Systems and methods for detecting scattered light from a particle using illumination incident at an angle
First Claim
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1. A system for detecting and identifying a particle, the system comprising:
- an optical axis;
a target zone, the optical axis intersecting the target zone;
a detector configured to detect light scattered by a single particle in the target zone and generate signals based on the detected light scattered by the single particle;
a light source configured to generate a light beam and direct the light beam through the target zone at an angle, the angle formed relative to the optical axis; and
a processing system configured to receive signals from the detector, convert the signals into an optical pattern associated with the single particle, and compare the optical pattern associated with the single particle to at least one stored optical pattern.
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Abstract
A particle detection system uses illumination incident at an angle to detect particles in a liquid such as water. By using illumination incident at an angle, the scattered light can be measured through a range of angles that are greater than the measured range of angles produced when the illumination is incident at a normal angle, when using the same detector. For example, the light can be measured through an angle that is twice that produced with illumination incident at a normal angle.
54 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for detecting and identifying a particle, the system comprising:
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an optical axis; a target zone, the optical axis intersecting the target zone; a detector configured to detect light scattered by a single particle in the target zone and generate signals based on the detected light scattered by the single particle; a light source configured to generate a light beam and direct the light beam through the target zone at an angle, the angle formed relative to the optical axis; and a processing system configured to receive signals from the detector, convert the signals into an optical pattern associated with the single particle, and compare the optical pattern associated with the single particle to at least one stored optical pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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18. A system for detecting and identifying a particle, the system comprising:
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an optical axis; a target zone, the optical axis intersecting the target zone; a detector configured to detect light scattered by a single particle in the target zone, the detector positioned so as to capture scattered light rays scattered to an angle 2⊖ and
generate signals based on the detected light scattered by the single particle;a light source configured to generate a light beam and direct the light beam through the target zone along the optical axis; and a processing system configured to receive signals from the detector, convert the signals into an optical pattern associated with the single particle, and compare the optical pattern associated with the single particle to at least one stored optical pattern. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification