Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for determining the amount of total phosphate in a body of water from reflected light, and also includes systems for the measurement, calculation and transmission of data relating to or carrying out that method. In addition, the invention relates to methods and systems for determining other parameters of water quality from reflected light, for example, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and/or nitrogen.
Abstract:
A novel methodology for detecting cloud particles is disclosed herein. This methodology exploits the optical glory phenomenon. According to one embodiment, a method for detecting clouds includes receiving data from a sensor which is configured to measure polarization of scattered light in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of incident light, and identifying, from the received sensor data, a cloud based on the polarization of the scattered light.
Abstract:
A reflectivity absorption system for identifying a target precious or semi-precious material can include a detector, a filter system, and an output display. The detector system is capable of detecting a reflected electromagnetic radiation at a primary wavelength and a secondary wavelength. The reflected electromagnetic radiation can be produced from sunlight or other light source. The primary wavelength corresponds to an upper reflectivity of the target material while the secondary wavelength corresponds to a lower reflectivity of the target material. Reflectivity is a function of wavelength such that identifiable variations in wavelength can be observed for certain materials over specific wavelength ranges which are then compared to a known standard reflectivity response for the indicated wavelengths. These systems can be used in portable, handheld, or stationary configurations and can identify exposed target materials in real-time.
Abstract:
A concentration of ethanol is detected without using any light source such as a lamp by utilizing a face of a human being as a light source. The gas detecting apparatus has an optical filter for ethanol which allows to transmit an infrared light having a predetermined wavelength band including an absorption spectrum derived from a C—O stretching vibration of ethanol contained in breath in an absorption spectrum generated by interaction with infrared light emitted from the face of a person, an optical filter for reference that allows to transmit an infrared light having a wavelength band emitted from the face of the person, a converting component for ethanol that converts the infrared light transmitted through the optical filter for ethanol to electric signals, a converting component for reference that converts an infrared light transmitted through the optical filter for reference to electric signals, and a detection component that detects the concentration of ethanol gas based on the electric signals converted by the converting component for ethanol and the electric signals converted by the converting component for reference.
Abstract:
A method and a system are provided for calculating the spectral absorbance using sunlight. With this method, methane (CH4) in open air can be detected using NIR spectrometers. It does not require any laser illumination of methane molecules in an outdoor environment. Instead, sunlight is used as the light source. This system works from early morning to late evening under various weather conditions (sunny, partly cloudy, cloudy, windy, etc.). Although theoretical background and experimental procedure for methane (CH4) absorbance is disclosed, the entire method can be applied to any other species as well when the wavelength range of interest overlaps with sunlight spectra.
Abstract:
The sun's energy is used in combination of movable and fixed diffuser plates, windows and apertures which are positioned in a series of test sequences (modes) for reflectance monitoring and calibration without the use of man-made sources. There are three embodiments, or implementations, of the invention--one embodiment uses two diffusers--a working diffuser and a secondary diffuser--the second embodiment uses three diffusers, a working diffuser, a secondary diffuser and a reference diffuser--and the third embodiment uses two diffusers--a working diffuser and a secondary diffuser, the latter also functioning as a cover for the working diffuser. The movable diffusers are mounted on rotatable cones and, in all embodiments, the sun is blocked from reaching the diffusers when not in use. Thus, the sun is used as a stable source for calibration and monitoring and the sun/diffuser combination is used in such a way that the response of all elements of the optical subsystem of the TOMS can be unambiguously and efficiently characterized with high accuracy and precision.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the presence, location and relative concentration of certain fluorescent materials in a scene that is illuminated by sunlight. The particular fluorescent materials are characterized in that they fluoresce at wavelengths coincident with one or more Fraunhofer absorption bands. Two images are formed from light collected from the scene. One of the images consists mainly of light from the scene having a spectral band-pass inside a Fraunhofer absorption band and the other image consists mainly of light from the scene having a spectral bandpass in the continuum near the same Fraunhofer absorption band. The two images are normalized so that intensities on corresponding portions of each image due to reflected solar radiation are equal. The ''''continuum'''' image is then subtracted from the ''''Fraunhofer'''' image. The resulting difference image consists primarily of fluorescent radiation derived from the fluorescent materials or objects in the scene and provides a direct visual indication of their presence, location and relative concentration.
Abstract:
A method for building and using soil models that determine soil properties from soil spectrum data is provided. In an embodiment, building soil model may be accomplished using soil spectrum data received via hyperspectral sensors from a land unit. A processor updates the soil spectrum data by removing interference signals from the soil spectrum data. Multiple ground sampling locations within the land unit are then determined based on the updated soil spectrum data. Soil property data are obtained from ground sampling at the ground sampling locations. Soil models that correlate the updated soil spectrum data with the soil property data are created based on the updated soil spectrum data and the soil property data. The soil models are sent to a storage for future use.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method for determining the reflectance of an object, the method including a step of solving an equation having several unknowns, the equation being obtained from formed images, the reflectance of the object and the illumination of the external light source being two unknowns of the equation. The step of solving the equation includes: calculating solution points of the equation, interpolating the calculated points by way of an interpolation function, and using at least one of the following approximations to solve the equation: a first approximation according to which each image is derived from the emission of a separate light flash, a second approximation according to which the interpolation function determines the stability points of the equation.
Abstract:
A system for recommending ultraviolet protection for a subject's skin includes an interrogation device, an analysis device, and an output device. The interrogation device has an ultraviolet sensitive module configured to generate interrogation data based on sensed electromagnetic energy reflected by the subject's skin in response to irradiation of the subject's skin by an ultraviolet electromagnetic energy source. The analysis device is configured to receive the interrogation data from the interrogation device and generate an ultraviolet analysis, which includes a recommendation for further ultraviolet protection of the subject's skin, based at least in part on the interrogation data. The output device receives the ultraviolet analysis and outputs the recommendation for further ultraviolet protection of the subject's skin.