Joannie W Chin

US Patent:

6626052, Sep 30, 2003

Filed:

Aug 2, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/180079

Inventors:

Jonathan Martin - Gaithersburg MD
Joannie Chin - Frederick MD

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Commerce - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01N 1700

US Classification:

738656, 356236, 250228

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for irradiating a specimen with a beam of radiation are provided. The method comprises the steps of providing an integrating sphere, a radiation source radiatively communicating with the sphere, and a specimen, the integrating sphere radiatively communicating with the specimen through an aperture in the sphere. The apparatus comprises a radiation source, an integrating sphere in radiative communication with the radiation source, and a specimen holder in radiative communication with the integrating sphere. The disclosed apparatus and method allow the irradiance of a beam of radiation impinging on the specimen to be maintained at a uniform level across the width of the beam to allow quantitative specimen evaluation.