Optical sensing in an adverse environment
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an optical element structured to transmit electromagnetic radiation of one or more selected wavelengths therethrough, the optical element including having an exposed face to an engine fluid conduit having combustion byproduct gases therein;
an electric heating element thermally coupled to the optical element, wherein the electric heating element is structured to heat the optical element sufficiently to remove accumulated debris;
wherein the accumulated debris comprises at least one member from the group consisting of;
soot, unburned hydrocarbons, sulfates, and reductant precipitate; and
wherein the exposed face cooperates with a metal tube to seal an optical sensor defining the optical element from the engine fluid conduit, wherein electromagnetic (EM) radiation is conveyed by the metal tube to the optical element from an EM source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system capable of flowing gases including combustion byproducts past an exposed face of an optical element in an engine fluid conduit, and depositing debris on the exposed face of the optical element. The debris may be soot, unburned hydrocarbons, sulfates, and/or a reductant precipitate. The system is further capable of passing electromagnetic (EM) radiation through the optical element and the flowing gases and interrogating the EM radiation after passing through the optical element and the flowing gases to determine an amount of debris accumulated on the exposed face of the optical element. The system is further capable of heating an electric heating element thermally coupled to the optical element sufficiently to remove accumulated debris from the exposed face in response to the amount of debris exceeding a threshold.
67 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an optical element structured to transmit electromagnetic radiation of one or more selected wavelengths therethrough, the optical element including having an exposed face to an engine fluid conduit having combustion byproduct gases therein; an electric heating element thermally coupled to the optical element, wherein the electric heating element is structured to heat the optical element sufficiently to remove accumulated debris; wherein the accumulated debris comprises at least one member from the group consisting of;
soot, unburned hydrocarbons, sulfates, and reductant precipitate; andwherein the exposed face cooperates with a metal tube to seal an optical sensor defining the optical element from the engine fluid conduit, wherein electromagnetic (EM) radiation is conveyed by the metal tube to the optical element from an EM source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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an internal combustion engine having an engine fluid conduit having exhaust combustion byproduct gases therein; an optical element having an exposed face to the engine fluid conduit; a resistive wire thermally coupled to the optical element such that the resistive wire, when heated, heats the exposed face sufficiently to remove accumulated debris; wherein the accumulated debris comprises at least one member from the group consisting of;
soot, unburned hydrocarbons, sulfates, and reductant precipitate; andwherein the exposed face cooperates with a metal tube to seal an optical sensor defining the optical element from the engine fluid conduit, and wherein electromagnetic (EM) radiation is conveyed by the metal tube to the optical element from an EM source. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus, comprising:
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an internal combustion engine including; a sensor responsive to one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to detect one or more selected constituents of a working fluid in the engine; an optical element structured to transmit the one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation therethrough, the optical element including a face in fluid communication with the working fluid, the face being susceptible to accumulation of debris that at least partially occludes transmission of the one or more wavelengths therethrough; a heating element thermally coupled to the optical element, the heating element being structured to heat the optical element sufficiently to at least partially remove the debris; and wherein the face in fluid communication with the working fluid cooperates with a metal tube to seal an optical sensor defining the optical element from the working fluid, and wherein electromagnetic (EM) radiation is conveyed by the metal tube to the optical element from an EM source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification