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Patent US4789992A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4789992A
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US
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Optical temperature measurement techniques
Assignee: Luxtron Corp
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Filing: 1987-03-19
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Granted: 1988-12-06
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Expires: 2007-03-19
Abstract
Abstract An optical temperature measurement technique that utilizes the decaying luminescent intensity characteristic of a sensor composed of a luminescent material that is excited to luminescence by a light pulse or other periodic or other intermittent source of radiation. The luminescent emissions of a preferred sensor exhibit an approximately exponential decay with time that is the average of a distribution of chemically reproducible crystallites and are repeatable with a high degree of accuracy regardless of excitation level or prior temperature history of the sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth A. Wickersheim
- 👤 Mei H. Sun
- 👤 Stanley O. Heinemann
- 👤 Stanley O. Hinemann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K11/00; G01K11/32; G01K11/3206; G01K11/3213
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of determining the temperature of an environment, comprising the steps of: positioning in thermal communication with said environment a luminescent material which contains a luminescent activator of tetravalent manganese and which is characterized by emitting, when excited with transient radiation, luminescent radiation having an intensity which decreases after termination of the excitation radiation in a manner that can be correlated with the temperature of the luminescent material, exposing said luminescent material to transient excitation radiation, thereby causing said luminescent material, after termination of the excitation radiation, to luminesce with a decreasing intensity function related to the temperature of the luminescent material, and detecting and measuring the decreasing luminescent intensity function, thereby to measure the temperature of the luminescent material, whereby the temperature of said environment is determined.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of determining the temperature of an environment, comprising the steps of: positioning in thermal communication with said environment a luminescent material which contains a luminescent activator of tetravalent manganese and which is characterized by emitting, when excited with transient radiation, luminescent radiation having an intensity which decreases after termination of the excitation radiation in a manner that can be correlated with the temperature of the luminescent material, exposing said luminescent material to transient excitation radiation, thereby causing said luminescent material, after termination of the excitation radiation, to luminesce with a decreasing intensity function related to the temperature of the luminescent material, and detecting and measuring the decreasing luminescent intensity function, thereby to measure the temperature of the luminescent material, whereby the temperature of said environment is determined.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said luminescent material additionally contains together in a compound with said activator a host of either magnesium germanate or magnesium fluorogermanate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of positioning the luminescent material includes positioning the material in the form of a powder suspended in a vehicle or binder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the detecting and measuring step includes measuring the decreasing luminescent intensity beginning a fixed time interval after said excitation radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the luminescent activator is present in a concentration such that the luminescent material is characterized by its decaying luminescent radiation having a decay time of about five milli-seconds for a temperature of the luminescent material of about -200 degrees centigrade and about one milli-second for +400 degrees centigrade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of positioning the quantity of luminescent material comprises attaching said material in the form of a layer to a surface which is said environment whose temperature is to be measured.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the steps of exposing the luminescent material and detecting the luminescent decaying function comprise the steps of: positioning a length of optical fiber communication medium having an end positioned adjacent to but spatially removed from said luminescent material, and communicating said excitation radiation and said luminescent intensity between said fiber and said luminescent material through said fiber end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the step of positioning a quantity of luminescent material comprises attaching said material to a surface which is said environment whose temperature is being determined.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the step of positioning a quantity of luminescent material comprises the step of removably attaching to said fiber near its said end a carrier to which the luminescent material is attached.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 7 which comprises the additional step of determining from the detected luminescent decaying intensity function the temperature of the luminescent material without first calibrating a measurement at a known temperature of the luminescent material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 1 which comprises the additional step of determining from the detected luminescent decaying intensity function the temperature of the luminescent material without first calibrating a measurement at a known temperature of the luminescent material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of positioning said quantity of luminescent material comprises the steps of attaching said luminescent material to an end of an optical fiber communication medium and permanently positioning said end in the environment whose temperature is to be measured prior to making any temperature measurement therewith.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said luminescent material is further characterized by emitting a detectable luminescent decaying intensity function over a temperature range of substantially from -100 to +400 degrees centigrade.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said environment is a moving object and said luminescent material is affixed thereto, and further wherein the step of detecting the luminescent decaying intensity function includes the step of imaging its luminescence through the use of optical commutation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of detecting the luminescent decaying intensity function includes the step of communicating said luminescent radiation to a detection station from the luminescent material by an optical system having optical elements that are not physically fixed with respect to either the luminescent material or each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein said luminescent material is of a type made by mixing dry particles of component compounds of the resulting luminescent material, and then firing the mixture at a controlled temperature and in a controlled atmosphere, whereby a material is formed that is a powder which is very homogeneous in its luminescent properties.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
35 words
The method according to any of claims 3, 4, 5, 6 and 16 wherein said luminescent material additionally contains together in a compound with said activator a host of either magnesium germanate or magnesium fluorogermanate.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
27 words
The method according to any of claims 1-5 wherein the activator is present in a concentration within a range of from substantially 0.05 to 5.0 mole percent.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
17 words
The method according to any of claims 1-5 wherein the activator concentration is substantially one mole percent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
120 words
For use with a temperature measuring instrument that generates transient radiation to excite a luminescent material and then measures a decreasing intensity function of the luminescence after termination of the excitation radiation in order to determine the temperature of the the luminescent material, a sensor (1) comprising a length of optical fiber carrying at one end thereof a luminescent material having an activator component consisting essentially of tetravalent manganese and a host component, and (2) being characterized by emitting along the length of the optical fiber, when excited with transient radiation from along the optical fiber, luminescent radiation having an intensity that decreases after termination of the excitation radiation in a manner related to the temperature of the luminescent material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
120 words
For use with a temperature measuring instrument that generates transient radiation to excite a luminescent material and then measures a decreasing intensity function of the luminescence after termination of the excitation radiation in order to determine the temperature of the the luminescent material, a sensor (1) comprising a length of optical fiber carrying at one end thereof a luminescent material having an activator component consisting essentially of tetravalent manganese and a host component, and (2) being characterized by emitting along the length of the optical fiber, when excited with transient radiation from along the optical fiber, luminescent radiation having an intensity that decreases after termination of the excitation radiation in a manner related to the temperature of the luminescent material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
122 words
For use with a temperature measuring instrument that generates transient radiation to excite a luminescent material and then measures a decreasing intensity function of the luminescence after termination of the excitation radiation in order to determine the temperature of the luminescent material, a sensor comprising a substrate adapted to be positioned against a surface whose temperature is to be measured, said substrate having a quantity of luminescent material carried thereby, said luminescent material having a an activator component consisting essentially of tetravalent manganese and a host component, the sensor being characterized by emitting, when excited with transient radiation, luminescent radiation having an intensity that decreases after termination of the excitation radiation in a manner related to the temperature of the luminescent material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
122 words
For use with a temperature measuring instrument that generates transient radiation to excite a luminescent material and then measures a decreasing intensity function of the luminescence after termination of the excitation radiation in order to determine the temperature of the luminescent material, a sensor comprising a substrate adapted to be positioned against a surface whose temperature is to be measured, said substrate having a quantity of luminescent material carried thereby, said luminescent material having a an activator component consisting essentially of tetravalent manganese and a host component, the sensor being characterized by emitting, when excited with transient radiation, luminescent radiation having an intensity that decreases after termination of the excitation radiation in a manner related to the temperature of the luminescent material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
165 words
For use with a temperature measuring instrument that generates transient radiation to excite a liminescent material and then measures a decreasing intensity function of the luminescence after termination of the excitation radiation in order to determine the temperature of the luminescent material, a sensor comprising: an elongated hollow member being open at one end in a manner adapted to receive an end of an optical fiber therethrough, and a quantity of luminescent material being carried by another end of said hollow member in a manner to be in optical communication with said optical fiber through its said end, said luminescent material having a host compoenent and an activator component, the activator component consisting essentially of tetravalent manganese, the sensor being characterized by emitting along the length of the optical fiber, when excited with transient radiation along the optical fiber, liminescent radiation having an intensity that decreases after termination of the excitation radiation in a manner that is related to the temperature of the luminescent material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
165 words
For use with a temperature measuring instrument that generates transient radiation to excite a liminescent material and then measures a decreasing intensity function of the luminescence after termination of the excitation radiation in order to determine the temperature of the luminescent material, a sensor comprising: an elongated hollow member being open at one end in a manner adapted to receive an end of an optical fiber therethrough, and a quantity of luminescent material being carried by another end of said hollow member in a manner to be in optical communication with said optical fiber through its said end, said luminescent material having a host compoenent and an activator component, the activator component consisting essentially of tetravalent manganese, the sensor being characterized by emitting along the length of the optical fiber, when excited with transient radiation along the optical fiber, liminescent radiation having an intensity that decreases after termination of the excitation radiation in a manner that is related to the temperature of the luminescent material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical temperature sensor according to claim 21 which additionally comprises means carried by the substrate for adhering the substrate to said surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
The temperature sensor according to claim 22 wherein said hollow member is closed at its said opposite end and said luminescent material is attached to the closed end with a binder material in a manner to optically communicate with an end of an optical fiber when inserted into the hollow member from its open end.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
77 words
The temperature sensor according to claim 22 wherein said hollow member is also open at its said opposite end and is made from a vitreous or ceramic material, and said luminescent material is fused into the opposite end of the hollow member with a glass binder in a manner to close said opposite end of the hollow member, thereby forming a combination that is able to physically withstand high temperatures, whereby high temperature measurements may be taken.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
89 words
The temperature sensor according to claim 22 which additionally comprises an abutment extending inwardly of said hollow member a distance from said opposite end, said abutment being shaped to engage an end of said optical fiber and hold the hollow member and fiber in a predetermined relative axial position, thereby to form an air chamber in said distance between said luminescent material and said fiber end, whereby surface temperature measurements may be made with the luminescent material at said opposite end of the hollow member held against the surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The temperature sensor according to any of claims 23 and 20-22 wherein the host component of the luminescent material comprises either magnesium germanate or magnesium fluorogermanate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The temperature sensor according to any of claims 20-22 wherein the activator is present in a concentration within a range of from substantially 0.05 to 5.0 mole percent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The temperature sensor according to any of claims 20-22 wherein the activator concentration is substantially one mole percent.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
58 words
The temperature sensor according to any of claims 20-22 wherein the activator concentration is such that the luminescent material is characterized by its decaying luminescent radiation having a decay time of about five milli-seconds for a temperature of the luminescent material of about -200 degrees centigrade and about one milli-second for a temperature of about +400 degrees centigrade.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
230 words
A system for measuring the temperature of an environment, comprising: a quantity of luminescent material adapted to be positioned in thermal communication with said environment, said luminescent material (A) being characterized by emitting, when excited with transient radiation, luminescent radiation having an intensity which decreases after termination of the excitation radiation, and (B) including a luminescent composition having a host component and an activator component, the activator component consisting essentially of tetravalent manganese in a concentration effective to cause the decreasing lumination radiation to have a decay time of about one or a few milliseconds for temperatures of said luminescent material within a range of from about negative 200 degrees centigrade to about positive 400 degrees centigrade, means including a source of transient excitation radiation for exposing said luminescent material to an excitation radiation pulse, thereby causing said luminescent material to luminesce after termination of the pulse with a decreasing intensity function having a decay time that is related to the temperature of the luminescent material, means receiving luminescent radiation of the luminescent material for detecting said decreasing intensity of its luminescent radiation, thereby to generate an electrical signal proportional thereto, and means responsive to said electrical signal for measuring a decreasing characteristic of said electrical signal, thereby to determine a quantity that corresponds to the temperature of the luminescent material and thus also to the temperature of said environment.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
230 words
A system for measuring the temperature of an environment, comprising: a quantity of luminescent material adapted to be positioned in thermal communication with said environment, said luminescent material (A) being characterized by emitting, when excited with transient radiation, luminescent radiation having an intensity which decreases after termination of the excitation radiation, and (B) including a luminescent composition having a host component and an activator component, the activator component consisting essentially of tetravalent manganese in a concentration effective to cause the decreasing lumination radiation to have a decay time of about one or a few milliseconds for temperatures of said luminescent material within a range of from about negative 200 degrees centigrade to about positive 400 degrees centigrade, means including a source of transient excitation radiation for exposing said luminescent material to an excitation radiation pulse, thereby causing said luminescent material to luminesce after termination of the pulse with a decreasing intensity function having a decay time that is related to the temperature of the luminescent material, means receiving luminescent radiation of the luminescent material for detecting said decreasing intensity of its luminescent radiation, thereby to generate an electrical signal proportional thereto, and means responsive to said electrical signal for measuring a decreasing characteristic of said electrical signal, thereby to determine a quantity that corresponds to the temperature of the luminescent material and thus also to the temperature of said environment.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The temperature measuring system according to claim 31 wherein the host component of the luminescent material comprises either magnesium germanate or magnesium fluorogermanate.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
The temperature measuring system according to claim 32 wherein the activator component of the luminescent material has a concentration within a range of from 0.05 to 5.0 mole percent.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The temperature measuring system according to claim 32 wherein the activator component of the luminescent material has a concentration of substantially one mole percent.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
264 words
A system for measuring the temperature of an environment, comprising: a quantity of luminescent material adapted to be positioned in thermal communication with said environment, said luminescent material being in a physical form of a powder held together with a binder and being characterized by emitting, when excited with transient radiation, luminescent radiation having an intensity function continuing in time after termination of the excitation radiation, said intensity function (A) approximating a single repeatable exponential decaying function for each temperature of the luminescent material desired to be measured within a range of temperatures, and (B) being substantially independent of the excitation radiation intensity and any prior illumination or temperature history of the luminescent material, means including a source of transient excitation radiation for exposing said luminescent material to an excitation pulse, thereby causing said luminescent material to luminesce with a decaying intensity function after the pulse that is related to the temperature of the luminescent material, means receiving luminescent radiation of the luminescent material for detecting the decaying intensity of said luminescent radiation, thereby to generate an electrical signal proportional thereto, means responsive to said electrical signal for determining a decay time constant of said electrical signal beginning a particular time after said radiation pulse, thereby to determine a quantity that corresponds to the temperature of the luminescent material and thus also the temperature of said environment, and said source of transient excitation radiation including means responsive to the magnitude of said electrical signal for adjusting the intensity of the excitation pulse in order to maintain said electrical signal within a desired magnitude range.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
264 words
A system for measuring the temperature of an environment, comprising: a quantity of luminescent material adapted to be positioned in thermal communication with said environment, said luminescent material being in a physical form of a powder held together with a binder and being characterized by emitting, when excited with transient radiation, luminescent radiation having an intensity function continuing in time after termination of the excitation radiation, said intensity function (A) approximating a single repeatable exponential decaying function for each temperature of the luminescent material desired to be measured within a range of temperatures, and (B) being substantially independent of the excitation radiation intensity and any prior illumination or temperature history of the luminescent material, means including a source of transient excitation radiation for exposing said luminescent material to an excitation pulse, thereby causing said luminescent material to luminesce with a decaying intensity function after the pulse that is related to the temperature of the luminescent material, means receiving luminescent radiation of the luminescent material for detecting the decaying intensity of said luminescent radiation, thereby to generate an electrical signal proportional thereto, means responsive to said electrical signal for determining a decay time constant of said electrical signal beginning a particular time after said radiation pulse, thereby to determine a quantity that corresponds to the temperature of the luminescent material and thus also the temperature of said environment, and said source of transient excitation radiation including means responsive to the magnitude of said electrical signal for adjusting the intensity of the excitation pulse in order to maintain said electrical signal within a desired magnitude range.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a system for measuring the temperature of an environment by use of a quantity of luminescent material adapted to be positioned in thermal communication with said environment, said luminescent material being characterized by emitting, when excited with transient radiation, luminescent radiation having an intensity function which decreases with time, after termination of the excitation radiation, in a manner related to its temperature, an instrument comprising: means including a source of transient excitation radiation for exposing said luminescent material to a plurality of excitation pulses with time between pulses sufficient to allow said luminescent material to luminesce with a decreasing intensity function that is uniquely related to the temperature of the luminescent material, means receiving luminescent radiation of the luminescent material for detecting the decreasing intensity of said luminescent radiation, thereby to generate an electrical signal proportional thereto, means responsive to said electrical signal for determining a characteristic of the decreasing signal, thereby to determine a quantity that corresponds to the temperature of the luminescent material and thus also to the temperature of said environment, and means responsive to the magnitude of said electrical signal for adjusting the intensity of subsequent excitation pulses in order to maintain said electrical signal within a desired magnitude range.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
205 words
In a system for measuring the temperature of an environment by use of a quantity of luminescent material adapted to be positioned in thermal communication with said environment, said luminescent material being characterized by emitting, when excited with transient radiation, luminescent radiation having an intensity function which decreases with time, after termination of the excitation radiation, in a manner related to its temperature, an instrument comprising: means including a source of transient excitation radiation for exposing said luminescent material to a plurality of excitation pulses with time between pulses sufficient to allow said luminescent material to luminesce with a decreasing intensity function that is uniquely related to the temperature of the luminescent material, means receiving luminescent radiation of the luminescent material for detecting the decreasing intensity of said luminescent radiation, thereby to generate an electrical signal proportional thereto, means responsive to said electrical signal for determining a characteristic of the decreasing signal, thereby to determine a quantity that corresponds to the temperature of the luminescent material and thus also to the temperature of said environment, and means responsive to the magnitude of said electrical signal for adjusting the intensity of subsequent excitation pulses in order to maintain said electrical signal within a desired magnitude range.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of either of claims 35 or 36 wherein said source means and said receiving means include a common length of an optical fiber transmission medium having said luminescent material carried by one end thereof.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination of either of claims 35 or 36 wherein said source means and said receiving means include a common length of an optical fiber transmission medium having said luminescent material carried by one end thereof, and further wherein said luminescent material includes an activator consisting essentially of tetravalent manganese.
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