With Radiation Conducting Element Patents (Class 374/131)
  • Patent number: 11959657
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, systems, and non-transitory computer readable media for receiving at least one calibration heat signal from a calibration device, wherein the at least one calibration heat signal corresponds to a calibration temperature known to the controller, receiving a plurality of heat signals from a plurality of sources in the building, determining a plurality of temperatures associated with the plurality of heat signals based on the at least one calibration heat signal and the calibration temperature, determining an internal target temperature of the building based on the plurality of temperatures, and transmitting, to the HVAC system, a control signal indicating the internal target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventor: Jason M. Ouellette
  • Patent number: 11664250
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a temperature of an assembly that is internal to a process chamber. The apparatus may include a light pipe positioned between a lamp radiation filtering window and the assembly, the light pipe has a first end with a bevel configured to redirect infrared radiation emitted from the assembly through the light pipe and has a second end distal to the first end, an optical assembly configured to collimate, filter, and focus infrared radiation from the second end of the light pipe, an optical detector configured to receive an output from the optical assembly and generate at least one signal representative of the infrared radiation, a temperature circuit that transforms the at least one signal into a temperature value, and a controller that is configured to receive the temperature value and to make adjustments to other process parameters of process chamber based on the temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Ji-Dih Hu, Wolfgang R. Aderhold, Dongming Iu
  • Patent number: 11643943
    Abstract: Improved gimbal systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture and associated methods are disclosed. Examples include a panel including a window, the window to define an aperture for a sensor; a platform to mount the sensor, the platform including a first pinion; a first stepper motor to move the first pinion about a first arched rack; a gimbal body including the first arched rack and a second pinion; and a second stepper motor to move the second pinion about a second arched rack, the second arched rack positioned orthogonally to the first arched rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brandon S. Good, Younkoo Jeong, Guanghua Wang, Bijan Chitsaz, Gyeong Woo Cheon, Bernard P. Bewlay, Alberto Santamaria-Pang
  • Patent number: 11402285
    Abstract: The invention relates to a force sensor 100 that detects a force acting from the outside, and provides the force sensor 100 whose reduction in size and cost can be achieved. The force sensor 100 includes a support member 20, a force receiving member 4 that is displaced with respect to the support member 20 by the action of an external force, an elastic connection member 5 connecting the support member 20 and the force receiving member 4, scales 8a to 8d, which are detection target object bodies, disposed at the elastic connection member 5, displacement detection elements 9a to 9d that are mounted on the sensor substrate 7 composing the support member 20 so as to face the scales 8a to 8d in a one-to-one manner, and that detect movements of the scales 8a to 8d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11035741
    Abstract: A temperature measurement substrate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a substrate which is any one of a semiconductor wafer and a substrate for a flat panel display; and at least one optical fiber laid on a surface of the substrate and having a first pattern portion and a second pattern portion formed more densely than the first pattern portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tadashi Mitsunari, Satoshi Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Moriya, Toshiya Matsuda, Masaaki Miyagawa, Kenya Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 10656041
    Abstract: A distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system is operated to detect fluid leaks from a pipeline. The DTS system obtains temperature profiles from a sensing element that is deployed along the pipeline, where the profiles are temperature measurements as a function of distance. The temperature profiles are examined to identify the presence of a characteristic temperature signature expected to occur in the presence of a leak. A leak condition signal for a particular distance point is generated based on a determination that the energy of the temperature signal exceeds a threshold energy for that point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Maxwell Richard Hadley
  • Patent number: 10598550
    Abstract: Various techniques are provided for calibrating a thermal imaging device using a non-contact temperature sensor. In one example, a method includes capturing a thermal image of a scene. The thermal image comprises a plurality of pixel values. The method also includes detecting, by a non-contact temperature sensor, a temperature value associated with a portion of the scene corresponding to a subset of the pixel values. The method also includes comparing the subset of pixel values with the detected temperature value. The method also includes generating a correction term based on the comparing. The method also includes applying the correction term to at least the subset of pixel values to radiometrically calibrate the subset of pixel values. Related systems and alignment processes are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Roderick C. Christel, Theodore R. Hoelter, Per Elmfors
  • Patent number: 10520371
    Abstract: An optical fiber temperature sensor including a lead-in fiber and black body emitter. The lead-in optical fiber includes a fiber end, and the black body emitter is fused on the fiber end, wherein the black body emitter is made up of a melted high emissivity material included integrally in melted silica. Further embodiments include temperature monitoring apparatus with one or more optical fiber temperature sensors, and electronic device processing apparatus including optical fiber temperature monitoring. Numerous other aspects and embodiments are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Busche
  • Patent number: 10274381
    Abstract: The present techniques are directed to a pipeline transporting a production fluid including hydrocarbon. An optical fiber is disposed along a length of the pipeline. A control system determines a predicted operating temperature based on pressure and flow rate of the production fluid in the pipeline. The control system determines a measured temperature along the pipeline using the optical fiber. The control system detects and locates a temperature anomaly by comparing the measured temperature of the pipeline to the predicted operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Mohan G. Kulkarni, Larry D. Talley
  • Patent number: 10245718
    Abstract: A protection apparatus for a machine tool, at least for protecting a workpiece surface against overheating, includes at least one sensor unit and at least one evaluation unit. The sensor unit has at least one sensor element. The sensor element detects at least one characteristic variable of a fluid flow provided for transporting material removed from a workpiece. The evaluation enables identification of at least one temperature of a workpiece surface of the workpiece to be machined via the machine tool based at least in part upon the at least one characteristic variable detected via the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Glauning
  • Patent number: 10189926
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparation of a polymer from monomers comprising polyvinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene and a third monomer, the method successively comprising: injection of all the monomers to react into a reactor; initiation of a polymerization of the monomers; a continuation step (a) of the polymerization of the monomers, during which a drop in pressure in the reactor is compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ARKEMA FRANCE
    Inventors: Fabrice Domingues Dos Santos, Thierry Lannuzel
  • Patent number: 10088367
    Abstract: A device for measuring body core temperature includes a light guide. The light guide is coupled to an earpiece. A first sensor is positioned at a first end of the light guide, and a second sensor is positioned at a second end of the light guide. A processor is coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor. The first sensor senses infrared radiation from an infrared source at the second end of the light guide, and the second sensor measures a temperature of the light guide at the second end of the light guide. The processor determines a temperature of the infrared source at the second end of the light guide by compensating for infrared radiation due to a thermal gradient of the light guide via a regression analysis across a range of ambient temperatures of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Scott Larsen, Brian Keith Olmsted
  • Patent number: 9907618
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for diagnosis or treatment of a vessel or organ. The apparatus includes a deformable body such as a catheter having a tissue ablation end effector and an irrigation channel in fluid communication therewith. At least two sensors are disposed within a distal extremity of the deformable body, the sensors being responsive to a wave in a specified range of frequency to detect deformations resulting from a contact force applied to the distal extremity. A microprocessor can be operatively coupled with the sensors to receive outputs therefrom, the microprocessor being configured to resolve a multi-dimensional force vector corresponding to the contact force. In one embodiment, the sensors are fiber Bragg grating sensors, and the wave is injected into the fiber Bragg grating strain sensors from a laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ST JUDE MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL HOLDING S.À R.L.
    Inventors: Giovanni Leo, Nicolas Aeby, Daniele Inaudi
  • Patent number: 9903769
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus (12) for measuring the temperature of a fluid stream (11), said apparatus comprising a movable frame (13, 14) having first end facing towards the fluid stream to be measured and an oppositely directed second end; a beam splitter (9) which is movably arranged in the frame for advancement into said fluid stream to open the fluid stream; an optical temperature measurement device (8) for determining the temperature of the fluid stream by measuring the thermal radiation from the fluid stream; and control means for controlling the movement of the frame and the beam splitter and controlling the performance of the optical temperature measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwool International A/S
    Inventors: Haosheng Zhou, Jeroen Petrus Wilhelmus Sap, Lars Bøllund, Per Steenbjerg
  • Patent number: 9835503
    Abstract: An optical fiber temperature distribution measuring device includes: an optical fiber as a sensor; a calculation control unit for measuring a temperature distribution along the optical fiber by using backward Raman scattered light from the optical fiber; a far-end-position dispersion characteristic calculation unit for obtaining a dispersion characteristic of the optical fiber at a far-end position thereof; a per-unit-length dispersion characteristic calculation unit for obtaining a per-unit-length dispersion characteristic of the optical fiber based on the dispersion characteristic of the optical fiber at the far-end position thereof; and a correction parameter calculation unit for calculating a correction parameter for correcting a dispersion characteristic of the optical fiber based on a dispersion characteristic at each of different positions along the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Shida
  • Patent number: 9816878
    Abstract: A temperature measurement system includes an optical fiber, a temperature distribution measurement apparatus, and a data processing apparatus. The temperature distribution measurement apparatus is configured to detect backscattered light by causing light to enter the optical fiber, and acquire the temperature distribution of the optical fiber in the length direction thereof based on the result of the detection. The data processing apparatus is configured to store therein the temperature distribution acquired by the temperature distribution measurement apparatus, perform signal processing on a difference temperature distribution obtained by computing the difference between a current temperature distribution and a past temperature distribution, and determine whether or not abnormality is present based on the result of the signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazushi Uno, Fumio Takei, Takeo Kasajima, Kyoko Tadaki, Minoru Ishinabe
  • Patent number: 9612211
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system for enhanced tip-tracking and navigation of visual inspection devices includes a visual inspection device. The system further includes a plurality of spatially sensitive fibers. The system includes a computing device. The computing device includes a memory device and a processor. The system includes a storage device. The storage device includes an engineering model representing the physical asset. The computing device is configured receive an insertion location from the visual inspection device. The computing device is configured to receive fiber information associated with the visual inspection device. The computing device is configured to determine the real-time location of the visual inspection device using the fiber information. The computing device is configured to identify the real-time location of the visual inspection device with respect to the engineering model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guiju Song, Kevin George Harding, Thomas James Batzinger, Vinod Padmanabhan Kumar, Joseph Vincent Pawlowski, Kelles Jay Fleming
  • Patent number: 9476294
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating at least one parameter includes: a deformable member configured to deform in response to the at least one parameter; a housing surrounding at least a portion of an external surface of the deformable member to define an isolated region around the portion and an isolated surface of the deformable member; and at least one optical fiber sensor disposed on the isolated surface and held in an operable relationship with the isolated surface, the at least one optical fiber sensor configured to generate a signal in response to a deformation of the deformable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert M. Harman, Philippe Legrand, Brooks Childers, Roger Duncan, Alan Reynolds, Sam Dippold
  • Patent number: 9374169
    Abstract: An optical communication fiber includes: a fiber body having a tip surface; and a light absorption layer provided to the tip surface of the fiber body, and configured to reduce light transmittance of communication light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirohito Miyazaki, Kazuyoshi Yamada, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Fujio Kanayama
  • Patent number: 9140486
    Abstract: A device for displaying the temperature of a refrigerator, having at least one temperature sensor (7) situated in the cooled interior (2) of the refrigerator (1), and having a temperature display for displaying the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (7), characterized in that the temperature display is formed by at least one refrigerator light (10) which has various colors, and which displays a different color depending on the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Wimbert, Philip Hupfer
  • Patent number: 8986494
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a temperature measuring unit; airtightly sealed temperature measuring windows provided in a mounting table, for optically communicating to transmit a measurement beam through a top surface and a bottom surface of the mounting table; and one or more connection members for connecting the mounting table and a base plate, which is provided in a space between the mounting table and the base plate. In the plasma processing apparatus, a space above the mounting table is set to be maintained under a vacuum atmosphere, and a space between the mounting table and the base plate is set to be maintained under a normal pressure atmosphere, and each collimator is fixed to the base plate at a position corresponding to each temperature measuring window, thereby measuring a temperature of the substrate via the temperature measuring windows by the temperature measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuo Matsudo, Chishlo Koshimizu, Jun Abe
  • Patent number: 8876372
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement is provided for temperature measurement in melts, in particular in metal or cryolite melts having a melting point above 600° C., using a temperature sensor. A method for the measurement with this sensor arrangement is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Jan Cuypers, Valère Indeherberge
  • Patent number: 8858069
    Abstract: There is provided an optical fiber temperature distribution measuring device which measures a temperature distribution along an optical fiber (3) using backward Raman scattering light generated in the optical fiber. The device includes: a reference temperature thermometer (11) disposed in the vicinity of the optical fiber so as to measure a reference temperature (T1, T2) of the optical fiber; an arithmetic controller (7) that calculates a temperature (T) of the optical fiber based on the backward Raman scattering light; and a temperature corrector (12) that corrects the calculated temperature (T) based on a correction formula containing the reference temperature as a parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hisao Agawa
  • Patent number: 8834019
    Abstract: A non-contact infrared (IR) thermometer for measuring temperature from the surface of an object includes an IR radiation sensor attached to a heating element and a thermal shield having an interior surface positioned within the sensor's field of view that has a high emissivity. An electronic circuit controlling the heating element maintains the temperatures of the sensor and shield substantially close to an anticipated surface temperature of the object. The IR radiation sensor is further thermally coupled to a reference temperature sensor. An optical system positioned in front of the shield focuses thermal radiation from the object on the surface of the sensor, while the shield prevents stray radiation from reaching the sensor. Signals from the IR and reference sensors are used to calculate the object's surface temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventor: Jacob Fraden
  • Patent number: 8821010
    Abstract: A temperature measuring method comprises a step of detecting, by an infrared thermometer, the intensity of an infrared radiation coming from a region of interest of a patient for determining the patient's temperature, and a step of pointing a target area that is coincident with the region of interest and is the even and smooth surface of a body having a homogeneous underlying vascularization, and being preferably devoid of hair or chitinous or keratinous skin formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Tecnimed S.R.L.
    Inventor: Francesco Bellifemine
  • Patent number: 8814427
    Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes one or more temperature sensors (122) arranged to measure sample well specific temperatures from sample wells (111-117) arranged to store samples (103-109) to be optically measured. A processing device (121) of the optical measurement instrument is arranged to correct, using a pre-determined mathematical rule, measurement results obtained by the optical measurements on the basis of the measured sample well specific temperatures. Hence, the adverse effect caused by temperature differences between different samples on the accuracy of the temperature correction of the measurement results is mitigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Wallac Oy
    Inventors: Jyrki Laitinen, Markku Ojala
  • Patent number: 8807832
    Abstract: Apparatus for a spatially resolved temperature measurement, with at least one optical fiber (6) for the spatially resolved temperature measurement, and at least one laser light source (2) producing light (3, 23) which can be coupled into the optical fiber (6), wherein the portions of the light (3, 23) backscattered in the optical fiber (6) can be coupled out of the optical fiber (6) and evaluated. The apparatus further includes means for reducing polarization-induced effects, wherein the means may be, for example, a polarization modifier (4) capable of at least partially depolarizing the light (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Lios Technology, GmbH
    Inventor: Wieland Hill
  • Patent number: 8801273
    Abstract: Methods and systems accurately determine an analyte concentration in a fluid sample. In an example embodiment, a receiving port receives a test sensor. The test sensor includes a fluid-receiving area for receiving a fluid sample. The fluid-receiving area contains a reagent that produces a measurable reaction with an analyte in the fluid sample. The test sensor has a test-sensor temperature and the reagent has a reagent temperature. A measurement system measures the reaction between the reagent and the analyte. A temperature-measuring system measures the test sensor temperature when the test sensor is received into the receiving port. A concentration of the analyte in the fluid sample is determined according to the measurement of the reaction and the measurement of the test sensor temperature. A diagnostic system determines an accuracy of the temperature-measuring system. The calculation of the analyte concentration may be adjusted according to the accuracy of temperature-measuring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Bayer HealthCare LLC
    Inventors: Narasinha Parasnis, Hoi-Cheong Steve Sun, Mu Wu
  • Patent number: 8757870
    Abstract: A method for calibrating distributed temperature sensing (DTS) systems is disclosed. The method includes: receiving temperature data associated with one or more locations along a length of an optical fiber; calculating a set of unique calibration coefficients specific to each of the one or more locations along the fiber length; and applying the set of calibration coefficients specific to each of the one or more locations along the fiber length to the temperature data for calibrated correction thereof. Also disclosed is a system for calibrating DTS data and a wellbore for providing calibrated DTS data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Travis S. Hall, Brooks A. Childers
  • Patent number: 8740454
    Abstract: An optical fiber is provided with a first measurement portion and a second measurement portion provided with covering layers different at least in any one of heat capacity and heat conductivity. Then, the first measurement portion and the second measurement portion are located in the same measurement position and light is inputted from a temperature measurement device into the optical fiber. Thereafter, the temperature measurement device receives backscattered light generated inside the optical fiber to measure temperature distribution in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber. An analyzer analyzes a variation over time of the temperature distribution outputted from the temperature measurement device to calculate a temperature and a wind velocity in a measurement position where the first measurement portion and the second measurement portion are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitus Limited
    Inventors: Fumio Takei, Kazushi Uno, Takeo Kasajima
  • Patent number: 8734008
    Abstract: An active sensor apparatus includes an array of sensor elements arranged in a plurality of columns and rows of sensor elements. The sensor apparatus includes a plurality of column and row thin film transistor switches for selectively activating the sensor elements, and a plurality of column and row thin film diodes for selectively accessing the sensor elements to obtain information from the sensor elements. The thin film transistor switches and thin film diodes are formed on a common substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Next Biometrics AS
    Inventor: Matias N. Troccoli
  • Patent number: 8727614
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a status of a sleeve for lining a system of pipes or conduits, the sleeve being impregnated with a curable resin, includes the steps of providing the sleeve, disposing at least one fiber optic sensor in thermally conductive contact with the sleeve, and generating, using the at least one fiber optic sensor, a positionally resolved thermographic image representative of a temperature of the sleeve as a function of position and time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventor: Ulrich Glombitza
  • Patent number: 8727613
    Abstract: A dual parameter sensor for sensing temperature and mechanical or chemical or related information is disclosed. The sensor is formed of an optical waveguide suitable for use in-situ in a high temperature environment having a Bragg grating written into a core region thereof with short-pulsed electromagnetic radiation. By noting the thermal Black Body radiation level above 650° C., wavelength shifts due to temperature can be decoupled from wavelength shifts due to the other parameter being sensed. Advantageously the thermal radiation can be used as an optical source to probe the Bragg grating, considerably simplifying the interrogating apparatus, removing the need for an extrinsic optical source to probe the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventor: Stephen J. Mihailov
  • Patent number: 8709822
    Abstract: An assembly determines an analyte concentration in a sample of body fluid. The assembly includes a test sensor having a fluid-receiving area for receiving a sample of body fluid, where the fluid-receiving area contains a reagent that produces a measurable reaction with an analyte in the sample. The assembly also includes a meter having a port or opening configured to receive the test sensor; a measurement system configured to determine a measurement of the reaction between the reagent and the analyte; and a temperature-measuring system configured to determine a measurement of the test-sensor temperature when the test sensor is received into the opening. The meter determines a concentration of the analyte in the sample according to the measurement of the reaction and the measurement of the test-sensor temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Bayer HealthCare LLC
    Inventors: Hoi-Cheong Steve Sun, Paul Ripley
  • Patent number: 8702302
    Abstract: A combustion gas measurement apparatus mounted in a gas turbine including: a tunable laser generating a radiation beam passing through a combustion gas path; a controller tuning the laser to emit radiation having at least a first selected wavelength and a second selected wavelength which both correspond to temperature-dependent transitions of a combustion species of the gas, wherein the first selected wavelength and the second selected wavelength are not near absorption peaks of neighboring wavelengths; a detector sensing the radiation beam passing through the combustion gas and generating an absorption signal indicative of an absorption of the beam by the combustion gas at each of the first wavelength and the second wavelength, and a processor executing a program stored on a non-transitory storage medium determining a combustion gas temperature based on a ratio of the adoption signals for the first wavelength and the second wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vivek Venugopal Badami, Scott Mordin Hoyte, Chayan Mitra, Ayan Banerjee
  • Patent number: 8678642
    Abstract: A method of estimating temperature includes selecting a plurality of known calibration temperature values; determining a bulk wavelength for each of the calibration temperature values; formulating a calibration data set that includes the plurality of known temperature values and the corresponding plurality of bulk wavelengths; and using the calibration data set to determine an estimated current temperature value based upon a current bulk wavelength, wherein the current temperature value is estimated based upon one or more data points in the calibration data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Imricor Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Jester, Gregg S. Stenzel, Steven R. Wedan, Peter Gabrail
  • Publication number: 20140036955
    Abstract: A device for the photothermic investigation of a sample, with an excitation source for generating an electromagnetic excitation beam directed onto an excitation side of the sample, a detector for detecting thermal radiation emitted by a detection side of the sample, and a temperature-controllable sample chamber with a sample holder accommodated therein for the arrangement and temperature control of the sample. According to the invention, provision is made such that an adjustable detection lens system is provided between the sample holder and the detector, the detection lens system being adjustable in order to adjust a desired field of vision of the detector on the sample surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Martin Brunner, Juergen Blumm, Thomas Denner, Robert Campbell, Thilo Hilpert, Michael Gebhardt, Stefan Lauterbach, Andreas Strobel, Juergen Tschoepel, Matthias Schoedel, Andre Lindemann, Andreas Hartinger
  • Patent number: 8641274
    Abstract: The polarization-maintaining fiber of the invention includes a core (1) made of germanium doped silica glass; a stress-applying part (3) made of boron doped silica glass; a cladding (2) made of pure silica glass; and a polyimide coating layer (4) with a thickness of 10 ?m or less that surrounds the outer periphery of the cladding (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Omichi, Yoshihiro Terada, Yutaka Endoh, Kazuyuki Hayashi, Katsuaki Izoe, Kazuhiko Aikawa, Manabu Kudoh
  • Patent number: 8591105
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical element for guiding and forming a laser beam, and to a method for recording beam parameters, particularly in a laser system, comprising a carrier substrate (40) and a coating (39), which is applied to at least one side of the carrier substrate (40), and comprising at least one temperature sensor (38). The temperature sensor (38) is comprised of a number of pixels arranged in a matrix, and each respective pixel has at least one temperature-sensitive element (39). The at least one temperature-sensitive element (39) of the pixel is constructed inside the carrier substrate (40) made of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen-Michael Weick, Armin Horn, Gerhard Hammann, Peter Laitenberger, Nick Collier, Ross Peter Jones
  • Patent number: 8591103
    Abstract: An infrared thermometer includes a probe and an infrared sensor. The probe with an infrared target absorbs thermal radiation to provide a substantially consistent source of infrared radiation and an aperture for preventing contamination of the infrared target while permitting the transmission of thermal radiation to the target. The infrared sensor is configured for sensing infrared radiation from the infrared target. The infrared target is positioned within the probe such that it absorbs thermal radiation that comes from the aperture and thereafter emits thermal radiation to the infrared sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Lane, David E. Quinn
  • Patent number: 8579504
    Abstract: A line is deployed along a landing string or along a marine riser of a subsea well. The line has sensors, such as temperature sensors, distributed along its length. In one embodiment, the line comprises a fiber optic line that includes fiber optic temperature sensors distributed along its length. In another embodiment, the line comprises a fiber optic line used to transmit light, wherein the returned back-scatter light is analyzed to provide a temperature profile along the length of the fiber line. The fiber optic line can be deployed by connecting it to the landing string, pumping it down a pre-existing conduit (such as a hydraulic or chemical injection conduit), or pumping it down a dedicated fiber optic specific conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Oilfield UK PLC, Sensor Highway Limited
    Inventors: Christian Koeniger, Philip Smith, John A. Kerr
  • Patent number: 8449178
    Abstract: An optical fiber temperature sensor includes an optical transceiver module, a transmission fiber and a sensing head. When the transmission fiber is a polarization maintaining fiber, the sensing head includes a temperature sensing element and a fiber reflector, the temperature sensing element is a section of polarization maintaining fiber. The transmission fiber is fusion spliced with the temperature sensing element, an angle between a polarization axis of the transmission fiber and that of the temperature sensing element is 45 degree at the fusion splicing point. When the transmission fiber is a single-mode fiber, the sensing head includes a polarizer. An angle between a polarization axis of the polarization maintaining fiber connecting the temperature sensing element with the polarizer and that of the polarization maintaining fiber of the temperature sensing element is 45 degree at the fusion splicing point. The present invention is of simple principle and structure, and facilitates manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Beijing Qi-Red Electric Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shudong Wu, Wenbo Wang
  • Patent number: 8414186
