# US 2024/0201060 A1 · Viscosity measurement system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201060 A1 - Document ID: US20240201060A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/390,740 - Filed: 2023-12-20 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-20 - Assignees: Bmic LLC - Applicants: Bmic LLC - Inventors: Xavier Riley; Igor Alovert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201060A1 ## CPC - G01N 11/00: Investigating flow properties of materials, e.g. viscosity, plasticity; Analysing materials by determining flow properties - B29C 2037/90: {Measuring, controlling or regulating} - B29K 2095/00: Use of bituminous materials as moulding material - B29K 2309/08: Glass - B29L 2031/108: {Roofs} - G01N 2011/0006: {Calibrating, controlling or cleaning viscometers} - G01N 2011/0073: {acoustic properties} - 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) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A system may include an energy source configured to be directed at a first location in a fluid and configured to generate a wave in the fluid. A system may include a laser system configured to generate a laser pulse directed at a second location in the fluid and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the wave in the fluid. A system may include a sensor configured to detect the illuminated wave and generate an electric signal based at least in part on the illuminated wave. A system may include a processing system configured to: receive the electric signal from the sensor; and calculate a relative viscosity of the fluid based at least in part on the electric signal received from the sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: an energy source configured to be directed at a first location in a fluid and configured to generate a wave in the fluid; a laser system configured to generate a laser pulse directed at a second location in the fluid and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the wave in the fluid; a sensor configured to detect the illuminated wave and generate an electric signal based at least in part on the illuminated wave; and a processing system configured to: receive the electric signal from the sensor; and calculate a relative viscosity of the fluid based at least in part on the electric signal received from the sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the laser system is a laser imaging, detection, and ranging (LiDAR) system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the energy source is configured to excite the fluid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first location is proximate the second location. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the relative viscosity is determined relative to a baseline viscosity determined in a calibration mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the relative viscosity is a change in the illuminated wave compared to a baseline viscosity determined in a calibration mode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is in a flowing state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to determine an actual viscosity in centipoise based on the relative viscosity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is asphalt. ### Claim 10 A shingle manufacturing system, comprising: an asphalt delivery system, the asphalt delivery system configured to deliver a fluid including asphalt to a glass mat; and a viscosity measurement system, comprising: an energy source configured to be directed at a first location in a fluid and configured to generate a wave in the fluid; a laser system configured to generate a laser pulse directed at a second location in the fluid and configured to illuminate at least a portion of the wave in the fluid; a sensor configured to detect the illuminated wave and generate an electric signal based at least in part on the illuminated wave; and a processing system configured to: receive the electric signal from the sensor; and calculate a relative viscosity of the fluid based at least in part on the electric signal received from the sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The shingle manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the laser system is a laser imaging, detection, and ranging (LiDAR) system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The shingle manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the energy source is configured to disturb the asphalt. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The shingle manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the relative viscosity is determined relative to a baseline viscosity determined in a calibration mode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The shingle manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the processing system is configured to determine an actual viscosity in centipoise based on the relative viscosity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The shingle manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the energy source is a speaker configured to output a soundwave. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The shingle manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the energy source is configured to output an airstream to generate a wave in the fluid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The shingle manufacturing system of claim 10, wherein the fluid is in a flowing state. ### Claim 18 A method, comprising: generating, by an energy source, a wave in a fluid; generating, by a sensor, an electric signal based at least in part on the wave in the fluid; and calculating, by a processing system, a relative viscosity of the fluid based at least in part on the electric signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising directing a laser system at the fluid to illuminate at least a portion of the wave in the fluid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the fluid is asphalt.