The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1999
Dor Ben-Amotz, W. Lafayette, IN (US);
Yanan Jiang, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Edward R. Grant, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Ken Haber, West Lafayette, IN (US);
George M. Laurence, Jr., West Lafayette, IN (US);
Spectra Code, Inc., West Lafayette, IN (US);
Abstract
A hand-held material identification apparatus uses a spectrograph and detector array detecting a Raman spectrum produced by a sample illuminated by a laser source to recognize a variety of materials with a command to recognition time cycle of about one second or less. The width of the spectrum detected by each detector in the array is less than ¼ the excitation source wavelength deviation to permit smoothing of the spectrum detected by the discrete spectral elements to eliminate pixel noise without loss of Raman spectral information. The Raman spectra are produced by materials illuminated by an inexpensive near-infrared multimode laser operated in a pulse mode to deliver between 0.05 and 0.5 joules of photon energy, with the Raman spectra being detected before any significant heating of the sample occurs. The identification apparatus qualitatively determines the chemical composition of reinforced and unreinforced copolymers and composites such as ABS, polypropylene, talc-filled polypropylene, polycarbonate, PMMA, polyethylene, and PVC, from samples of different colors and textures with a high degree of success without the need for special positioning or sample preparation.