Diffractive optical fluid shear stress sensor

US6717172B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · US

Inventors

• Morteza Gharib · San Marino, US
• Daniel W. Wilson · La Cañada Flintridge, US
• Siamak Forouhar · Pasadena, US
• Richard E. Muller · Altadena, US
• Dominique Fourguette · Mentryville, US
• Darius Modarress · Rancho Palos Verdes, US
• Frederic Taugwalder · Altadena, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 18, 2001
• Grant date: Apr 6, 2004
• Expiry date: Dec 18, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N21/47
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A diffractive optic sheer stress sensor operates by forming diverging fringes over a linear area of measurement. A diode laser focuses light onto a diffractive lens which focuses the light to respective slits. The slits form diverging fringes, and scattered light from the fringes is collected by a window and focused by another diffractive lens to a receiver.