Particle detection systems and methods for on-axis particle detection and/or differential detection
AssigneeParticle Measuring Systems, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Rodier, James Lumpkin, Dwight Sehler, Brian Knollenberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided herein are optical systems and methods for detecting and characterizing particles. Systems and method are provided which increase the sensitivity of an optical particle counter and allow for detection of smaller particles while analyzing a larger fluid volume. The described systems and methods allow for sensitive and accurate detection and size characterization of nanoscale particles (e.g., less than 50 nm, optionally less than 20 nm, optionally less than 10 nm) for large volumes of analyzed fluids.
Claims24
A system for detecting particles in a fluid, the system comprising:
- a flow cell for flowing a fluid containing particles along a flow direction through a beam of electromagnetic radiation,
- an optical source in optical communication with the flow cell for providing the beam of electromagnetic radiation;
- a focusing system in optical communication with the optical source for focusing said beam of electromagnetic radiation to generate an area of high radiation density within said flow cell;
- and
- an optical collection system for collecting and directing at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation onto a pixelated photodetector, wherein for at least a portion of the pixels of said pixelated photodetector each pixel has an area corresponding to a spatial extent of the particle beam interaction signal within the beam;
- wherein the pixelated photodetector produces an electric signal characteristic of the number and/or size of the particles detected.
A system for detecting particles in a fluid, the system comprising:
- a flow cell for flowing a fluid containing particles along a flow direction through a beam of electromagnetic radiation,
- an optical source in optical communication with the flow cell for providing the beam of electromagnetic radiation;
- a focusing system in optical communication with the optical source for focusing said beam of electromagnetic radiation to generate an area of high radiation density within said flow cell;
- and
- an optical collection system for collecting and directing at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation onto a pixelated photodetector, wherein said optical collection system collimates or focuses said beam of electromagnetic radiation;
- wherein for at least portion of the pixels of the pixelated photodetector each pixel has an area corresponding to a spatial extent of the particle beam interaction signal within the beam;
- wherein the photodetector produces an electric signal characteristic of the number and/or size of the particles detected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.