In situ small particle diagnostics
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Particle stream diagnostic apparatus comprising:
- means for illuminating a cross-section of said particle stream with polarized coherent light directed along a lateral axis traversing said stream and cross-section;
means for generating a first electrical signal representing light flux from said illuminating means transmitted across said cross-section through said particle stream;
means located at a predetermined scattering angle with respect to the plane of said cross-section lateral axis and said stream for collecting particle scattered light originating in multiple locations of said illuminated cross-section as first light signals;
means for segregating said first light signals into component second and third signals of dissimilar polarization angles;
means for segregating said second and third light signals over an image plane, each said image plane light signal including geometrically identifiable signal areas originating respectively in light form said cross-section multiple locations;
means for transducing said signal areas in said second and third light signals on said image plane into second and third electrical signal pairs; and
means for analyzing a plurality of said first, second and third electrical signals.
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Abstract
Small particle diagnostic apparatus employing illumination by coherent light of high polarization ratio, polarized separation of the reflected particle scatter optical signals and the ability to consider particles in plural locations of a diagnostic aperture aided by use of a vidicon or other position-sensitive transducer device and an optional image intensifier device. Digital storage and analysis of the particle scatter data and computer control of the optical and analysis sequences are contemplated.
53 Citations
35 Claims
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1. Particle stream diagnostic apparatus comprising:
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means for illuminating a cross-section of said particle stream with polarized coherent light directed along a lateral axis traversing said stream and cross-section; means for generating a first electrical signal representing light flux from said illuminating means transmitted across said cross-section through said particle stream; means located at a predetermined scattering angle with respect to the plane of said cross-section lateral axis and said stream for collecting particle scattered light originating in multiple locations of said illuminated cross-section as first light signals; means for segregating said first light signals into component second and third signals of dissimilar polarization angles; means for segregating said second and third light signals over an image plane, each said image plane light signal including geometrically identifiable signal areas originating respectively in light form said cross-section multiple locations; means for transducing said signal areas in said second and third light signals on said image plane into second and third electrical signal pairs; and means for analyzing a plurality of said first, second and third electrical signals. - 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)
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30. A method for particle stream scattering diagnosis comprising the steps of:
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illuminating a cross-section of said particle stream with polarized coherent light directed along a lateral axis transversing said stream and cross-section; generating a first electrical signal representing light transmitted across said cross-section through said particle stream; collecting particle scattered light originating in multiple locations within said cross-section and directed at a predetermined scattering angle with respect to the plane of said cross-section lateral axis and said stream into first light signals; segregating said first light signals into component second and third signals of dissimilar polarization; mapping said second and third light signals onto an image plane, each said image plane light signal including geometrically identifiable signal areas originating respectively in light from said cross-section and multiple locations; transducing said signal areas in said second and third light signals on said image plane into second and third electrical signals; and analyzing a plurality of said first, second and third electrical signals for particle population related variations. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. Particle stream diagnostic signal generating apparatus comprising:
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laser means for illuminating a cross-section of said particle stream with coherent polarized light directed along an axis transverse of said cross section; means located at a predetermined angle with respect to said cross section axis and said stream for collecting the particle scattered light originating in plural locations of said illuminated cross section into first optical signals; means for segregating said first light signals into a second and third signal pair of component optical signals of orthogonal polarization vectors; means for projecting said second and third component optical signals over a common image plane, said image plane receiving a second and third optical signal pair for each said cross-section location first optical signal; and means for transducing said second and third optical signal pairs into electrical signal pairs. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification