Loading patent…
AssigneeTerabeam Corporation
InventorsEric C. Eisenberg, Shaun C. Hampton, Jeffrey C. Adams, David P. Bajorins
Estimating the term…
An apparatus and method determines light transmission through a window. The window may be a single-pane or a double-pane window, and may or may not have coatings on its interior/exterior surfaces. Light transmission through the window can be measured based on power levels of light incident on the window and light reflected from the window. Such measurements can be performed for a wireless optical telecommunication system, in situations where it may be difficult or impossible to access both sides of a window to place or retrieve measurement equipment.
A method, comprising:
An article of manufacture, comprising:
An apparatus, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated: transmissivity
Specular reflectivity: measuring gloss
Investigating or analysing materials by determining their chemical or physical properties
Term ended 18 Nov 2021 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to optics and the transmission of light, and in particular but not exclusively, relates to the measurement of light attenuation through a window.
2. Background Information
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of reflection and transmission through a single-pane window.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of reflection and transmission through a double-pane window.
Embodiments of an apparatus and method to measure light attenuation through a window are described herein. In the following description, some specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
As an overview, an embodiment of the invention measures light transmission through a window, such as a window that may be made from a translucent material, such as a glass material. An embodiment of the invention can be used to measure light attenuation through other translucent or semi-translucent material, including but not limited to, plastic material, silicon material that is translucent at certain wavelengths (the mid-infrared wavelength range, for example), and the like. The window may be a single-pane or a double-pane window or may have any number of panes, and may or may not have coatings on its interior/exterior surfaces. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, light transmission through the window is measured based on power levels of light incident on the window and light reflected from the window. Light transmission can be measured in situations where it is difficult or impossible to place a detector on the other side of the window from a light source.