This invention this invention is a device and method for validating the identity of a liquid in a container that is transparent to light, while the liquid is in the container, without physically invading container. The liquid is particularly suited for validating vaccines such as the vaccine for COVID-19. The invention uses light from a refractometer and/or nephelometer, passing into and reflected out of the transparent wall of the container, to characterize the liquid.

The prism-coupling systems and methods include using a prism-coupling system to collect a 2D digital mode spectrum of an IOX article. The mode line and critical angle positions and orientations are found by performing a weighted fit to mode line and critical angle images and are used to define a compensated mode spectrum. If mode line tilt is found, it is removed from the 2D digital mode spectrum to define the compensated mode spectrum. The compensated mode spectrum is then processed using techniques known in the art to provide a more accurate estimate of stress-related characteristics of the IOX sample versus using the uncompensated mode spectrum. Derivative-based methods of accurately establishing positions of intensity transitions in a mode spectrum of an IOX sample using a derivative spectrum and curve fitting are also disclosed.

The hybrid measurement system includes an evanescent prism coupling spectroscopy (EPCS) sub-system and a light-scattering polarimetry (LSP) sub-system. The EPCS sub-system includes an EPCS light source system optically coupled to an EPCS detector system through an EPCS coupling prism. The LSP sub-system includes an LSP light source optically coupled to an optical compensator, which in turn is optically coupled to a LSP detector system via a LSP coupling prism. A support structure supports the EPCS and LSP coupling prisms to define a coupling prism assembly, which supports the two prisms at a measurement location. Stress measurements made using the EPCS and LSP sub-systems are combined to fully characterize the stress properties of a transparent chemically strengthened substrate. Methods of processing the EPCS and LSP measurements and enhanced configurations of the EPCS and LPS sub-systems to improve measurement accuracy are also disclosed.

A concentration sensor 36 is disposed behind a wheel 22, and for sensing salinity concentration of water bounced up by the wheel 22. A front nozzle 34 is disposed ahead the wheel 22, and for sprinkling water toward an area of the road surface on which the wheel 22 is to pass. A rear nozzle 35 is disposed between the wheel 22 and the front nozzle 34, and for sprinkling water toward the wheel.

A refractometer includes an enclosure, a single use prism, a light source, and an index of refraction (IoR) sensor. The single use prism is removably disposed within the enclosure. The light source and IoR sensor are disposed within the housing and are configured to be repeatably used with a series of single use prisms of similar construction. One single use prism can be removed after being used, and a new single use prism can be installed in the enclosure for use with the same light source and IoR sensor as were used with the first prism.

A droplet sensor has an optical cover with a curved surface that forms a part of a spheroid, a light source positioned at a first focal point of an ellipse, the first focal point facing the curved surface, and a photodetector positioned at a second focal point of the ellipse. The ellipse has an eccentricity determined such that the curved surface has an effective detection area that satisfies conditions for total internal reflection at an interface with a gas and that does not satisfy the conditions for total internal reflection at an interface with a liquid.

A droplet sensor has an optical cover with a curved surface that forms a part of a spheroid, a light source positioned at a first focal point of an ellipse, the first focal point facing the curved surface, and a photodetector positioned at a second focal point of the ellipse. The ellipse has an eccentricity determined such that the curved surface has an effective detection area that satisfies conditions for total internal reflection at an interface with a gas and that does not satisfy the conditions for total internal reflection at an interface with a liquid.

An electrical discharge machine includes a critical angle detection device that detects a critical angle of a machining fluid in which a corrosion inhibitor is added. The critical angle detection device includes a prism, a light source, an image sensor, an electrical circuit, and a slit. The prism has an incident surface, a boundary surface, a reflection surface, and an emission surface. The light source irradiates an incident light from the incident surface to the boundary surface. The image sensor includes a plurality of photodetectors that detect a reflection light. The electrical circuit calculates the critical angle by arithmetically processing output signals output from the plurality of photodetectors. The slit is arranged on an optical axis of the reflection light between the prism and the image sensor to block a scattered light.

An optical sensor device (1) for a fluid substance (LS) comprises a device body (2) having a detection portion (14), associated to which is a sensitive optical part that comprises at least one of an emitter (20) and a receiver (21) of an optical radiation (R.sub.e, R.sub.r). The detection portion (14) is made of a material transparent to the optical radiation (R.sub.e, R.sub.r) and has an inner surface (23a, 23b) and an outer surface (15), the outer surface (15) being designed to be in contact with the fluid substance (LS) and the inner surface (23a, 23b) being designed to be isolated from the fluid substance. The at least one of the emitter (20) and the receiver (21) of the sensitive optical part is optically coupled to the inner surface (23a, 23b) of the detection portion (14), in such a way that the optical radiation (R.sub.e, R.sub.r) is at least in part propagated through the detection portion (14), in particular with an angle and/or an intensity that is variable as a function of a characteristic of the fluid substance. The optical sensor device (1) comprises a protection arrangement, configured for preventing possible deformation of the detection portion (14) caused by an increase in volume of the fluid substance (LS), in particular deformation of at least one of its inner surface (23a, 23b) and its outer surface (15). The protection arrangement comprises at least one compensation element (13) having an elastically deformable body, which is able to contract, for compensating thereby a possible increase in volume of the fluid substance (LS) or else for enabling a reversible displacement of the detection portion (14) following upon a possible increase in volume of the fluid substance (LS).

An optical sensor device (1) for a fluid substance (LS) comprises a device body (2) having a detection portion (14), associated to which is a sensitive optical part that comprises at least one of an emitter (20) and a receiver (21) of an optical radiation (R.sub.e, R.sub.r). The detection portion (14) is made of a material transparent to the optical radiation (R.sub.e, R.sub.r) and has an inner surface (23a, 23b) and an outer surface (15), the outer surface (15) being designed to be in contact with the fluid substance (LS) and the inner surface (23a, 23b) being designed to be isolated from the fluid substance. The at least one of the emitter (20) and the receiver (21) of the sensitive optical part is optically coupled to the inner surface (23a, 23b) of the detection portion (14), in such a way that the optical radiation (R.sub.e, R.sub.r) is at least in part propagated through the detection portion (14), in particular with an angle and/or an intensity that is variable as a function of a characteristic of the fluid substance. The optical sensor device (1) comprises a protection arrangement, configured for preventing possible deformation of the detection portion (14) caused by an increase in volume of the fluid substance (LS), in particular deformation of at least one of its inner surface (23a, 23b) and its outer surface (15). The protection arrangement comprises at least one compensation element (13) having an elastically deformable body, which is able to contract, for compensating thereby a possible increase in volume of the fluid substance (LS) or else for enabling a reversible displacement of the detection portion (14) following upon a possible increase in volume of the fluid substance (LS).