Device and method for monitoring fluids with a detection of cross sectional shape of transmitted beam
US6043505A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 6, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 6, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N33/2888
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fluid monitor determines the quality, intensity and/or level of a fluid by transmitting a beam of light through the fluid and evaluating any changes to the shape of the beam as a result of being transmitted through the fluid. The monitor includes a light source and a lens which generate an incident beam of light having a predefined cross sectional shape. The beam is transmitted through a volume of the fluid, which modifies the shape of the beam as a function of the fluid quality, intensity and/or level. The beam can be polarized before being transmitted through the fluid or after beam transmission. The polarized beam is directed to a detector which evaluates the horizontal and vertical components of the beam and provides a shape signal to a detection circuit. The detection circuit processes the shape signal received from the detector to determine the quality, intensity and/or level of the fluid based on any variations from the predefined shape of the incident beam. The detection circuit outputs a signal to a display unit indicating the quality, intensity and/or level of the fluid. The detection circuit may also actuate an alarm if the quality, intensity and/or level of the fluid …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.