IMPROVED LASER SPECTRAL ANALYZER WITH SAMPLE LOCATION DETECTOR

摘要

A laser spectral analyzer is presented for analyzing the composition characteristics of a stream of flowable material. The analyzer includes a laser spectroscopy sensor which emits a laser beam at a predetermined focal area to excite the electrons of the material and a detector for receiving and a processor for identifying peaks from the spectra given off by the excited electrons. The analyzer further includes a sample location detection system for determining the position of the sample relative to the laser spectroscopy sensor. The detection system controls the triggering of the light source to only when the sample surface is within predetermined limits about the focal area of the sensor. In alternative embodiments the detection system includes circuitry which directs the detector to disregard electrons or directs the processor not to identify spectra from a sample determined to outside of the predetermined limits of the sensor. In other alternative embodiments the analyzer is included in an industrial manufacturing process having a continuous flow of material to detect the position of an upper surface of the material and control the system.