d4diddy, CDEX states The disclosed system includes a unique configuration that allows novel data manipulation to provide improved results in substance identification.
United States Patent Application 20130120741
Inventors: POTEET; Wade M.; (Vail, AZ) ; STARZINGER; Carey W.; (Benson, AZ) ; BRUMFIELD; Jeffery K.; (Romona, CA)
So I learn more by paying attention to the sequence of processing steps, and gaining a level of understanding about what is unique about the ValiMed G4.
The CDEX patent application states:
[0023] The disclosed embodiments include a molecular species identification and quantification system that includes an optical probe having a light source and spectroscopic detection device, a data storage system, a data manipulation module, and a computer interface including a digital processor. The disclosed system includes a unique configuration that allows novel data manipulation to provide improved results in substance identification.
Also....
0060] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart 300 that further discloses step 202 of FIG. 2 for creating signatures according to the disclosed embodiments. Step 302 executes by storing signature spectrum as both wavelength versus amplitude, and Raman shift versus amplitude. Step 304 executes by performing Fast Fourier Transform on this data, and storing the transformed results. Specific Fast Fourier Transform coefficients may be utilized in both the identification and quantification processes. Further, "peak analysis" routines unique to this invention are applied to the Raman data and then stored.
CDEX also states:
Subsequent peak values of this Raman excitation amplitude are proportional to the absorption of the "container" and may be used to adjust for the effects of that container in the quantification process.
[0025] The disclosed system provides several unique and nonobvious features. For example, the disclosed system provides an optical probe physical arrangement to optimize success in determining molecular species and concentration. The disclosed system also allows modularization of the physical configuration to adapt to a wide variety of measurement scenarios. The disclosed system incorporates utilization of data from three processes that occur when a sample is illuminated in the manner disclosed below. The disclosed system also implements data analysis methods that optimize precision and accuracy of the disclosed processes. Further, methods are provided that determine the optical transmission of sample containers simultaneously with the primary optical measurements, and measures all sample states-solid, liquid, powder and gaseous as well as the transition states between them.
And also...
[0069] A further unique feature of this invention is the variable integration scheme incorporated in the actual measurement of an unknown or known substance. The AWC spectrometer's integration time is set to a fixed period that prevents saturation of the AWC spectrometer's output spectrum for common materials to be measured. A baseline algorithm is applied that "flattens" the spectrum and stores the result. Another spectrum is obtained and summed with the first spectrum and this process is repeated until a pre-set property of the spectrum is reached. The integration process then is complete and the summed spectra with flattened baselines are stored as the beginning point for the signature database.
The simultaneous use of three processes is of interest to me.....
algorithms, as disclosed below, to give a high degree of certainty for matching the spectral information from all three processes to stored signature data.
What does it all mean if/when all of this comes together?
0081] Thus, as disclosed above, three processes may be used to determine light interactions to combine for a signature of known materials. The signatures are used to identify unknown substances as well as other information, as opposed to just verifying a substance. System 100 according to the disclosed embodiments is a more robust molecular identification system as a result.
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