Particulate matter detector
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsBarrett E. Cole, Robert P. Costello
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices and methods for detecting particulate matter are described herein. One device includes a laser, a reflector, an ellipsoidal reflector, and a detector, wherein the laser is configured to emit a beam, the reflector is configured to reflect the beam toward the ellipsoidal reflector, and the ellipsoidal reflector has a first focal region located on a path of the reflected beam, and a second focal region located at a surface of the detector.
Claims20
A device for detecting particulate matter, comprising:
- a laser, a reflector, an ellipsoidal reflector, and a detector, wherein:
- the laser is configured to emit a beam;
- the reflector is positioned on an optical axis between the detector and the ellipsoidal reflector and configured to reflect the beam toward the ellipsoidal reflector;
- and
- the ellipsoidal reflector has a first focal region located on a path of the reflected beam on the optical axis, and a second focal region located on the optical axis at a surface of the detector.
A device for detecting particulate matter, comprising:
- a first end and a second end opposing the first end, wherein the first and second ends are on an optical axis;
- a laser;
- a reflector;
- an ellipsoidal reflector;
- a baffle;
- and
- a detector, wherein:
- the reflector is positioned on the optical axis between the detector and the ellipsoidal reflector and angled with respect to the optical axis;
- the laser is configured to emit a beam in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis such that the beam is reflected by the reflector towards the ellipsoidal reflector;
- the ellipsoidal reflector is positioned on the optical axis at the second end and includes a first focal region located on a path of the reflected beam and a second focal region located proximal to a surface of the detector, wherein light scattered in the first focal region is reflected by the ellipsoidal reflector to the detector;
- the detector is positioned on the optical axis at the first end;
- and
- the baffle is positioned between the first end and the second end and to prevent light scattered outside of the first focal region from being received by the detector.
A method for detecting particulate matter, comprising:
- emitting a beam of light from a laser;
- directing the light towards an ellipsoidal reflector having a first focal region located on a path of the reflected light between the ellipsoidal reflector and a detector;
- reflecting a scattered portion of the light by the ellipsoidal reflector towards the detector, the scattered portion scattered by airborne particulate matter traveling through the first focal region;
- and
- receiving the reflected scattered portion of the light by a detector located at a second focal region of the ellipsoidal reflector, wherein the first focal region, the ellipsoidal reflector, the second focal region, and the detector are each on an optical axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.