Methods and systems for a wetted-length sensor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsAren M Hellum, Jesse L Belden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for estimating a wetted length of a solid surface includes sensing intensity of light reflected from a gas-liquid interface on the solid surface. A waveguide faces the gas-liquid interface and a diffused light is propagated to the gas-liquid interface through the waveguide. At least one optical receiver is positioned on a side of the waveguide to receive light reflected from the gas-liquid interface.
Claims10
A sensor system for determining a linear position of a gas-liquid interface in an environment that may be in contact with one of a gas, a liquid, and both a gas and a liquid comprising:
- a waveguide having a first end, a second end, a first surface portion positionable in direct contact with the environment and potentially exposed to ambient light, and a second surface portion away from the environment and potential exposure to ambient light;
- a diffused light source having an intensity, said diffused light source being positioned in direct contact with said waveguide second surface portion wherein the light from said diffused light source entering through said waveguide second surface portion is provided at a frequency that is distinguishable from ambient light which may enter said waveguide first surface;
- at least one optical receiver positioned at one of the two ends of said waveguide for receiving light internally reflected within the waveguide, each at least one optical receiver having a filter for filtering out ambient light, and for providing a light intensity at the frequency that is distinguishable from ambient light;
- and
- a processor joined to said at least one optical receiver to receive the light intensity received by said at least one optical receiver and to determine the linear position of the gas-liquid interface from the light intensity.
A sensor system for determining a linear position of an interface comprising:
- a waveguide with a first surface directly adjacent to the interface of a first medium and a second medium and a second surface wherein the first surface is potentially exposed to ambient light and the second surface is away from potential exposure to ambient light, said waveguide being linearly extended with a first end and a second end;
- a light source directly adjacent to the second surface of said waveguide, the light source illuminating the waveguide with diffused light at a frequency that is distinguishable from ambient light which may enter said waveguide first surface;
- a first optical receiver having a filter capable of filtering ambient light, said first optical receiver positioned proximal to the first end of the waveguide adjacent to the first medium, said first optical receiver receiving diffused light reflected from the interface at the frequency that is distinguishable from ambient light;
- a second optical receiver having a filter capable of filtering ambient light, said second optical receiver positioned proximal to the second end of the waveguide adjacent to the second medium, said second optical receiver receiving diffused light reflected from the interface at the frequency that is distinguishable from ambient light;
- and
- a processor coupled to each of said first optical receiver and said second optical receiver, said processor estimating a position of the interface based on an intensity of said diffused light reflected from the interface as received at said first optical receiver relative to another intensity of diffused light reflected from the interface as received at said second optical receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.