Ensemble scattering particle sizing system with axial spatial resolution

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 in which said sample particles are suspended in fluid.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 2 in which said fluid is liquid.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1 in which said light beam is a laser beam.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 4 in which said laser is a diode laser.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 1 in which said particle-deflected light defines 4024 parallel paths.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 1 in which said spatial distribution includes axial distribution.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 1 in which said light beam is created by a pulsed light source.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 8 in which said pulsed light source is a laser.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 9 in which said laser is a diode laser.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 1 in which the diameter of said aperture in said image plane is variable.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 1 in which said non-deflected light is directed to a beam block disposed on the axial center line of said light beam.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 1 in which said relay lens includes meaning for varying the magnification and focal length thereof.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 1 in which said transform lens includes means for varying the magnification and focal length thereof.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 1 in which an optical fiber is disposed at said first detection plane in position to receive said undeflected light and transmit said light to a remote detector.

Claim 17

A particle sizing system for selectively determining concentration, size distribution and/or spatial distribution in liquids and gases of a particle sample volume using near-forward scattering techniques, said system comprising: illuminating means for lighting said particle sample volume and causing particle-deflected and non-deflected light beams to emanate therefrom; means for receiving said non-deflected light beams and diverting said beams; first detector means for receiving said diverted non-deflected light beams and converting said beams into an non-deflected beam signal; a transform lens to receive and focus said particle-deflected light beams emanating from said particle sample volume to convert the angular distribution of scattered light into a radial spatial displacement of light and create an image; image plane means receiving said image from said transform lens and having an aperture defined therein for receiving and passing a portion of said radial spatial displacement light therethrough; a relay lens for receiving said portion of said transformed light passing through said image plane aperture and redirecting said light and a second detector means including conversion means for receiving said redirected light from said relay lens and converting said light into a signal which, in conjunction said undeflected beam signal, is correlative to the spatially resolved concentration and size distribution of said particles in a spatially-resolved region of said light beam.

Claim 18

A particle sizing system for selectively determining concentration, size distribution and/or spatial distribution in liquids and gases of a particle sample volume using near-forward scattering techniques, said system comprising: illuminating means for lighting said particle sample volume and causing particle-deflected and non-deflected light beams to emanate therefrom; means for receiving said non-deflected light beams and diverting said beams; first detector means for receiving said diverted non-deflected light beams and converting said beams into an non-deflected beam signal; a transform lens to receive and focus said particle-deflected light beams emanating from said particle sample volume to convert the angular distribution of scattered light into a radial spatial displacement of light and create an image; image plane means receiving said image from said transform lens and having an aperture defined therein for receiving and passing a portion of said radial spatial displacement light therethrough; a relay lens for receiving said portion of said transformed light passing through said image plane aperture and redirecting said light and a second detector means including conversion means for receiving said redirected light from said relay lens and converting said light into a signal which, in conjunction said undeflected beam signal, is correlative to the spatially resolved concentration and size distribution of said particles in a spatially-resolved region of said light beam.

Claim 19

A particle sizing system according to claim 16 in which said illuminating means comprises an illuminating laser beam and a beam expander.

Claim 20

A particle sizing system according to claim 17 in which said beam expander receives and expands said illuminating laser beam and expands the transverse diameter of said illuminating beam until it is at least 5 to 10 times greater than the longest linear measurement of the largest particle in said sample volume.

Claim 21

A particle sizing system according to claim 16 in which said illuminating means comprises a diode laser.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 1 in which said method is repeated varying the position of one or more of the transform lens and the image plane aperture to produce signals correlative to the spatial distribution of particles.