Sensor with remote focusing path for detecting remotely located reflective material

Abstract

A reflective materials sensor for detecting remotely located reflective material. The reflective materials sensor includes a transparent window with two window surfaces, an amount of reflective material that is remotely located away from one window surface. An operating parameters sensor located adjacent to the transparent window, a radiation detector located away from the other window surface; and two spaced apart radiation emitters located on either side of the radiation detector, and away from the second window surface. Each radiation emitter is configured to emit radiation along one axis through the transparent window towards the reflective material and towards a common focal point. The radiation detector is located to receive reflected radiation from the reflective material along another axis. The first axis of the radiation emitters is angled towards the other axis of the reflected radiation.

Claims

1. A reflective materials sensor for detecting remotely located reflective material, the reflective materials sensor comprising: a transparent window having first and second window surfaces, an amount of reflective material being remotely located away from the first window surface; a sensor located adjacent to the transparent window or away therefrom; a radiation detector located away from the second window surface; first and second spaced apart radiation emitters located on either side of the radiation detector, and away from the second window surface, each radiation emitter being configured to emit radiation along a first axis through the transparent window towards the reflective material and towards a common focal point, the radiation detector being located to receive reflected radiation from the reflective material through the transparent window along a second axis, the first axes of the radiation emitters being angled towards the second axis of the reflected radiation; and a lens in the reflective material to radiation detector path to focus the reflected radiation on the radiation detector.

2. The reflective material sensor, according to claim 1, in which the common focal point is at a range of distances away from the first window surface.

3. The reflective material sensor, according to claim 1, in which the first axes each being disposed at a user selected angle toward the second axis, the common focal points of each of the first axes converge on the reflective material located at a user selected distance away from the first window surface.

4. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 1, in which the sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an airspeed sensor, an RPM sensor, and an altitude sensor.

5. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 1, in which the first and second radiation emitters axes are angled less than 90 degrees away from the first and second window surface so as to avoid first and second window surface reflected radiation interference with the reflective material reflected radiation along the second axis.

6. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 1, further includes a combination of a sensor, and a controller for executing an algorithm to determine window temperature.

7. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 1, in which the radiation emitter is located adjacent the radiation detector, and away from the second window surface, the emitter being configured to emit radiation along a first axis through the transparent window towards the reflective material, the radiation detector being located to receive reflected radiation from the reflective material along a second axis, the first axis of the radiation emitter being angled towards the second axis of the reflected radiation.

8. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 1, includes two spaced apart radiation emitters located on either side of the radiation detector, and away from the second window surface, each radiation emitter being configured to emit radiation along a first axis through the transparent window towards the reflective material and towards a common focal point.

9. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 1, further includes a housing which houses a sensor mount, the radiation detector and the radiation emitters being mounted in the sensor mount, the sensor mount includes two spaced apart cavities aligned along the respective first axes in which the radiation emitters are located, and another cavity aligned along the second axis in which the radiation detector is located.

10. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 1, in which the radiation emitter is a Light Emitting Diode (LED); an electroluminescent surface; or a narrow beam high radiation emitter.

11. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 10, in which the narrow beam high radiation emitter is a laser, or a focused emitter, the focused emitter including a focused LED, a focused incandescent bulb, or a focused electric arc.

12. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 1, in which the radiation detector is a photo transistor, a photo diode or a light dependent resister located adjacent to the radiation emitter to detect reflected radiation.

13. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 1, in which the radiation detector is an array of detectors to detect spatially separated reflective material elements including individual snowflakes, ice crystals, or successive positions of one reflective object in the sensor field of view.

14. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 9, in which the first and second radiation emitters and the housing are configured so that radiation is emitted through the transparent window and is shielded to prevent false radiation reflection back to the radiation detector.

15. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 9, in which the controller is located in the housing and is connected to a resistor, the radiation detector, the radiation emitter and the sensor.

16. The reflective materials sensor, according to claim 1, in which the transparent window is made from a material that is transparent to emitter and detector radiation, and filters ambient radiation.

17. A method of detecting reflective material remotely located away from a transparent window surface, the method comprising: emitting radiation from first and second radiation emitters each along a first axis through the transparent window towards the reflective material and towards a common focal point; a radiation detector, receiving reflected radiation from the reflective material along a second axis, the first axes of the radiation emitters being angled towards the second axis of the reflected radiation; and focussing the reflected radiation on the radiation detector using a lens disposed in the reflective material to radiation detector pathway.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] In order that the discovery may be readily understood, embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

[0048] FIG. 1A illustrates top view of a sensor;

[0049] FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the sensor showing radiation emitted and radiation reflected;

[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates the sensor's field of view;

[0051] FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment illustrating the radiation detector array;

[0052] FIG. 4 is diagrammatic representation of communication between sensor components in one example of the sensor; and

[0053] FIG. 5 is diagrammatic representation of communication between sensor components in an alternative example of the sensor.

[0054] Further details of the device and its advantages will be apparent from the detailed description included below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 1A, and 1B, there is illustrated generally at 10 a sensor for sensing reflective material 12 at a distance. In one example, the reflective material is winter precipitation such as, for example, snow, frost, ice or ice pellets. In another example, the reflective material is non-winter precipitation such as reflective liquids, dirt, or particulate material suspended in liquids. Broadly speaking, the sensor 10 includes a housing 14, a sensor mount 16, two radiation emitters (radiation sources) 18, 20, a radiation detector 22 and a controller 54. The housing 14 has a transparent window 24 with first surface 26 and second surface 28, providing visibility of the reflective material 12 to the radiation emitters 18 and 20 and the radiation detector 22. The sensor mount 16 is located in the housing 14. The radiation emitters 18, 20 are mounted in the sensor mount 16. The radiation emitter 18, 20 each have a first axis 32, 34. Radiation is emitted from the radiation emitters 18, 20 along their respective axes 32, 34 towards and through the transparent window 24 until it contacts the distanced reflective material 12 away from the first surface 26 of the transparent window 24. The radiation detector 22 is mounted in the sensor mount 16 and adjacent and between the radiation emitters 18, 20. The radiation detector 22 and the radiation emitters 18, 20 are located away from the second surface 28 of the transparent window 24. The radiation detector 22 is located to receive the radiation that is reflected back from the distanced reflective material 12 along a second axis 36. The first axes 32, 34 of the radiation emitters 18, 20 are both angled towards the second axis 36. The two radiation emitters 18, 20 emit radiation towards a common focal point 38 on the distanced reflective material 12. The sensor mount 16 prevents radiation emitter 18,20 radiation from being mirror reflected to the radiation detector 22 by the transparent window 24. The radiation detector 22 is directed to the radiation emitter common focal point 38 on the distanced reflective material 12.

[0056] The temperature sensor only detects temperature. It does not detect barometric pressure or other parameters. It should be noted that the sensor 10 will function without a temperature sensor. Without temperature, the sensor 10 assumes that any reflection is the reflective material ice of interest, and not dirt. With the temperature sensor, the sensor 10 can be operated at warmer temperatures and any reflection measured above freezing temperature can be assumed to be a foreign substance, allowing the implementation to trigger a maintenance operation by a technician.

[0057] Referring briefly to FIG. 2, radiation emitters 18 and 20 and radiation detector 22 have overlapping fields of useful radiation and detection to sense precipitation over area 37.

[0058] One skilled in the art will recognize that extend the sensor range can be extended by using narrow beam high radiation emitters such as, for example, lasers, focused LEDs, focused incandescent bulbs, or focused electric arcs.

[0059] Still referring to FIGS. 1A, and 1B, the sensor mount 16 includes two spaced apart cavities 40, 42 which are both aligned along their respective first axes 32, 34 in which the radiation emitters 18, 20 are located. Another cavity 44 is aligned along the second axis 36 in which the radiation detector 22 is located.

[0060] Still referring to FIG. 1A, a temperature sensor 50 is located adjacent to the transparent window 24 out of the radiation detector's 22 field of view, which will not cause a false reflection to the radiation detector.

[0061] By way of example each of the radiation emitters is a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

[0062] Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment is illustrated which is capable of detecting more than one reflective material element at a distance, and is therefore capable of detecting a moving or increasing or decreasing size of reflective material over time. Radiation detector 22 and at least one radiation detector 72 utilize where necessary focusing device 74 and where necessary at least one focusing device 73 to sense reflective material element 77 and at least one reflective material element 78.

[0063] Referring now to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 4, a controller 54, which is typically a microprocessor or equivalent device, communicates with an included variable resister 56 or fixed resister 56A, the radiation detector 22, the radiation emitters 18, 20 and the temperature sensor 50 to achieve the reflective material sensing function. The controller 54 may be located within the housing 14, or in another suitable housing. One skilled in the art will understand that other devices and circuitry such as cabling, voltage supply, ground, signal buffering, user communication, controller programming, additional radiation detectors and associated variable or fixed resisters, and the like may also be integrated into the sensing function.

