Self-cleaning optical probe
AssigneeInov8 Systems Limited
InventorsKhalid Thabeth, Raymond Acheson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical probe includes an elongate hollow probe body, an optical window mounted at a distal end of the probe body for transmitting light therethrough, an ultrasonic transducer mounted within the probe body for applying ultrasonic vibrations to the optical window for cleaning the optical window, and one or more light guides located within the probe body for transmitting light through the optical window to a measurement region and/or for receiving light transmitted through the optical window from the measurement region. The ultrasonic transducer is located within the distal end of the probe body adjacent the optical window to transmit ultrasonic vibrations directly from the ultrasonic transducer to the window.
Claims11
An optical probe for use in a high pressure medium, said optical probe comprising:
- an elongate hollow probe body having an inner wall;
- an optical window mounted at a distal end of said probe body for transmitting light therethrough;
- an ultrasonic transducer mounted within said probe body for applying ultrasonic vibrations to said optical window for cleaning said optical window, said ultrasonic transducer having an ultrasonic transducer body;
- one or more light guides located within said probe body for transmitting light through said optical window to a measurement region and/or for receiving light transmitted through said optical window from said measurement region;
- and
- a mounting flange extending between said ultrasonic transducer body and said inner wall of said probe body, said mounting flange being located at a zero point of said ultrasonic transducer;
- wherein said ultrasonic transducer is located within said distal end of said probe body via said mounting flange, adjacent said optical window, and is operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations directly from said ultrasonic transducer to said window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.