Method and apparatus for analog computation of concentrations

Claim 2

An analog method for calculating concentrations of elements in a material subjected to spectrochemical analysis from analog electrical ratio signals representing the ratios of the concentrations of each of the elements to a particular one of the elements, by utilizing a division means and a plurality of analog storage means adapted to receive the ratio signals, comprising the steps of: 1. storing the ratio signals in analog form in respective ones of said storage means; 2. interconnecting said respective storage means to produce an analog summation signal representing the sum of the ratio signals corresponding to significant elements; 3. applying said summation signal as a divisor to said division means; 4. disconnecting said storage means from one anoTher to permit delivery of individual ratio signals; 5. applying one of said stored analog ratio signals as a dividend to said division means to produce an output signal representing a quotient of said one ratio signal to said summation signal.

Claim 3

interconnecting said respective storage means to produce an analog summation signal representing the sum of the ratio signals corresponding to significant elements;

Claim 4

interconnecting said respective storage means to produce an analog summation signal representing the sum of the ratio signals corresponding to significant elements;

Claim 5

modifying said first ratio signals to produce a first modified analog ratio signal representing the ratio of the concentrations of a first one of the elements to a particular one of the elements;

Claim 6

modifying said first ratio signals to produce a first modified analog ratio signal representing the ratio of the concentrations of a first one of the elements to a particular one of the elements;

Claim 7

modifying said first ratio signal to produce a first modified analog ratio signal representing a ratio of the concentrations of a first one of the elements to a particular one of the elements;

Claim 8

modifying said first ratio signal to produce a first modified analog ratio signal representing a ratio of the concentrations of a first one of the elements to a particular one of the elements;

Claim 9

interconnecting said storage means in series to produce an analog summation signal representing the sum of the ratio signals corresponding to significant elements;

Claim 10

interconnecting said storage means in series to produce an analog summation signal representing the sum of the ratio signals corresponding to significant elements;

Claim 11

An analog method for calculating concentrations of elements in a material subjected to spectrochemical analysis from analog electrical ratio signals representing the ratios of the concentrations of each of the elements to a particular one of the elements, by utilizing a division means and a plurality of analog storage means adapted to receive the ratio signals, comprising the steps of:

Claim 12

An analog method for calculating concentrations of elements in a material subjected to spectrochemical analysis from analog electrical ratio signals representing the ratios of the concentrations of each of the elements to a particular one of the elements, by utilizing a division means and a plurality of analog storage means adapted to receive the ratio signals, comprising the steps of:

Claim 13

applying said summation signal as a divisor to said division means;

Claim 14

applying said summation signal as a divisor to said division means;

Claim 15

An analog method for calculating concentrations of elements in a material subjected to spectral-radiation analysis producing analog electrical signals corresponding to intensities of respective element components of the radiation, comprising the steps of:

Claim 16

An analog method for calculating concentrations of elements in a material subjected to spectral-radiation analysis producing analog electrical signals corresponding to intensities of respective element components of the radiation, comprising the steps of:

Claim 17

storing said first modified ratio signal in analog form;

Claim 18

storing said first modified ratio signal in analog form;

Claim 19

storing said first modified ratio signal in analog form;

Claim 20

storing said first modified ratio signal in analog form;

Claim 21

applying said summation signal as a divisor to said division means;

Claim 22

applying said summation signal as a divisor to said division means;

Claim 23

sequentially repeating Steps (1), (2) and (3) for each of the others of said electrical signals, for producing and storing modified analog ratio signals respectively corresponding to concentration ratios of each of the other elements to said particular one;

Claim 24

sequentially repeating Steps (1), (2) and (3) for each of the others of said electrical signals, for producing and storing modified analog ratio signals respectively corresponding to concentration ratios of each of the other elements to said particular one;

Claim 25

An analog method for calculating concentrations of elements in a material subjected to spectral-radiation analysis producing analog electrical signals corresponding to intensities of respective element components of the radiation, comprising the steps of:

Claim 26

An analog method for calculating concentrations of elements in a material subjected to spectral-radiation analysis producing analog electrical signals corresponding to intensities of respective element components of the radiation, comprising the steps of:

Claim 27

sequentially repeating Steps (1), (2) and (3) for each of the others of said electrical signals, for producing and storing modified analog ratio signals respectively corresponding to concentration ratios of each of the other elements to said particular one;

Claim 28

sequentially repeating Steps (1), (2) and (3) for each of the others of said electrical signals, for producing and storing modified analog ratio signals respectively corresponding to concentration ratios of each of the other elements to said particular one;

Claim 29

disconnecting said storage means from one another to permit delivery of individual ratio signals; and

Claim 30

disconnecting said storage means from one another to permit delivery of individual ratio signals; and

Claim 31

disconnecting said storage means from one anoTher to permit delivery of individual ratio signals;

Claim 32

disconnecting said storage means from one anoTher to permit delivery of individual ratio signals;

Claim 33

applying one of said stored analog ratio signals as a dividend to said division means to produce an output signal representing a quotient of said one ratio signal to said summation signal.

Claim 34

applying one of said stored analog ratio signals as a dividend to said division means to produce an output signal representing a quotient of said one ratio signal to said summation signal.

Claim 35

applying said stored analog ratio signals individually as dividends to said division means to produce output signals respectively representing quotients of said ratio signals to said summation signal.

Claim 36

applying said stored analog ratio signals individually as dividends to said division means to produce output signals respectively representing quotients of said ratio signals to said summation signal.

Claim 37

generating a summation signal from said stored modified analog ratio signals, said summation signal representing the sum of the stored modified ratio signals corresponding to significant elements; and

Claim 38

generating a summation signal from said stored modified analog ratio signals, said summation signal representing the sum of the stored modified ratio signals corresponding to significant elements; and

Claim 39

generating a summation signal from said stored modified analog ratio signals, said summation signal representing the sum of the stored modified ratio signals corresponding to significant elements; stored modified

Claim 40

generating a summation signal from said stored modified analog ratio signals, said summation signal representing the sum of the stored modified ratio signals corresponding to significant elements; stored modified

Claim 41

In combination with a spectrometer for the analysis of radiation characteristic of a material, including signal generating means for generating a plurality of electrical analog ratio signals representing the ratios of the concentrations of each element in the material to a particular one of the elements, apparatus for determining the concentrations of the elements, comprising the combination of: a plurality of analog storage means for separately storing said ratio signals; first connecting means for interconnecting said storage means to generate a summation signal representing the sum of the analog ratio signals corresponding to significant elements; division means for generating output signals representing quotients of each of said analog ratio signals to said summation signal when said summation signal is applied thereto as a divisor and said ratio signals are individually applied thereto as dividends; and second connecting means connected from the plurality of storage means to the signal-generating means and division means for selectively applying the analog ratio signals to the storage means and the summation signal and stored analog ratio signals to the division means.

Claim 42

In combination with a spectrometer for the analysis of radiation characteristic of a material, including signal generating means for generating a plurality of electrical analog ratio signals representing the ratios of the concentrations of each element in the material to a particular one of the elements, apparatus for determining the concentrations of the elements, comprising the combination of: a plurality of analog storage means for separately storing said ratio signals; first connecting means for interconnecting said storage means to generate a summation signal representing the sum of the analog ratio signals corresponding to significant elements; division means for generating output signals representing quotients of each of said analog ratio signals to said summation signal when said summation signal is applied thereto as a divisor and said ratio signals are individually applied thereto as dividends; and second connecting means connected from the plurality of storage means to the signal-generating means and division means for selectively applying the analog ratio signals to the storage means and the summation signal and stored analog ratio signals to the division means.

Claim 43

The apparatus according to claim 5, above, wherein each of said storage means of said plurality includes a storage capacitor, and said first connecting means is arranged to interconnect said capacitors in series to generate said summation signal.

Claim 44

generating a first output signal from said summation signal and said first modified analog ratio signal, said first output signal representing the quotient of said first stored modified ratio signal to said summation signal; and

Claim 45

generating a first output signal from said summation signal and said first modified analog ratio signal, said first output signal representing the quotient of said first stored modified ratio signal to said summation signal; and

Claim 46

generating output signals from said summation signal and said stored modified analog ratio signals, said output signals respectively representing quotients of said stored modified ratio signals to said summation signal.

Claim 47

generating output signals from said summation signal and said stored modified analog ratio signals, said output signals respectively representing quotients of said stored modified ratio signals to said summation signal.

Claim 48

sequentially repeating Step (6) for generating output signals from said summation signal and the others of said stored modified analog ratio signals, said output signals respectively representing quotients of said others to said summation signal.

