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US 5,399,876 AGranted
Optical point level sensor with lens
AssigneeSimmonds Precision Products, Inc.
InventorRobert D. LaClair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical point level sensor for fluids includes a prism exposable to a fluid such that electromagnetic energy is reflected internally the prism dependent on the fluid level; and a lens optically connectable to an electromagnetic energy source and an electromagnetic energy detector such that electromagnetic energy from the source enters the lens at a first location axisymmetric to a second location where electromagnetic energy exits the lens to the detector. In one embodiment the lens is a GRIN lens.
Claims22
An optical point level sensor for fluids, comprising:
- prism means exposable to a fluid such that electromagnetic energy is reflected internally said prism means dependent on the fluid level;
- and a lens optically connectable to an electromagnetic energy source and an electromagnetic energy detector such that electromagnetic energy from said source enters said lens at a first location different from a second location where electromagnetic energy exits said lens to said detector;
- said lens being optically coupled to said prism means.
An optical point level sensor for fluids comprising:
- prism means exposable to a fluid such that light is reflected internally said prism means dependent on the fluid level, and a GRIN lens optically connectable to light source and detector means;
- said GRIN lens being optically coupled to said prism means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.