Compact sensor for measuring turbidity or fluorescence in a fluid sample
First Claim
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1. A sensor for measuring turbidity comprising:
- a distal sensing end having;
a vertex region;
a first surface extending from said vertex region and ending at a first surface end point;
a second surface extending from said vertex region and ending at a second surface end point, wherein said first surface and said second surface extend in different directions to form a vertex angle at said vertex region;
a convex-curved outer surface that extends between said first surface end point and said second surface end point;
a distal sensing surface defined by edges of said first surface, said second surface, said vertex region, and said curved outer surface;
wherein a separation distance between said first surface end point and said second surface end point defines a maximum straight line distance on said distal sensing surface;
a distal sensing end volume having a cross-section formed by said vertex region, said first surface, said second surface and said curved outer surface;
an optical system positioned in said distal sensing end volume comprising;
an optical source to generate a beam of electromagnetic radiation;
an emission window through said distal sensing surface in optical communication with said beam of electromagnetic radiation and configured to pass at least a portion of said beam of electromagnetic radiation from said distal sensing end volume through said distal sensing surface to a sample volume adjacent to said distal sensing surface;
a collection window through said distal sensing surface configured to pass at least a portion of an incoming beam of scattered electromagnetic radiation from particles suspended in fluid in the sample chamber in a collection direction to said distal sensing end volume; and
a signal photodetector configured to detect said beam of incoming electromagnetic radiation in said collection direction;
wherein said optical system is positioned in an optical plane that extends substantially perpendicular to said distal sensing surface and that is substantially aligned with a notional line corresponding to said maximum straight line distance.
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Abstract
Provided are turbidometers and fluorometers having a unique form-factor to accommodate a number of optical components in a confined geometry. This provides the ability to compensate for change in light intensity from an optical source even in a closed-loop manner. The ability to package reference and signal detectors, along with a relatively large diameter LED light source in a confined geometry is particularly suited for applications requiring small-diameter sensors, such as multi-parameter sonde devices having a total diameter that is in the sub-two inch range.
55 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A sensor for measuring turbidity comprising:
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a distal sensing end having; a vertex region; a first surface extending from said vertex region and ending at a first surface end point; a second surface extending from said vertex region and ending at a second surface end point, wherein said first surface and said second surface extend in different directions to form a vertex angle at said vertex region; a convex-curved outer surface that extends between said first surface end point and said second surface end point; a distal sensing surface defined by edges of said first surface, said second surface, said vertex region, and said curved outer surface;
wherein a separation distance between said first surface end point and said second surface end point defines a maximum straight line distance on said distal sensing surface;a distal sensing end volume having a cross-section formed by said vertex region, said first surface, said second surface and said curved outer surface; an optical system positioned in said distal sensing end volume comprising; an optical source to generate a beam of electromagnetic radiation; an emission window through said distal sensing surface in optical communication with said beam of electromagnetic radiation and configured to pass at least a portion of said beam of electromagnetic radiation from said distal sensing end volume through said distal sensing surface to a sample volume adjacent to said distal sensing surface; a collection window through said distal sensing surface configured to pass at least a portion of an incoming beam of scattered electromagnetic radiation from particles suspended in fluid in the sample chamber in a collection direction to said distal sensing end volume; and a signal photodetector configured to detect said beam of incoming electromagnetic radiation in said collection direction; wherein said optical system is positioned in an optical plane that extends substantially perpendicular to said distal sensing surface and that is substantially aligned with a notional line corresponding to said maximum straight line distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A sensor for measuring fluorescence comprising:
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a distal sensing end having; a vertex region; a first surface extending from said vertex region and ending at a first surface end point; a second surface extending from said vertex region and ending at a second surface end point, wherein said first surface and said second surface extend in different directions to form a vertex angle at said vertex region; a convex-curved outer surface that extends between said first surface end point and said second surface end point; a distal sensing surface defined by edges of said first surface, said second surface, said vertex region, and said curved outer surface;
wherein a separation distance between said first surface end point and said second surface end point defines a maximum straight line distance on said distal sensing surface;a distal sensing end volume having a cross-section formed by said vertex region, said first surface, said second surface and said curved outer surface; an optical system positioned in said distal sensing end volume comprising; an optical source to generate a beam of electromagnetic radiation; an excitation filter in optical communication with said beam of electromagnetic radiation to generate excitation light having an excitation band of wavelengths; an optical window through said distal sensing surface in optical communication with said beam of electromagnetic radiation and configured to; pass at least a portion of said beam of electromagnetic radiation from said distal sensing end volume through said distal sensing surface to a fluid sample volume adjacent to said distal sensing surface, wherein at least a portion of said excitation band of wavelengths is provided to said fluid sample volume; pass at least a portion of emitted fluorescent electromagnetic radiation from fluorescent molecules suspended in said fluid sample through said distal sensing end volume; an emission filter in optical communication with said emitted fluorescent electromagnetic radiation that passes light of a desired band of wavelengths; a signal photodetector configured to detect said incoming light of the desired emission band of wavelengths; and wherein said optical system is positioned in an optical plane that extends substantially perpendicular to said distal sensing surface and that is substantially aligned with a notional line corresponding to said maximum straight line distance.
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Specification