Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Window contamination sensor
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Application No.: US17350715Application Date: 2021-06-17
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Publication No.: US11644411B2Publication Date: 2023-05-09
- Inventor: Gary Halama
- Applicant: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
- Applicant Address: US MN Burnsville
- Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
- Current Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US MN Burnsville
- Agency: Kinney & Lange, P.A.
- Main IPC: G01N21/15
- IPC: G01N21/15 ; B64D43/00

Abstract:
A contamination sensor for an optical sensor observation window includes a source, two prisms, a detector, and a controller. The source can emit a collimated light beam at an incident angle that is greater than a critical angle of an interface between a fluid and the window. The window has a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the fluid. The prisms can direct the collimated light beam within the window such that the collimated light beam reflects within a contamination detection zone of the window. The detector can receive the collimated light beam. The controller can communicate with the source and detector. The controller can calculate an emission/detection ratio defined by a difference between an amount of light emitted by the source and an amount of light that passes from the source to the detector by a total internal reflectance of the window.
Public/Granted literature
- US20220404266A1 WINDOW CONTAMINATION SENSOR Public/Granted day:2022-12-22
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