A system for measuring light absorption levels includes a light source
providing a light beam and a container for a liquid. The container
includes an opening to provide access to the liquid. A prism is disposed
over the opening and is operable to direct at least a first portion of
the light beam toward the opening to the liquid such that the at least a
portion of the first portion of the light beam is reflected back from the
liquid forming an attenuated beam. A detector is operable to measure at
least one of a portion of the attenuated beam and a second portion of the
light beam. The detector is operable to produce at least one of a liquid
measurement signal and a reference signal. A device is operable to
compute a ratio of the liquid measurement signal to the reference signal
to determine a signal ratio.