Non-Contact Radiant Heating and Temperature Sensing Device for a Chemical Reaction Chamber

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for heating and sensing the temperature of a chemical reaction chamber without direct physical contact between a heating device and the reaction chamber, or between a temperature sensor and the reaction chamber. A plurality of chemical reaction chambers can simultaneously or sequentially be heated independently and monitored separately.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating system comprising:
 a non-contact radiant heater;   a non-contact radiant temperature sensor; and   a heatable device including a chemical reaction chamber having a volume of about 10 ml or less, the heatable device being spaced from the non-contact radiant heater spaced from the non-contact radiant temperature sensor, and positioned for the chemical reaction chamber to receive heat irradiated by the non-contact radiant heater and for the chemical reaction chamber to radiate heat toward the non-contact radiant temperature sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first platform region supporting the non-contact radiant heater, and a second platform region supporting the non-contact radiant temperature sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The heating system of  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of non-contact radiant heaters are supported by the first platform region; and
 a plurality of non-contact radiant temperature sensors are supported by the second platform region.   
     
     
         4 . The heating system of  claim 2 , wherein the first platform region and the second platform region are each a part of the same platform. 
     
     
         5 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the heatable device is spaced away from the non-contact radiant heater by a distance of from about five mm to about 20 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The heating system of  claim 2 , wherein the first platform region also supports the heatable device. 
     
     
         7 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-contact radiant heater comprises a laser source. 
     
     
         8 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-contact radiant heater comprises a halogen light source. 
     
     
         9 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-contact radiant heater produces a light that has a wavelength of about 0.7 micrometer or longer. 
     
     
         10 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-contact radiant heater can heat the heatable device to a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         11 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is capable of detecting energy having a wavelength of from about five micrometers to about 15 micrometers.