Patent US6118531A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6118531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for identifying particles in a gaseous or liquid carrier medium
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1999-07-21
•
Granted: 2000-09-12
•
Expires: 2019-07-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a method for identifying the particles contained in a gaseous or liquid or carrier medium by measuring scattered light aimed at the medium. The method of the invention identifies particles of very small size and also measures the geometric shape of the particles. This is accomplished by simultaneously operating at least three light sources aimed at the volume to be analyzed, and detecting the scattered light with at least three detectors. The measured values of the detected light are correlated and evaluated to identify the particles.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Hertel
- 👤 Torsten Wappler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/02; G01N15/0205; G01N15/0211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for identifying the size, shape and material properties of particles contained in a liquid or gaseous carrier medium using scattered light measurement, comprising: aiming at least three physically different light sources not originating from a common light source simultaneously at a common volume of carrier medium to be measured; operating at least three detectors simultaneous with the light sources, said detectors detecting scattered light from said light sources; and correlating and evaluating said detected scattered light using signals from the detectors to identify the size, shape and material properties of the particles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for identifying the size, shape and material properties of particles contained in a liquid or gaseous carrier medium using scattered light measurement, comprising: aiming at least three physically different light sources not originating from a common light source simultaneously at a common volume of carrier medium to be measured; operating at least three detectors simultaneous with the light sources, said detectors detecting scattered light from said light sources; and correlating and evaluating said detected scattered light using signals from the detectors to identify the size, shape and material properties of the particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein each light from only one light source is evaluated with respect to each detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein light from a common light source is evaluated from signals from at least two detectors using lock-in amplifier technology.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein light from at least two light sources is evaluated from signals from each detector by measuring according to the used modulation of the light sources.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are modulated with signals having different frequencies using lock-in amplifier technology.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are modulated with signals having different phase relations using lock-in amplifier technology.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are modulated with signals having different modulation depths using lock-in amplifier technology.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein at least two light sources are modulated with the same signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one light source is operated with a defined polarization by using a light source with a given polarization and a detector system that is adapted to determine polarization.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating is frequency-selective through the use of modulated light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein extinction of the light is also measured by measuring the light intensity of the not scattered light with said detectors and calculating the extinction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3822095A
Cited
US4701051A
Cited
EP0182618A2
Cited
WO1990010215A1
Cited
US5052806A
Cited
EP0493806A2
Cited
US5373367A
Cited
US5416580A
Cited
DE4341573C1
Cited
DE4414166C1
Cited
US5841534A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-12 | 2004-03-13 | 2004-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-12 | 2008-03-13 | 2008-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-12 | 2012-03-13 | 2012-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |