Apparatus and method for nondestructive monitoring of gases in sealed containers
AssigneeLighthouse Instruments, LLC.
InventorJames R. Veale
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for nondestructive detection of gas in a sealed container. The system includes a tunable diode laser source that provides a uncollimated laser beam for absorption in a substance to be measured, a detector that detects the laser beam, and a zone that accepts one or more of the selected containers. Each container is substantially optically transparent and may contain the substance to be measured. The zone is located between the detector and a laser source configured to transmit the laser beam through the zone. The invention also includes a collection lens that focuses the laser beam onto the detector, the collection lens being located between the zone and the detector.
Claims23
A system for nondestructive detection of gas in a sealed container, the system comprising:
- a tunable diode laser source that provides a diverging laser beam for absorption in a substance to be measured;
- a detector that detects the laser beam;
- a zone that accepts one or more of the sealed containers, each container being substantially optically transparent and containing the substance to be measured, said zone located between said detector and said laser source, said laser source configured to transmit the laser beam through said zone;
- and
- a collection lens that focuses said laser beam onto said detector, said lens located between said zone and said detector.
A system for nondestructive detection of gas in a sealed container, the system comprising:
- a tunable diode laser source that provides a diverging laser beam for absorption in a substance to be measured;
- a zone that accepts one or more of the sealed containers, each container being substantially optically transparent and containing the substance to be measured;
- a detector that detects said laser beam;
- a collection lens that focuses said laser beam onto said detector, said lens located between said zone and said detector,
- a reflector, said zone positioned between said source and said reflector, said laser source configured to transmit the laser beam through said zone and onto said reflector, said reflector returning the laser beam to said collection lens, said reflector positioned on an opposite side of said zone from said detector, said collection lens and said source.
A method for nondestructive detection of gas in one or more sealed, substantially optically transparent, containers, the method comprising:
- providing an acceptance zone adapted to receive the one or more containers;
- providing a diverging laser beam;
- transmitting the laser beam through opposed first and second walls of the container positioned in the zone;
- focusing the laser beam onto a surface of a detector;
- and
- detecting, using a detector, the focused laser beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.