Plural Beam/detector Pairs Patents (Class 250/345)
  • Patent number: 11686716
    Abstract: A flow cell with a first section and a second section, and a gasket sealing between the first and second sections. A chamber is defined in the flow cell, having a perimeter with a narrower end and a rounded wider end. An inlet passage, outlet passage, and a sensor are arranged in fluid communication with the chamber. The inlet passage directs fluid into the chamber proximal its narrow end at an angle of between about 45° and 75° relative to the plane of gasket and the outlet passage directs fluid flow out of the wider end of the chamber at an angle between about 45° and 75° relative to the plane of gasket, the inlet passage and outlet passage being angled in opposite directions. The flow cell is useful for monitoring levels of chemicals in an industrial process stream, such as lactose levels in a dairy process stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Lincoln Agritech Limited
    Inventors: Claire Mary Clark, Neil Francis Pasco
  • Patent number: 11448590
    Abstract: A method—for measuring an amount of a gaseous species present in a gas—comprises placing the gas between a light source and a measurement photodetector. The light source is able to emit an incident light wave that propagates through the gas to the measurement photodetector. The gas is illuminated with the light source. A measurement intensity, of the light wave transmitted by the gas, is measured with the measurement photodetector. An intensity of a reference light wave, emitted by the light source in a reference spectral band, is measured with a reference photodetector. The illumination and measuring are performed at multiple measurement times, at each of which the gas's absorption of the incident light wave is estimated and an amount of the gaseous species is estimated on the basis of the estimated absorption. Estimating the absorption comprises applying a correction function, that varies over time, to the reference intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: Thanh Trung Le
  • Patent number: 11287409
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein describe an infrared (IR) imaging system for detecting a gas. The imaging system can include an optical filter that selectively passes light having a wavelength in a range of 1585 nm to 1595 nm while attenuating light at wavelengths above 1600 nm and below 1580 nm. The system can include an optical detector array sensitive to light having a wavelength of 1590 that is positioned rear of the optical filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: REBELLION PHOTONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Timothy Kester, Nathan Adrian Hagen
  • Patent number: 11204378
    Abstract: A system includes first and second gas cells, each comprising a respective sealed interior waveguide. The first gas cell contains a dipolar gas and the second gas cell does not contain a dipolar gas. The system includes first and second transmit antennas coupled to the first and second gas cells, respectively, to provide first and second electromagnetic waves to the interior of the first and second gas cells, respectively; first receive antenna coupled to the first gas cell to generate a first signal indicative of an amount of energy in the first electromagnetic wave after travel through the first gas cell; second receive antenna coupled to the second gas cell to generate a second signal indicative of an amount of energy in the second electromagnetic wave after travel through the second gas cell; processor configured to calculate a background-free signal based on a difference between the first and second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Argyrios Dellis, Juan Herbsommer, Adam Joseph Fruehling
  • Patent number: 11092488
    Abstract: An optical sensor for multispectral analysis of a fluid sample comprises at least one light source, at least one interference filter, and a plurality of light detectors arranged such that light emitted by the at least one light source is incident on the at least one interference filter. There is a spatial variation in the intensity of light incident on the said at least one interference filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventors: Ewan Waddell, Desmond Gibson
  • Patent number: 11060972
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analyzing gas by an optical method, according to which a gas sample, comprising gaseous species for which it is desired to determine the quantity, is subjected to an illuminating radiation generated by a light source. The method comprises detecting a radiation having crossed the gas, by means of a light sensor. According to the invention, the light source produces different successive illuminations, such that at each illumination, the spectrum of the illuminating radiation varies. During each illumination, the intensity of the radiation detected by the light sensor is recorded. A processor can estimate a quantity of each gaseous species as a function of the respective intensities measured during each illumination. The invention also relates to a gas analysis device implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: ELICHENS
    Inventor: Yanis Caritu
  • Patent number: 10805033
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical line terminal (OLT), including: N tunable modules, each of the N tunable modules include M tunable transmitters, the number of tuning channels of the M tunable transmitters is greater than or equal to two and the number of the tuning channels is less than M×N, wherein N and M are integers greater than or equal to two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xingang Huang, Bo Yang
  • Patent number: 10732106
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a gas detection apparatus including a main optical element configured to: (1) direct a first portion of light emitted from a light generating element (after the first portion of light has interacted with a target medium) to a primary detector via a second optical element, and (2) direct a second portion of light emitted from the light generating element to a reference detector via a third optical element. In various examples, the main optical element may be a reflector such as a mirror. The light generating element may, for example, be a red, green, and blue (RGB) light emitting diode(s) (LED(s)). The optical train may, for example, have a single/unitary molded transparent acrylic construction and internal reflective surfaces. A gas detection apparatus may standardize the optical path used by the light generating element and the primary/reference detectors, advantageously providing for reliable operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Gorny
  • Patent number: 10701762
    Abstract: A heat radiation device includes a heat source, a meta-material structure layer arranged on a front surface side of the heat source and configured to radiate radiant energy in a specific wavelength range by converting heat energy inputted from the heat source into the radiant energy in the specific wavelength range, and a rear-surface metal layer arranged on a rear surface side of the heat source. An average emissivity of the rear-surface metal layer is smaller than an average emissivity of the meta-material structure layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Kondo
  • Patent number: 10627487
    Abstract: An enclosure, includes a housing and a window. The housing is configured to retain a LIDAR-sensor. The window is attached to the housing within an opening defined by the housing. The window is configured to transmit light from the LIDAR-sensor. The window is comprised of a silicone-based polymeric material having a thickness of at least three millimeters. The window is characterized as having a transmittance of at least 80% of the light at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Celine W K Wong
  • Patent number: 10241088
    Abstract: A photo-acoustic gas sensor includes a light emitter unit having a light emitter configured to emit a beam of light pulses with a predetermined repetition frequency and a wavelength corresponding to an absorption band of a gas to be sensed, and a detector unit having a microphone. The light emitter unit is arranged so that the beam of light pulses traverses an area configured to accommodate the gas. The detector unit is arranged so that the microphone can receive a signal oscillating with the repetition frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Horst Theuss, Gottfried Beer, Sebastian Beer, Alfons Dehe, Franz Jost, Stefan Kolb, Guenther Ruhl, Rainer Markus Schaller
  • Patent number: 10201040
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to systems and/or methods for preferentially and selectively heat treating conductive coatings such as ITO using specifically tuned near infrared-short wave infrared (NIR-SWIR) radiation. In certain example embodiments, the coating is preferentially heated, thereby improving its properties while at the underlying substrate is kept at low temperatures. Such techniques are advantageous for applications on glass and/or other substrates, e.g., where elevated substrate temperatures can lead to stress changes that adversely effect downstream processing (such as, for example, cutting, grinding, etc.) and may sometimes even result in substrate breakage or deformation. Selective heating of the coating may in certain example embodiments be obtained by using IR emitters with peak outputs over spectral wavelengths where the conductive coating (or the conductive layer(s) in the conductive coating) is significantly absorbing but where the substrate has reduced or minimal absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Guardian Glass, LLC
    Inventors: David D. McLean, Richard Blacker
  • Patent number: 10156517
    Abstract: This N2O analysis device is provided with: a light source (11) which radiates laser light onto an exhaust gas (5) containing N2O, H2O and CO2; a light receiver (13) which receives the laser light that has been radiated onto the exhaust gas (5); a light source control unit (14a) of a control device (14), which controls the wavelength of the laser light radiated by the light source (11) to between 3.84 ?m and 4.00 ?m; and a signal analyzing unit (14b) of the control device (14), which calculates the N2O concentration by means of infrared spectroscopy, using the laser light received by the light receiver (13) and the laser light controlled by the light source control unit (14a) of the control device (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignees: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION, MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Tadanaga, Akio Tokura, Kenji Muta, Shuuji Fujii, Yoichiro Tsumura, Tatsuyuki Nishimiya
  • Patent number: 9797826
    Abstract: An optical filter 4 is placed in an optical path between a light source unit 1 using a deep ultraviolet LED as a light source and a sample cell 2. The optical filter 4 is a shortpass filter that allows passage of light of a main peak located within a deep ultraviolet region while blocking light of an unwanted peak located within a visible region. The temporal change in the amount of light of the unwanted peak is considerably greater than that of the main peak. The optical filter 4 blocks the former light whose amount considerably changes with time. As a result, the influence of the noise and drift originating from the LED on the detection signal obtained in a detector 3 is dramatically reduced, so that the analytical accuracy is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Nagai
  • Patent number: 9482653
    Abstract: Active compensation designs to offset the impact of gas diffusion sources and sinks in a photosynthesis and transpiration measurement system are disclosed. A sensor head for use in a gas exchange analysis system includes an active, piezoelectric flow splitting device for splitting a flow between a sample chamber and bypass pathway. The active flow splitting device is controlled by feedback from a downstream flow meter. A continuous measurement system for rapidly and accurately surveying large numbers of samples is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: LI-COR, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Johnson, Robert D. Eckles, Dayle K. McDermitt
  • Patent number: 9417126
    Abstract: In one aspect, a spectrometer insert is provided. The spectrometer insert includes: an enclosed housing; a first transparent window on a first side of the enclosed housing; a second transparent window on a second side of the enclosed housing, wherein the first side and the second side are opposing sides of the enclosed housing; and a sample mounting and heating assembly positioned within an interior cavity of the enclosed housing in between, and in line of sight of, the first transparent window and the second transparent window. A method for using the spectrometer insert to locally heat a sample so as to measure temperature-dependent optical properties of the sample is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nestor A. Bojarczuk, Talia S. Gershon, Teodor K. Todorov, Theodore G. van Kessel
  • Patent number: 9267928
    Abstract: A liquid sample analyzer includes a flow cell, a light source, and a lamp temperature management system. The flow cell is configured to receive a flow of a liquid sample from a liquid sample source. The light source includes a lamp configured to emit light to illuminate the flow of the liquid sample in the flow cell. The lamp temperature management system includes: an air flow generator operable to generate a turbulent air flow to cool the lamp; a thermally conductive primary housing encapsulating the lamp such that a primary air gap is provided between the primary housing and the lamp; and a thermally conductive secondary housing surrounding the primary housing and configured to deflect the turbulent air flow away from the primary housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Hanlon, Timothy Neal
  • Patent number: 9176050
    Abstract: A system and method for nondestructive detection of gas in a sealed container. The system includes a light source housed in a light source housing and configured to emit a light beam for absorption in a substance to be measured, a detector housed in a detector housing and configured to detect the emitted light beam, a zone that accepts one or more of the sealed containers, each container being substantially optically transparent and containing the substance to be measured, the zone located between the detector and the light source, the light source configured to transmit the light beam through the zone, and a light source purging system comprising a light source channel surrounding the light source and positioned between the light source and the housing, the light source channel configured to expel purge gas from a purge gas source into the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: LIGHTHOUSE INSTRUMENTS, LLC.
