Optical Detector Self-Check Using Known Reflectance Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods are inadequate for effectively monitoring and addressing degradation in optical sensors, such as optical ice detectors, which can result from contamination, damage to windows or components, leading to reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving directing an optical detector to a surface with known reflectance to detect return signals, comparing them to expected signals, and outputting alerts for maintenance when degradation is indicated, including regular checks and accounting for surface and atmospheric conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional monitoring methods are used for optical sensors, then the system structure remains simple, but the detection precision and reliability of degradation monitoring are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning a calibration surface with known reflectance properties within the optical detector's field of view. This calibration surface is prepared in advance to enable periodic self-checks of the optical detector's performance, allowing degradation to be detected before it significantly impacts operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical detector performs self-diagnosis by comparing return signals from the calibration surface against stored reference signals. The system automatically monitors its own degradation without requiring external testing equipment or manual intervention, enabling the sensor to service itself through periodic self-checks using the integrated calibration surface.
2Reliability
If frequent degradation checks are performed, then the reliability monitoring improves, but the loss of operational time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by scheduling degradation checks at predetermined intervals or under specific operational conditions. The optical detector periodically directs its field of view to the calibration surface to perform self-checks, rather than continuously monitoring, thereby maintaining reliability assessment while minimizing interruption to normal operational time.
3Speed
If the optical detector continuously monitors for degradation, then the detection speed improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action to perform degradation checks only at predetermined intervals or under specific conditions, rather than continuously monitoring. This reduces energy consumption while maintaining the ability to detect degradation promptly through scheduled self-checks against the calibration surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration surface is pre-positioned and reference signals are pre-stored, allowing the optical detector to quickly perform degradation checks without requiring complex real-time analysis or additional processing time, thus maintaining fast detection capability with minimal energy expenditure.
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 approach enables timely maintenance actions, such as replacing windows or photodiodes, improving the reliability and performance of optical sensors by detecting and addressing degradation promptly.
Implementation Method 1
directing the optical detector to a surface of an object in the field of view, wherein the surface is positioned at a given distance from the optical detector, and wherein the surface has a known reflectance; detecting an optical return from the surface with the optical detector to generate a return signal
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes checking an optical detector with a field of view for degradation by: directing the optical detector to a surface of an object in the field of view, wherein the surface is positioned at a given distance from the optical detector, and wherein the surface has a known reflectance; detecting an optical return from the surface with the optical detector to generate a return signal; and determining whether the return signal is representative of a degraded signal. The method includes outputting an alert for maintenance action if the return signal is indicative of a degraded signal.