Advanced Fuel Research, Inc.

On-line Technologies, Inc.

Mks Instruments, Inc.

Zygo Corporation

Foster-miller, Inc.

Graseby Electro-optics, Inc

Robert M Carangelo

Peter R Solomon

Paul C Jette

David G Hamblen

Jack Kisslinger

David D Wright

Leslie Ludwig Deck

Jan Liesener

Paul J Glatkowski

Mark A Druy

William A Stevenson

Hongke Ye

Philip W Morrison, Jr

Stephen C Bates

Philip E Best

Michael Lowell Holmes

Alexander D Wesley

John R Haigis

Andrew Wright

Carl R Brouillette

David B Fenner

Peter Zemek

Irwin Kudman

Andrew J Duran

Philip W Morrison

Terence C Murray

Lawrence J Grigely

Mark D Dettori

C Peter Van Dine

Jan Liesner

Presented herein are systems and methods for quantifying trace and/or ultra-trace levels of a species&#x2014;for example, HS or HO&#x2014;in a natural gas line. The systems and methods employ a tunable laser, such as a tunable diode laser, vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), external cavity diode laser or a vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) or a tunable quantum cascade laser (QCL). The laser produces an output beam over a set of one or more relatively narrow, high resolution wavelength bands at a scan rate from about 0.1 Hz to about 1000 Hz. A natural gas sample comprising a trace level of a species of interest passes through a flow cell into which the output beam from the laser is guided. An optical detector receives light from the flow cell, producing a signal indicative of the absorption attenuation from which the concentration of the trace species is determined.

Gas measurement system

Methods and systems are provided for monitoring at least one gas in a sample gas. An exemplary system includes a source used for generating a beam of radiation, at least one retro-reflector configured to receive the beam of radiation from the source in an incident direction and reflect the beam of radiation toward the source in alignment with the incident direction, and a motor configured to move the at least one retro-reflector with respect to the source in a direction collinear with the incident direction. The system also includes a sample cell storing a sample gas comprising at least one gas. The sample cell is configured to allow at least a portion of an extracted beam of radiation from a cavity, defined by the source and the at least one retro-reflector, to propagate therethrough.

Use of one or more retro-reflectors in a gas analyzer system

An interferometry system for monitoring changes in the position of an object, the system includes a spectrally broadband light source, a sensor module having an interferometer that direct portions of the light received from the source along separate paths. The system includes an intensity monitor having a detector configured to measure the intensity of additional light derived from the source and to produce a monitor output signal. The system includes an electronic processing module to process a sensor output signal based on the monitor output signal to account for intensity fluctuations in light output by the source, and determine information about the changes in the position of the object. The intensity monitor is configured to characterize the intensity fluctuations as a function of wavelength or intensity fluctuations that are spectrally correlated.

Position monitoring system with reduced noise

Eight or more transition points are generated during a given period, and are used in tracking movement of an interferometer reflector. Duty cycles of generated square waves are used to establish precise intervals between the transition points, and precise wave-phase relationships.

Signal oversampling for improved S:N in reflector movement system

A non-contact spectroscopy system includes scanning head structure with transmitting optics for focusing radiation onto the surface of material to be analyzed, and receiving optics for collecting radiation reflected from the surface of the material and directing the reflected radiation onto optic fiber structure for transmission to spectroscopic analyzer structure.

Non-contact spectroscopy system and process

A multiplicity of one-piece flexure plates are assembled in pairs to provide a support system on which a retroreflector may be mounted for reciprocal motion. Combined with balance bodies, the flexure plates provide a support system having portions that are dynamically and statically balanced with one another, irrespective of orientation, so as to thereby immunize the unit against extraneous forces. The motion transfer assembly is especially adapted for use to support a moving retroreflector in a two-arm interferometer that may further include a beamsplitter assembly constructed from a one-piece, integrally formed body, the body having convergent, optically flat planar surfaces of specular reflectance, and means for adjustably mounting a beamsplitter therein. The spectrometer is of modular construction, and employs an integrated clocking sub-assembly as well as a light-weight voice-coil motor.

Flexture plate motion-transfer mechanism, beam-splitter assembly, and

The method and apparatus effect reversal of a body moving at constant velocity, such as an interferometer reflector, by applying a retrograde electromagnetic force that varies in direct proportion to the distance the body has travelled past the point at which turn around is commenced. Circuitry employed is switched between proportional and integral control configurations, the latter permitting sine-wave oscillation to occur in a servo control loop during reversal.

Method and apparatus for controlling the reciprocating translation of an

A folded-path gas cell employs an elliptical concave mirror in confronting relationship to two substantially spherical concave mirrors. At least one of the spherical mirrors, and usually both, are formed with an added cylindrical component to increase orthogonal focii coincidence and thereby to increase the radiation energy throughput characteristic of the cell.

Folded-path optical analysis gas cell

Corrective factors are applied so as to remove anomalous features from the signal generated by a photoconductive detector, and to thereby render the output signal highly linear with respect to the energy of incident, time-varying radiation. The corrective factors may be applied through the use of either digital electronic data processing means or analog circuitry, or through a combination of those effects.

Detector signal correction method and system

The method and apparatus of the invention permit in situ determinations to be made of the temperature and optical constants of a substrate surface that is being treated, by measurements of radiance, reflectance and transmittance. These determinations in turn provide, at any given instant during processing, compositional and other information, thereby affording highly effective feedback control of the processing conditions. The apparatus comprises an integrated, small and relatively inexpensive instrument for process monitoring.

Method and apparatus for monitoring layer processing

An array of superconducting bolometers, assembled with a superposed interference layer of graduated thickness, provides a microelectronic detector assembly that discriminates radiation impinging thereon, as a function of wavelength, and that can be used for transform spectroscopy, color-imaging, and the like. The interference coating will preferably be of step-like form, with each plateau of the structure being of the same spatial extent as the bolometer with which it is associated.

Superconducting detector assembly and apparatus utilizing same

The method and apparatus of the invention effects compression of an analog electrical signal (e.g., representing an interferogram) by introducing into it a component that is a cubic function thereof, normally as a nonlinear negative signal in a feedback loop of an Op Amp. The compressed signal will most desirably be digitized and then digitally decompressed so as to produce a signal that emulates the original.

Method and apparatus for signal compression

An aerodynamically cleaned heat-exchanger is used in heating apparatus in which the radiant energy of a dirty fuel, such as coal or char, is efficiently recovered while the exposed heat-exchange components are protected from the deleterious combustion products.

Growing community of inventors

Glastonbury, CT, United States of America

Robert M Carangelo