US 5,362,971 AGranted

Fiber optic detection system

AssigneeTerrascope Systems, Inc.

InventorsRobert L. McMahon, Robert B. McCullough, Victor Ivashin

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Abstract

A fiber optic detection system in which a single optic fiber has a U-shaped configuration. A source of light is disposed at one upper free end of the optic fiber and a light detector is disposed at the other upper free end of the optic fiber. At the bottom of the optic fiber is a light variable loop adapted to be disposed in various media, such as liquids, fluids and air. The light from the source of light is conducted from the source of light through the optic fiber and to the light detector. The quantum of light lost as the light travels through the light variable loop will depend on the medium or the concentration of the medium in which the light variable loop is disposed. The light detector detects the light advancing thereto to produce a signal representative of the medium or the concentration of the medium in which the light variable loop is disposed. An electronic circuit with a microprocessor is responsive to the signal produced by the light detector for determining the medium or the concentration of the medium in which the light variable loop is disposed.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A fiber optic detecting system comprising:

(a) an optic fiber element having intermediate the ends thereof a continuous light variable section;
(b) a source of light disposed at one end of said optic fiber element for providing light for conduction through said optic fiber element;
and
(c) a light detector disposed at the other end of said optic fiber element for detecting the quantum of light passing through said light variable section and producing an output signal representative of the quantum of light detected;
(d) said light variable section being adapted to be disposed in a medium and the quantum of light travelling from said light variable section to said light detector being dependent on the light absorption characteristics of the medium in which said light variable section is disposed, said light detector producing a signal representative of the medium in which said light variable section is disposed;
and
(e) an electronic circuit having a microcomputer connected to said light detector and responsive to the output signal of said light detector for measuring the quantum of light resulting from the light absorption characteristics of the medium in which said light variable section is disposed for determining the medium in which said light variable section is disposed.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.