Importance

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Abstract

In an optical instrument, a fiber optic probe is provided to irradiate a sample with visible NIR and ultraviolet light. Glass fibers carry the visible and NIR light to the probe from a visible and NIR light source and quartz fibers carry ultraviolet light to the probe from an ultraviolet source. Glass fibers carry visible and NIR light emanating from the sample to a spectrometer having a fixed grating and an array of photodetectors to receive the spectrum dispersed by the grating within the spectrometer housing. Amplifiers are also contained in the spectrometer housing severally connected to the photodetectors to amplify the output signals of the photodetectors. The probe is provided with a standard white sample pivotal into position to receive the light from the visible light source. A computer is programmed to provide automatic calibrating whenever the temperature within the housing changes more than a predetermined small amount. The automatic calibration is carried out by pivoting the white standard into position and computing calibration values from the resulting photodector outputs. Automatic calibration is also provided when the ratio of output signals from selected ones of the photodetectors changes by more than a predetermined small percentage.

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First Claim