1. A method for analyzing materials bound to an ice matrix on a surface of a planetary body, the method comprising:
irradiating a selected area of the ice matrix on the surface of the planetary body with a laser beam that provides a surface fluence level sufficient to release materials from the ice matrix and form a desorbed plume of these materials in gas or vapor states;
receiving thermal emissions from the desorbed plume; and
performing a spectral analysis of the received thermal emissions to identify materials in the desorbed plume.
2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein;
the steps of the method are performed on a spacecraft orbiter.
3. A method as defined in claim 2, and further comprising:
repeating the steps of irradiating, receiving and performing a spectral analysis at successive locations on the icy surface, as the spacecraft orbiter moves over the surface.
4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of irradiating employs a laser beam having a wavelength of approximately 3 \u03bcm.
5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the step of irradiating provides a surface fluence greater than a threshold value of approximately 120 mJcm2.
6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of performing spectral analysis employs an infrared (IR) spectrometer.
7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of irradiating employs a pulsed laser beam.
8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the laser beam has a pulse width of approximately 3 \u03bcs.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-17. (canceled)
18. A dispenser for sequentially dispensing a plurality of miniature products, comprising:
a plurality of adhesive tabs, each tab being removably adhered to an individual product and projecting therefrom;
a product carrier component for supporting a plurality of the products successively spaced apart at one side of the product carrier component, the product carrier component having a plurality of passages through which the tabs individually pass to an opposite side of the product carrier component; and
a dispensing component movable relative to the product carrier component for successively removing each tab from its individual product during relative movement of the components.
19. The dispenser of claim 18, wherein each adhesive tab is constituted of a flexible sheet material, and wherein each tab is adhesively attached to an individual product, and is also adhesively attached to the product carrier component.
20. The dispenser of claim 18, wherein the components are annular and are rotatable relative to each other about an axis.
21. The dispenser of claim 20, wherein the product carrier component is a circular disk, and wherein the passages are radial slits extending radially of the axis.
22. The dispenser of claim 21, wherein the dispensing component is a circular disk axially spaced at a spacing away from the product carrier component.
23. The dispenser of claim 18, and further comprising a base component connected to the product carrier component as a stationary assembly, and a cover component connected to the dispensing component as a movable assembly, and wherein the movable assembly is rotatable about an axis relative to the stationary assembly.
24. The dispenser of claim 18, and further comprising a base component connected to the product carrier component and having an interior storage compartment for holding the products after their use.
25. The dispenser of claim 18, and further comprising a cover component connected to the dispensing component and overlying the product carrier component, and wherein the cover component is constituted of a light-transmissive material to enable viewing of the products.
26. The dispenser of claim 18, wherein the products are batteries having air vents, and wherein the tabs cover the air vents prior to dispensing.
27. A dispenser for sequentially dispensing a plurality of miniature batteries, comprising:
a plurality of adhesive tabs, each tab being removably adhered to an individual battery and projecting therefrom;
a battery carrier component for supporting a plurality of the batteries successively spaced apart at one side of the battery carrier component, the battery carrier component having a plurality of passages through which the tabs individually pass to an opposite side of the battery carrier component; and
a dispensing component rotatable relative to the battery carrier component for successively removing each tab from its individual battery during relative movement of the components.
28. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein each adhesive tab is constituted of a flexible sheet material, and Wherein each tab is adhesively attached to an individual battery, and is also adhesively attached to the battery carrier component.
29. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the battery carrier component is a circular disk, and wherein the passages are radial slits extending radially of the axis.
30. The dispenser of claim 29, wherein the dispensing component is a circular disk axially spaced at a spacing away from the battery carrier.
31. The dispenser of claim 27, and further comprising a base component connected to the battery carrier component as a stationary assembly, and a cover component connected to the dispensing component as a movable assembly, and wherein the movable assembly is rotatable about the axis relative to the stationary assembly.
32. The dispenser of claim 27, and further comprising a base component connected to the battery carrier component and having an interior storage compartment for holding the batteries after their use.
33. The dispenser of claim 27, and further comprising a cover component connected to the dispensing component and overlying the battery carrier component, and wherein the cover component is constituted of a light-transmissive material to enable viewing of the batteries.
34. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the batteries have air vents, and wherein the tabs cover the air vents prior to dispensing.