Patent · US Expired

Manual and automatic probe calibration

US6011986A · kind A · utility

1,151Cited by
27References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 2, 1998
Grant dateJan 4, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 2, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2201/0627
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The method and apparatus of the present invention provides a system wherein light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be tuned within a given range by selecting their operating drive current in order to obtain a precise wavelength. The present invention further provides a manner in which to calibrate and utilize an LED probe, such that the shift in wavelength for a known change in drive current is a known quantity. In general, the principle of wavelength shift for current drive changes for LEDs is utilized in order to allow better calibration and added flexibility in the use of LED sensors, particularly in applications when the precise wavelength is needed in order to obtain accurate measurements. The present invention also provides a system in which it is not necessary to know precise wavelengths of LEDs where precise wavelengths were needed in the past. Finally, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the operating wavelength of a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode.

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