Claim 49

sequentially repeating Step (6) for generating output signals from said summation signal and the others of said stored modified analog ratio signals, said output signals respectively representing quotients of said others to said summation signal.

Claim 50

The apparatus according to claim 5 in which the second connecting means includes switching means coupling said storage means and said division means for applying said summation signal to said division means as a divisor and for sequentially applying said ratio signals to said division means as dividends.

Claim 51

The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each of said storage means of said plurality includes a storage capacitor, and said first connecting means is arranged to interconnect said capacitors in series to generate said summation signal.

Claim 52

The apparatus according to claim 7, above, further including analog-to-digital converter means coupled to said division means for producing digital representations of said output signals.

Claim 53

The apparatus according to claim 9, above, further including digital printer means coupled to analog-to-digital converter means for producing visible indications of said digital representations.

Claim 54

In combination with a spectrometer for the analysis of radiation characteristic of a material, including signal generating means for generating a plurality of electrical ratio signals representing the ratios of the concentrations of each element in the material to a particular one of the elements, apparatus for determining the concentrations of the elements, comprising the combination of: a first plurality of storage means for separately storing first signals proportional to said ratio signals; a second plurality of storage means for separately storing second signals corresponding to said ratio signals; first connecting means for interconnecting the storage means of said first plurality to generate a summation signal representing the sum of the first signals corresponding to significant elements; division means for generating output signals representing quotients of each of said second signals to said summation signal when said summation signal is applied thereto as a divisor and said second signal are sequentially applied thereto as dividends; and second connecting means connected from the first and second pluralities of storage means to the signal-generating means and division means for selectively applying the ratio signals to the first and second pluralities of storage means, and the summation signal and stored second signals to the division means.

Claim 55

In combination with a spectrometer for the analysis of radiation characteristic of a material, including signal generating means for generating a plurality of electrical ratio signals representing the ratios of the concentrations of each element in the material to a particular one of the elements, apparatus for determining the concentrations of the elements, comprising the combination of: a first plurality of storage means for separately storing first signals proportional to said ratio signals; a second plurality of storage means for separately storing second signals corresponding to said ratio signals; first connecting means for interconnecting the storage means of said first plurality to generate a summation signal representing the sum of the first signals corresponding to significant elements; division means for generating output signals representing quotients of each of said second signals to said summation signal when said summation signal is applied thereto as a divisor and said second signal are sequentially applied thereto as dividends; and second connecting means connected from the first and second pluralities of storage means to the signal-generating means and division means for selectively applying the ratio signals to the first and second pluralities of storage means, and the summation signal and stored second signals to the division means.

Claim 56

The apparatus according to claim 11, above, wherein: each of said storage means of said first plurality includes a storage capacitor; each of said storage means of said second plurality includes a storage capacitor; and the first connecting means is arranged to interconnect the capacitors of said first plurality in series to generate said summation signal.

Claim 57

The apparatus according to claim 12 in which the second connecting means includes switching means coupling said storage means and said division means for applying said summation signal to said division means as a divisor and for sequentially applying said second signals to said division means as dividends. 14, In a spectrometer for the analysis of radiation characteristic of a material, including signal generating means for generating a plurality of electrical signals corresponding to intensities of spectral components of the radiation, apparatus for determining the concentrations of elements in the material, comprising the combination of: division means adapted to receive said electrical signals and arranged to generate intensity-ratio signals representing the ratios of each of said electrical signals to a particular one of said electrical signals; function generator means selectively connectable to the division means for modifying each of the intensity-ratio signals to produce concentration-ratio signals representing the ratios of the concentrations of each of the elements to a particular element corresponding to said particular one of said electrical signals; storage means selectively connectable to the function-generator means to receive and individually store the concentration-ratio signals; the storage means including summing means for selectively generating a summation signal representing the sum of the concentration-ratio signals corresponding to significant elements; and connecting means selectively connectable between the division means and the signal-generating means and storage means for applying the electrical signals to the division means to generate the intensity-ratio signals, and for applying the summation signal and the concentration-ratio signals to said division means to generate output signals representing quotients of each of the concentration-ratio signals to said summation signal.

Claim 58

The apparatus according to claim 14, above, further including indicator means coupled to said division means for producing visible indications of said output signals.

Claim 59

The apparatus according to claim 14, above, further including analog-to-digital converter means coupled to said division means for producing digital representations of said output signals.

Claim 60

The apparatus according to claim 16, above, further including digital printer means for printing visible indications of said digital representations.