    Inventors: Warren M. Griffith, William R. Anderson, Peter J. Leavesley, Michael A. Timmins
  • Patent number: 9176238
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detection device (6) for detecting photons emitted by a radiation source (2). A signal generation unit (20) generates a detection signal indicative of the energy of a detected photon while photons strike the detection device (6), and a baseline signal, which is affected by photons that previously struck the detection device (6), while photons are prevented from striking the detection device (6). A baseline shift determination unit (40) determines a baseline shift of the detection signal depending on the baseline signal. An energy determination unit (30) determines the energy of a detected photon depending on the detection signal and the determined baseline shift. Since the baseline shift of the detection signal is determined from a baseline signal that is generated while photons are prevented from striking the detection device (6), the baseline shift can be determined with higher accuracy, resulting in an improved energy determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Herrmann, Roger Steadman Booker, Oliver Muelhens
  • Patent number: 9074930
    Abstract: A spectrometer has a first and second light sources (12, 14) which generate light radiation (24) in a first and second wavelength ranges, and a mirror unit (16) for deflecting the light radiation (24, 26) into a measurement path (18), arranged so that the radiation of both wavelength ranges (24, 26) runs through on the same optical path. A detector (20) detects radiation (24, 26) running through the measurement path (18) and an evaluation unit (22) evaluates the radiation (24, 26) incident at the detector (20) and for determining a concentration of a measurement gas component present in the measurement path (18). The mirror unit (16) is configured as a micromirror array (32) and that a single micromirror (34) only deflects a portion of the radiation (24, 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Jurgen Kaufmann, Thomas Beyer, Julian Edler
  • Publication number: 20150144793
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to devices, systems and methods for measuring the dose remaining in a drug delivery device that is used for delivering a dose to a patient. In some embodiments, a dose measurement system for measuring the liquid volume in a container includes a plurality of light sources which are disposed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward the container. A plurality of sensors are located in the apparatus that are optically coupleable to the plurality of light sources and are disposed and configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least a portion of the light sources. The apparatus also includes a processing unit configured to receive data representing the portion of the detected electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of sensors. The processing unit is further operable to convert the received data into a signature representative of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Richard WHALLEY, James WHITE
  • Patent number: 8829439
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting targets comprising at least one first receiver for receiving radiation, the radiation comprises beams of radiation spaced horizontally; at least one second receiver for receiving radiation, the radiation comprises beams of radiation spaced horizontally and vertically such that the beams of radiation received by the second receiver travel through different predetermined heights from the horizontal plane; at least one processor for receiving data from the first and second receivers, the at least one receiver operating to locate a target passing in the vicinity of the first and second receivers and determine the height of the target based upon the recordation of certain of the beams at a predetermined heights relative to the horizontal plane and the width of a target based upon the horizontal spacing of the beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Thyagaraju Damarla
  • Patent number: 8830469
    Abstract: A method and a sensor for detecting a target gas by laser spectroscopy using a laser or a laser diode having a monochrome emission wavelength that can be modulated by varying the operating temperature or the operating current. The wavelength range of the target gas comprises a first modulation of the laser or the laser diode over a first large modulation width, in addition to at least two absorption lines of a reference gas and at least one absorption line of the target gas. The absorption lines are used to calibrate the wavelength scale of the laser or the laser diode in relation to the varied operating temperature or operating current, a second modulation of the laser or the laser diode being performed over a second small modulation width, with the at least one absorption line of the target gas, for detecting the target gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jia Chen, Andreas Hangauer, Rainer Strzoda
  • Patent number: 8415626
    Abstract: An NDIR gas sensor is housed within a mechanical housing made up of a header housing, a can mounted to the header housing, and a sample chamber mounted above the can. The can has a top surface with a pair of windows formed in it to allow radiation to enter and return from the sample chamber. An electronics module is mounted on a printed circuit board hermetically sealed within the can. A signal channel path length detected by the signal detector is greater than a reference channel path length detected by the reference detector and an absorption bias between the signal and reference outputs can be used to determine a gas concentration in the sample chamber. Both the signal detector and the reference detector have an identical narrow band pass filter with the same Center Wavelength (“CWL”), Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) and transmittance efficiency at the CWL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Airware, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Y Wong
  • Publication number: 20130043391
    Abstract: A modulator wheel of a gas analyzer which contains an opening in the shadowing part thereof, where the opening generates in the measurement signal of the gas analyzer, in addition to a signal component at a modulation frequency generated by alternating shadowing and passing-through of the radiation, a further signal component having twice the modulation frequency that is used for detecting changes to the infrared radiation source or detector arrangement due to contamination, aging, or temperature, and compensating for the effects thereof on the measurement result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Bitter, Camiel Heffels, Thomas Hörner
  • Patent number: 8222606
    Abstract: The construct of a specially designed air sampler and its function in order to carry out the Effortless Recalibration (ERB) procedure to an Absorption Biased (AB) designed NDIR gas sensor with the use of a Calibration Master is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Airware, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Y Wong
  • Patent number: 8217355
    Abstract: Two detectors of the same kind, each having an identical neutral band-pass filter to the target gas, are installed next to Signal channel and Reference channel detectors as pairs in an AB designed NDIR gas sensor layout, which are called Standard Signal channel detector and Standard Reference channel detector. “Standard” GAMMA is the ratio of Standard signal channel detector output over that of Standard Reference channel detector. “Standard” GAMMA is independent of the measurement Physics of NDIR gas sensors, is dependent only upon the performance characteristics of the sensor component and is also independent of the presence of any amount of target gas in the sample chamber. Consequently, “Standard” GAMMA can be used to proportionally correct and update GAMMA of the sensor as its components age over time thereby rendering such an AB designed NDIR gas sensor self-commissioning or staying accurate over time after initial calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Airware, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Y Wong
  • Publication number: 20120091346
    Abstract: The invention relates to a NDIR two beam gas analyser in which infrared radiation is guided by modulation in an alternating manner through a measuring chamber and a reference chamber and is subsequently detected, a measurement signal being produced due to the analysis which determines the concentration of a measurement gas component present in the measurement chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ralf Bitter, Camiel Heffels, Thomas Hörner, Martin Kionke, Michael Ludwig
  • Patent number: 8143581
    Abstract: An NDIR gas sensor and methodology use an absorption bias between signal and reference outputs to determine sample concentration of a gas being measured. The absorption bias is created by using a signal channel in a sample chamber with a signal path length that is greater than a reference path length of a reference channel in the sample chamber while both the signal and reference detectors have an identical narrow band pass filter with the same Center Wavelength (“CWL”), Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) and transmittance efficiency at the CWL. Performance is improved when the reference detector and the signal detector share a common thermal platform that can also be shared by the sample chamber and the infrared source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Jacob Y Wong
  • Patent number: 8097856
    Abstract: Two detector elements are optically isolated by having them mounted (die-attached) on the same header so that the thermal tracking of the detectors respectively for the signal and reference channels is close to ideal. Furthermore, such an optical isolation technique or cross-interference suppression between the two detector elements mounted on the same header also allows the use of only one and the same narrow band pass interference filter covering both detectors. Thus the thermal tracking of the filters respectively for the signal and reference channels is also close to perfection as both channels share the same filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Airware, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Y Wong
  • Patent number: 8018596
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to a sampling device, and more particularly, a sampling device that facilitates spectroscopic measurements with a variable path length and the necessary software controlled algorithms and methods for such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventors: Mark Salerno, I-Tsung Shih, Craig Harrison
  • Patent number: 7957001
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the spectroscopy method, the method comprises the steps of modulating the wavelength of a monochromatic radiation at a modulation amplitude and a modulation frequency; determining a first variable representative of an absorbance of an analyte in a sample; and demodulating by phase-sensitive detection the first variable at a harmonic of the modulation frequency to produce a harmonic spectrum of the analyte. In one embodiment of the spectroscopy apparatus, the apparatus comprises a laser diode integrated with a first photodetector configured to detect an intensity of a backward emission from the laser diode and act as a reference detector; a second photodetector configured to detect an intensity of laser radiation exiting a sample; and electronic circuitry coupled to the laser diode and the photodetectors, configured to acquire and process spectra of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Sensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyong Liu, John McKinley Poole, Yufeng Huang, Daniel M. Stearns, Michael J. Gambuzza, Gene Smith Berkowitz, Anthony Kowal, Hejie Li, Shawn D. Wehe
  • Publication number: 20100163733
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring target gas concentrations in an atmosphere. The method and apparatus emit in the atmosphere a laser beam tuned to a molecular absorption line of a target gas, receive a reflected signal affected by gas absorption of the target gas in the atmosphere, divide and direct the received signal into a first optical path and a second optical path including in one of the paths a correlation gas cell filled with a predetermined concentration of the target gas, detect transmitted signals through the first optical path and the second optical path, and calculate a target gas concentration by comparing a first signal transmitted through the first optical path to a second signal transmitted through the second optical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Science & Engineering Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Coorg Rangaswamy Prasad, Bo Lin, Hyo Sang Lee
  • Patent number: 7736903
    Abstract: A chemical vapor sensor is provided that passively measures a suspect chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity, for use with safety systems. A vapor concentrator amplifies a suspect chemical vapor concentration to a detectible level, for use with an infrared detector. Compensation is provided for environmental variations that may influence the passive measurement of the chemical vapor sensor. Environmental variations may include extrinsic vapors in the surrounding air, or air currents that divert the sample vapor as it drifts from the suspect vapor source to a sampling intake. In an example, ethanol vapor is measured and carbon dioxide tracer measurements are used to calculate an ethanol vapor measurement that is adjusted for environmental variations. In an aspect, a time artifact filter sets the output of the carbon dioxide sensor to match the time dependence of the ethanol sensor, to calculate blood alcohol concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David K Lambert, Dale L. Partin, Michel F. Sultan
  • Patent number: 7700044
    Abstract: A chemical vapor sensor is provided that passively measures a chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity. In an aspect, ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin is measured, and sufficient sensitivity is provided to passively detect a motor vehicle driver that exceeds a legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), for use with vehicle safety systems. The sensor can be situated in an inconspicuous vehicle cabin location and operate independently without requiring active involvement by a driver. A vapor concentrator is utilized to amplify a sampled vapor concentration to a detectible level for use with an infrared (IR) detector. In an aspect, in comparison to conventional chemical sensors, the sensitivity of detection of ethanol vapor is increased by a factor of about 1,000. Further, a single channel of infrared detection is utilized avoiding spurious infrared absorption and making the chemical vapor sensor less costly to implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Lambert, Larry M. Oberdier, Christopher M. Thrush
  • Patent number: 7679059
    Abstract: Low concentrations of water vapor within a background of one or more olefin gases may be detected and quantified using a differential absorption spectrometer. A dehydrated sample of the gas is used as a background sample whose absorption spectrum allows elimination of absorption features not due to water vapor in the gas. Absorption spectra may recorded using tunable diode lasers as the light source. These lasers may have a wavelength bandwidth that is narrower than the water vapor absorption feature used for the differential absorption spectral analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventor: Xin Zhou
  • Patent number: 7435964
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal sensor having a first and second temperature sensing elements each being formed on a thermally isolated table in a first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Lane, Colin Gerard Lyden, Eamon Hynes, Edward John Coyne
  • Patent number: 7427501
    Abstract: A system and method employing infrared laser spectrography and dual wavelength modulation to monitor the concentration of a gas, such as oxygen or carbon dioxide, in the sample vial, or to monitor the pressure in the sample vial, to thus detect for microorganism growth in the sample vial. The system and method each employ an energy emitting device, such as an infrared laser, a detector and a signal analyzer, such as a spectroscopy device. The infrared laser emits toward the container infrared energy having a substantially single wavelength substantially equal to a wavelength at which the gas absorbs the infrared energy. The detector detects a portion of the energy signal that passes through the container, and the signal analyzer spectroscopically analyzes the detected portion of the energy signal to determine whether the gas exists in the container, or to determine the pressure in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Bachur, Jr., Patrick S. Beaty, Timothy G. Foley
  • Publication number: 20080185524
    Abstract: Method and sensor for infrared measurement of gas comprising one infrared radiation source which illuminates two detectors at different distances from the radiation source, a spectrally selective element for infrared radiation adapted to be absorbed in a gas a to be measured arranged between the IR source and each of the detectors, and another infrared radiation source that illuminates those same two detectors possibly via a spectrally selective element for infrared radiation which by preference is not absorbed by any present gas. The radiation sources are excited at different patterns in time, and an electronic unit is adapted to select and separately amplify the resulting signals at said patterns from the detectors and to use the mutual ratios between such signals to calculate the concentration of said gas a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: KANSTAD TEKNOLOGI AS
    Inventor: Svein Otto Kanstad
  • Patent number: 7345280
    Abstract: Determination of steam quality by passing one or more laser beams through steam in a steam chamber and directly determining a total number of vapor molecules and a total number of water molecules based on absorption of radiation in the one or more laser beams by the water vapor phase and the liquid water phase in the steam. Specific volumes of water vapor phase and liquid water phase in the steam using the total numbers of water vapor and liquid water molecules are determined and the quality of the steam is calculated based on the specific volumes of the water vapor phase and the liquid water phase in steam. One embodiment comprises a narrow linewidth laser for measuring steam quality and another embodiment comprises multiple broadband lasers for measuring steam quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chayan Mitra, Mark A Woodmansee, Ayan Banerjee
  • Publication number: 20080035848
    Abstract: A compact and long path-length sample cell that is a hollow waveguide with a plurality of bends that are collectively greater than 180 degrees in three dimensions, a focusing device for quasi-focusing radiation into a beam with an angle of incidence between greater than approximately 0° and approximately 10° relative to a longitudinal axis of a first linear segment of the waveguide proximate a source of infrared radiation and a second focusing device for focusing infrared radiation after it has traveled through substantially all of the waveguide as it approaches a detector chamber. The sample cell can be used with two or more detectors to detect the concentrations of one or more gasses, to levels less than 100 ppm, after correction for water vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Jacob Y. Wong
  • Patent number: 7244939
    Abstract: A gas sensor of the type that detects the presence of a specific gas by monitoring the absorption of optical radiation transmitted through a chamber containing a sample of gas under test comprises an optical source for emitting radiation therefrom and a detector sensitive to radiation emitted from the source at opposing ends of a circumferential chamber, having optically reflective surfaces, extending around the periphery of a sensor housing. The optical pathway between the source and detector may include a radial portion, a circumferential portion and an axial portion to allow a compact optical path. The gas sensor includes, within a single housing, electronic circuitry for conditioning the electrical output of the detector to provide an output that is a function of at least one selected gas concentration and which is automatically compensated for at least one of temperature, pressure, humidity, and range normalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Dynament Limited
    Inventor: David Michael Stuttard
  • Patent number: 7166842
    Abstract: A gas sensor arrangement for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in a measuring gas comprises a gas measuring chamber having an inlet for receiving the measuring gas. A measuring radiation source is arranged in the gas measuring chamber. The measuring radiation source emits radiation in a non-uniform pulse sequence according to a signal from a controller. A radiation detector receives the radiation emitted from the measuring radiation source. The radiation detector sends an output signal to the controller for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics Raychem GmbH, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudi Minuth, Joerg Fischer, Thomas Tille
  • Patent number: 6967322
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing real-time data indicative of the isotopic composition of formation fluids during drilling. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a reference fluid having a known isotopic composition in a reference cell; (b) capturing a sample of formation; (c) providing at least one laser beam; (e) passing a beam through the reference fluid, measuring the reference-measurement beam before and after it passes through the reference fluid; (f) and passing a beam through the sample, measuring the beam before and after it passes through the sample, and calculating a first isotope concentration from those measurements. The measurements can provide information relating to the carbon isotopic composition of individual compounds in hydrocarbon gas mixtures, with the individual compounds including methane, ethane, propane, iso- or normal butane, or iso- or normal pentane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Jones, Zvi Sofer, Richard J. Drozd
  • Patent number: 6895269
