Apparatus, system and method for optical spectroscopic measurements

1. A measurement head for optical spectroscopic measurements, the measurement head comprising: an illumination source configured to illuminate a sample; a collection optic configured to view the sample; an internal reference, wherein the internal reference is configured to be illuminated by the illumination source and viewed by the collection optic; a calibration mirror, wherein the calibration mirror is configured to allow the internal reference to be viewed by the collection optic.

2. The measurement head of claim 1 , wherein the calibration mirror is configured to be moved into a position that would allow the internal reference to be viewed by the collection optic.

3. The measurement head of claim 1 , further comprising:

a shutter, wherein the shutter is connected to the internal reference and wherein the shutter is configured to position the internal reference so that the internal reference is illuminated by the illumination source and viewed by the collection optic.

4. The measurement head of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one optical element located between the illumination source and the sample; and

a reflective, illuminator partially surrounding the illumination source, wherein the reflective illuminator is configured to reflect light toward the sample.

5. The measurement head of claim 4 , wherein, the at least one optical element comprises the collection optic.

6. The measurement head of claim 1 , wherein the collection optic is configured to view the sample coaxially with the illumination source.

7. The measurement head of claim 1 , wherein the internal reference is configured such that an illumination intensity on the internal reference approximates an illumination intensity on the sample.

8. The measurement head of claim 1 , further comprising:

a window disposed between the sample and the illumination source.

9. The measurement head of claim 1 , further comprising:

a diffuser radiation shield configured to reduce stray light viewed by the collection optics.

10. The measurement head of claim 1 , further comprising:

a UV shield that can be positioned over the internal reference so a to reduce the UV radiation on the internal reference.

11. The measurement head of claim 1 , wherein the internal reference is in a fixed position within the measurement head.

12. The measurement head of claim 11 , further comprising:

a reflective illuminator partially surrounding the illumination source, wherein the reflective illuminator is configured to reflect light toward the sample; and

wherein the internal reference is positioned between the illumination source and the reflective illuminator.

13. A method for optical spectroscopic measurements, the method comprising: illuminating a sample using an illumination source, wherein the illumination source is located within a measurement head; viewing the sample using a collection optic, wherein the collection optic is located within the measurement head; illuminating an internal reference using the illumination source, wherein the internal reference is located within the measurement head; positioning a calibration mirror such that the collection optic is configured to view the internal reference; and viewing the internal reference using the collection optic.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

moving the internal reference into a position so that it can be viewed by the collection optic.

15. The method of claim 13 , farther comprising:

generating light using the illumination source; and

reflecting at east part of the generated light using a reflective illuminator configured to reflect light toward the sample.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein viewing the sample using a collection optic comprises viewing the sample using the collection optic, wherein the collection optic view is co-axially aligned with the illumination source.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the internal reference is in a fixed position within the measurement head.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating light using the illumination source; and

reflecting at least part of the generated light using a reflective illuminator configured to reflect light toward the sample;

wherein the internal reference is in, a fixed position between the illumination source and the sample.

19. A system for optical spectroscopic measurements, the system comprising: a measurement head; an illumination source within the measurement head, wherein the illumination source is configured to illuminate a sample; a collection optic within the measurement head, wherein the collection optic is configured to view the sample; and an internal reference connected to the measurement head, wherein the internal reference is configured to be illuminated by the illumination source and viewed by the collection optic, and wherein the internal reference is in a fixed position within the measurement head.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:

a calibration mirror, wherein the calibration mirror can be moved into a position that would avow the internal reference to be viewed by the collection optic.

21. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:

a window, wherein the window is disposed between the illumination source and the sample.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the collection optic is configured to indirectly view the sample.

23. The measurement head of claim 19 , further comprising:

a reflective illuminator partially surrounding the illumination source, wherein the reftective illuminator is configured to reflect light toward the sample; and

wherein the internal reference positioned at least partially within a volume created by the reflective illuminator.