Laser noise detection and mitigation in particle counting instruments
US9989462B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2201/1247
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention relates to optical particle counters and methods capable of effectively distinguishing signals generated from particle light scattering from sources of noise. Embodiments of the invention, for example, use multisensory detector configurations for identifying and distinguishing signals corresponding to fluctuations in laser intensity from signals corresponding to particle light scattering for the detection and characterization of submicron particles. In an embodiment, for example, methods and systems of the invention compare signals from different detector elements of a detector array to identify and characterize noise events, such as noise generated from laser intensity instability, thereby allow for the detection and characterization of smaller particles. The system and methods of the present invention, thus, provide an effective means of reducing false positives caused by noise or interference while allowing for very sensitive particle detection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.