Patent · US Expired

Spectrophotometer and electro-optic module especially suitable for use therein

US5742389A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
27References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 12, 1994
Grant dateApr 21, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 12, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01J2003/2866
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A spectrophotometer which is highly manufacturable at minimum cost nevertheless provides precision of measurement of spectra components of light which is projected therein by maintaining precise optical alignment of optical and electrical components thereof. These components are mounted in a module which is contained in a housing having an entrance aperture which defines an object area for light the spectrum of which is measured by a photodetector in the module at an image area. The module has a base plate provided by a printed circuit board on which a closed wall encompasses an area (a corral) on one side of the circuit board. The wall is a one piece structure which extends to the vicinity of the edge of the board. It is assembled with the board as a unitary structure so that the assembly is made torsionally rigid and resists bending in the plane of the board. The module may be of sufficiently small size so as to be located in a housing which is hand held, thereby providing a hand-held spectrophotometer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.