Cooled mounting for light detector

• US 20030098412A1
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Gentala, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,903,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/238
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2252 in a vehicle exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2264 with dilution
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3155 Measuring in two spectral ranges, e.g. UV and visible
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3174 Filter wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3513 Open path with an instrumental source
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/33 using ultraviolet light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/534 by measuring transmission alone, i.e. determining opacity

Abstract

A new type of mounting mechanism for a light detector that cools the mounting for a light detector such that the maximum efficiency of the light detector'"'"'s internal cooler can be achieved despite an elevated enclosure temperature, leading to more stable measurements of light from the detector. This same mounting provides thermal isolation from a baseplate, to which other optical path components are attached.

Claims

1. A bisected mounting for a light detector comprising:

a baseplate;

an insulating member attached to said baseplate; and

a detector side attached to said insulating member, wherein said insulating member thermally isolates said baseplate from said detector side.

2. The bisected mounting as recited in claim 1 further comprising thermal conductors on said baseplate.

3. The bisected mounting as recited in claim 1 further comprising a cooling device located on said detector side.

4. The bisected mounting as recited in claim 3 wherein said cooling device is a thermoelectric cooling device.

5. The bisected mounting as recited in claim 3 wherein said cooling device is a liquid cooling device.

6. The bisected mounting as recited in claim 1 wherein said baseplate is made of aluminum.

7. The bisected mounting as recited in claim 1 wherein said baseplate is coated in areas that are not in contact with said insulating member.

8. The bisected mounting as recited in claim 7 wherein said coating is a powder coating.

9. The bisected mounting as recited in claim 7 wherein said coating is an anodized coating.

10. The bisected mounting as recited in claim 1 further comprising fiber washers located between said insulating member and said baseplate, and between said insulating member and said detector side.

11. The bisected mounting as recited in claim 1 further comprising thermal grease located between said insulating member and said baseplate, and between said insulating member and said detector side.

12. A method for keeping a detector side of a bisected mount of a light detector cool comprising the steps of:

detecting a signal on the detector side of the light detector;

transmitting said signal to a baseplate side of the light detector that is thermally isolated from the detector side by an insulating member.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of cooling said baseplate using thermal conductors on said baseplate.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising cooling the detector side using a cooling device.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of cooling the detector side using a thermoelectric cooler.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of cooling the detector side using a liquid cooling device.

17. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said signal is transmitted to an aluminum baseplate.

18. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said signal is transmitted to said baseplate, said baseplate having a coating in areas that are not in contact with said insulating member.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said signal is transmitted to said baseplate having a powder coating.

20. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said signal is transmitted to said baseplate having an anodized coating.

21. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said signal is transmitted to said baseplate having fiber washers located between said insulating member and said baseplate, and between said insulating member and said detector side.

22. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said signal is transmitted to said baseplate having thermal grease located between said insulating member and said baseplate, and between said insulating member and said detector side.

23. A system for keeping a detector side of a bisected mount of a light detector cool comprising:

a means for detecting a signal on the detector side of the light detector;

a means for transmitting said signal to a baseplate side of the light detector that is thermally isolated from the detector side by an insulating member.

24. The system as recited in claim 23 further comprising a means for cooling said baseplate using thermal conductors on said baseplate.

25. The system as recited in claim 23 further comprising a means for cooling the detector side using a cooling device.

26. The system as recited in claim 23 further comprising a means for cooling the detector side using a thermoelectric cooler.

27. The system as recited in claim 23 further comprising a means for cooling the detector side using a liquid cooling device.

28. The system as recited in claim 23 wherein said transmitting means transmits said signal to said baseplate, said baseplate having being made of aluminum.

29. The system as recited in claim 23 wherein said transmitting means transmits said signal to said baseplate, said baseplate having a coating in areas that are not in contact with said insulating member.

30. The system as recited in claim 23 wherein said transmitting means transmits said signal said baseplate, said baseplate having a powder coating.

31. The system as recited in claim 23 wherein said transmitting means transmits said signal to said baseplate, said baseplate having an anodized coating.

32. The system as recited in claim 23 wherein said transmitting means transmits said signal to said baseplate, said baseplate having fiber washers located between said insulating member and said baseplate, and between said insulating member and said detector side.

33. The system as recited in claim 23 wherein said transmitting means transmits said signal to said baseplate, said baseplate having thermal grease located between said insulating member and said baseplate, and between said insulating member and said detector side.