Self adjusting sensor mounting device
AssigneeBugLab LLC
InventorDaniel Gronvall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and device for mounting a sensor to a surface that is flat in one dimension and flat or curved in a second dimension. The mounting method results in stable self-centering attachment of the sensor to the surface across a wide range of radii in the second dimension of the surface. A fixed distance and angle between the sensor components and the surface is automatically maintained despite wide changes in the radius of the surface. An attachment means is provided that is secure, repeatable, and reusable. Additionally, a means of maintaining a clear unobstructed window between the sensor and surface is provided.
Claims35
A device for attaching a sensor to an external surface of a vessel, said sensor non-invasively sensing a property related to the concentration of constituents in said vessel, said external surface being substantially flat in a first dimension and curved or flat in a second dimension, comprising:
- a) an inner housing containing said sensor, said sensor including at least one component emitting electromagnetic radiation and at least one component detecting electromagnetic radiation, wherein the sensor components are disposed within a plane that is parallel to said first dimension of said external surface when the sensor is mounted to the vessel;
- b) an outer housing providing a means of stably mounting said sensor to said vessel that automatically accommodates a wide range of variable radii of said second dimension of said external surface when said second dimension of said external surface is curved, and is substantially self-centering about at least one axis with respect to said external surface when said second dimension of said external surface is curved;
- c) a means of attaching said inner housing to said outer housing that self-adjusts to different radii of said second dimension of said external surface when said second dimension of said external surface is curved, wherein a fixed geometric relationship is maintained between each of the sensor components and nearest points on a chosen surface of said vessel,
- whereby said sensor is stably attached to a wide variety of vessels in a manner that provides automatic compensation for the curvature of the external surfaces of said vessels.
A method of attaching a sensor to an external surface of a vessel, said sensor non-invasively sensing a property related to the concentration of constituents in said vessel by means of at least one component emitting electromagnetic radiation and at least one component detecting electromagnetic radiation, said external surface being substantially flat in a first dimension and curved or flat in a second dimension, which comprises the steps of:
- a) surrounding said vessel with a strap that is attached to an outer housing, said outer housing also being attached to an inner housing containing said sensor;
- b) forming a closed loop around said vessel comprising said strap and said outer housing, by a means that does not require the use of tools;
- c) tensioning said closed loop by a means that is rapid and reproducible and does not require the use of tools, thereby urging both said outer housing and said inner housing against said external surface, thereby resulting in:
- (1) said outer housing stably mounting said sensor to said vessel with automatic accommodation for a wide range of variable radii of said second dimension of said external surface when said second dimension of said external surface is curved, and self-centering said sensor about at least one axis with respect to said external surface when said second dimension of said external surface is curved, wherein the sensor components are disposed within a plane that is parallel to said first dimension of said external surface, and
- (2) said inner housing self-adjusting to different radii of said second dimension of said external surface when said second dimension of said external surface is curved, wherein a fixed geometric relationship is maintained between each of the sensor components and nearest points on a chosen surface of said vessel,
- whereby said sensor is stably attached to a wide variety of vessels in a manner that provides automatic compensation for the curvature of the external surfaces of said vessels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.