System and method for emitting and/or detecting light within a compartment

• US 7,476,842 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phaedrus, LLC
• Original Assignee: Phaedrus, LLC
• Inventors: Engstrand, Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Thanh X
• Application Number:
  US11/394,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 250/201.1, 250/231.1, 91/1, 92/5.R
• US Class Current: 250/231.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/28 with deflection of beams of light, e.g. for direct optical indication G01D5/40 takes precedence; mechanical adjustment G01D5/264
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34 the beams of light being detected by photocells

Abstract

A system and a method emit and/or detect light within a compartment via one or more lenses. A light source emits the light in an interior of the compartment via one or more lenses and/or an optical fiber. Further, the system and the method may provide a light sensor for measuring and/or for detecting an intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment via one or more lenses. A movable element is located within the interior of the compartment which moves inwardly and/or outwardly with respect to the light source, the light sensor and/or one or more lenses. A surface of the movable element, a shaft attachable to the movable element and/or the compartment absorbs an amount of the emitted light. The amount of the emitted light absorbed by the surface of the movable element, the shaft of the movable element and/or the compartment is based on the position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment. The light sensor detects and/or measures the intensity of the emitted light which is not absorbed by the surface of the movable element, the shaft of the movable element and/or the compartment. The intensity of the emitted light which is detected by the light sensor corresponds to a position of the movable element. The light sensor determines the position of the movable element based on the intensity of the emitted light.

Claims

1. A system for detecting light, the system comprising:

a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end of the compartment wherein the interior of the compartment has a pressure;

a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element has a position within the interior of the compartment;

a wall at the first end of the compartment wherein the wall abuts the body of the compartment;

a first lens attached to the wall wherein the first lens is located within the interior of the compartment wherein the first lens is spherically shaped and further wherein the first lens encloses the interior and maintains the pressure of the interior;

a cavity formed in the wall wherein the first lens is located between the cavity and the interior of the compartment;

a light source located within the cavity wherein the light source emits light into the interior of the compartment wherein the interior surface of the compartment absorbs an amount of the light emitted from the light source; and

a sensor located within the cavity wherein the sensor detects an intensity of light within the interior of the compartment via the first lens wherein the intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment corresponds to the amount of the light emitted from the light source which is not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment wherein the position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment corresponds to the intensity of the light within the compartment and further wherein the first lens is located between the sensor and the interior of the compartment.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

gas within the interior of the compartment wherein the first lens prevents the gas from moving into the cavity.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second lens attached to the wall of the compartment wherein the light source emits the light into the interior of the compartment via the second lens.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the light source is an optical fiber.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

fluid within the interior of the compartment wherein the first lens prevents the fluid from moving into the cavity.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a passage formed in the wall of the compartment wherein the passage is located between the light source and the sensor.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a light absorbing coating on the interior surface of the compartment wherein the light absorbing coating absorbs a portion of the light emitted from the light source.

8. A method for detecting light, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the compartment has a wall at the first end wherein the wall abuts the body of the compartment wherein the interior of the compartment has a pressure;

positioning a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element is located at a first position within the interior with respect to the wall;

forming a cavity in the wall;

connecting a first lens to the wall of the compartment wherein the first lens is located within the interior of the compartment and further wherein the first lens is located between the interior of the compartment and the cavity wherein the first lens is spherically shaped and further wherein the first lens maintains the pressure of the interior of the compartment;

emitting a light into the interior of the compartment wherein the interior surface of the compartment absorbs an amount of the light emitted into the interior of the compartment; and

detecting an intensity of light within the interior of the compartment via the first lens wherein the intensity of light corresponds to the amount of emitted light not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment wherein the amount of emitted light not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment corresponds to the first position of the movable element.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

determining the first position of the movable element based on the intensity of emitted light within the interior.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the pressure of the interior of the compartment is between three thousand psi and five thousand psi.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

attaching a second lens to the wall of the compartment wherein the light is emitted into the interior of the compartment via the second lens.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

connecting an optical fiber to the wall of the compartment wherein the light is emitted into the interior of the compartment via the optical fiber.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

forming a texture on the interior surface of the compartment wherein the texture absorbs the light emitted within the interior of the compartment.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

forming a texture on the movable element wherein the texture absorbs an amount of the light emitted within the interior of the compartment.

15. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

preventing fluid within the interior of the compartment from moving into the cavity wherein the first lens prevents the fluid from moving into the cavity.

16. A system for detecting light, the system comprising:

a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end of the compartment;

a wall at the first end of the compartment wherein the wall abuts the body of the compartment;

a first lens attached to the wall wherein the first lens is located within the interior of the compartment wherein the first lens is spherically shaped;

a cavity formed in the wall wherein the first lens is located between the cavity and the interior of the compartment;

a light source located within the cavity wherein the light source emits light into the interior of the compartment wherein the interior surface of the compartment absorbs an amount of the light emitted from the light source;

a sensor located within the cavity wherein the sensor detects an intensity of light within the interior of the compartment via the first lens wherein the intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment corresponds to the amount of the light emitted from the light source which is not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment and further wherein the first lens is located between the sensor and the interior of the compartment; and

a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein a position of the movable element within the interior of the compartment corresponds to the intensity of the light within the compartment.

17. A system for detecting light, the system comprising:

a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end of the compartment;

a wall at the first end of the compartment wherein the wall abuts the body of the compartment;

a first lens attached to the wall wherein the first lens is located within the interior of the compartment wherein the first lens is spherically shaped;

a cavity formed in the wall wherein the first lens is located between the cavity and the interior of the compartment;

a light source located within the cavity wherein the light source emits light into the interior of the compartment wherein the interior surface of the compartment absorbs an amount of the light emitted from the light source;

a sensor located within the cavity wherein the sensor detects an intensity of light within the interior of the compartment via the first lens wherein the intensity of the light within the interior of the compartment corresponds to the amount of the light emitted from the light source which is not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment and further wherein the first lens is located between the sensor and the interior of the compartment; and

a light absorbing coating on the interior surface of the compartment wherein the light absorbing coating absorbs the amount of the light emitted from the light source which is not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment.

18. A method for detecting light, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the compartment has a wall at the first end wherein the wall abuts the body of the compartment;

positioning a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element is located at a first position within the interior with respect to the wall;

forming a cavity in the wall;

connecting a first lens to the wall of the compartment wherein the first lens is located within the interior of the compartment and further wherein the first lens is located between the interior of the compartment and the cavity wherein the first lens is spherically shaped;

emitting a light into the interior of the compartment wherein the interior surface of the compartment absorbs an amount of the light emitted into the interior of the compartment;

detecting an intensity of light within the interior of the compartment via the first lens wherein the intensity of light corresponds to the amount of emitted light not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment; and

determining the first position of the movable element based on the intensity of light within the interior wherein the amount of emitted light not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment corresponds to the first position of the movable element.

19. A method for detecting light, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the compartment has a wall at the first end wherein the wall abuts the body of the compartment;

positioning a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element is located at a first position within the interior with respect to the wall;

forming a cavity in the wall;

connecting a first lens to the wall of the compartment wherein the first lens is located within the interior of the compartment and further wherein the first lens is located between the interior of the compartment and the cavity wherein the first lens is spherically shaped;

emitting a light into the interior of the compartment wherein the interior surface of the compartment absorbs an amount of the light emitted into the interior of the compartment;

forming a texture on the interior surface of the compartment wherein the texture absorbs the light emitted within the interior of the compartment; and

detecting an intensity of light within the interior of the compartment via the first lens wherein the intensity of light corresponds to the amount of emitted light not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment wherein the amount of emitted light not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment corresponds to the first position of the movable element.

20. A method for detecting light, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a compartment having a body defining an interior wherein the body has an interior surface and a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the compartment has a wall at the first end wherein the wall abuts the body of the compartment;

positioning a movable element within the interior of the compartment wherein the movable element is located at a first position within the interior with respect to the wall;

forming a cavity in the wall;

connecting a first lens to the wall of the compartment wherein the first lens is located within the interior of the compartment and further wherein the first lens is located between the interior of the compartment and the cavity wherein the first lens is spherically shaped;

emitting a light into the interior of the compartment wherein the interior surface of the compartment absorbs an amount of the light emitted into the interior of the compartment;

forming a texture on the movable element wherein the texture absorbs an amount of the light emitted within the interior of the compartment; and

detecting an intensity of light within the interior of the compartment via the first lens wherein the intensity of light within the interior corresponds to the amount of emitted light not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment wherein the amount of emitted light not absorbed by the interior surface of the compartment corresponds to the first position of the movable element.