초록 ▼

Method and apparatus for evaluating one or more materials in accordance with size of particles. The method includes evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from a first group of particles; evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from a second group of particle; comparing results of said evaluating

Method and apparatus for evaluating one or more materials in accordance with size of particles. The method includes evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from a first group of particles; evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from a second group of particle; comparing results of said evaluating of said first group with results of said evaluating of said second group; and providing an indication of a state of said material when said comparing produces a predetermined comparison result. Distance between a first light conductor for conducting light to the particles and a second light conductor for conducting light from said particles for said evaluations may be varied. Monitoring of a process for changes in particle size as a function of time or to determine various physical and/or chemical characteristics of the particles or a mixture containing same, including homogeneity, may be achieved.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for evaluating one or more materials in accordance with size of particles therein, comprising: evaluating a first plurality of spectra of light reflected from a first group of particles by varying distance between a first light conductor for conducting light to said

What is claimed is: 1. A method for evaluating one or more materials in accordance with size of particles therein, comprising: evaluating a first plurality of spectra of light reflected from a first group of particles by varying distance between a first light conductor for conducting light to said particles and a second light conductor for conducting light from said particles, and analyzing spectra of light received from said first group of particles at a plurality of distances between said first light conductor and said second light conductor; evaluating a second plurality of spectra of light reflected from a second group of particles by varying distance between said first light conductor and said second light conductor, and analyzing spectra of light received from said second group of particles at a plurality of distances between said first light conductor and said second light conductor; comparing results of said evaluating of said first group with results of said evaluating of said second group; and providing an indication of a state of said material when said comparing produces a predetermined comparison result. 2. The method of claim 1, used for monitoring a process wherein size of particles is changing as a function of time, and wherein: said evaluating of a spectrum of light from a first group of particles comprises evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from the particles at a first time; said evaluating of a spectrum of light from a second group of particles comprises evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from the particle at a second time; said comparing results comprises comparing results of said evaluating at said first time with results of said evaluating at a second time; further comprising providing an indication of a state of said process when said comparing produces predetermined comparison results. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the evaluating at at least one of said first time and said second time occurs during the process. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the evaluating at at least one of said first time and said second time is an evaluating of a reference sample at a time other than during the process. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said distance is varied to eliminate spurious reflections from said groups of particles or from a container in which said particles are disposed. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said particles are in a liquid, said particles being selected from a group comprising at least one of solid particles and liquid droplets. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising moving, said first light conductor and said second light conductor along a column containing said liquid. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining at least one of a rate of motion of an interface in said liquid, and characteristics of particles in a vicinity of said interface. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining characteristics of particles on opposite sides of said interface. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining compositional characteristics of said particles by analyzing at least one of said spectra, said compositional characteristics including at least one of particle size and chemical composition. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first group of particles and said second group of particles are successive groups of particles in a batch of particles undergoing a process of mixing, and said evaluating of said particles is performed at a series of different times, to obtain an indication of homogeneity of a mixture containing said particles. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said first group of particles and said second group of particles are successive groups of particles in a process flow stream. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said first group of particles and said second group of particles are successive groups of particles in a process, further comprising using said results of said evaluating to monitor changes in characteristics of said particles to obtain an indication of homogeneity of said particles. 14. The method of claim 1, used to perform at least one of classification of materials, monitoring of a process, determining authenticity of a product, and determining quality of a product. 15. The method of claim 1, used to determine size of particle in at least one of said first group of particles and said second particles. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one group of particles is suspended in a liquid characterized by a series of parameters and wherein the size of said particles is determined by utilizing a predetermined relationship between values of said parameters, a spectrum of reflected light from said particles and said particle sizes, to determine said sizes of said particles. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the distance is varied by changing separation between said first light conductor and said second light conductor, in a direction perpendicular to a path of light along said first light conductor and said second light conductor. 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of spectra and the second plurality of spectra each generate a three dimensional surface for said comparing. 19. An apparatus for evaluating one or more materials in accordance with size of particles therein, comprising: a first light conductor for conducting light to said particles and a second light conductor for conducting light reflected from said particles; means for varying distance between said first light conductor and said second light conductor; means for evaluating a first plurality of spectra of light reflected from a first group of particles and a second plurality of spectra of light reflected from a second group of particles at a plurality of distances between said first light conductor and said second light conductor; means for comparing results of said evaluating of said first plurality of spectra with results of said evaluating of said second plurality of spectra; and means for providing an indication of a state of said material when said comparing produces a predetermined comparison result. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, for monitoring a process wherein size of particles is changing as a function of time, and wherein: said means for evaluating of a spectrum of light from a first group of particles comprises apparatus for evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from the particles at a first time and at a second time; said means for comparing results comprises comparing apparatus for comparing results of said evaluating at said first time with results of said evaluating at a second time; further comprising means for providing an indication of a state of said process when said comparing produces predetermined comparison results. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said means for evaluating evaluates at said first time and at said second time, during the process. 22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a storage device for storing a reference produced at a time other than during the process, for evaluating at at least one of said first time and said second time. 23. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for containing a liquid in which said particles are dispersed. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for moving, at a plurality of different times, said first light conductor and said second light conductor along said means for containing said liquid. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for determining a rate of motion of an interface in said emulsion, and means for determining characteristics of particles in a vicinity of said interface. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for determining characteristics of particles on opposite sides of said interface. 27. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for determining characteristics of particles in a vicinity of said interface. 28. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a flow cell through which a mixture containing said particles flows in order to have measurements performed thereon. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said flow cell is positioned to evaluate raw materials entering a process. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said flow cell is positioned to evaluate materials during a process. 31. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the distance is varied by changing separation between said first light conductor and said second light conductor, in a direction perpendicular to a path of light along said first light conductor and said second light conductor. 32. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first light conductor is disposed generally parallel to said second light conductor, and the distance is varied by changing separation between said first light conductor and said second light conductor, in a direction perpendicular to a path of light along said first light conductor and said second light conductor. 33. A method for determining position of an interface in a liquid in accordance with particles therein, comprising: providing a first light conductor for conducting light to said particles and a second light conductor for conducting light from said particles, said light conductors being disposed along a column containing said particles; evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from a first group of particles on a first side of said interface; evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from a second group of particle on a second side of said interface; comparing results of said evaluating of said first group with results of said evaluating of said second group; and determining at least one of presence of the interface and rate of motion of the interface, based on characteristics of particles in a vicinity of said interface. 34. A method for evaluating one or more materials in accordance with size of particles therein, comprising: evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from a first group of particles; evaluating a spectrum of light reflected from a second group of particle; comparing results of said evaluating of said first group with results of said evaluating of said second group; and providing an indication of a state of said material when said comparing produces a predetermined comparison result; wherein said first group of particles and said second group of particles are successive groups of particles in a batch of particles undergoing a process of mixing, and said evaluating of said particles is performed at different times, to obtain an indication of homogeneity of a mixture containing said particles.