Compositional state detection system and method
First Claim
1. A method of determining the compositional state and any transition between states of a chemical compound comprising the steps of:
- (a) simultaneously applying at least two discrete energy wavelengths within the electromagnetic energy spectrum to (1) said chemical compound for providing a test signal, and, (2) at least one energy detector for providing an energy wavelength reference, each of said discrete energy wavelengths being selected from a wavelength spectrum of absorption for said chemical compound;
(b) detecting said two discrete energy wavelengths passing through or reflected from said chemical composition;
(c) establishing the amount of energy absorbed by said chemical compound at each of said discrete energy wavelengths; and
,(d) determining (1) transitional changes between two states of said chemical compound and (2) a thickness dimension of said chemical compound for each of said two state by (1) comparing said absorbed energy at each of said discrete energy wavelengths with the absorption characteristics of said chemical compound at each of said discrete energy wavelengths for each of said two states and (2) computing said thickness dimensions from a predetermined relationship for said energy absorbed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ice detection and measurement system (100) is provided to detect the formation of ice and/or water (40) on a surface (49) and measure the thickness thereof. The ice detection and measurement system (100) includes a radiation source (10) having a wide band emission (12) whose bandwidth is in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The wide band infrared emission (12) is directed to a wavelength selector (20) for providing a discontinuous transmission alternating between a pair of narrow band infrared signals each centered at a different predetermined discrete wavelength. The discontinuous alternating signal (22) is applied to optical system (30) where it is divided into two beams (32 and 34) for application to respective detectors (50 and 60). Reference detector (60) includes photoconductive cell (65) for conversion of beam (34) to a reference signal for each of the discrete wavelengths transmitted by beam (34). Test detector (50) includes photoconductive cell (55) for receipt of beam (34 ) after transmission through the ice and/or moisture (40) formed on the surface (49) of infrared transparent cover (51), for establishing a test signal responsive to infrared radiation absorbed at each of the two discrete wavelengths. The test and reference signals at each of the two discrete wavelengths are compared in microcomputer (70) for detecting and measuring ice accumulation, to distinguish icing, frost and water accumulation, and to monitor the progress of the icing/de-icing process.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining the compositional state and any transition between states of a chemical compound comprising the steps of:
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(a) simultaneously applying at least two discrete energy wavelengths within the electromagnetic energy spectrum to (1) said chemical compound for providing a test signal, and, (2) at least one energy detector for providing an energy wavelength reference, each of said discrete energy wavelengths being selected from a wavelength spectrum of absorption for said chemical compound; (b) detecting said two discrete energy wavelengths passing through or reflected from said chemical composition; (c) establishing the amount of energy absorbed by said chemical compound at each of said discrete energy wavelengths; and
,(d) determining (1) transitional changes between two states of said chemical compound and (2) a thickness dimension of said chemical compound for each of said two state by (1) comparing said absorbed energy at each of said discrete energy wavelengths with the absorption characteristics of said chemical compound at each of said discrete energy wavelengths for each of said two states and (2) computing said thickness dimensions from a predetermined relationship for said energy absorbed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for comparing the energy absorption at two discrete wavelengths of electromagnetic energy for the detection of the presence of differing phases of a compound, and simultaneously measure the thickness of each of said phases on a surface, comprising:
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(a) energy source means having a signal spectrum in the electromagnetic bandwidth, said signal spectrum having at least two of said discrete energy wavelengths for said comparison of said energy absorptive, said discrete energy wavelengths being selected from a wavelength spectrum of absorption for said differing phases of said compound wherein the difference in absorption between phases is substantially maximized; (b) wavelength selection and projection means for establishing a first and second transmission of each of said two discrete energy wavelengths where said first transmission of said two discrete energy wavelengths is a reference signal and said second transmission of said two discrete energy wavelengths is a test signal; (c) detection means for receiving said reference and test signals, said test signal being received after impingement with said surface; and
,(d) processor means for comparing said signals received by said detection means to compute the thickness of each of said phases. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification