US3740562A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retro-reflective type detector head with fail-safe feature
Assignee: Appalachian Electronic Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1972-02-17
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1992-02-17
Abstract
Abstract An optical detector head system for projecting light rays toward a surface to be inspected and receiving reflected light from the inspection zone to detect selected conditions, which detector head system includes fail-safe components to produce a failure indicating signal upon failure of the light source in the detector head. The detector head includes a photodetector device, and retro-reflective surface portions disposed relative to the light source and the photodetector to direct a selected quantum of light to the photodetector when the light source is illuminated at normal intensity, and fail-safe circuitry is included responsive to the output signals from the photodetector to produce a failure indicating signal when the output signals fall below a selected amplitude.
Inventors
- 👤 R Fertig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V8/00; G01V8/10; G01V8/12; G01V8/14; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/55; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/89; G01N21/8901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An optical detector head system including fail-safe components for projecting light rays toward an inspection zone and receiving reflected light from said inspection zone upon occurrence of selected conditions therein to be detected, comprising a detector head including a lamp forming a light source, a semi-transparent mirror and a lens system located along a main optical axis for projecting liGht from said lamp passing through said mirror and lens system along said main axis in a first direction toward said inspection zone, said detector head including a photo-detector located along a branch optical axis and intersecting the main axis at said mirror to receive light passing through said lens system toward said mirror in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said fail-safe components including retro-reflective means incorporated in the detector head for retro-reflecting at least a selected quantum of light in said second direction along said main axis to said mirror whenever the lamp is illuminated at normal intensity to direct the rectro-reflected light to said photo-detector, and fail-safe circuity responsive to the output signal levels produced by said photo-detector to produce a failure indicating signal when said output signal levels fall below a selected amplitude.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
An optical detector head system including fail-safe components for projecting light rays toward an inspection zone and receiving reflected light from said inspection zone upon occurrence of selected conditions therein to be detected, comprising a detector head including a lamp forming a light source, a semi-transparent mirror and a lens system located along a main optical axis for projecting liGht from said lamp passing through said mirror and lens system along said main axis in a first direction toward said inspection zone, said detector head including a photo-detector located along a branch optical axis and intersecting the main axis at said mirror to receive light passing through said lens system toward said mirror in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said fail-safe components including retro-reflective means incorporated in the detector head for retro-reflecting at least a selected quantum of light in said second direction along said main axis to said mirror whenever the lamp is illuminated at normal intensity to direct the rectro-reflected light to said photo-detector, and fail-safe circuity responsive to the output signal levels produced by said photo-detector to produce a failure indicating signal when said output signal levels fall below a selected amplitude.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
An optical detector head system incorporating fail-safe components, as defined in claim 1, wherein said retro-reflective means comprise surface portions of retro-reflective material located internally of the detector head between said mirror and said lens system spaced radially outwardly from said main optical axis to retro-reflect a portion of the incident light from said lamp to said photo-detector to maintain a selected output signal level therefrom while said lamp is illuminated to normal intensity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
An optical detector head system incorporating fail-safe components, as defined in claim 1, wherein said retro-reflective means comprise an annular ring of retro-reflective material located internally of the detector head between said mirror and said lens system arranged concentric with said main optical axis to retro-reflect a portion of the incident light from said lamp to said photo-detector to maintain a selected output signal level therefrom while said lamp is illuminated to normal intensity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
An optical detector head system incorporating fail-safe components, as defined in claim 2, wherein said surface portions are strips of retro-reflective material, said system including opaque adjustable mask members covering selected portions of the strips of retro-reflective material to vary the quantum of light retro-reflected by the strips and thereby vary the range of output voltage levels produced by the detector head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
An optical detector head system incorporating fail-safe components, as defined in claim 1, wherein said fail-safe circuitry includes amplifier means coupled to said photo-detector for producing an output voltage level of selected value when the lamp is illuminated at normal intensity, and a detector channel coupled to said amplifier means including a transistor stage and manually adjustable means for regulating the amplitude of the amplifier output voltage applied thereto to operate the transistor stage in a first selected state and to cause the transistor stage to operate in a second selected state when the amplifier output voltage drops below said selected value, and indicator signal control means activated responsive to said transistor stage operating in said second state to cause production of said failure indicating signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
