Abstract:
The invention relates to a contamination recording apparatus (12) for recording contaminations in a flowing hydraulic fluid (10) to be examined in aircraft (11a), which comprises a conveying device (14) for conveying the flowing hydraulic fluid (10), a light source (34) for exposing the hydraulic fluid (10) flowing in the conveying device (14) to light (46), and a detection device (36) for recording a fraction of the light (46) absorbed by the exposed hydraulic fluid (10), the light source (34) being formed in order to emit light (46) having a wavelength in the near-infrared range. The invention furthermore relates to a hydraulic system (11) equipped with such a contamination recording apparatus (12) and to an aircraft (11a), and also to a method for recording contaminations in a hydraulic fluid (10) flowing in a hydraulic system (11) of an aircraft (11a).
Abstract:
An airborne/spaceborne oil spill detection method includes the step of providing a moderate-resolution-imaging-spectroradiometer and sensing the spectral reflections from two optical bands one of which is in the near inferred range. The spectral contrast shift from two adjacent areas of water are calculated and a warning issued when an oil spill or other contaminant is detected. A system for detecting an oil spill or other contaminant on the surface of water is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A system and method for free space, optical remote sensing of a potential threat agent using spectrally responsive sensor material. In one example the sensor material is formed by particles, which in one particular form are porous photonic crystals. The particles are dispersed into an area being monitored for the presence of the potential threat agent. A pair of lasers is used to generate optical light beams that are directed at the sensor particles after the particles have been dispersed. The light reflected by the sensor particles is then analyzed. The presence of the potential threat agent causes a shift in the spectral peak of light reflected from the sensor particles that can be sensed using photo detectors and a processing subsystem. The system can be tuned to remotely detect for specific chemical, biological or environmental agents that may be present within a given area.
Abstract:
The location of gases that are not visible to the unaided human eye can be determined using tuned light sources that spectroscopically probe the gases and cameras that can provide images corresponding to the absorption of the gases. The present invention is a light source for a backscatter absorption gas imaging (BAGI) system, and a light source incorporating the light source, that can be used to remotely detect and produce images of “invisible” gases. The inventive light source has a light producing element, an optical amplifier, and an optical parametric oscillator to generate wavelength tunable light in the IR. By using a multi-mode light source and an amplifier that operates using 915 nm pump sources, the power consumption of the light source is reduced to a level that can be operated by batteries for long periods of time. In addition, the light source is tunable over the absorption bands of many hydrocarbons, making it useful for detecting hazardous gases.
Abstract:
The location of gases that are not visible to the unaided human eye can be determined using tuned light sources that spectroscopically probe the gases and cameras that can provide images corresponding to the absorption of the gases. The present invention is a light source for a backscatter absorption gas imaging (BAGI) system, and a light source incorporating the light source, that can be used to remotely detect and produce images of “invisible” gases. The inventive light source has a light producing element, an optical amplifier, and an optical parametric oscillator to generate wavelength tunable light in the IR. By using a multi-mode light source and an amplifier that operates using 915 nm pump sources, the power consumption of the light source is reduced to a level that can be operated by batteries for long periods of time. In addition, the light source is tunable over the absorption bands of many hydrocarbons, making it useful for detecting hazardous gases.
Abstract:
The presence of selected atmospheric pollutants can be determined by transmitting an infrared laser beam of proper wavelength through the atmosphere, and detecting the reflections of the transmitted beam with a heterodyne radiometer transmitterreceiver using part of the laser beam as a local oscillator. The particular pollutant and its absorption line strength to be measured are selected by the laser beam wave length. When the round-trip path for the light is known or measured, concentration can be determined. Since pressure (altitude) will affect the shape of the molecular absorption line of a pollutant, tuning the laser through a range of frequencies, which includes a part of the absorption line of the pollutant of interest, yields pollutant altitude data from which the altitude and altitude profile is determined.