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US3895872A
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Optical speed-measuring devices and methods for maximizing their accuracies
Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri AG Switzerland
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Filing: 1973-01-29
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1993-01-29
Abstract
Abstract The speed of a moving volume is measured by directing a laser beam onto the volume and forming a Doppler signal in response to the light scattered or reflected by the moving volume as a measure of the speed of the moving volume. The measuring accuracy is maximized by locating the position of the laser beam''s minimum spot radius at the center of the volume being measured. The speed at a particular surface may also be measured. In that case, the position of the minimum spot radius is located so as to coincide with the surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Rene Dandliker
- 👤 Paul Iten
- 👤 Baldur Eliasson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/66; G01F1/661; G01P; G01P3/00; G01P3/36; G01P3/366; G01P5/00; G01P5/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
In an optical speed-measuring device, where two laser light beams are directed from at least one laser onto a measuring volume, and Doppler measuring means responds to the reflected light to determine the speed of the volume, and wherein the laser light beams emerging from the laser before being directed onto the measuring volume each exhibit a minimum spot radius, the method of adjusting the accuracy of the speed measurement, which comprises directing the beams onto the measuring volume and locating said minimum spot radii to conicide with the measuring volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
In an optical speed-measuring device, where two laser light beams are directed from at least one laser onto a measuring volume, and Doppler measuring means responds to the reflected light to determine the speed of the volume, and wherein the laser light beams emerging from the laser before being directed onto the measuring volume each exhibit a minimum spot radius, the method of adjusting the accuracy of the speed measurement, which comprises directing the beams onto the measuring volume and locating said minimum spot radii to conicide with the measuring volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein the step of directing includes making each minimum spot radius conicide substantially with the center of the volume whose speed is to be measured.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein the location of each minimum spot radius is made to coincide with the center of the volume whose speed is to be measured.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as in claim 2, further comprising focusing the light beams falling on the volume being measured.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as in claim 4, wherein a lens focuses the light beams and further comprising varying the distance between the source of the laser light beams and the lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as in claim 5, wherein each light beam falling on the measured volume is focused by said lens and varying the real distance between the source of each laser light beam and the lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 4, comprising varying the virtual distance between the laser light source and the measured volume.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as in claim 7, further comprising varying the virtual distance between the laser light source and the measured volume.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as in claim 8, wherein the pair of lenses includes a concave lens and a convex lens and the step of varying the virtual distance comprises the step of varying the distance between the concave and convex lenses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 5, further comprising varying the virtual distance of the laser light source from the lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as in claim 10, wherein the distance between the location of each minimum spot radius and the lens is made approximately equal to the effective focal length of the lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein each light beam falling on the measured volume is focused by a lens, and the distance of the location of the minimum spot radius of the beams falling on the lens from the lens is made substantially equal to the effective focal length of the lens for the beams.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein each light beam falling on the measured volume is focused by a lens, and wherein the angle of incidence of the beams falling on the lens is varied so that the location of each minimum spot radius coincides with the volume whose speed is being measured.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as in claim 13, wherein each laser light beam passes through a Koester prism and the further comprising varying the angle of incidence relative to the Koester prism.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claIm 14, wherein the angle of refraction of the beams leaving the Koester prism varies with the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction of both beams through the prism vary symmetrically to the optical axis of the lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method as in claim 4, wherein the light beams falling on the measured volume are focused by a lens, the distance between the laser light source and the lens is varied to produce a variation in the real distance between the laser light source and the lens, a virtual variation of the distance between the laser light source and the lens is produced optically, and the angle of incidence of the beams falling on the lens is varied.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
73 words
The method of optically measuring the speed of a material, which comprises directing two laser beams each having a minimum spot radius toward the material so that the material deflects a portion of one of the beams, forming a Doppler signal with the deflected portion and the other beam as an indication of the speed of the material, the step of directing the beams including positioning the minimum spot radii at the material.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
73 words
The method of optically measuring the speed of a material, which comprises directing two laser beams each having a minimum spot radius toward the material so that the material deflects a portion of one of the beams, forming a Doppler signal with the deflected portion and the other beam as an indication of the speed of the material, the step of directing the beams including positioning the minimum spot radii at the material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as in claim 17, wherein the step of positioning includes positioning the source of the laser beams relative to the material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as in claim 17, wherein the step of positioning includes optically focusing the beams with lenses.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as in claim 17, wherein the step of directing the laser beams includes focusing the laser beams with a lens, the step of positioning the minimum spot radii includes shifting the angle of the beams relative to the axis of the lens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as in claim 17, wherein the step of positioning includes varying the virtual positions of the minimum spot radii by means of lenses.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as in claim 17, wherein the step of positioning includes varying the real positions of the minimum spot radii relative to the material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as in claim 21, wherein the step of positioning the beam also includes varying the real positions of the minimum spot radii relative to the material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as in claim 19, wherein the step of directing further includes varying the virtual position of the minimum spot radii.
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) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |