METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A TEST MATERIAL

摘要

A monitoring apparatus and method for monitoring a test material (14) includes a signal source (20) for providing signals to the test material, a reference detector (34) for detecting a portion of the signals provided by the signal source and for generating a reference signal based upon the detected portion of the signals, and a test detector (18) for detecting the signals provided by the signals source following interaction of the signals with the test material and for generating a test signal based upon the detected signals. The monitoring apparatus can also include a common monitor (22) for monitoring at least one characteristic of the test material based upon an evaluation of the test signal. The common monitor is positioned immediately downstream of and operably connected to both the test and reference detectors in order to process the test and reference signals under the same conditions and in the same fashion. The monitoring apparatus can also include a shutter (38) for controlling the portion of the signals provided by the signal source which is detected by the reference detector such that both the reference detector and the test detector will respond similarly to fluctuations in the signals provided by the signal source, thereby further increasing the precision with which the monitoring system and method monitors the test material.