US5362971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic detection system
Assignee: Terrascope Systems Inc
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Filing: 1993-03-10
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Granted: 1994-11-08
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Expires: 2013-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A fiber optic detection system in which a single optic fiber has a U-shaped configuration. A source of light is disposed at one upper free end of the optic fiber and a light detector is disposed at the other upper free end of the optic fiber. At the bottom of the optic fiber is a light variable loop adapted to be disposed in various media, such as liquids, fluids and air. The light from the source of light is conducted from the source of light through the optic fiber and to the light detector. The quantum of light lost as the light travels through the light variable loop will depend on the medium or the concentration of the medium in which the light variable loop is disposed. The light detector detects the light advancing thereto to produce a signal representative of the medium or the concentration of the medium in which the light variable loop is disposed. An electronic circuit with a microprocessor is responsive to the signal produced by the light detector for determining the medium or the concentration of the medium in which the light variable loop is disposed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. McMahon
- 👤 Robert B. McCullough
- 👤 Victor Ivashin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/41; G01N21/43; G01N21/431; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S250/00; Y10S250/90; Y10S250/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A fiber optic detecting system comprising: (a) an optic fiber element having intermediate the ends thereof a continuous light variable section; (b) a source of light disposed at one end of said optic fiber element for providing light for conduction through said optic fiber element; and (c) a light detector disposed at the other end of said optic fiber element for detecting the quantum of light passing through said light variable section and producing an output signal representative of the quantum of light detected; (d) said light variable section being adapted to be disposed in a medium and the quantum of light travelling from said light variable section to said light detector being dependent on the light absorption characteristics of the medium in which said light variable section is disposed, said light detector producing a signal representative of the medium in which said light variable section is disposed; and (e) an electronic circuit having a microcomputer connected to said light detector and responsive to the output signal of said light detector for measuring the quantum of light resulting from the light absorption characteristics of the medium in which said light variable section is disposed for determining the medium in which said light variable section is disposed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A fiber optic detecting system comprising: (a) an optic fiber element having intermediate the ends thereof a continuous light variable section; (b) a source of light disposed at one end of said optic fiber element for providing light for conduction through said optic fiber element; and (c) a light detector disposed at the other end of said optic fiber element for detecting the quantum of light passing through said light variable section and producing an output signal representative of the quantum of light detected; (d) said light variable section being adapted to be disposed in a medium and the quantum of light travelling from said light variable section to said light detector being dependent on the light absorption characteristics of the medium in which said light variable section is disposed, said light detector producing a signal representative of the medium in which said light variable section is disposed; and (e) an electronic circuit having a microcomputer connected to said light detector and responsive to the output signal of said light detector for measuring the quantum of light resulting from the light absorption characteristics of the medium in which said light variable section is disposed for determining the medium in which said light variable section is disposed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 1 in which said optic fiber element is a single optic fiber element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light variable section is a light variable loop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said light variable section has the configuration of a light variable loop.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said optic fiber element has a U-shaped configuration with downwardly extending legs, said light variable loop of said optic fiber element being adjoined to the lower ends of said legs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said optic fiber element has a generally U-shaped configuration with downwardly extending legs, said light variable loop of said optic fiber element being adjoined to the lower ends of said legs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said light variable loop has an arcuate section with radii of predetermined dimension.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said light variable loop has an arcuate section with radii of predetermined dimension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said optic fiber element comprises opaque means surrounding said legs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said optic fiber element comprises opaque means surrounding said legs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said microcomputer is connected to said source of light and said light detector for regulating the intensity of light emitted by said source of light and for measuring the quantum of light detected by said light detector for determining the medium in which said light variable section is disposed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said electronic circuit comprises a digital-to-analog converter interconnecting said microcomputer and said source of light to adjust the intensity of light emitted by said source of light and an analog-to-digital converter interconnecting said light detector and said microcomputer for measuring the quantum of light detected by said light detector, said microcomputer in responding to the signal representing the quantum of light from said analog-to-digital converter determines the medium in which said light variable section is disposed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said electronic circuit comprises memory means connected to said digital-to-analog converter and said analog-to-digital converter for recording the input signals to said digital-to-analog converter adjusting the light intensity of said source of light and for recording the output signal of said analog-to-digital converter to measure the quantum of light detected by said light detector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said microcomputer is connected to said light detector for detecting the quantum of light escaping through said light variable loop to determine the medium in which said light variable loop is disposed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said microcomputer is connected to said light detector for detecting the quantum of light escaping through said light variable loop to determine the medium in which said light variable loop is disposed, the loss of light being commensurate with the light refraction characteristic of said medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said light variable section has a curved configuration and the light escaping through said light variable loop is related to the curvature of said light variable section and the light refraction characteristic of the medium in which said light variable section is disposed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said light variable section has a curved configuration and the light escaping through said light variable loop is related to the curvature of said light variable section and the light refraction characteristic of the medium in which said light variable section is disposed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said detection of the quantum of light escaping from said variable loop enables said microcomputer to measure the index of refraction of the medium in which said light variable loop is disposed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A fiber optic detection as claimed in claim 15 wherein said detection of the quantum of light escaping from said variable loop enables said microcomputer to measure the index of refraction of the medium in which said light variable loop is disposed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 3 and comprising a protective cover in which said light variable loop is disposed for protecting said light vaiable loop against marring, said protective cover being formed with openings therein to dispose said light variable loop in the medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 4 and comprising a protective cover in which said light variable loop is disposed for protecting said light variable loop against marring, said protective cover being formed with openings therein to dispose said light variable loop in the medium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said microcomputer is connected to said source of light for turning said source of light alternately on and off in predetermined time intervals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 1 and comprising cladding surrounding said light variable section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
A fiber optic detection system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said optic fiber element has downwardly extending legs and said light variable loop of said optic fiber element being adjoined to the lower ends of said legs, said fiber optic detection system comprising cladding disposed around said legs and said light variable section, said fiber optic detection system comprising a protective cover surrounding the cladding disposed around said legs.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-07 | 1998-05-09 | 1998-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-07 | 2002-05-09 | 2002-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-07 | 2006-05-09 | 2006-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |