Directional acoustic density sensor
US8134887B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 2010 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/45
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention as disclosed is a fiber optic interferometric directional acoustic density sensor that increases the directionality of a vector sensor that is much smaller in size than the wave length of an acoustic wave. This is accomplished through the use of second order directionality by measuring the acoustic fluctuations of fluid density at a point, wherein the acoustic density fluctuations are determined according to the principles of fluid compressibility and conservation of mass using a density fluctuation measuring apparatus that restricts two of the three vector components of the particle velocity of the acoustic wave and that employs a laser interferometer to measure the fluid density fluctuation along the remaining vector component.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.