Optical Temperature Sensing by Separating Phosphor and Black-Body Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermographic phosphor temperature sensors struggle to accurately distinguish between phosphorescent radiation and black-body radiation, especially at temperatures where the black-body radiation signal is significant, leading to interference and inaccurate temperature measurements.
Innovation Solution
A temperature sensor system that utilizes both optical excitation response signals and optical-excitation-independent signals to separate and analyze these radiation types, allowing for accurate temperature measurements across a wider range by employing multiple characteristics such as intensity, decay rate, and spectral analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If thermographic phosphor temperature sensors are used to measure temperature, then temperature measurement capability is provided, but black-body radiation interferes with the phosphorescent radiation signal leading to inaccurate measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radiation signal into two distinct components: phosphorescent radiation (excitation-dependent) and black-body radiation (excitation-independent). By using multiple detectors to separately measure these components and applying mathematical separation techniques, the system isolates the harmful black-body radiation from the useful phosphorescent signal, thereby improving temperature measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical excitation source as an intermediary to differentiate between radiation types. By modulating the excitation source and detecting the modulated phosphorescent response separately from the unmodulated black-body radiation, the system uses this intermediary mechanism to filter out interference and extract accurate temperature information.
2Measurement precision
If multiple characteristics of optical radiation signals are used to determine temperature, then measurement accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple detectors that simultaneously measure different characteristics of optical radiation (intensity, decay rate, spectral distribution). Each detector serves multiple functions: characterizing phosphorescent properties, measuring black-body radiation, and providing temperature information. This multi-functionality approach improves measurement accuracy while managing system complexity through integrated detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent analyzes multiple parameters of the optical radiation signal including intensity, intensity decay rate, and spectral characteristics. By monitoring how these parameters change with temperature and using mathematical models to relate them to temperature, the system achieves high measurement precision. The controller processes these parameter changes to extract temperature information while filtering out interference.
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
Enables precise temperature measurement by distinguishing between phosphorescent and black-body radiation, improving accuracy and reducing interference, thereby enhancing measurement reliability across varying temperature ranges.
Implementation Method 1
the sensing element is configured to emit at least one optical excitation response signal
Implementation Method 2
black-body radiation emitted from surfaces of components of these sensors may be coupled into the optical waveguide
Implementation Method 3
An optical path (e.g., an optical fiber or waveguide) optically connects the optical pump and photodetector to the phosphor
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses embodiments of a temperature sensor system that uses multiple characteristics of optical radiation signals to determine a temperature of an object. The temperature sensor system includes a light source configured to emit an optical excitation signal propagating to a temperature probe having a phosphor sensing element that emits an optical excitation response signal having a characteristic of phosphorescent radiation proportional to the temperature of the object. The temperature probe emits an optical-excitation-independent signal having a characteristic of black-body radiation emitted by components of the temperature probe. The optical excitation response signal and the optical-excitation-independent signal form a combined signal propagating to a detector that provides a signal representative of the combined signal to a controller configured to separate the signal representative of the combined signal into signals representative of the optical excitation response signal and the optical-excitation-independent signal and calculate the temperature of the object.