Abstract: A system for obtaining temperature measurements. The system includes a photoluminescent target. The photoluminescent target includes a photoluminescent coating and a thermally conductive skeleton. The photoluminescent coating, when exposed to excitation light received from an interrogation unit, reemits light in a temperature-dependent manner, and the interrogation unit obtains a temperature measurement based on the reemitted light. The thermally conductive skeleton structure is configured to establish an even temperature distribution across the photoluminescent target, and to provide a support matrix for the photoluminescent coating that surrounds the skeleton structure. The photoluminescent target thermally interfaces with a target body from which the temperature measurement is to be obtained.

Abstract: A low-reflection fiber-optic connector. The fiber-optic connector includes a ferrule that includes a fiber passage and an optical fiber traversing the fiber passage. The optical fiber includes a polished fiber end that is substantially flush with a ferrule end face. The ferrule end face, in an area surrounding the polished fiber end, is modified to reduce an optical reflectivity.

Abstract: A temperature probe for use in a chamber. The temperature probe includes a hollow standoff mounted on a floor of the chamber, and equipped with a side-hole. The temperature probe further includes a cap fixed to the top of the standoff. The bottom surface of the cap includes a coating. The temperature probe also includes a light pipe disposed perpendicularly to the standoff and a shield disposed around the light pipe. A top surface of the cap is co-planar with a bottom surface of an object whose temperature is being measured. A sensing end of the light pipe is inserted into the side-hole of the standoff. An opening in the shield allows transmission of light between the sensing end of the light pipe and the coating. The light pipe and the shield pass through a feed-through in a sidewall of the chamber.

Abstract: A method for measuring furnace temperatures. The method includes obtaining radiance measurements from a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs) using a plurality of thermal imaging cameras, and measuring a surface temperature using a radiance measurement obtained from an ROI selected from the plurality of ROIs. Measuring the surface temperature includes determining an effective background radiance affecting the selected ROI using radiance measurements obtained from ROIs different from the selected ROI, obtaining a compensated radiance by removing the effective background radiance from the radiance measurement obtained from the selected ROI, and converting the compensated radiance to the measured surface temperature.

Abstract: A method for measuring furnace temperatures. The method includes obtaining radiance measurements from a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs) using a plurality of thermal imaging cameras, and measuring a surface temperature using a radiance measurement obtained from an ROI selected from the plurality of ROIs. Measuring the surface temperature includes determining an effective background radiance affecting the selected ROI using radiance measurements obtained from ROIs different from the selected ROI, obtaining a compensated radiance by removing the effective background radiance from the radiance measurement obtained from the selected ROI, and converting the compensated radiance to the measured surface temperature.

Abstract: A reflector may include an exterior wall, an interior space, one or more interior walls, each interior wall having two ends, a proximal end, and a distal end. Each end of an interior wall may be attached to the exterior wall or to a different interior wall. The interior walls may divide the interior space into two or more sections. The proximal end and the distal end of the reflector may be open. The exterior wall and the interior walls may be configured to reflect light that contacts the exterior wall or interior walls through the distal end of the reflector.

Abstract: A system for obtaining temperature measurements. The system includes a photoluminescent target. The photoluminescent target includes a photoluminescent coating and a thermally conductive skeleton. The photoluminescent coating, when exposed to excitation light received from an interrogation unit, reemits light in a temperature-dependent manner, and the interrogation unit obtains a temperature measurement based on the reemitted light. The thermally conductive skeleton structure is configured to establish an even temperature distribution across the photoluminescent target, and to provide a support matrix for the photoluminescent coating that surrounds the skeleton structure. The photoluminescent target thermally interfaces with a target body from which the temperature measurement is to be obtained.

Abstract: A temperature probe for use in a chamber. The temperature probe includes a hollow standoff mounted on a floor of the chamber, and equipped with a side-hole. The temperature probe further includes a cap fixed to the top of the standoff The bottom surface of the cap includes a coating. The temperature probe also includes a light pipe disposed perpendicularly to the standoff and a shield disposed around the light pipe. A top surface of the cap is co-planar with a bottom surface of an object whose temperature is being measured. A sensing end of the light pipe is inserted into the side-hole of the standoff An opening in the shield allows transmission of light between the sensing end of the light pipe and the coating. The light pipe and the shield pass through a feed-through in a sidewall of the chamber.

