US4989970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-contact sensing apparatus and method for temperature profile and thickness determination and control of radiation translucent materials
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-04-26
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Granted: 1991-02-05
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Expires: 2009-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A device and method are provided for determining the bulk (average) temperature, surface temperature, temperature profile, and thickness of radiation translucent materials. These material functions are determined by evaluation of the intensity of the radiation emitted from the material using two detectors with a radiation source placed in the optical path of one of the detectors. The data is taken at several intensities of source radiation and reduced to obtain the bulk temperature and material thickness. The second detector is used to measure the surface temperature. These data are then used to determine the temperature profile in the material.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory A. Campbell
- 👤 Bangshu Cao
- 👤 Paul A. Sweeney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/02; G01B11/06; G01B11/0691; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/48; G01J5/485; G01J5/58; G01J5/0022; G01J2005/0029; G01J5/60; G01J5/602
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for temperature profile determination in radiation translucent materials of arbitrary thickness comprising: an optical path for radiation to pass through the material; means of irradiating the material with a variable intensity radiation source such that radiation passes through the material; means of detecting the level of said radiation transmitted through the material, said detecting means generating an electrical signal responsive to the intensity of said transmitted radiation; a means for providing the surface temperature(s) of the material; computing means for receiving electrical signals from the radiation detection means and operating thereon for the determination of the material apparent transmissivity, apparent emissivity, and average (bulk) temperature of said material; computing means used in conjunction with said surface temperature(s) and average temperature, operating thereon for the calculation of temperature profiles and thickness of said material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for temperature profile determination in radiation translucent materials of arbitrary thickness comprising: an optical path for radiation to pass through the material; means of irradiating the material with a variable intensity radiation source such that radiation passes through the material; means of detecting the level of said radiation transmitted through the material, said detecting means generating an electrical signal responsive to the intensity of said transmitted radiation; a means for providing the surface temperature(s) of the material; computing means for receiving electrical signals from the radiation detection means and operating thereon for the determination of the material apparent transmissivity, apparent emissivity, and average (bulk) temperature of said material; computing means used in conjunction with said surface temperature(s) and average temperature, operating thereon for the calculation of temperature profiles and thickness of said material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus of claim 1 in which the surface temperature data providing means comprises a radiation detecting device for generating electrical signals responsive to the material's radiation in the proximity of the surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus of claim 1 in which said radiation detection means operates to generate a signal responsive to the radiation energy of both the radiation source and the material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus of claim 1 where said means of irradiating comprises a variable intensity radiation device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus of claim 1 where the means of providing the radiation and the means for generating the signal as a function of radiation intensity are mounted on structures such that they can move in relationship to the monitored material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus of claim 1 where the means for providing the radiation and the means for generating the radiation signal and operated thereon to determine the apparent emissivity, apparent transmissivity, and temperature of a polymer film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus of claim 1 where the means for providing the radiation and the means for generating the radiation signal are operated thereon to determine the apparent emissivity, apparent transmissivity, and temperature of materials of unknown thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus of claim 1 where the means of generation of the radiation signal is a detector in approximately the 1.8 to 3.0 micron wavelength and the means for providing the radiation is a variable temperature black body and the means for collecting and operating on the data is a computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus of claim 1 where the computational means operates for determination of apparent emissivity, apparent transmissivity, and temperature and further operates to determine the material thickness.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus of claim 1 in which said surface temperature data providing means comprises an infrared detecting device operating at approximately 3.43 micron wavelength for generating electrical signals responsive to the material's surface radiation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus of claim 1 where the computational means operates for determination of apparent emissivity, apparent transmissivity, and temperature and material thickness which are to be utilized for process control.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for thickness determination and temperature profile determination of a radiation translucent material comprising: transmitting radiation at multiple intensities through said material; measuring the intensity of the radiation transmitted through said material; providing data with respect to surface temperature of said material and determining using computer means multiple intensity measurements, and temperature data, an apparent emissivity, average material temperature, and a material thickness by using apparent emissivity-temperature-thickness data; determination by computer means, utilizing said surface temperature data, average temperature, and thickness, a temperature profile across said material.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for thickness determination and temperature profile determination of a radiation translucent material comprising: transmitting radiation at multiple intensities through said material; measuring the intensity of the radiation transmitted through said material; providing data with respect to surface temperature of said material and determining using computer means multiple intensity measurements, and temperature data, an apparent emissivity, average material temperature, and a material thickness by using apparent emissivity-temperature-thickness data; determination by computer means, utilizing said surface temperature data, average temperature, and thickness, a temperature profile across said material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 12 in which said data providing step comprises: measuring the intensities of the radiation transmitted through the surface at multiple source intensities, determining the average bulk temperature; and correlation of said intensities or temperature with the surface temperature value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 12 where the determined temperature and/or thickness are used as process control parameters.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4502793A
Cited
US4522510A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-04 | 1994-08-06 | 1995-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-04 | 1998-08-06 | 1999-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-04 | 2002-08-06 | 2003-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |