SELF-CLEANING LENS

• US 20130334111A1
• Filed: 06/15/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Adam, Quentin Arthur Carl
• Granted Patent: US 9,417,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/85
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00057 provided with means for testing or calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0252 Constructional arrangements for compensating for fluctuations caused by, e.g. temperature, or using cooling or temperature stabilization of parts of the device; Controlling the atmosphere inside a photometer; Purge systems, cleaning devices protection against electromagnetic interferences G01J2001/0276
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0411 using focussing or collimating elements, i.e. lenses or mirrors; Aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/15 Preventing contamination of the components of the optical system or obstruction of the light path
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/85 Investigating moving fluids or granular solids
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B

Abstract

Some embodiments herein generally relate to self-clean lenses, sensor systems, and/or methods of cleaning. In some embodiments, a self-cleaning lens is provided for a sensor for monitoring a liquid.

Claims

1. A sensor device comprising:

a sensor comprising a sensing surface;

a transparent, fluid-permeable lens positioned in front of the sensor; and

a chamber positioned between the sensor and the lens, such that radiation can pass through the transparent, fluid-permeable lens and into the sensor to the sensing surface.

2. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

3. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a laparoscopic sensor.

4. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a transducer.

6. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the transparent, fluid-permeable lens has a refractive index that is similar to water.

7. The sensor device of claim 1 wherein the transparent, fluid-permeable lens is positioned at a first end of the chamber, and the sensor is positioned at an opposite end of the chamber.

10. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is substantially impermeable to a fluid.

11. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the chamber is positioned to permit the transmission of electromagnetic radiation through the transparent, fluid-permeable lens and into the sensor.

12. The sensor device of claim 11, wherein at least one surface of the chamber is formed by the transparent, fluid-permeable lens.

13. The sensor device of claim 12, wherein at least one surface of the chamber is formed by a surface abutting the sensor.

14. The sensor device of claim 13, wherein the surface abutting the sensor is water impermeable.

18. The sensor device of claim 1, further comprising a source of electromagnetic radiation.

19. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is in electrical communication with a processor.

21. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a solvent.

5. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

22. A method of cleaning a sensing device, the method comprising:

providing a sensor;

providing a fluid-permeable lens; and

providing a fluid between the sensor and the fluid-permeable lens and allowing the fluid to pass through the fluid-permeable lens, thereby creating a fluid boundary on an outer surface of the lens to clean the outer surface of the lens.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a surface of the lens is in contact with a contaminated liquid.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the contaminated liquid is greywater.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the fluid is under hydraulic pressure.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the fluid comprises at least one of water or an alcohol.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the lens comprises at least one pore and wherein the fluid passes through the at least one pore in the lens.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one pore has a diameter of no more than 100 micrometers.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the fluid is provided between the sensor and the fluid-permeable lens by delivery of the fluid to a chamber located between the sensor and the fluid-permeable lens.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the fluid comprises water.

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. A water-permeable lens comprising a water-permeable membrane, wherein the membrane is transparent to at least one wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, wherein the membrane has a refractive index substantially identical to a refractive index of water, and wherein the membrane allows water to passively pass through the lens at a rate of at least 1 liter per day.

38. The lens of claim 37, wherein the lens comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

39. The lens of claim 38, wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene is foamed.

40. The lens of claim 37, wherein the lens comprises at least one pore.

41. The lens of claim 40 wherein the at least one pore has a diameter of no more than 100 micrometers.

42. A greywater monitoring system, the system comprising:

an optical sensor;

a fluid-permeable lens;

a source of cleaning fluid in fluid communication with the fluid-permeable lens; and

a greywater channel, wherein the optical sensor is in optical communication with the channel via the fluid-permeable lens.

43. (canceled)

44. (canceled)