Anti-fouling apparatus and method

• US 7,341,695 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Measurement Specialties Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Stuart Garner
• Inventors: Garner, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon; Brian R.
• Application Number:
  US10/737,442
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• Field of Search: 422/6, 422/20, 422/24, 422/82.05, 422/99, 436/49, 15308-309, 15/211, 15/34, 15/38
• US Class Current: 422/500
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/02 for receptacle or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/52 Supports specially adapted for flat sample carriers, e.g. for plates, slides, chips
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/06 by giving articles subject to fouling a special shape or arrangement

Abstract

An anti-fouling apparatus and method includes a configurable cleaner connected to an object for physically removing foulants on the object. A UV light device is connected to the object for preventing the growth of foulants on the object and a camera is connected to the object for observing the presence of foulants on the object. The configurable cleaner removes foulants from the object as well as the UV light and the camera.

Claims

1. An anti-fouling apparatus comprising:

a) an object;

b) a configurable cleaner means, for physically removing foulants on said object, connected to said object;

c) a UV light means, for preventing the growth of foulants on said object, connected to said object; and

d) a camera means, for observing the presence of foulants on said object, connected to said object;

e) wherein said configurable cleaner means also removes foulants from said UV light means and said camera means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said configurable cleaner means further comprises a plurality of cleaning devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said configurable cleaner means is moveable and one of said plurality of cleaning devices ability to physically removes foulants from said object depends on the directional of movement of the configurable cleaner means.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plurality of cleaning devices is selected from a group of cleaning devices including:

brushes, silicone squeege, chamois, ultrasound and compressed gas.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said configurable cleaner means further comprises a first set of cleaning devices with a first set of characteristics and a second set of cleaning devices with a second set of characteristics.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first set of cleaning devices physically removes foulants from said object, UV light means and camera means when said configurable cleaner means is moved in one direction and wherein said second set of cleaning devices physically removes foulants from said object, UV light means and camera means when said configurable cleaner means is moved in another direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said object further includes a spacer plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said object comprises sensors and said camera means directed to said sensors on said object.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said object comprises a proxy surface said camera means directed to a said proxy surface at said object.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a LED light-source, wherein said camera means monitors said LED light source as it is reflected from said proxy surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an opaque cover attached to said object.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a control means for controlling the operation of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control means receives input from said camera means and controls the operation of the apparatus with controls selected from a group including duration of operation, direction of movement and speed of movement.

14. For an object immersed in a fluid, an anti-fouling apparatus for removing fouling from and preventing fouling of said object, the apparatus comprising:

a) an object;

b) a configurable brush, for physically removing foulants on said object, connected to said object;

c) a UV light, for preventing the growth of foulants on said object, connected to said object; and

d) a camera, for observing the presence of foulants on said object, connected to said object;

e) wherein said configurable brush also removes foulants from said UV light and said camera.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said configurable brush further comprises a plurality of cleaning devices.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said configurable brush is moveable and one of said plurality of cleaning devices ability to physically removes foulants from said object depends on the directional of movement of the configurable brush.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said plurality of cleaning devices is selected from a group of cleaning devices including:

brushes, silicone squeege, chamois, ultrasound and compressed gas.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said configurable brush further comprises a first brush with a first set of characteristics and a second brush with a second set of characteristics.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said first brush physically removes foulants from said object when said configurable brush is moved in one direction and wherein said second brush physically removes foulants from said object when said configurable brush is moved in another direction.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said object further comprises a movable, removable brush plate to which said configurable brush is attached.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a control device wherein the control device receives input form the camera and controls the operation of the apparatus with controls selected from a group including duration of operation, direction of movement and speed of movement.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said control device is a computer program product including instructions for controlling the operation of the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a spacer plate for covering portions of said object.

24. For an object immersed in a fluid, an anti-fouling method for removing fouling from and preventing fouling of said object, the method comprising the steps of:

a) connecting a configurable cleaning device to an object for physically removing foulants on said object;

b) connecting a UV light, for preventing the growth of foulants on said object, to said object;

c) connecting a camera, for observing the presence of foulants on said object, to said object;

d) operating said camera to observe the presence of foulants on said object;

e) operating said configurable cleaning device to remove observed foulants on said object;

f) operating said UV light to prevent the growth of foulants on said object; and

g) operating said configurable cleaning device to remove foulants from said UV light and said camera.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first set of cleaning devices with a first set of

characteristics and a second set of cleaning devices with a second set of characteristics; and

b) moving said first set of cleaning devices in one direction so as to

physically remove foulants from said object, UV light and camera with said first set of cleaning devices and moving said second set of cleaning devices in another direction so as to physically remove foulants from said object, UV light and camera with said second set of cleaning devices.