Radiant energy – Luminophor irradiation – With ultraviolet source
Patent
1981-07-27
1983-07-19
Willis, Davis L.
Radiant energy
Luminophor irradiation
With ultraviolet source
G01N 2164
Patent
active
043945805
ABSTRACT:
The disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method for analyzing gem specimens. In the disclosed embodiment, a small cabinet includes a source discharge lamp for radiating electromagnetic energy over a broad spectrum of wavelengths. A gem specimen is placed in a small drawer that, upon closure, becomes an optically sealed chamber in communication with the radiation source. Also upon closure, a mechanical shutter mechanism permits registration between the radiation source, gem specimen and a photocell detector that senses radiation emitted from the gem specimen as a result of its interaction with the spectrum of wavelengths from the radiation source. This interaction comprises the combined processes of transmission of and absorption by the gem specimen of the source radiation, internal reflection and internal excitation (e.g., fluorescence), the latter of which produces a frequency shift to a narrow spectrum of energy which the photocell detector is specifically designed to sense. The output of the photocell detector is an analog signal that is processed by electronic circuitry in one of two manners. First, the signal is digitized through an analog to digital converter and is displayed as a numerical digital readout. In the second manner, the analog signal is compared with one or more groups of reference values corresponding to different species of gems. If the analog signal falls within a first arbitrary range of values, it is determined to be "natural". In a second arbitrary range, it is determined to be "synthetic". A third range falls between the first and second ranges, and a value within this range is indicative of a gem of indeterminate origin or an operational malfunction. Another group of reference values is used to determine either of two abnormal conditions; viz., a blockage of radiated energy to the detector or the absence of a gem from the specimen holder. The apparatus readout comprises a liquid crystal display that selectively indicates the mode of operation, the natural, synthetic or indeterminate nature of the gem specimen, and a digital readout of a unitless, arbitrary number which may be used to determine gem quality.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3903422 (1975-09-01), Buhrer
patent: 3950102 (1976-04-01), Eickhorst
patent: 4012141 (1977-03-01), Hanneman
patent: 4037961 (1977-07-01), Macemom
patent: 4117338 (1978-09-01), Adrion et al.
patent: 4125770 (1978-11-01), Lang
patent: 4291230 (1981-09-01), Heiss
L.C.E. Ltd.
Willis Davis L.
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