    Abstract: A device for controlling equipment includes at least one light projector adapted to project light onto a head of a living body. A light collecting section for collecting the light having passed through the head, a light measuring section for measuring an intensity of the light collected by the light collecting section, a memory section for storing a previous history of changes of the intensity of the light measured, a signal judging section for judging if both the intensity of the light measured by said light measuring section and the previous history of changes of the intensity of the light satisfy a predetermined condition, a displaying section for displaying the intensity of the light measured and a result obtained by the signal judging section, and a control signal generating section for generating a control signal for external equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitoshi Ito, Hideaki Koizumi, Atsushi Maki, Yuichi Yamashita, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20040238746
    Abstract: An infrared optical gas analyzer is provided with at least one infrared optical radiation source (6, 7), two multispectral detectors (1, 2) and a cuvette (12) containing the gas mixture to be measured. A process for determining gas concentrations with the infrared optical gas analyzer is also provided. The gas analyzer makes possible the simultaneous measurement and identification of a plurality of gases in a gas mixture with a compact design not prone to interference. The radiation emitted by an infrared optical radiation source (6) covers a first wavelength range [&lgr;1, &lgr;1′] and the radiation emitted by an infrared optical radiation source (7) covers a second wavelength range [&lgr;2, &lgr;2′] which is selected such that it is different from the first wavelength range. The paths of rays pass through the interior of the cuvette (12) and reach the multispectral detectors (1) and (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Drager Medizintechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Dreyer, Gunter Steinert
  • Patent number: 6818895
    Abstract: An infrared gas analyzer includes an infrared source for emitting infrared energy, a sample cell for gases to be analyzed in the path of infrared energy emitted by the source and an assembly having first and second detectors also in the path of infrared energy and a third detector out of the path of infrared energy, mounted within the assembly and in close thermal proximity to each other and being responsive to impinging infrared energy to produce an electrical response. All detectors are sandwiched between a base and a single window that overlies them. The analyzer further includes a narrow band filter corresponding to an absorption wavelength band for a gas of interest and a narrow band reference filter corresponding to a reference wavelength band. Each of the narrow band filters are positioned outside the assembly and between the assembly and the source in the path of infrared energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Andros Incorporated
    Inventor: Kevin G. Williams
  • Patent number: 6815681
    Abstract: An electron beam lithography apparatus, which uses a patterned emitter, includes a pyroelectric plate emitter that emits electrons using a patterned metal thin layer formed on the pyroelectric plate as a mask. When the emitter is heated, electrons are emitted from portions of the emitter covered with a patterned dielectric layer, and not from portions of the emitter covered with a patterned metal thin layer, and a pattern of the emitter is thereby projected onto a substrate. To prevent dispersion of emitted electron beams, the electron beams may be controlled by a permanent magnet, an electro-magnet, or a deflector unit. A one-to-one or x-to-one projection of a desired pattern on the substrate is thereby obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-wook Kim, In-kyeong Yoo, Chang-wook Moon, In-sook Kim
  • Patent number: 6791088
    Abstract: A leak detector using an infrared emitter and pyroelectric sensor to form an instrument for identifying the presence and concentration of a selected material type gas compound, such as a refrigerant gas compound within a given sample, such as a sample of ambient air. For the detection, a radiation flux coming from an infrared emitter penetrates the sample, which is analyzed spectrally, and results in a wave length-specific signal being generated at the output of the detector. By controlling the type of optical filter, the radiation energy is controlled at a selected wavelength, to ensure coverage of all selected compounds. For refrigerants, the selected wavelength can be between approximately 8 to approximately 10 microns in the wavelength range. This selected wavelength obscures other signals, thus minimizing false alarms. By not chopping or pulsing the emitter, the leak detector has a faster response time with no adverse impacts on the accuracy of the compound material being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Twin Rivers Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Williams, II, Glenn A. Dejong
  • Publication number: 20040164237
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing real-time data indicative of the isotopic composition of formation fluids during drilling. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a reference fluid having a known isotopic composition in a reference cell; (b) capturing a sample of formation; (c) providing at least one laser beam; (e) passing a beam through the reference fluid, measuring the reference-measurement beam before and after it passes through the reference fluid; (f) and passing a beam through the sample, measuring the beam before and after it passes through the sample, and calculating a first isotope concentration from those measurements. The measurements can provide information relating to the carbon isotopic composition of individual compounds in hydrocarbon gas mixtures, with the individual compounds including methane, ethane, propane, iso- or normal butane, or iso- or normal pentane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Jones, Zvi Sofer, Richard J. Drozd