Multi-Lens Flame Detector for Spectral Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flame detectors using imaging optics with beam splitters and mirrors are costly and difficult to align, leading to reliability issues due to variance in camera sensitivity and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A flame detector design featuring several lens devices arranged side by side on a common carrier, projecting images onto a single camera without the need for beam splitters or mirrors, with color filters to capture images in different spectral ranges, and optional self-diagnostic capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If beam splitters and mirrors are used in imaging optics, then multiple images with different spectral composition can be obtained, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into multiple lens devices arranged side by side, each lens device receiving light from a different spatial region of the flame. This segmentation allows each lens to capture a specific spectral range without requiring complex beam splitters or mirrors, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining spectral detection versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using multiple cameras with beam splitters (3D spatial separation) to using a single camera with multiple lenses arranged in a plane (2D spatial arrangement). By projecting images from multiple lenses onto different regions of a single camera sensor, the system achieves spectral differentiation without the complexity of multi-camera setups and optical beam splitting components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cameras are used to detect different spectral ranges, then spectral detection capability is improved, but sensitivity variance between cameras reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detection function into a single camera device that receives images from multiple lens devices. By using one camera instead of multiple cameras, the system eliminates sensitivity variance between different camera devices, thereby improving detection reliability while maintaining the capability to detect multiple spectral ranges through the different lens devices.
3Measurement precision
If multiple cameras and beam splitters are used, then spectral analysis capability is enhanced, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single camera to capture multiple images that are then processed to extract spectral information. Instead of requiring multiple expensive camera devices and beam splitter assemblies, the system creates optical copies of the flame image through multiple lenses and processes them computationally, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining spectral analysis precision.
4Measurement precision
If beam splitters and mirrors are used in the optical system, then spectral image separation is achieved, but alignment difficulty and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the beam splitters and mirrors from the optical system, replacing them with multiple lens devices arranged side by side. This removal of complex optical components simplifies alignment procedures and reduces maintenance complexity while still achieving spectral image separation through the spatial arrangement of lenses and their corresponding filter regions on the camera sensor.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces manufacturing costs, simplifies alignment, enhances reliability by eliminating sensitivity variance, and allows for adaptable spectral range selection for various combustion types, improving detection accuracy and sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
several lens devices (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) arranged side by side, such that each lens device is receiving part of the light from the flame. Each lens device projects one image onto one region of the camera.
Implementation Method 2
Color filters 6a, 6b, 6c are arranged between three of the lens devices, namely lens devices 3a, 3b, 3c, and the corresponding images on camera 5, each lens device filtering the light for one of the images.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The problem to be solved by the present invention is to a simple, multi- spectral flame detector. This problem is solved by a flame detector having an optical imaging system (3a - 3d, 6a - 6c) that is adapted to project several images of the flame onto the same camera (5). The images are from differing spectral regions. The imaging system comprises several lens devices arranged side by side, the imaging optics comprise several lens devices arranged side by side, such that each lens device is receiving part of the light from the flame. Each lens device projects one image onto one region of the camera. In this design, no beam splitters or mirrors are required, which is advantageous because such components are expensive and difficult to align.