Michael Bryan Strickland

US Patent:

60914920, Jul 18, 2000

Filed:

Sep 25, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/720161

Inventors:

Michael L. Strickland - Marietta GA
James P. Olivier - Lawrenceville GA
William B. Conklin - Lawrenceville GA
Warren P. Hendrix - Lawrenceville GA

Assignee:

Micromeritics Instrument Corporation - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G01N 1502

US Classification:

356336

Abstract:

An apparatus and method are disclosed for obtaining and analyzing light scattering data to determine the size distribution of a group of dispersed particles that scattered the light. The apparatus and method use a two-dimensional array of photosensitive pixels such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or an array of solid-state photodiodes. The analyzer illuminates the particles with a dose of light in a collimated beam from a light source so as to scatter light of the beam, and at least a portion of the light interacting with the particles is detected with the photosensitive pixel array. The pixels are functionally equivalent and the analyzer dynamically configures and re-configures at least a portion of the pixels into a variable number of data collection areas which correspond to a selected set of scattering angles. The analyzer also determines whether and, from the pixel output data, where an unscattered center of the incident light beam intersects the pixel array. Thus, no precision mechanical alignment of the light source and the pixel array detector is required prior to operation of the analyzer.

US Patent:

55768270, Nov 19, 1996

Filed:

Apr 15, 1994

Appl. No.:

7/228965

Inventors:

Michael L. Strickland - Marietta GA
James P. Olivier - Lawrenceville GA
William B. Conklin - Lawrenceville GA
Warren P. Hendrix - Lawrenceville GA

Assignee:

Micromeritics Instrument Corporation - Norcross GA

International Classification:

G01N 1502

US Classification:

356336

Abstract:

An apparatus and method are disclosed for obtaining and analyzing light scattering data to determine the size distribution of a group of dispersed particles that scattered the light. The apparatus and method use a two-dimensional array of photosensitive pixels such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or an array of solid-state photodiodes. The analyzer illuminates the particles with a dose of light in a collimated beam from a light source so as to scatter light of the beam, and at least a portion of the light interacting with the particles is detected with the photosensitive pixel array. The pixels are functionally equivalent and the analyzer dynamically configures and re-configures at least a portion of the pixels into a variable number of data collection areas which correspond to a selected set of scattering angles. The analyzer also determines whether and, from the pixel output data, where an unscattered center of the incident light beam intersects the pixel array. Thus, no precision mechanical alignment of the light source and the pixel array detector is required prior to operation of the analyzer.