Airborne particle monitor having illumination sleeve with shaped borehole for increased efficiency
Inventors
Manautou, Pedro • Kent, Joel • Graham, David
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11808681-B1
Publication Date
2023-11-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
A device includes a camera sensor and an illumination source structure. The illumination source structure is positioned to emit light towards a field of view of the camera sensor. The illumination source structure includes a bore, internal threads extending along at least a portion of a length of the bore, and a light emitting diode (LED) positioned within the bore such that the internal threads encircle a lens of the LED.
Core Innovation
The document describes a monitor of airborne particles that includes a mounting structure, capture media, a particle inspection zone, a camera sensor, and an illumination system. The illumination system includes an ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED) placed in a hole in the mounting structure, and at least a portion of ultraviolet light reaches the particle inspection zone via reflection off a threaded interior surface. The threads of the threaded interior surface are not uniformly spaced, and the pitch of the threads increases in a direction from the UV LED towards the particle inspection zone.
The document further provides devices for capturing images of airborne particles using a camera sensor and an illumination source structure positioned to emit light towards a field of view. The illumination source structure includes a bore with internal threads and a light emitting diode recessed within the bore, and a portion of the length of the bore from an opening of the bore to a tip of the LED comprises the internal threads. The internal threads can include pitch that increases from a first end of the bore to a second end that is closer to the particle inspection zone, and the bore can be arranged so that the illumination source emits reflected light from the threaded interior surface toward the particle inspection zone.
In addition, the document describes internal-thread geometry constraints that govern the reflected light direction. One arrangement includes internal threads comprising a tilt angle selected to reflect light from the LED in a direction towards the particle inspection zone based on an angle of incidence equaling an angle of reflectance. Another arrangement includes thread pitch and/or radius constraints relative to the illumination optical axis, with radius changes toward the particle inspection zone. The optical and mechanical integration is implemented with a mounting structure including an optical column hole and an illumination hole, and a sleeve having external threads forming a press-fit while a head and/or stop limit insertion depth.
The document also describes supporting structural mounting and illumination source configurations. A sleeve is partially inserted into the illumination hole, where external threads encircle internal threads and form a press-fit with the illumination hole, and the head abuts against an edge of the illumination hole to limit a depth that the sleeve can be inserted. In related constructions, the sleeve bore includes a first portion without internal threads and a second portion with internal threads, with a stop between the first and second portions and a head that limits sleeve insertion depth by a diameter larger than the illumination hole. The LED bulb is inserted into the sleeve bore so that a lens extends into the second portion, and the stop abuts a flange of the LED bulb to limit a depth that the LED bulb can be inserted.
Claims Coverage
The document includes four independent claims for an airborne particle monitor and three device configurations. Across these independent claims, the inventive features include threaded interior surfaces with increasing thread pitch toward a particle inspection zone, internal-thread geometry selected to reflect light toward the particle inspection zone based on angle of incidence equaling angle of reflectance, and an illumination source structure with a recessed LED in a bore integrated with a mounting structure using threaded sleeves with press-fit and depth limiting by a head and/or stop.
Non-uniform increasing thread pitch for UV reflection
An airborne particle monitor with an ultraviolet (UV) LED placed in a hole in a mounting structure, where at least a portion of ultraviolet light reaches a particle inspection zone via reflection off a threaded interior surface, the threads of the threaded interior surface are not uniformly spaced, and a pitch of the threads increases in a direction from the UV LED towards the particle inspection zone.
Recessed LED in a threaded bore with press-fit sleeve depth limiting
A device for capturing images of airborne particles having a camera sensor and an illumination source structure with a bore, internal threads along at least a portion of the bore, and a recessed LED within the bore such that at least a portion of the bore length from an opening to a tip comprises the internal threads, where a mounting structure includes an optical column hole and an illumination hole, and a sleeve partially inserted into the illumination hole includes external threads encircling the internal threads to form a press-fit, and a head abuts an edge of the illumination hole to limit a depth of sleeve insertion.
Increasing pitch internal threads from bore end to inspection zone
A device for capturing images of airborne particles with a camera sensor and an illumination source structure comprising a bore with internal threads along at least a portion of bore length and a recessed LED within the bore so that at least a portion of bore length from an opening to a tip comprises the internal threads, wherein at least a portion of the internal threads comprises a pitch that increases in a direction from a first end of the bore to a second end opposite the first end, and the second end of the bore is closer to the particle inspection zone than the first end of the bore.
Tilt angle selection based on incidence and reflectance angles
A device for capturing images of airborne particles with a camera sensor and an illumination source structure comprising a bore with internal threads and a recessed LED within the bore so that at least a portion of bore length from an opening to a tip comprises the internal threads, wherein the internal threads comprise a tilt angle selected to reflect light from the LED in a direction towards the particle inspection zone based on an angle of incidence equaling an angle of reflectance.
Two-portion threaded sleeve with stop and LED flange depth limiting
A device comprising a camera sensor, an LED bulb, a mounting structure below the camera sensor with an optical hole and an illumination hole, and a sleeve partially inserted into the illumination hole where the sleeve has a bore with a first portion without internal threads and a second portion with internal threads, external threads encircling at least the second portion with the internal threads, a stop between the first and second portions, and a head such that the diameter of the head is greater than a diameter of the illumination hole to limit a depth that the sleeve can be inserted, wherein the LED bulb is inserted into the bore so that a lens of the LED bulb extends into the second portion with the internal threads, and wherein the stop abuts a flange of the LED bulb to limit a depth that the LED bulb can be inserted into the bore.
Overall, the independent claim set centers on coupling a recessed LED to a camera sensor for airborne particle imaging using a bore having internal threads that affect reflected illumination toward a particle inspection zone. The independent claims particularly emphasize increasing thread pitch toward the inspection zone, internal-thread tilt geometry based on angle of incidence equaling angle of reflectance, and mechanical integration via threaded sleeves with press-fit and depth limiting using a head and/or stop.
Stated Advantages
Increased illumination efficiency via threaded interior surface geometry that improves specular reflection toward the particle inspection zone.
Brighter UV fluorescence and improved image quality with reduced artifacts.
Documented Applications
Airborne particle monitoring using camera-based self-fluorescence imaging with a particle inspection zone and a camera sensor.
Capturing images of airborne particles using a camera sensor and an illumination source structure emitting light toward the camera field of view.
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