Optical submicron aerosol particle detector
First Claim
1. A particle detector for detecting particles within an enclosed volume, said detector comprising:
- laser means for producing an optical beam and directing it along a path;
beam splitting means in said path for dividing said optical beam into first and second beams;
means for directing said first beam into said volume to interact with a particle and acquiring resultant back scattered optical energy from said first beam interacting with said particle, and directing said back scattered optical energy to said beam splitting means for being combined with said second beam such that said back scattered optical energy and said second beam overlap in a region and in the overlap region said back scattered optical energy and said second beam are in substantially the same state of focus, of substantially the same polarization and are substantially parallel; and
optical detection means disposed at said overlap region for detecting the presence of a particle in said enclosed volume from said combined back scattered optical energy and said second signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A particle detector that determines the presence of particles in an enclosed volume includes a laser that directs an optical beam to a beam splitter that produces first and second beams. An optical system directs the first beam into the enclosed volume. A detector is positioned adjacent the volume in order to receive back scattered optical energy arising from a particle in the volume encountering the first beam. The back scattered optical energy and the second beam are optically combined so as to overlap in a region and in the overlap region the back scattered optical energy and second beam are in the same state of focus, of the same polarization and are substantially parallel. A detector located at the overlap region produces an electrical signal indicative of the intensity of the back scattered light. A signal processor analyzes the electrical signal to determine the presence of the particle.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A particle detector for detecting particles within an enclosed volume, said detector comprising:
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laser means for producing an optical beam and directing it along a path; beam splitting means in said path for dividing said optical beam into first and second beams; means for directing said first beam into said volume to interact with a particle and acquiring resultant back scattered optical energy from said first beam interacting with said particle, and directing said back scattered optical energy to said beam splitting means for being combined with said second beam such that said back scattered optical energy and said second beam overlap in a region and in the overlap region said back scattered optical energy and said second beam are in substantially the same state of focus, of substantially the same polarization and are substantially parallel; and optical detection means disposed at said overlap region for detecting the presence of a particle in said enclosed volume from said combined back scattered optical energy and said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification