Calibration of an optical detector using a micro-flow chamber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021302311-A1
Application number	US-201915734120-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 27, 2019
Priority date	Dec 11, 2018
Publication date	Sep 30, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of calibrating an optical detector includes installing a calibration system within at least one sensing volume of the optical detector, filling a chamber of the calibration system with a material to achieve a known obscuration, and measuring an obscuration of the material within the chamber.

First claim

1 . A method of calibrating an optical detector comprising:
installing a calibration system within at least one sensing volume of the optical detector; filling a chamber of the calibration system with a material to achieve a known obscuration; and measuring an obscuration of the material within the chamber.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring an obscuration of the material within the chamber further comprises:
emitting a light from a light source of the detector; receiving scattered light from the chamber at a light sensing device; determining an obscuration of the material based on the scattered light; and comparing the obscuration with an allowable range.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising adjusting at least one parameter of the detector if the obscuration is outside of an allowable range.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein installing a calibration system within the at least one sensing volume of the optical detector includes installing the calibration system adjacent a sensing surface of the optical detector.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein installing the calibration system adjacent the sensing surface of the optical detector includes mounting a housing of the calibration system in direct contact with the sensing surface of the detector.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein installing the calibration system adjacent the sensing surface of the optical detector includes mounting the optical detector within the chamber.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein filling the chamber with a material to achieve a known obscuration includes dynamically controlling a flow of the material into the chamber.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein filling the chamber with a material to achieve a known obscuration includes supplying a first material and a second material to the chamber and dynamically controlling the flow of at least one of the first material and the second material as it is supplied to the chamber.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
filling the chamber of the calibration system with a second material having a known obscuration; and measuring an obscuration of the second material within the chamber.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein measuring an obscuration of the second material within the chamber further comprises:
emitting a light from a light source of the detector; receiving scattered light from the chamber at a light sensing device; determining an obscuration of the second material based on the scattered light; and comparing the obscuration with a predetermined threshold.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein filling the chamber of the calibration system with the second material further comprises evacuating the material from the chamber.

12 . A calibration system for use with a detector comprising:
a housing having an internal chamber; at least one reservoir arranged in fluid communication with the internal chamber; and a controller for selectively supplying a flow of material from the at least one reservoir to the internal chamber such that the internal chamber has a known obscuration.

13 . The calibration system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is operable to dynamically control the flow of material to the internal chamber from the at least one reservoir to achieve a desired light scattering property.

14 . The calibration system of claim 13 , further comprising a sensor operably coupled to the controller, the sensor being operable to detect an obscuration within the internal chamber.

15 . (canceled)

16 . The calibration system of claim 12 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of surfaces and at least one of the plurality of surfaces is formed from a flexible, transparent material.

17 . The calibration system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of surfaces includes a primary surface for contacting the detector, the primary surface having a contour complementary to a portion of the detector.

18 . (canceled)

19 . The calibration system of claim 16 , further comprising an absorptive coating applied to at least one of the plurality of surfaces distinct from the primary surface.

20 . The calibration system of claim 12 , wherein the detector includes at least one sensing volume, and the internal chamber of the housing is sized to extend through the at least one sensing volume.

21 . The calibration system of claim 12 , wherein a first surface of the housing is positionable in direct contact with a sensing surface of the detector, the first surface having a contour complementary to the sensing surface of the detector.

22 . The calibration system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one reservoir includes a first reservoir filled with a first material and a second reservoir filled with a second material, the second material being distinct from the first material.

23 . (canceled)

24 . (canceled)

25 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Guler Urcan
• Lincoln David L

Classifications

• G01N21/05

  Flow-through cuvettes (G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10) · CPC title

• G01N2201/127

  Calibration; base line adjustment; drift compensation · CPC title

• G01N21/49

  within a body or fluid · CPC title

• G01N21/53 Primary

  within a flowing fluid, e.g. smoke · CPC title

• G08B17/107

  for detecting light-scattering due to smoke · CPC title