[0064] Referring now to FIG. 4, the radiation detector 22 operates as an electrical current valve, which permits higher current flow at higher radiation levels. A reference voltage 60 is passed through the variable resister 56 and then the radiation detector to produce a radiation signal 58. As radiation increases, the current flow through the radiation detector 22 increases, causing an increased voltage drop across the variable resister 56. To allow for a wide range of radiation, the controller 54 modifies the value of the variable resister 56 to produce a usable signal. For installations where the ambient radiation range is small, an inexpensive fixed resister 56A may be used, thereby eliminating the need for the controller 54 to modify the resister 56A value. Alternatively, more than one copy of a fixed but different value resister 56A and radiation detector 22 may be used to broaden the sensed radiation range to provide maximum sensor detection of reflective material at a distance.

[0065] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, the radiation detector 22 is an integrated circuit 62, which includes a radiation detector such as a photo diode, photo transistor or light dependent resister and a means to autonomously convert the sensor output to the controller 54 compatible input such as frequency pulses.

[0066] Still referring to FIG. 4 or 5, the controller 54 activates one or both of the radiation emitters 18, 20 when required to achieve the sense function. To assist in distinguishing between frozen and liquid reflective material, the controller 54 communicates with the temperature sensor 50 to determine whether frozen reflective material is possible.

[0067] The sensor 10 functions in a wide range of ambient radiations, from direct sunlight to nighttime. It can remotely sense reflective material on or at a distance away from for example, greenhouses, atriums, windows, freezer glass doors, skylights; on airplanes, drones, helicopters, spacecraft, aircraft, hybrid air/space/water/land vehicle components, and motorized transportation including trucks, cars, motor bikes, recreational vehicles, trains, boats and the like; food services, freezers/fridges, buildings, photovoltaic solar (conventional panels and non conventional solar applications), trough reflectors; for landscaping such as grass and garden maintenance, crops; or for weather determination, climate, ecosystem preservation; or for medical applications and storage of tissues and cells, sterilizations; or for food preparation and preservation, and the like. When operated in non-winter conditions, the sensor 10 may also detect dirt on these types of surfaces to support cleaning operations. It can also detect ice crystal accretion in the atmosphere, which may not necessarily be associated with winter conditions. The sensor 10 can also sense winter precipitation when installed in sidewalks, driveways, walkways, roads, roofs, infrastructure projects and the like. The sensor 10 can be used in solar applications for building materials such as decking, walls and shingles.

[0068] While the sensor 10 can be used to sense winter precipitation, it is easily applied to sensing other reflective materials such as, for example, liquids, precipitates, contamination, some gases, suspended solids, and the like, and as such can be applied to manufacturing and distribution processes for food, chemicals, fuels, and the like.

Operation

[0069] Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 4, operation of the sensor 10 will be described. Distanced Reflective material 12 is detected by determining the change in the radiation signal 58 when the radiation emitters 18, 20 are off then on. Firstly, the controller 54 determines if reflective material 12 is possible by communicating with the temperature sensor 50 and any available external sources of data. If reflective material 12 is possible, then the controller 54 determines a reference ambient radiation signal 58 by first not switching on the radiation emitters 18, 20, then modifying the variable resister 56 until the radiation signal 58 is approximately 90% of the reference voltage 60. The controller 54 determines the reference ambient radiation by comparing the resultant variable resister 56 resistance with internally stored data. If the fixed resister 56A is used, the controller 54 determines reference ambient radiation by comparing the radiation signal 58 with internally stored data.

[0070] Referring now to FIG. 5, an alternative operation of the sensor 10 will now be described. Distanced reflective material 12 is sensed by determining the change in the radiation signal 58 when the radiation emitters 18, 20 are off then on. Firstly, the controller 54 determines if reflective material 12 is possible by communicating with the temperature sensor 50 and any available external sources of data. If reflective material 12 is possible, then the controller 54 determines a reference ambient radiation signal by first not switching on the radiation emitters 18, 20 then communicating with the radiation detector 62.

[0071] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the controller 54 then turns on one or both of the radiation emitters 18,20, depending on the ambient radiation. At high ambient radiation, both radiation emitters 18, 20 may be required to obtain an adequate change in the radiation signal 58. The controller 54 then determines that reflective material 12 is present at a distance if the radiation signal 58 value has changed from the reference ambient radiation signal value by more than the combined effect of impurities in the transparent window 24 and expected dirt on the transparent window 24. The controller 54 may also determine the type of distanced reflective material 12 based on the combination of the temperature sensor 50 and the radiation signal 58 change, and the type of radiation emitter(s) and radiation detector(s) used.

[0072] It should be noted that in the Figures, the area shown as the reflective material 12 is the sensor illumination or the detection coverage area. The reflected radiation signal will vary from a low value with no reflective material in the detection coverage area to a high value with highly reflective material covering the entire detection coverage area.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

[0073] From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that variations and modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein to adapt it to various usages and conditions.