    Abstract: A new step-index multimode pure silica core fiber for DTS (Distributed Temperature Sensing) system particularly useful for downhole environments is disclosed and described. The new sensor system provides optimum tradeoffs between coupling power, spatial resolution, and temperature resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: SensorTran, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung Lee, Kwang Suh, Mahesh Ajgaonkar, Kent Kalar
  • Patent number: 8410946
    Abstract: A system includes a controller configured to receive a signal from a thermal radiation sensor indicative of a temperature of a region including at least one fluid passage. The controller is also configured to detect a leak within the at least one fluid passage based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adil Ansari, Rahul Jaikaran Chillar
  • Patent number: 8408786
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides techniques and apparatus for optical characterization of photonic devices and/or circuits. By way of example, the techniques can be used to identify damaged devices in photonic integrated circuits. In some embodiments, thermal imaging is employed as a diagnostic tool for characterizing the devices/circuits under investigation. For example, in one embodiment, integrated cascaded semiconductor amplifiers can be characterized using amplified spontaneous emission from one amplifier as a thermal modulation input to another amplifier. A thermoreflectance image of the second amplifier can reveal flaws, if present. Further, in some embodiments, thermal imaging in conjunction with a total energy model can be employed to characterize the elements of photonic circuits optically and/or to map the optical power distribution throughout the circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Mount Holyoke College
    Inventors: Janice A. Hudgings, Rajeev J. Ram, Maryam Farzaneh
  • Patent number: 8366317
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting electromagnetic radiation comprises a sensor element, a housing in which the sensor element is disposed, and a radiation inlet window provided in the housing and closed by a material transmissible for the radiation to be detected. The transmissible material is fixed to the housing by fixation means not disposed in the field of view of the sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Excelitas Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Henrik Ernst, Hermann Karagözoglu, Martin Hausner, Guido Lauck, Jürgen Schilz, Fred Plotz
  • Patent number: 8337079
    Abstract: To provide a fluorescent temperature sensor capable of identifying easily the location of a failure. A fluorescent temperature sensor for producing a temperature signal from fluorescent light from a fluorescent material and that has been optically stimulated comprises a light projecting module having an LED for projecting light at the fluorescent material and a second photodiode for receiving light emitted from the LED and a light receiving module having a first photodiode for receiving the light emitted from the fluorescent material, where the location of a failure in the sensor can be identified based on, at least, the output signal from the second photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kinugasa, Atsushi Kato, Shunji Ichida
  • Patent number: 8308357
    Abstract: To provide a fluorescent temperature sensor wherein light is propagated reliably with an easy adjustment. A fluorescent temperature sensor for producing a temperature signal from fluorescent light of an optically excited fluorescent material includes: a light emitting device for projecting light to the fluorescent material; a photoreceiving element for receiving fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent material 1; a case for housing both the light emitting device and the photoreceiving element; and an optical fiber, between the case and the fluorescent material, for propagating the light of both the light emitting device and the fluorescent material. The case and the optical fiber are positioned so that the light from the light emitting device is received within the optical fiber, and so that the light from the fluorescent material is incident on the photoreceiving element from within the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kinugasa, Atsushi Kato
  • Patent number: 8303176
    Abstract: This invention teaches the fiber optic sensors temperature sensors for cryogenic temperature range with improved sensitivity and resolution, and method of making said sensors. In more detail, the present invention is related to enhancement of temperature sensitivity of fiber optic temperature sensors at cryogenic temperatures by utilizing nanomaterials with a thermal expansion coefficient that is smaller than the thermal expansion coefficient of the optical fiber but larger in absolute value than the thermal expansion coefficient of the optical fiber at least over a range of temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Vladimir Kochergin
  • Patent number: 8287184
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring method and a controlling method of measuring the physical quantity such as a fluid temperature distribution and the like by using an optical fiber sensing technique of BOCDA system. In the measuring method, an optical fiber that functions as a BOCDA-type optical fiber sensor is disposed along a flow direction of a fluid that flows though a pipe line and in the pipe line. Since the optical fiber directly contacts with the fluid that flows though the pipe line, it is possible to rapidly measure the fluid temperature distribution. Also, based on this measurement result, the controlling method adjusts each temperature of one or more heating/cooling means provided along the longitudinal direction of a pipe line, thereby controlling at high accuracy the fluid temperature distribution in the pipe line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eisuke Sasaoka