeble radiation components not being accurately measurable and of high intensity radiation components exceeding the charge carrying capacity of elements (pixels) of the detector ( ) are thereby able to be avoided. An attenuator ( ) may be placed between the radiation source ( ) and the detector ( ) to permit longer exposure times to be used for very high intensity radiation.

Method and apparatus for spectrochemical analysis

Spectroscopy apparatus for spectrochemical analysis of a sample having an excitation source ( ) for providing spectral light ( ) of the sample for analysis. The spectral light ( ) is analysed via an optical system ( ) that includes a polychromator ( ) and solid state multielement array detector ( ). The elements (i.e. pixels) of the detector ( ) are serially reel by means ( ) to provide light intensity measurements as a function of wavelength. A problem is that the elements (pixels) of the detector ( ) continue to accumulate change during the serial read-out. This is avoided by providing an optical shutter ( ) for blocking the spectral light ( ) whilst elements (pixels) of the detector ( ) are being serially read. Shutter ( ) has a piezoelectric actuator which is preferably a bimorph mounted as a cantilever. It is preferably located adjacent to the entrance aperture ( ) of the polychromator. Bimorph structures for the actuator and drive and protective circuit arrangements are also disclosed.

Optical shutter for spectroscopy instrument

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Hampton Park, Australia

Peter G Layton