| CPC G01N 15/1434 (2013.01) [B64D 47/02 (2013.01); B64D 2203/00 (2013.01)] | 13 Claims |
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1. An optoelectronic device for detection and identification of individual water droplets, ice crystals, dust particles or volcanic ash particles when the individual water droplets, ice crystals, dust particles or volcanic ash particles are present in an illuminated volume of air, the device comprising:
a source of ultraviolet collimated monochromatic radiation that illuminates a volume of air external to an aircraft through which freely pass individual atmospheric particles to create the illuminated sample volume of air;
an optical surveillance system for monitoring a clarity of light transmission through the light transmissive window to indicate a need for preventive maintenance;
a first optical detection system that is constructed and arranged to collect light scattered from individual particles when present over an explicit angle ranging from 137° to 173° that defines the illuminated sample volume for measurement of S and P components of return scattered light from the sample volume comprising photodetectors that provide signals representative of intensity and change in polarization state caused by an interaction of particles with the incident illumination in the sample volume;
a second optical detection system for selectively detecting fluorescence emanating from individual ash particles when present over an explicit angle ranging from 137° to 173° that defines the illuminated sample volume for measurement of fluorescence from the sample volume comprising a photodetector that provides a signal representative of intensity caused by the interaction of particles with the incident illumination in the sample volume;
a signal processor that is constructed and arranged to condition the signals from the photodetectors by removing electronic noise, restoring baseline shifts and analyzing the pulse shapes to provide processed signals;
a signal analyzer configured to operate upon the processed signals for extraction of data representing maximum amplitude, width, rise time and fall time of individual pulses in the S and P components, and the magnitude of the fluorescence signal which correlates to the size and/or composition of ash particles present;
an information synthesizer that receives the data and produces analytical results allocated to particles by particle type including equivalent optical diameter (EOD), number and mass size distributions, number and mass concentrations, the particle type being selected from at least one member of the group consisting of individual water droplets, ice crystals, dust particles and volcanic ash particles; and
a report generator that creates an information packet utilizing information from the information synthesizer to assist in decision making related to hazard avoidance for aircraft flight, the optoelectronic system being constructed for mounting and operation on an aircraft.
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