Abstract: A bidirectional optoelectronic sub-assembly. The bidirectional optoelectronic sub-assembly includes an assembly body. The assembly body is configured to interface a light source, a photodetector, an optical waveguide, coupling optics and a beam splitter in optical alignment. The assembly body includes a light source port configured to accommodate the light source, an optical port configured to interface with an optical connector of the optical waveguide, a beam splitter slot configured to accommodate the beam splitter on a first optical path between the light source and the optical waveguide, and on a second optical path between the optical waveguide and the photodetector, and a faraday cage cavity configured to accommodate the photodetector.

Abstract: A method for measuring furnace temperatures. The method includes obtaining radiance measurements from a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs) using a plurality of thermal imaging cameras, and measuring a surface temperature using a radiance measurement obtained from an ROI selected from the plurality of ROIs. Measuring the surface temperature includes determining an effective background radiance affecting the selected ROI using radiance measurements obtained from ROIs different from the selected ROI, obtaining a compensated radiance by removing the effective background radiance from the radiance measurement obtained from the selected ROI, and converting the compensated radiance to the measured surface temperature.

Abstract: A system for obtaining a measurement of a species of interest. The system includes one or more reference regions, a sensor region, an exciter unit, a detector unit and a processing unit. The exciter unit exposes first and second chemical transducers in the reference and sensor regions, respectively, to an excitation light while they are exposed to reference environments and an analyte, respectively. The detector unit measures responses of the first and the second chemical transducers to the excitation light. The processing unit determines a compensation for aging of the first chemical transducer from a discrepancy between the measurements of the responses of the first chemical transducer and reference responses. The processing unit applies the compensation for aging to the measurement of the response of the second chemical transducer to obtain the measurement of the species of interest in the analyte.

Abstract: A method for measuring and controlling flame quality in real-time, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring a plurality of flame images in a first field of view; acquiring a plurality of flame images in a second field of view; processing the acquired plurality of flame images of said first and second fields of view to determine an overall flame quality parameter; and comparing the overall flame quality parameter to a tolerance range. In other aspects, a system for measuring and controlling flame quality in real-time and a non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) storing instructions configured to cause a computing system to measure and control flame quality in real-time are provided.

Abstract: A system for obtaining a measurement of a species of interest. The system includes one or more reference regions, a sensor region, an exciter unit, a detector unit and a processing unit. The exciter unit exposes first and second chemical transducers in the reference and sensor regions, respectively, to an excitation light while they are exposed to reference environments and an analyte, respectively. The detector unit measures responses of the first and the second chemical transducers to the excitation light. The processing unit determines a compensation for aging of the first chemical transducer from a discrepancy between the measurements of the responses of the first chemical transducer and reference responses. The processing unit applies the compensation for aging to the measurement of the response of the second chemical transducer to obtain the measurement of the species of interest in the analyte.

Abstract: A method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of computer executable instructions for calibrating an uncalibrated thermal imager is provided. The system includes a calibrated pyrometer for determining a first temperature of a Region of Interest under a first condition, and an uncalibrated thermal imager for determining a first average count value over the region of interest under the first condition and for determining a second average count value over the region of interest under a second condition. A temperature sensor for determining a second temperature of the region of interest under a second condition is also provided. Control electronics determine a Planck function that intersects the points (first temperature, first average count value) and (second temperature, second average count value). The uncalibrated thermal imager is calibrated using the Planck function.

Abstract: A method for analyzing gas dissolved within a fluid filled asset includes extracting the fluid from the fluid filled asset, circulating the fluid though a first fluid loop, and passing the extracted fluid along a first side of a gas permeable membrane. Gas is extracted from a second side of the gas permeable membrane and the extracted gas is circulated through a second fluid loop. The first fluid loop and the second fluid loop are separated by the gas permeable membrane. The method further includes controlling a pressure differential across the gas permeable membrane to a predetermined pressure differential and providing the extracted gas to a gas analysis unit located within the second fluid loop. The chemical makeup of the extracted gas is periodically determined using the gas analysis unit.

Abstract: A method for analyzing gas dissolved within a fluid filled asset includes extracting the fluid from the fluid filled asset, circulating the fluid though a first fluid loop, and passing the extracted fluid along a first side of a gas permeable membrane. Gas is extracted from a second side of the gas permeable membrane and the extracted gas is circulated through a second fluid loop. The first fluid loop and the second fluid loop are separated by the gas permeable membrane. The method further includes controlling a pressure differential across the gas permeable membrane to a predetermined pressure differential and providing the extracted gas to a gas analysis unit located within the second fluid loop. The chemical makeup of the extracted gas is periodically determined using the gas analysis unit.