Sensor system for real-time bioluminescence signature determination

• US 8,048,372 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.
• Inventors: Pernambuco-Wise, Paul, Seiple, Ronald L., Cheung, Ken C. K., Wolfshagen, Randy, Giffin, S. Maile, Sullivan, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MERKLING, SALLY ANNE
• Application Number:
  US11/500,268
• Time in Patent Office: 1,912 Days
• Field of Search: 731/702.9, 731/703.3, 702/2, 702/5, 702/3, 367/131, 348/81
• US Class Current: 422/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/763 Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00

Abstract

A real-time in-situ sensor system is provided for measurement of bioluminescence and determination of bioluminescence surface signature. The system measures bioluminescence in the wake of a submerged moving object as well as ambient light levels outside of the wake. Along with measurements of depth and water-quality parameters including turbidity, temperature and salinity, the surface signature of the induced underwater bioluminescence can be calculated by considering light transmission and attenuation through water. With this real-time information, the operator of the submerged moving object can employ tactical maneuvers to affect the resultant surface signature.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an in-situ bioluminescence sensor disposed on a surface of an object submerged underwater, wherein the sensor comprises a first set of one or more photodetector directed towards the wake of said object, a second set of one or more photodetectors directed towards the ambient light, one or more detectors for flowing through ambient water therethrough and for in-situ measuring of flowed-through water characteristics in an enclosed space of the sensor, a depth gauge, a measurement device to measure ambient water characteristics, a speed indicator for indicating speed of the object, a temperature measurement device, a pH measurement device, a salinity measurement device, a signal conditioning stage, a data acquisition system, a processor programmed to compare the intensity of the bioluminescence found in the wake of the object as detected by the first photodetectors to the ambient conditions as detected by the second photodetectors and to calculate the relative visibility of the object to an observer at the surface and report that information to the operator by way of an output in real-time including bioluminescence signature caused by the wake of the object in water, and a power source.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a dissolved oxygen measurement device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the photodetectors are selected from the group consisting of photodiodes, avalanche photodiodes (APD), photomultipliers, balanced photoreceivers, spectrometers, channel multiplier tubes or similar photodetectors.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device to measure turbidity is selected from the group of light transmissometers, turbidity meters, or similar devices to determine the effect or suspended solids in the water on light transmission.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the speed indicator is an anemometer or other similar device to measure velocity.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the temperature measurement device is selected from the group consisting of thermistors, thermometers, or other similar instruments.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the power source is an external power source.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the signal conditioning stage further comprises filters, pre-amplifiers, and amplifiers.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor consists of a DSP, integrated circuit, FPGA, embedded system or other similar device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the output system is a display.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the output system is a computing device.

13. An in-situ bioluminescence detection apparatus comprising an object submerged under water, a first detecting device submerged underwater and positioned on a surface of the object submerged under water, the first detecting device directed towards a wake of the object submerged under water, a second detecting device submerged underwater and positioned on a surface of the object submerged under water, the second detecting device directed towards water unaffected by the submerged object, sensors for measuring bioluminescent activity in the wake of the water, a data acquisition system communicating with the detecting devices, a processor communicating with the detecting devices and programmed to calculate the relative intensity of the bioluminescence caused by the object relative to ambient conditions by comparing the output of the first detecting device with the output of the second detecting device, an output in real-time from the processor indicating detected properties of the water, and a display including bioluminescence signature data display caused by the wake of the object in the water, thereby providing information to the operator of the object about the visibility of the object to an observer on the surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detecting device further comprises devices selected from the group consisting of photodetectors, ambient light detectors, depth gauges, water characteristics measurement devices, speed indicators, temperature measurement devices, pH measurement devices, salinity measurement devices, dissolved oxygen measurement devices, and combinations thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the photodetectors are selected from the group consisting of photodiodes, avalanche photodiodes, photomultipliers, balanced photoreceivers, spectrometers, channel multiplier tubes, and combinations thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising turbidity measurement devices for determining light transmission effects on solids suspended in the water selected from the group consisting of light transmissometers, turbidity meters, and combinations thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the temperature measurement device is selected from the group consisting of thermistors, thermometers, and combinations thereof.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the speed indicator is an anemometer or a device to measure velocity.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a power source selected from the group consisting of an external power source or a battery.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a signal conditioner selected from the group consisting of filters, pre-amplifiers, amplifiers, and combinations thereof.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is selected from the group consisting of DSPs, integrated circuits, FPGAs, embedded systems and combinations thereof.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detecting device comprises at least one detector including an inlet and an outlet for flowing the water therethough, a space between the inlet and the outlet for the flowing water, further comprising a flow agitator proximal the inlet of the detecting device for agitating the water flowing through the detection device.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the flow agitator comprises flow excitation devices for stimulating bioluminescent activity in the water flowing therethrough.