Fluid analysis using digital imagery
First Claim
1. A system for analyzing fluid comprising:
- a housing having first and second opposing surfaces spaced to form a fluid chamber;
a light source disposed to direct light at the first surface of the housing;
a digital imaging circuit disposed to detect light at the second surface of the housing, said digital imaging circuit having a pixel array configured to capture one or more digital images of an illuminated fluid; and
a processor configured to;
capture multiple digital images of the light through the fluid at different camera exposure levels;
calculate a net radiant energy value at each of a plurality of different integration times within at least two images;
calculate a slope of the net radiant energy values with respect to integration time in a selected image; and
determine a particle size distribution and volume fraction of particles within the fluid based on the calculated slope.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for analyzing fluid includes a housing having first and second opposing surfaces spaced to form a fluid chamber, a light source disposed to direct light at the first surface of the housing; and a digital imaging circuit disposed to detect light at the second surface of the housing. The digital imaging circuit includes a pixel array configured to capture one or more digital images of an illuminated fluid. The system also includes a processor configured to: capture multiple digital images of the fluid at different camera exposure levels, calculate a net radiant energy value at a plurality of different integration times within at least two images, calculate a slope of the net radiant energy value with respect to integration time in a selected image, and determine size distribution and volume fraction of particles within the fluid based on the calculated slope.
14 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for analyzing fluid comprising:
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a housing having first and second opposing surfaces spaced to form a fluid chamber; a light source disposed to direct light at the first surface of the housing; a digital imaging circuit disposed to detect light at the second surface of the housing, said digital imaging circuit having a pixel array configured to capture one or more digital images of an illuminated fluid; and a processor configured to; capture multiple digital images of the light through the fluid at different camera exposure levels; calculate a net radiant energy value at each of a plurality of different integration times within at least two images; calculate a slope of the net radiant energy values with respect to integration time in a selected image; and determine a particle size distribution and volume fraction of particles within the fluid based on the calculated slope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for analyzing a fluid comprising:
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illuminating a fluid sample with a light source; capturing, with a digital camera circuit, a plurality of digital images of the illuminated fluid sample at different camera exposure levels; calculating, with a processing circuit, a net radiant energy value at each of a plurality of different integration times within at least two images; calculating, with the processing circuit, a slope of the net radiant energy values with respect to integration time in a selected image; determining a size distribution of particles within the fluid sample based on the calculated slope. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification