# US 12,111,257 B2 · Fluid composition sensor device and method of using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,257 B2 - Document ID: US12111257B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/410,682 - Filed: 2021-08-24 - Published: 2022-03-03 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-26 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Ronald W. Myers; Jamie W. Speldrich; Andy Walker Brown; Sean Braxton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111257B2 ## CPC - G01N 15/0227: using imaging; using holography - G01N 21/55: Specular reflectivity - G01N 1/2208: {with impactors} - G01N 21/85: Investigating moving fluids or granular solids - G01N 2015/0233: {using holography} - G01N 2021/558: {Measuring reflectivity and transmission} - G02B 5/003: {Light absorbing elements} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract Various embodiments are directed to a device for detecting fluid particle characteristics comprising: a fluid composition sensor comprising: an illumination source configured to emit a light beam along a beam axis such that at least a portion of the light beam engages a collection media and illuminates particles disposed within a collection media; an imaging device configured to capture an image of the particles disposed within the collection media; and a light shield comprising: an internal shield portion enclosed within an inner surface of a shield wall; and one or more baffle elements disposed within the internal shield portion and configured to reflect at least a divergent portion of the light beam within the internal shield portion; wherein the light shield extends between the illumination source and the imaging device such that a portion of the light beam emitted along the beam axis passes through the internal shield portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for detecting fluid particle characteristics comprising: a fluid composition sensor configured to receive a volume of fluid containing a plurality of particles, the fluid composition sensor comprising: a fluid flow chamber disposed within an internal sensor portion and defining at least a portion of a fluid flow path, the fluid flow chamber being configured such that the volume of fluid flows through a fluid flow chamber outlet towards a collection media configured to receive one or more particles of the plurality of particles; an illumination source configured to emit one or more light beams along a beam axis such that at least a portion of the one or more beams engage the collection media and illuminates the one or more particles received by the collection media; an imaging device configured to capture an image of the one or more particles received by the collection media; a light shield comprising an internal shield portion defined within an inner surface of a shield wall, the light shield extending at least partially between the illumination source and the imaging device such that at least a portion of the one or more light beams emitted along the beam axis pass through the internal shield portion; wherein at least a portion of the light shield is disposed within the fluid flow chamber such that the volume of fluid and the least a portion of the one or more light beams pass through the fluid flow component outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the light shield comprises one or more baffle elements disposed within the internal shield portion and configured to reflect at least a divergent portion of the one or more light beams within the internal shield portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more baffle elements define an orifice extending through a central portion of the one or more baffle elements, wherein the orifice is at least substantially aligned with the beam axis such that at least a portion of the one or more light beams emitted along the beam axis pass through the orifice. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more baffle elements are defined at least in part by a baffle thickness extending between a first baffle surface and a second baffle surface, the second baffle surface having an angled configuration relative to the first baffle surface such that the baffle thickness comprises a variable thickness. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more baffle elements comprise a plurality of baffle elements disposed within the internal shield portion and distributed along a length of the light shield, each of the plurality of baffle elements defining a respective orifice extending through a central portion thereof such that at least a portion of the respective orifices extending through the plurality of baffle elements are at least substantially aligned with the beam axis such that at least a portion of the one or more light beams emitted along the beam axis pass through the orifice. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of baffle elements comprises: a first baffle element positioned at a first location along the length of the light shield such that a first orifice defined by the first baffle element is separated from the illumination source by a first distance, the first orifice being defined at least in part by a first orifice diameter; and a second baffle element positioned at a second location along the length of the light shield such that a second orifice defined by the second baffle element is separated from the illumination source by a second distance, the second orifice being defined at least in part by a second orifice diameter; wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and wherein the second diameter is smaller than or equal to the first diameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least substantially all of the light shield is disposed within the fluid flow chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow chamber is defined within a removable fluid flow component configured to be selectively removeable from within the internal sensor portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is configured to capture the image of one or more particles of the plurality of particles received by the collection media using lensless holography. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the light shield comprises one or more exterior baffle elements arranged about an exterior surface of the shield wall, the one or more exterior baffle elements being defined by one or more surfaces facing in a direction at least substantially away from the fluid flow chamber outlet. ### Claim 11 A device for detecting fluid particle characteristics comprising: a fluid composition sensor configured to receive a volume of fluid containing a plurality of particles, the fluid composition sensor comprising: a fluid flow chamber disposed within an internal sensor portion and defining at least a portion of a fluid flow path, the fluid flow chamber being configured such that the volume of fluid flows through a fluid flow chamber outlet towards a collection media configured to receive one or more particles of the plurality of particles; an illumination source configured to emit one or more light beams along a beam axis such that at least a portion of the one or more light beams engages the collection media and illuminates the one or more particles disposed within the collection media; an imaging device configured to capture an image of the one or more particles disposed within the collection media; and a light shield comprising: an internal shield portion enclosed within an inner surface of a shield wall; and one or more baffle elements disposed within the internal shield portion and configured to reflect at least a divergent portion of the one or more light beams within the internal shield portion; wherein the light shield extends at least partially between the illumination source and the imaging device such that at least a portion of the one or more light beams emitted along the beam axis pass through the internal shield portion, wherein at least a portion of the light shield is disposed within the fluid flow chamber such that the volume of fluid and the least a portion of the one or more light beams pass through the fluid flow component outlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the one or more baffle elements define an orifice extending through a central portion of the one or more baffle elements, wherein the orifice is at least substantially aligned with the beam axis such that at least a portion of the one or more light beams emitted along the beam axis pass through the orifice. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the one or more baffle elements are defined at least in part by a baffle thickness extending between a first baffle surface and a second baffle surface, the second baffle surface having an angled configuration relative to the first baffle surface such that the baffle thickness comprises a variable thickness. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the one or more baffle elements comprise a plurality of baffle elements disposed within the internal shield portion and distributed along a length of the light shield, each of the plurality of baffle elements defining a respective orifice extending through a central portion thereof such that at least a portion of the respective orifices extending through the plurality of baffle elements are at least substantially aligned with the beam axis such that at least a portion of the one or more light beams emitted along the beam axis pass through the orifice. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of baffle elements comprises: a first baffle element positioned at a first location along the length of the light shield such that a first orifice defined by the first baffle element is separated from the illumination source by a first distance, the first orifice being defined at least in part by a first orifice diameter; and a second baffle element positioned at a second location along the length of the light shield such that a second orifice defined by the second baffle element is separated from the illumination source by a second distance, the second orifice being defined at least in part by a second orifice diameter; wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance; and wherein the second diameter is smaller than or equal to the first diameter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the imaging device is configured to capture the image of one or more particles of the plurality of particles received by the collection media using lensless holography. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the light shield comprises one or more exterior baffle elements arranged about an exterior surface of the shield wall, the one or more exterior baffle elements being defined by one or more surfaces facing in a direction at least substantially away from the fluid flow chamber outlet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the light shield is disposed within the fluid flow chamber such that the volume of fluid and the least a portion of the one or more light beams pass through the fluid flow component outlet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the fluid flow chamber is defined within a removable fluid flow component configured to be selectively removeable from within the internal sensor portion.