Patent US6099553A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3891859A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3891859A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pulsed, variable beam pattern optical measuring device
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1974-06-21
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Granted: 1975-06-24
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Expires: 1994-06-21
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for obtaining simultaneous measurements of the basic optical properties of seawater employs a pulsed beam of monochromatic light together with a variable focal length optic system to illuminate a predetermined volume of ambient fluid. A detection system measures the time decay of light energy returned from this volume and computes in real time the volume scattering function, total attenuation coefficient, the absorption coefficient and scattering coefficient of the volume.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence J Funk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/49; G01N21/53
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A measuring system for determining the optical properties of a body of fluid comprising: a quasi-monochromatic light source; light valve means operatively associated with said quasi-monochromatic light source for controlling the output thereof; variable focal length projection optics operatively positioned with respect to said quasi-monochromatic light source for receiving the controlled output thereof and for directing the controlled output into a predetermined volume of said body of fluid; variable focal length objective optics operatively positioned with respect to said variable focal length projection optics for receiving light returned from said predetermined volume of said body of fluid; photodetector means positioned behind said variable focal length objective optics means in the focal plane thereof for developing an electrical analog of the intensity of the light returned from said predetermined volume of said body of fluid; and a general purpose computer effectively connected to said photo detector means and operatively programmed to determine the decay rates of the analogs of the intensities of the light returned from said predetermined volume of said body of fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A measuring system for determining the optical properties of a body of fluid comprising: a quasi-monochromatic light source; light valve means operatively associated with said quasi-monochromatic light source for controlling the output thereof; variable focal length projection optics operatively positioned with respect to said quasi-monochromatic light source for receiving the controlled output thereof and for directing the controlled output into a predetermined volume of said body of fluid; variable focal length objective optics operatively positioned with respect to said variable focal length projection optics for receiving light returned from said predetermined volume of said body of fluid; photodetector means positioned behind said variable focal length objective optics means in the focal plane thereof for developing an electrical analog of the intensity of the light returned from said predetermined volume of said body of fluid; and a general purpose computer effectively connected to said photo detector means and operatively programmed to determine the decay rates of the analogs of the intensities of the light returned from said predetermined volume of said body of fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A measuring system according to claim 1 in which said quasi-monochromatic light source includes means for selectively limiting the light output from said quasi-monochromatic light source to essentially a single wave length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A measuring system according to claim 2 in which said selecting means includes a plurality of transmission filters which are mounted so as to be selectively inserted into the light outputs of said quasi-monochromatic light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A measuring system according to claim 1 wherein said quasi-monochromatic light source includes a xenon ion laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A measuring system according to claim 3 wherein said quasi-monochromatic light source includes a carbon dioxide laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A measuring system according to claim 1 further including a cathode ray tube display connected to said general purpose computer to provide a visual display of the decay rates determined thereby.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A measuring system according to claim 5 further including a cathode ray tube display connected to said general purpose computer to provide a visual display of the decay rates determined thereby.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A measuring system according to claim 1 wherein said light valve means includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A measuring system according to claim 7 wherein said light valve means includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A measuring system according to claim 8 in which said Fabry-Perot interferometer is a component part of the aforesaid quasi-monochromatic light source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A measuring system according to claim 9 in which said Fabry-Perot interferometer is a component part of the aforesaid carbon dioxide laser.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of measuring optical properties of a body of fluid comprising in sequence the steps of: generating a beam of quasi-monochromatic light energy; directing said beam of quasi-monochromatic energy into said body of fluid in a predetermined angular divergence; pulsing said beam of quasi-monochromatic light into a plurality of time separated pulses; receiving the pulsed light returned from said body of fluid; converting said received pulsed light into electrical analogs thereof; sensing the electrical analogs of the pulsed light analog signals at predetermined time intervals between pulses; repeating said previous five steps for other predetermined angular divergences; measuring the exponential decay rate of the power Of the returned pulses; converting the measured data to the basic optical properties of said body of fluid; and storing said calculated data for further analysis.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of measuring optical properties of a body of fluid comprising in sequence the steps of: generating a beam of quasi-monochromatic light energy; directing said beam of quasi-monochromatic energy into said body of fluid in a predetermined angular divergence; pulsing said beam of quasi-monochromatic light into a plurality of time separated pulses; receiving the pulsed light returned from said body of fluid; converting said received pulsed light into electrical analogs thereof; sensing the electrical analogs of the pulsed light analog signals at predetermined time intervals between pulses; repeating said previous five steps for other predetermined angular divergences; measuring the exponential decay rate of the power Of the returned pulses; converting the measured data to the basic optical properties of said body of fluid; and storing said calculated data for further analysis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said step of generating a beam quasi-monochromatic light further includes the step of filtering said light beam to essentially a single wavelength.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said step of directing said beam of quasi-monochromatic includes adjusting the focal length of projection optics to produce the desired angular dispersion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein said step of directing said beam of quasi-monochromatic includes adjusting the focal length of projection optics to produce the desired angular dispersion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 12 in which said step of pulsing said beam of quasi-monochromatic light includes driving a reflection Fabry-Perot interferometer at the desired pulse rate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 15 in which said step of pulsing said beam of quasi-monochromatic light includes driving a reflection Fabry-Perot interferometer at the desired pulse rate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the step of converting the measured data uses Monte Carlo processing techniques.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 17 in which the step of converting the measured data uses Monte Carlo processing techniques.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the step of converting the measured data uses the Gordon approximation processing techniques.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 17 in which the step of converting the measured data uses the Gordon approximation processing techniques.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |