Dual spectra optical pyrometer having a serial array of photodectectors

Claim 1

A dual spectra optical pyrometer having a serial array photodetector module for measuring the temperature of a remote target, comprising: optical guide means for receiving from the target an optical beam having a spectral width and having an emitted component from the target and a reflected component from a fireball having a temperature, housing means adapted to receive said optical guide, first photodetector means contained within said housing means absorbing from said target optical beam a first optical component having a spectral width selected to be a portion of the target beam spectral width and passing therethrough an optical beam remainder, said first detector means providing an electrical signal equivalent of said first optical component, second photodetector means contained within said housing means receiving said optical beam remainder and providing a second electrical signal equivalent thereof, signal processing means receiving said first and second detector signals and further receiving signals indicative of said first component spectral width and an estimate of said fireball equivalent black body temperature, said signal processing means generating from said first photodetector signal a temperature signal indicative of an equivalent black body temperature, generating from said second photodetector signal a temperature signal indicative of an equivalent black body temperature, generating from the difference of said first temperature signal and said second temperature signal a temperature correction signal in dependence on said estimated fireball equivalent black body temperature signal and said first component spectral width signal, providing a corrected temperature signal from the difference between said first temperature signal and said temperature correction signal.