Scattered Light Range of View Measurement Apparatus Contamination Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Scattered light range of sight measurement instruments face challenges in accurately detecting optical boundary surface contamination and obstructions, leading to inaccurate readings and measurement errors due to the limitations of existing methods for testing component functionality and compensating for contaminants.
Innovation Solution
The instrument employs a periodically activated transmission light path using a light deflector and optical shutter, allowing for additional transmission measurements with the same light emitter and receiver, ensuring consistent geometric spaces and recognizing obstacles and contaminants effectively, while minimizing the impact of optoelectronic component changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a scattered light measurement method is used to reduce component defects, then measurement reliability is improved, but the ability to detect optical boundary surface contamination and obstructions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines scattered light measurement and transmission measurement into a single integrated system. The transmission light path is periodically activated during scattered light measurement to enable functional testing of the light emitter and receiver, while also detecting obstacles and contamination on optical boundary surfaces that would otherwise go undetected.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission light path is periodically activated at regular intervals during the scattered light measurement process. This periodic activation allows the system to perform functional tests and contamination detection without continuously operating in transmission mode, which would be inefficient and potentially harmful to the optical components.
2Measurement precision
If transmission measurement is continuously activated to detect obstacles and contamination, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases and component lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission light path is activated only periodically at predetermined intervals during scattered light measurement, rather than continuously. This reduces energy consumption and minimizes exposure of the optical components to intense light, thereby extending their operational lifespan while still providing sufficient detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between scattered light measurement mode and transmission measurement mode based on operational requirements. The transmission light path is activated only when functional testing or contamination detection is needed, allowing the system to adapt its measurement strategy to current conditions and optimize energy usage.
3Reliability
If scattered light measurement is used to prevent component defects, then reliability is improved, but the ability to recognize obstructions and contamination deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges scattered light measurement and transmission measurement capabilities into a single system. The transmission light path periodically traverses the same geometric space as the scattered light measurement, enabling the detection of obstacles and contamination on optical boundary surfaces while maintaining the benefits of scattered light measurement for component functionality assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The periodically activated transmission light path acts as an intermediary mechanism that provides additional information about obstacles and contamination without disrupting the primary scattered light measurement process. It serves as a complementary detection channel that fills the information gaps left by scattered light measurement alone.
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 provides unequivocal contamination detection, prevents measurement errors, and ensures accurate recognition of obstructions, enhancing the reliability of scattered light range measurements by generating a strong light signal for functional testing and correcting for slow changes in contamination.
Implementation Method 1
measures the amount of light scattered by a light beam as it traverses a gas sample
Implementation Method 2
The transmissions light path is periodically opened and closed with an optical shutter
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for determining a range of sight which are capable of monitoring and correcting the operability of the instrument. A light emitter directs an emitted light beam to a measurement zone and a light receiver receives a received light beam from the measurement zone. The emitted light beam and the received light beam cross each other in the measurement zone. A deflector deflects at least a portion of the emitted light beam downstream of the measurement zone along a light transmitting path and directs the portion of the emitted light beam into the received light beam at a side of the measurement zone opposite from the light receiver. An optical shutter intermittently closes the light transmitting path in a temporally controlled manner.