An optical detector head system incorporating fail-safe components, as defined in claim 2, wherein said fail-safe circuitry includes amplifier means coupled to said photo-detector for producing an output voltage level of selected value when the lamp is illuminated at normal intensity, and a detector channel coupled to said amplifier means including a transistor stage and manually adjustable means for regulating the amplitude of the amplifier output voltage applied thereto to operate the transistor stage in a first selected state and to cause the transistor stage to operate in a second selected state when the amplifier output voltage drops below said selected value, and indicator signal control means activated responsive to said transistor stage operating in said second state to cause production of said failure indicating siGnal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
126 words
An optical detector head system incorporating fail-safe components, as defined in claim 3, wherein said fail-safe circuitry includes amplifier means coupled to said photo-detector for producing an output voltage level of selected value when the lamp is illuminated at normal intensity, and a detector channel coupled to said amplifier means including a transistor stage and manually adjustable means for regulating the amplitude of the amplifier output voltage applied thereto to operate the transistor stage in a first selected state and to cause the transistor stage to operate in a second selected state when the amplifier output voltage drops below said selected value, and indicator signal control means activated responsive to said transistor stage operating in said second state to cause production of said failure indicating signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
126 words
An optical detector head system incorporating fail-safe components, as defined in claim 4, wherein said fail-safe circuitry includes amplifier means coupled to said photo-detector for producing an output voltage level of selected value when the lamp is illuminated at normal intensity, and a detector channel coupled to said amplifier means including a transistor stage and manually adjustable means for regulating the amplitude of the amplifier output voltage applied thereto to operate the transistor stage in a first selected state and to cause the transistor stage to operate in a second selected state when the amplifier output voltage drops below said selected value, and indicator signal control means activated responsive to said transistor stage operating in said second state to cause production of said failure indicating signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
An optical detector head system incorporating fail-safe components, as defined in claim 1, wherein said fail-safe circuitry includes amplifier means coupled to said photodetector producing an output voltage level of selected value when the lamp is illuminated at normal intensity, and a detector channel coupled to said amplifier means including a transistor stage, manually adjustable coupling means for applying the output voltage from said amplifier means to said transistor stage to operate the latter in a state of saturation when said output voltage at least attains said value, and output signal control means energized when said transistor stage is operating in saturation to prevent generation of the failure indicating signal and to be deenergized responsive to said transistor stage coming out of saturation to produce said failure indicating signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
An optical detector head system incorporating fail-safe components, as defined in claim 2, wherein said fail-safe circuitry includes amplifier means coupled to said photodetector producing an output voltage level of selected value when the lamp is illuminated at normal intensity, and a detector channel coupled to said amplifier means including a transistor stage, manually adjustable coupling means for applying the output voltage from said amplifier means to said transistor stage to operate the latter in a state of saturation when said output voltage at least attains said value, and output signal control means energized when said transistor stage is operating in saturation to prevent generation of the failure indicating signal and to be deenergized responsive to said transistor stage coming out of saturation to produce said failure indicating signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
An optical detector head system incorporating fail-safe components, as defined in claim 3, wherein said fail-safe circuitry includes amplifier means coupled to said photodetector producing an output voltage level of selected value when the lamp is illuminated at normal intensity, and a detector channel coupled to said amplifier means including a transistor stage, manually adjustable coupling means for applying the output voltage from said amplifier means to said transistor stage to operate the latter in a state of saturation when said output voltage at least attains said value, and output signal cOntrol means energized when said transistor stage is operating in saturation to prevent generation of the failure indicating signal and to be deenergized responsive to said transistor stage coming out of saturation to produce said failure indicating signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
An optical detector head system incorporating fail-safe components, as defined in claim 4, wherein said fail-safe circuitry includes amplifier means coupled to said photodetector producing an output voltage level of selected value when the lamp is illuminated at normal intensity, and a detector channel coupled to said amplifier means including a transistor stage, manually adjustable coupling means for applying the output voltage from said amplifier means to said transistor stage to operate the latter in a state of saturation when said output voltage at least attains said value, and output signal control means energized when said transistor stage is operating in saturation to prevent generation of the failure indicating signal and to be deenergized responsive to said transistor stage coming out of saturation to produce said failure indicating signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3360654A
Cited
US3530690A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |