Patent · US Expired

Radiation meters

US4935631A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
9References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 26, 1988
Grant dateJun 19, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 26, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01J1/58
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A radiation meter for measuring the intensity of incident ultraviolet radiation in a predetermined wavelength band against a background of broadband radiation, such as sunlight, includes a sheet of a material incorporating a fluorescent dye. The dye is selected to absorb radiation in the predetermined wavelength band and consequently to emit fluorescent radiation. The fluorescent radiation is internally reflected within the sheet and emerges from an edge of the sheet, where it impinges on a photodiode. The photodiode produces an output which is dependent upon the intensity of the ultraviolet radiation. This output is used to drive a suitable display. The unwanted background radiation passes through the sheet without causing fluorescence of the dye, and is absorbed in an absorbent backing layer. The photodiode is so positioned and screened that the background radiation cannot impinge upon it. A particularly advantageous use of the meter is for measurement of the intensity of ultraviolet band radiation, which is the cause of sunburn and skin cancer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.