US5331168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reference grade solar ultraviolet band pyranometer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-02-19
•
Granted: 1994-07-19
•
Expires: 2012-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A low-cost, reference grade pyranometer responsive to radiation in a band such as ultraviolet-B embodies unexpected and efficient construction. Large arrays or other multisensor systems are consequently available to a greater range of users. A dome constructed of UV-transmissive material has mounted therein a UV-pass "black glass" filter which transmits UV-B to a phosphor layer. The phosphor absorbs UV-B and re-emits it as predominantly green visible light. A green filter, which is "solar blind," i.e. non-transmissive to reds in the solar spectrum, transmits light to a solid state photodiode. The solid state photodiode has peak sensitivity in the green portion of the spectrum and rejects substantially all red leakage. Critical parameters such as the density and thickness of the phosphor and temperature compensation of the pyranometer combine to provide for a simplified pyranometer having great precision in measuring bands such as UV-B compared to the prior art.
Inventors
- 👤 David J. Beaubien
- 👤 Arthur F. Beaubien
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/02; G01J1/0252; G01J1/42; G01J1/58; G01J1/429; G01J2001/4266; G01J2001/4285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A pyranometer comprising, in combination: a housing means having a dome constructed of UV-transmissive material, a detector means including a UV-pass "black glass" filter for transmitting UV-B radiation, a phosphor layer for absorbing said UV-B radiation and reemitting visible radiation in a portion of the visible spectrum blocked by said "black glass" filter, a glass filter for passing light emitted by said phosphor and for blocking red light, a solid state photodiode receiving light from said phosphor, said solid state photodiode selected to have a peak response at a wavelength not longer than green, said response rapidly dropping off at longer wavelengths, for producing an output in correspondence with the intensity of UV-B radiation on said phosphor layer, whereby the pyranometer is solar blind, and thermal stabilization means for maintaining said detector means at a preselected temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A pyranometer comprising, in combination: a housing means having a dome constructed of UV-transmissive material, a detector means including a UV-pass "black glass" filter for transmitting UV-B radiation, a phosphor layer for absorbing said UV-B radiation and reemitting visible radiation in a portion of the visible spectrum blocked by said "black glass" filter, a glass filter for passing light emitted by said phosphor and for blocking red light, a solid state photodiode receiving light from said phosphor, said solid state photodiode selected to have a peak response at a wavelength not longer than green, said response rapidly dropping off at longer wavelengths, for producing an output in correspondence with the intensity of UV-B radiation on said phosphor layer, whereby the pyranometer is solar blind, and thermal stabilization means for maintaining said detector means at a preselected temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The pyranometer of claim 1 wherein said thermal stabilization means comprises a thermal mass surrounding said detector means, and further comprises means for thermally insulating said thermal mass from said housing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The pyranometer of claim 2 wherein said thermal stabilization means comprises heater means surrounding said thermal mass, for heating said thermal mass sensing means for sensing the temperature of said thermal mass and proportional control means responsive to said sensor means for regulating said heater means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pyranometer of claim 3 wherein the preselected temperature provided by said thermal stabilization means is selected to be above a temperature selected to correspond to ambient temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pyranometer of claim 4 wherein said phosphor is selected to have an approximate mean particle diameter of approximately 4 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pyranometer of claim 1 wherein said phosphor comprises MgWO 4 having areal density and mean particle diameter selected for optimal response to UV-B.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pyranometer of claim 6 wherein said phosphor is selected to have an areal density of approximately 0.6 mg/cm 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pyranometer of claim 7 wherein said phosphor is selected to have an approximate mean particle diameter of approximately 4 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The pyranometer of claim 8 wherein said thermal stabilization means comprises a thermal mass surrounding said detector means, and further comprises means for thermally insulating said thermal mass from said housing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The pyranometer of claim 9 wherein said thermal stabilization means comprises heater means surrounding said thermal mass for heating said thermal mass, sensing means for sensing the temperature of said thermal mass and proportional control means responsive to said sensor means for regulating said heater means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
A pyranometer comprising, in combination: a housing means having a dome constructed of UV-transmissive material, a detector means including a UV-pass "black glass" filter for transmitting a selected UV band of radiation, a phosphor layer for absorbing radiation in the selected band and reemitting visible radiation in a portion of the visible spectrum blocked by said "black glass" filter, a glass for passing light emitted by said phosphor and for blocking red light, a solid state photodiode receiving light from said phosphor, said solid state photodiode selected to have a peak response at a wavelength not longer than green, said response rapidly dropping off at longer wavelengths, for producing an output in correspondence with the intensity of radiation in the selected band on said phosphor layer, whereby the pyranometer is solar blind, and thermal stabilization means for maintaining said detector means at a preselected temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
145 words
A pyranometer comprising, in combination: a housing means having a dome constructed of UV-transmissive material, a detector means including a UV-pass "black glass" filter for transmitting a selected UV band of radiation, a phosphor layer for absorbing radiation in the selected band and reemitting visible radiation in a portion of the visible spectrum blocked by said "black glass" filter, a glass for passing light emitted by said phosphor and for blocking red light, a solid state photodiode receiving light from said phosphor, said solid state photodiode selected to have a peak response at a wavelength not longer than green, said response rapidly dropping off at longer wavelengths, for producing an output in correspondence with the intensity of radiation in the selected band on said phosphor layer, whereby the pyranometer is solar blind, and thermal stabilization means for maintaining said detector means at a preselected temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The pyranometer of claim 11 wherein said selected UV band is UV-A.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The pyranometer of claim 12 wherein said thermal stabilization means comprises a thermal mass surrounding said detector means, and further comprises means for thermally insulating said thermal mass from said housing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The pyranometer of claim 13 wherein said thermal stabilization means comprises heater means surrounding said thermal mass for heating said thermal mass, sensing means for sensing the temperature of said thermal mass and proportional control means responsive to said sensor means for regulating said heater means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The pyranometer of claim 14 wherein the preselected temperature provided by said thermal stabilization means is selected to be above a temperature selected to correspond to ambient temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pyranometer of claim 15 wherein said phosphor is selected to have an approximate mean particle diameter of approximately 4 microns.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pyranometer of claim 14 wherein said phosphor is selected to have an areal density of approximately 0.6 mg/cm 2 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pyranometer of claim 17 wherein said phosphor is selected to have an approximate mean particle diameter of approximately 4 microns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3838282A
Cited
US3891849A
Cited
US4010372A
Cited
US4472635A
Cited
US4486486A
Cited
US4882598A
Cited
US4851685A
Cited
US4935631A
Cited
US4914303A
Cited
US4825078A
Cited
US5036311A
Cited
US4891527A
Cited
US5107123A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-01-17 | 1998-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-18 | 2002-01-17 | 2002-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-01-17 | 2006-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |