Optical biofilm probe

• US 10,444,147 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Inventors: Cader, Tahir, Franz, John, Norton, William K
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, Sunghee Y
• Application Number:
  US15/211,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20180017490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 356432-444, 4352887
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4738 Diffuse reflection precedence is given to G01N21/55 - G01N21/57 if specular component is taken into consideration, e.g. also for testing fluids, fibrous materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/59 Transmissivity G01N21/25 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/85 Investigating moving fluids or granular solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/94 Investigating contamination, e.g. dust G01N21/85 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/12 Circuits of general importance; Signal processing

Abstract

Example implementations relate to an optical biofilm probe. For example, in an implementation, the optical biofilm probe may include a light source to project light towards a substrate disposed within a bypass and a detector to detect light from the substrate. Properties of light detected by the detector may be affected by biofilm formation on the substrate. The bypass may be connected in parallel to a conduit of a fluid system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a bypass connected in parallel to a conduit of a liquid-cooling system of a computer;

a valve that, in a closed position, isolates the bypass from flow of the liquid-cooling system;

a substrate disposed within the bypass and in contact with fluid of the liquid-cooling system in the bypass;

an optical biofilm probe at the bypass to detect biofilm formation on the substrate, the optical biofilm probe including;

a light source to project light into the bypass and towards the substrate, and

a detector to detect light from the substrate and output a signal according to detected light, wherein biofilm formation on the substrate affects properties of the detected light; and

a baseboard management controller of the computer to;

actuate the valve to the closed position,

read the signal from the optical biofilm probe when the valve is in the closed position, and

determine whether the signal indicates a presence of biofilm on the substrate.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the baseboard management controller is to provide an alert in response to a determination that the signal indicates the presence of biofilm on the substrate.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a total dissolved solids sensor disposed at the bypass to measure electrical conductivity of fluid in the bypass,

wherein the baseboard management controller is to generate an overall fluid quality measurement of the liquid-cooling system based on the electrical conductivity and the signal of the detector of the optical biofilm probe.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an injection system coupled to the liquid-cooling system,

wherein the baseboard management controller is to control the injection system to deliver an additive into the liquid-cooling system in response to a determination that the signal indicates the presence of biofilm on the substrate.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the baseboard management controller is to read the signal periodically.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source and the detector are disposed on different sides of the bypass,

the substrate is between the light source and the detector for a transmittance measurement by the optical biofilm probe, and

the substrate is non-opaque.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source and the detector are disposed on a same side of the bypass relative to the substrate for a reflectance measurement by the optical biofilm probe.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a material noninhibitive of biofilm formation.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wiper disposed within the bypass to clean the substrate.