Window contamination sensor
US11644411B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 17, 2021 |
| Grant date | May 9, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B27/0006
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A contamination sensor for an optical sensor observation window includes a source, two prisms, a detector, and a controller. The source can emit a collimated light beam at an incident angle that is greater than a critical angle of an interface between a fluid and the window. The window has a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the fluid. The prisms can direct the collimated light beam within the window such that the collimated light beam reflects within a contamination detection zone of the window. The detector can receive the collimated light beam. The controller can communicate with the source and detector. The controller can calculate an emission/detection ratio defined by a difference between an amount of light emitted by the source and an amount of light that passes from the source to the detector by a total internal reflectance of the window.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.