Optical sensor for detecting accumulation of a material
US10175167B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jan 8, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 28, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2201/0826
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sensor for detecting the level of accumulation of a material along an axis in a fluid environment, the sensor comprising (a) an optically transparent body having a third refractive index and an exposed surface defining a length extending at least partially in the direction of the axis; (b) at least one light delivery source for delivering light to the body such that the light is distributed along the length of the exposed surface; and at least one light receiver for receiving reflected light from the length of the exposed surface, wherein the amount of the reflected light depends on the level of the material accumulated along the length of the exposed surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.