Infrared radiation detector for monitoring the presence of alkanes
US6455854B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 24, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/3504
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention relates to the infrared detection of hydrocarbon gases; infrared light from a source (10) is passed through a filter (12) to produce a beam (14) passing through a space (16), which can potentially contain hydrocarbon gases. The wavelength of the beam (14) contains a wavelength that is absorbed by hydrocarbon gases (sample wavelength) and a wavelength that is not absorbed by hydrocarbon gases (reference wavelength). The beam (14) falls on a detector that contains sensors (22, 24) that receive light that has passed through respective filters (18, 20). Sample filter (20) allows a single wavelength to be transmitted; reference filter (18) allows two wavelength bands to be transmitted, the bands having wavelengths located on either side of the sample wavelength in order to eliminate the effects of atmospheric conditions that are unconnected with hydrocarbon gases.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.