Optical systems for sensing temperature and thermal infrared radiation
OwnerMarcos Y. Kleinermaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Optical temperature sensors use a temperature-dependent relative distribution of the intensity of interrogating light of wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 between two light-guiding regions of a light-guiding probe. The relative distribution can be determined by a plurality of means including the spatial separation of the lights carried by the two light-guiding regions, and/or the conversion of one of the lights into light of wavelengths .lambda..sub.2 different and easily separable from light of wavelength .lambda..sub.1. The sensors can be adapted to measure infrared radiation by measuring its heating effect on the sensing probes and to convert a thermal infrared image into a visible image.
Claims12
An arrangement for sensing a temperature rise at a multiplicity of sensing points simultaneously on a two-dimensional film light guide, comprising:
- (a) a two-dimensional film light guide including a first layer comprised of a clear material having an index of refraction n.sub.1 in contact with a second layer comprised of a material with an index of refraction n.sub.2 lower than n.sub.1, wherein the temperature coefficient of n.sub.1 is substantially greater than the temperature coefficient of n.sub.2 and decreases with an increase of temperature;
- (b) light source means for injecting light of visible or near infrared wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 into at least one edge of said first layer of said light guide, a fraction of the intensity of said light being deflected into said second layer under said temperature rise at each of said sensing points, the intensity of said deflected light being a function of the magnitude of the temperature rise at said point;
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- (c) photodetection means for sensing the intensity of said light of wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 which is deflected into said second layer simultaneously from each and all said sensing points, said intensity being an indicator of the magnitude of the temperature rise at that point.
A method for sensing a temperature rise at a multiplicity of sensing points simultaneously on a two-dimensional film light guide, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing said two-dimensional film light guide including a first layer comprised of a clear material having an index of refraction n.sub.1 in contact with a second layer comprised of a material with an index of refraction n.sub.2 lower than n.sub.1, wherein the temperature coefficient of n.sub.1 is substantially greater than the temperature coefficient of n.sub.2 and decreases with an increase of temperature;
- (b) injecting light of visible or near infrared wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 into at least one edge of said first layer of said light guide, a fraction of the intensity of said light being deflected into said second layer under said temperature rise at each of said sensing points, the intensity of said deflected light being a function of the magnitude of the temperature rise at that point;
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- (c) sensing, with photodetection means, the intensity of said light of wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 which is deflected into said second layer simultaneously from each and all said sensing points, said intensity being an indicator of the magnitude of the temperature rise at that point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.