Optoelectronics system for measuring environmental properties having plural feedback detectors
First Claim
1. A system for measuring at least one property of an environment comprising:
- a first light source for generating light at a first wavelength;
first feedback means coupled to the first light source for maintaining the light from the first light source at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary;
a second light source for generating light at a second wavelength;
second feedback means coupled to the second light source for maintaining the light from the second light source at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary;
a sensor to be placed in an environment, the sensor being responsive to a change in a property of the environment, the sensor generating first and second optical output signals representing a change in the light from the first and second light sources, respectively, due to a property of the environment;
means for transmitting light from the first and second light sources to the sensor;
a detector for detecting the first and second optical output signals;
means for transmitting the first and second optical output signals from the sensor to the detector; and
computation means coupled to the detector for determining the value of the property of the environment from the first and second optical output signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optoelectronic system for measuring at least one property of an environment includes a first light source for generating light at a first wavelength, first feedback means coupled to the first light source for maintaining the light from the first light source at a substantially constant level, a second light source for generating light at a second wavelength, second feedback means coupled to the second light source for maintaining the light from the second light source at a substantially constant level, a sensor to be placed in an environment, the sensor being responsive to a change in a property of an environment, the sensor generating first and second optical output signals representing a change in the light from the first and second light sources, respectively, due to a property of the environment, an optical waveguide for transmitting light from the first and second light sources to the sensor, a detector for detecting the first and second optical output signals, an optical waveguide for transmitting the first and second optical output signals from the sensor to the detector and apparatus coupled to the detector for determining the value of the property of the environment from the first and second optical output signals.
47 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for measuring at least one property of an environment comprising:
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a first light source for generating light at a first wavelength; first feedback means coupled to the first light source for maintaining the light from the first light source at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; a second light source for generating light at a second wavelength; second feedback means coupled to the second light source for maintaining the light from the second light source at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; a sensor to be placed in an environment, the sensor being responsive to a change in a property of the environment, the sensor generating first and second optical output signals representing a change in the light from the first and second light sources, respectively, due to a property of the environment; means for transmitting light from the first and second light sources to the sensor; a detector for detecting the first and second optical output signals; means for transmitting the first and second optical output signals from the sensor to the detector; and computation means coupled to the detector for determining the value of the property of the environment from the first and second optical output signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 9, 10)
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4. A system for measuring pH, PCO2 and PO2 of an environment comprising:
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a first light source for generating light at a first wavelength; first feedback means coupled to the first light source for maintaining the light from the first light source at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; a second light source for generating light at a second wavelength; second feedback means coupled to the second light source for maintaining the light from the second light source at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; a third light source for generating light at a third wavelength; third feedback means coupled to the third light source for maintaining the light from the third light source at substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; a pH sensitive sensor to be placed in an environment, the pH sensor generating first and second optical output signals representing a change in the light from the first and second sources, respectively, due to the pH of the environment; first means for transmitting light from the first and second light sources to the pH sensor; a first detector for detecting the first and second optical output signals; second means for transmitting the first and second optical output signals from the pH sensor to the first detector; a PCO2 sensitive sensor to be placed in an environment, the PCO2 sensor generating third and fourth optical output signals representing a change in the light from the first and second light sources, respectively, due to the PCO2 of the environment; third means for transmitting light from the first and second light sources to the PCO2 sensor; a second detector for detecting the third and fourth optical output signals; fourth means for transmitting the third and fourth optical output signals from the PCO2 sensor to the second detector; a P02 sensitive sensor to be placed in an environment, the P02 sensor generating fifth and sixth optical output signals representing a change in the light from the second and third light sources, respectively, due to the PO2 of the environment; fifth means for transmitting light from the second and third light sources to the P02 sensor; a third detector for detecting the fifth and sixth optical output signals; sixth means for transmitting the fifth and sixth optical output signals from the P02 sensor to the third detector; and computation means coupled to the detectors for determining the values of the pH, PCO2 and PO2 of the environment from the first and second optical output signals, the third and fourth optical output signals, and the fifth and sixth optical output signals, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method for measuring at least one property of an environment comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating light at a first wavelength; (b) maintaining the light at a first wavelength at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; (c) generating light at a second wavelength; (d) maintaining the light at the second wavelength at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; (e) generating first and second optical output signals representing a change in the light at the first and second wavelengths, respectively, due to a property of the environment; (f) detecting the first and second optical output signals; and (g) computing the value of the property of the environment from the first and second optical output signals. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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11. A system for measuring at least one property of an environment comprising:
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a first light source for generating light at a first wavelength; first feedback means coupled to the first light source for maintaining the light from the first light source at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; a second light source for generating light at a second wavelength; second feedback means coupled to the second light source for maintaining the light from the second light source at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; a sensor to be placed in an environment, the sensor being responsive to a change in a property of the environment, the sensor generating first and second optical output signals representing a change in the light from the first and second light sources, respectively, due to a property of the environment; means for transmitting light from the first and second light sources to the sensor; a detector for detecting the first and second optical output signals; means for transmitting the first and second optical output signals from the sensor to the detector; and computation means coupled to the detector for determining the value of the property of the environment from the first and second optical output signals; wherein said first feedback means comprises; a first reference detector for detecting the light from the first light source and producing a first reference signal in response to the light from said first light source; a first comparator coupled to the first reference detector for comparing the first reference signal with a first reference value, the first comparator generating a first error signal in response to the difference between the first reference signal and the first reference value; and a first current controlling means operatively connected to said first light source and to said first comparator for controlling the light generated by said first light source in response to said first error signal; and wherein said second feedback means comprises; a second reference detector for detecting the light from the second light source and producing a second reference signal in response to the light from said second light source; a second comparator coupled to the second reference detector for comparing the second reference signal with a second reference value, the second comparator generating a second error signal in response to the difference between the second reference signal and the second reference value; and a second current controlling means operatively connected to said second light source and to said second comparator for controlling the light generated by said second light source in response to said second error signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A system for measuring pH, PCO2 and PO2 of an environment comprising:
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a first light source for generating light at a first wavelength; first feedback means coupled to the first light source for maintaining the light from the first light source at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; a second light source for generating light at a second wavelength; second feedback means coupled to the second light source for maintaining the light from the second light source at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; a third light source for generating light at a third wavelength; third feedback means coupled to the third light source for maintaining the light from the third light source at a substantially constant level even as components age and thermal conditions vary; a pH sensitive sensor to be placed in an environment, the pH sensor generating first and second optical output signals representing a change in the light from the first and second sources, respectively, due to the pH of the environment; first means for transmitting light from the first and second light sources to the pH sensor; a first detector for detecting the first and second optical output signals; second means for transmitting the first and second optical output signals from the pH sensor to the first detector; a PCO2 sensitive sensor to be placed in an environment, the PCO2 sensor generating third and fourth optical output signals representing a change in the light from the first and second light sources, respectively, due to the PCO2 of the environment; third means for transmitting light from the first and second light sources to the PCO2 sensor; a second detector for detecting the third and fourth optical output signals; fourth means for transmitting the third and fourth optical output signals form the PCO2 sensor to the second detector; a P02 sensitive sensor to be placed in an environment, the P02 sensor generating fifth and sixth optical output signals representing a change in the light from the second and third light sources, respectively, due to the P02 of the environment; fifth means for transmitting light from the second and third light sources to the P02 sensor; a third detector for detecting the fifth and sixth optical output signals; sixth means for transmitting the fifth and sixth optical output signals from the P02 sensor to the third detector; and computation means coupled to the detectors for determining the values of the pH, PCO2 and PO2 of the environment from the first and second optical output signals, the third and fourth optical output signals, and the fifth and sixth optical output signals, respectively; wherein said first feedback means comprises; a first reference detector for detecting the light from the first light source and producing a first reference signal in response thereto; a first comparator coupled to the first reference detector for comparing the first reference signal with a first reference value, the first comparator generating a first error signal in response to the difference between the first reference signal and the first reference value; and a first control means operatively connected to said first light source and to said first comparator for controlling the light generated by said first light source in response to said first error signal; wherein said second feedback means comprises; a second reference detector for detecting the light from the second light source and producing a second reference signal in response thereto; a second comparator coupled to the second reference detector for comparing the second reference signal with a second reference value, the second comparator generating a second error signal in response to the difference between the second reference signal and the second reference value; and a second control means operatively connected to said second light source and to said second comparator for controlling the light generated by said second light source in response to said second error signal; and wherein said third feedback means comprises; a third reference detector for detecting the light from the third light source and producing a third reference signal in response thereto; a third comparator coupled to the third reference detector for comparing the third reference signal with a third reference value, the third comparator generating a third error signal in response to the difference between the third reference signal and the third reference value; and a third control means operatively connected to said third light source and to said third comparator for controlling the light generated by said third light source in response to said third error signal.
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Specification