Distributed UV sensor system and method

• US 20050242290A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EIT 20 LLC
• Original Assignee: Electronic Instrumentation & Technology
• Inventors: Snyder, David C., Casacia, Edward A., McConnell, Matthew J., Raymont, James M., Bostian, Kyle L., May, Joe T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/372
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0271 Housings; Attachments or accessories for photometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/429 applied to measurement of ultraviolet light using counting tubes G01T

Abstract

A radiometer that incorporates multiple UV bandwidth sensors, defined in nanometers, and includes connectors for inserting a cable that is used to connect to another sensor, or to a data collection module (DCM) in a multidrop, or daisy-chain arrangement. Each sensor can be positioned at any point on a three-dimensional work piece, and will receive UV energy at the aperture having an optical component. The collected energy is directed to a detector in the sensor. A processor in the body of the sensor then computes the amount of UV radiation based on signals from the detector. This information is transferred to and stored in a data collection module to which the sensor string is connected. Data stored in the DCM can then be transferred to a computer for display purposes. The sensors and DCM can be tethered to the computer for real-time measurement readings when adjusting the UV lamps.

Claims

1. A UV sensor system, comprising:

a UV sensor comprising an optical system and microprocessor positioned in a housing, said UV sensor detecting UV irradiation; and

a positioner for application to an object, the positioner having a cavity for releasably receiving said UV sensor.

2. The UV sensor system of claim 1, wherein said positioner includes a securing means on a peripheral portion of said cavity which interacts with peripheral surfaces of said housing of said UV sensor.

3. The UV sensor system of claim 1, wherein said UV sensor includes a light emitting diode which can be selectively illuminated.

4. The UV sensor system of claim 1, wherein said positioner has a flange which projects outward from said cavity for securing the positioner to a material.

5. The UV sensor system of claim 1, wherein said cavity of said positioner is a bore hole which extends from a top of said positioner to a bottom of said positioner.

6. The UV sensor system of claim 5, wherein said housing of said UV sensor includes at least one indented region whereby said indented region provides a passage for at least one cable to extend from either a top of said positioner or a bottom of said positioner after said UV sensor is received in said positioner.

7. The UV sensor system of claim 1, wherein said housing of said UV sensor includes at least one indented region whereby said indented region provides a passage for a cable after said UV sensor is received in said positioner.

8. The UV sensor system of claim 7, wherein said UV sensor includes a light emitting diode which can be selectively illuminated, said light emitting diode being located in said indented region of said housing.

9. The UV sensor system of claim 1, wherein said housing of said UV sensor and said cavity of said positioner are substantially circular in shape.

10. A UV sensor system, comprising:

a plurality of UV sensors;

a data collection module for collecting UV irradiation data from said UV sensors; and

cables connecting at least one of said UV sensors to said data collection module, and connecting the remaining UV sensors together.

11. The UV sensor system of claim 10, wherein said data collection module includes a means for storing data from said plurality of sensors.

12. The UV sensor system of claim 10, wherein said data collection module has a means for connection to at least one of a computer and a personal data assistant.

13. The UV sensor system of claim 10, wherein said data collection module has a means for providing UV irradiation data providing data to a computer either as measurements are made or at a point in time after said measurements are made.

14. The UV sensor system of claim 10, wherein said UV irradiation data includes radiant energy density (mJ/cm²) and irradiance (mW/cm²).

15. The UV sensor system of claim 10, wherein each of said UV sensors of said plurality of UV sensors includes an optical system and a microcontroller, said data collection module retrieving said UV irradiation data from said microcontroller of each of said UV sensors.

16. The UV sensor system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of positioners each of said positioners including a cavity for releasably receiving a UV sensor of said plurality of UV sensors.

17. The UV sensor system of claim 16, wherein each positioner and each LTV sensor are shaped so as to create a passage therebetween when said UV sensor is received in said positioner which permits said cable to pass there between.

18. The UV sensor system of claim 17, wherein said passage extends through to a top of said positioner and to a bottom of said positioner.

19. The UV sensor system of claim 10, further comprising a light emitting diode associated with each UV sensor of said plurality of UV sensors.

20. A UV sensor system, comprising:

a plurality of UV sensors, each of said UV sensors including an optical system and a microcontroller; and

a data collecting system for selectively collecting UV irradiation data from each of said plurality of UV sensors.

21. The UV sensor system of claim 20, wherein said data collecting system includes

at least one data collection module connected to at least one of said plurality of UV sensors;

and

a computer for receiving UV irradiation data from said data collection module.

22. The UV sensor system of claim 20, wherein said UV irradiation data includes radiant energy density (mJ/cm²) and irradiance (mW/cm²).

23. A method for detecting UV exposure in three dimensions, comprising the steps of:

distributing a plurality of UV sensors in a three dimensional array wherein at least two of said plurality of UV sensors are oriented at one of different angles, different height dimensions, and different width dimensions relative to each other, each of said plurality of UV sensors including an optical system and a microcontroller;

exposing said three dimensional array to UV irradiation; and

collecting UV irradiation data from each microcontroller of said plurality of UV sensors.

24. The method of claim 24, wherein said plurality of UV sensors are connected to together by cables.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said distributing step includes the step of adding additional UV sensors to said plurality of UV sensors.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said distributing step includes the step of subtracting one or more UV sensors from said plurality of UV sensors.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said distributing step includes the step of securing each of said UV sensors to a three dimensional object.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of storing UV irradiation data in a data collection module which is connected to one of said plurality of UV sensors.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of transmitting UV irradiation data from a data collection module which is connected to one of said plurality of UV sensors to at least one of a computer and a personal data assistant.

28. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of securing is achieved using a plurality of positioners, and includes the step of affixing said positioners to different locations on said three dimensional object, wherein each positioner includes a cavity for releasably receiving one of said plurality of UV sensors.

29. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of affixing includes inserting said positioners into said three dimensional object whereby a top of each of said UV sensors is in an approximate common plane with a surface of said object after it is received in said cavity.