Patent Abstract
AWI 8364-E Dual Technology Visibility
Sensor Multiple Angle and Redundant Visibility Sensor
A multiple angle and redundant visibility sensor includes a plurality of
optical transmitter/receiver pairs, each pair cooperatively coupled so as
to transmit and receive in conically controlled beams along a common optical
axis such that each transmitter faces, and directs optical energy directly
into, its receiver pair. The plurality of pairs are staggered in angular orientation
with respect to each other, with a common volume of intersection through which
the approximate center of each optical axis passes. Each transmitter propagates
a substantially conical beam of light which passes through an aerosol media
which causes molecular scattering of the light. A single transmitter outputs
optical energy at any given time, and the receiver intercept the appropriate
scattered energy at different scattering angles depending on the relative
axial orientation with respect to the scattering volume and the incident radiation.
Automatic calibration is effected by measuring the transmission properties
through the forward beam, or between cooperating pairs of transmitters and
receiver elements. The various scattered energies are then compared to this
direct path intensity to obtain the appropriate angular scattering coefficients.
Redundant transmit/receive pairs increase the system reliability as well as
data validity.
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