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US 2004/0174542 A1Published application
Optical measurement device and method
AssigneeBoxboro Systems LLC
InventorsDaniel F. Handman, Forrest S. Stoddard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices and methods according to the invention allow measurement of deformation of objects by installing on them one or several of lasers or other light sources and a corresponding number of arrays of photo-sensors. The light beams may be shaped so that the response of the sensors may be processed to calculate the bend and twist of the object. By positioning the lasers and sensors in sequence, a cumulative calculation of the deformation is made possible. The applications include anemometry, a variety of blades, buildings, towers and other structures where deformation needs to be measured.
Claims46
An apparatus for determining changes in the shape of an object comprising:
- an electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the object, the electromagnetic radiation source emitting a shaped beam, and
- an array of electromagnetic radiation sensors coupled to the object to receive radiation from the radiation source, responses of the sensors indicating angular orientation of the shaped beam with respect to the array.
An apparatus for determining changes in the shape of an object comprising
- a first electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the object, the first electromagnetic radiation source emitting a first beam,
- a first array of electromagnetic radiation sensors coupled to the object to receive radiation from the first radiation source, responses of the sensors of the first array indicating orientation of the first beam with respect to the first array,
- a second electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the object, the second electromagnetic radiation source emitting a second beam, and
- a second array of electromagnetic radiation sensors coupled to the object to receive radiation from the second radiation source, responses of the sensors of the second array indicating orientation of the second beam with respect to the second array;
- the second radiation source being axially displaced along a length of the object with respect to the first radiation source and the second array of sensors being axially displaced along a length of the object with respect to the first array of sensors to provide a combined indication of changes in the shape of the object.
2 more elements
A blade comprising
- an electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the blade, the electromagnetic radiation source emitting a beam, and
- an array of electromagnetic radiation sensors coupled to the blade to receive radiation from the radiation source, responses of the sensors indicating orientation of the beam with respect to the array.
A method for determining changes in the shape of an object comprising:
- emitting a shaped beam from an electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the object, and
- determining angular orientation of the shaped beam with respect to an array of electromagnetic radiation sensors coupled to the object to receive radiation from the radiation source, using responses of the sensors.
A method for determining changes in the shape of an object comprising
- emitting a first beam from a second electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the object,
- determining orientation of the first beam with respect to a first array of electromagnetic radiation sensors coupled to the object to receive radiation from the first radiation source, using responses of the sensors of the first array,
- emitting a second beam from a second electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the object, and
- determining orientation of the second beam with respect to a second array of electromagnetic radiation sensors coupled to the object to receive radiation from the second radiation source, using responses of the sensors of the second array;
- the second radiation source being axially displaced along a length of the object with respect to the first radiation source and the second array of sensors being axially displaced along a length of the object with respect to the first array of sensors to provide a combined indication of changes in the shape of the object.
2 more elements
A method to determine changes in the shape of a blade comprising
- emitting a beam from an electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the blade, and
- determining orientation of the beam with respect to an array of electromagnetic radiation sensors coupled to the blade to receive radiation from the radiation source, using responses of the sensors.
An apparatus for determining changes in the shape of an object comprising:
- a means for emitting a shaped beam of electromagnetic radiation, the means for emitting electromagnetic radiation being coupled to the object, and
- an array of means for sensing electromagnetic radiation, the array being coupled to the object to receive radiation from the means for emitting electromagnetic radiation, responses of the means for sensing electromagnetic radiation indicating orientation of the shaped beam with respect to the array.
An apparatus for determining changes in the shape of an object comprising:
- a first means for emitting a first beam of electromagnetic radiation, the first means for emitting electromagnetic radiation being coupled to the object,
- a first array of means for sensing electromagnetic radiation, the first array being coupled to the object to receive radiation from the first means for emitting electromagnetic radiation, responses of the means for sensing electromagnetic radiation of the first array indicating orientation of the first beam with respect to the first array,
- a second means for emitting a second beam of electromagnetic radiation, the second means for emitting electromagnetic radiation being coupled to the object, and
- a second array of means for sensing electromagnetic radiation, the second array being coupled to the object to receive radiation from the second means for emitting electromagnetic radiation, responses of the means for sensing electromagnetic radiation of the second array indicating orientation of the second beam with respect to the second array;
- the second means for emitting a second beam of electromagnetic radiation being axially displaced along a length of the object with respect to the first means for emitting a first beam of electromagnetic radiation and the second array of means for sensing electromagnetic radiation being axially displaced along a length of the object with respect to the first array of means for sensing electromagnetic radiation to provide a combined indication of changes in the shape of the object.
2 more elements
A blade comprising
- a means for emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation, the means for emitting electromagnetic radiation being coupled to the blade, and
- an array of means for sensing electromagnetic radiation, the array being coupled to the blade to receive radiation from the means for emitting electromagnetic radiation, responses of the means for sensing electromagnetic radiation indicating orientation of the beam with respect to the array.
An apparatus for determining flow of a fluid around an object comprising
- an electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the object, the electromagnetic radiation source emitting a beam, and
- an array of electromagnetic radiation sensors coupled to the object to receive radiation from the radiation source, responses of the sensors indicating orientation of the beam with respect to the array.
A method for determining flow of a fluid around an object comprising
- emitting a beam from an electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the object, and
- determining orientation of the beam with respect to an array of electromagnetic radiation sensors coupled to the object to receive radiation from the radiation source, using responses of the sensors.
An apparatus for determining flow of a fluid around an object comprising
- a means for emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation, the means for emitting electromagnetic radiation being coupled to the object, and
- an array of means for sensing electromagnetic radiation, the array being coupled to the object to receive radiation from the means for emitting electromagnetic radiation, responses of the means for sensing electromagnetic radiation indicating orientation of the beam with respect to the array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.