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:
Sep. 21, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2002
Michael G. O'Keeffe, Poughkeepsie, NY (US);
Spencer M. Lovette, Katonah, NY (US);
Norman C. Ford, Amherst, MA (US);
Metron Instruments, Inc., Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring component concentration in a liquid containing relatively large particles and relatively small particles. The invention may be utilized for measuring fat and casein concentrations in a dairy product, but is not limited to such use. A polarized light beam is directed through a scattering cell having first and second windows and containing a sample of the liquid. A normal to an exterior surface of the second window of the scattering cell is at or near Brewster's angle with respect to the light beam to reduce or eliminate reflections. A first light detector, positioned at an angle of about 5° to about 45° with respect to the light beam, detects scattered light from a first component of the liquid, such as fat particles. A second light detector, positioned at an angle of about 130° to about 160° with respect to the light beam, detects scattered light from a second component of the liquid, such as casein particles. When the liquid is a dairy product, the detector signals are representative of fat and casein concentrations. Component concentrations of a dairy product may be measured without requiring the use of a chemical diluent.