1. A device for measuring near forward scatter of light caused by particulate matter in a fluid, the device comprising:
a transceiver, the transceiver comprising:
a light source for projecting a light beam through the fluid; and
a detector positioned on the same side of the fluid as the light source; and
a reflector positioned opposite the transceiver so that at least a portion of the fluid is present between the transceiver and the reflector, wherein the reflector includes a front portion facing the transceiver, such that optical energy from the light source of the transceiver incident upon the reflector is reflected towards the transceiver as a return beam of optical energy, wherein primarily optical energy of the return beam that is scattered over a range of near forward angles by particulate matter in the fluid reaches the detector.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the range of near forward angles is between 1 and 5 degrees.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the front portion of the reflector includes a lens.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the front portion of the reflector includes a convex lens including a non-transmissive central portion.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein the front portion of the reflector includes a concave wedge shaped lens.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the concave wedge shaped lens includes a non-transmissive central portion.
7. The device of claim 3, wherein the front portion of the reflector includes a convex wedge shaped lens.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the convex wedge shaped lens includes a non-transmissive central portion.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver further comprises a second light source with a wavelength different than a wavelength of the first light source.
10. The device of claim 3, wherein the lens includes a non-transmissive central portion.
11. The device of claim 3, further comprising means for replacing the lens of the reflector with a second, differently shaped lens.
12. The device of claim 3, further comprising means for replacing the reflector with a second reflector.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the second reflector includes a front portion facing the transceiver, such that optical energy from the light source of the transceiver incident upon the second reflector is reflected towards the transceiver as a return beam of optical energy, wherein primarily optical energy of the return beam that is scattered over a second range of near forward angles by particulate matter in the fluid reaches the detector.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein the return beam crosses itself in the field of view of the detector.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode, a laser diode, and an incandescent source.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is mounted on an exhaust stack and is for measuring particulate matter present in an exhaust stream in the exhaust stack.
17. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is mounted in a diversion chamber and is for measuring particulate matter present in a fluid that has been diverted from an exhaust stream into the diversion chamber.
18. A system for monitoring particulate matter in a fluid comprising:
a transceiver, comprising:
a light source for projecting a light beam through the fluid; and
a detector; and;
a reflector assembly positioned opposite the transceiver so that at least a portion of the fluid is present between the transceiver and the reflector assembly, the reflector assembly comprising:
a first reflector including a front portion facing the transceiver, such that, when the first reflector is in the path of the light beam from the light source, optical energy from the light source incident upon the reflector is reflected towards the transceiver as a return beam of optical energy, wherein primarily optical energy of the return beam that is scattered over a range of near forward angles by particulate matter in the fluid;
a second optical device; and
means for cyclically moving the first reflector and the second optical device into the path of the light beam from the light source.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second optical device includes an extinction reflector.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the reflector assembly further includes an absorbing device, and wherein the means for cyclically moving is further for cyclically moving the first reflector, the second optical device and the absorbing device into the path of the light beam from the light source.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A proximity sensor comprising:
a ranging proximity sensor configure for mounting on a bomb, the bomb having a guidance system for guiding the bomb to a predefined coordinate;
a radome connected to the ranging radar proximity sensor;
a laser radiation sensor attached to the proximity sensor inside the radome and configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome;
an optical assembly mounted inside the radome which is configured and arranged to direct and focus laser radiation which passes through the radome onto the laser radiation sensor;
a processor electrically connected to the laser radiation sensor and configured to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target.
2. A proximity sensor comprising:
a ranging radar proximity sensor configured for mounting on a bomb;
a radome connected to the ranging rad proximity sensor;
a laser radiation sensor attached to the proximity sensor inside the radome and configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome;
an optical assembly mounted inside the radome which is configured and arrayed to direct and focus laser radiation which passes through the radome onto the laser radiation sensor;
a processor electrically connected to the laser radiation sensor and configured to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target;
wherein the laser radiation is a focal plane array detector, and the processor processes a signal from the plurality of focal plane array detector elements to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target.
3. The proximity sensor of claim 1 wherein the radome allows radio frequency electromagnetic energy and laser radiation to pass through the radome.
4. The proximity sensor of claim 3 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.
5. The proximity sensor of claim 1 wherein the radome includes a laser aperture in the radome which permits laser radiation to pass through the laser aperture into the radome.
6. The proximity sensor of claim 5 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.
7. A proximity sensor for use with a guidance system of a smart bomb, comprising:
a ranging radar proximity sensor configured for mounting on a smart bomb, the smart bomb having a guidance system for guiding the bomb to a predefined coordinate;
a radome connected to the ranging radar proximity sensor;
an unfocused laser radiation sensor system attached to the proximity sensor which is configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome and output the azimuth and elevation angles to the target to the guidance system.
8. A proximity sensor for use with a guidance system of a smart bomb, comprising:
a ranging radar proximity sensor configured for mounting on a smart bomb;
a radome connected to the ranging radar proximity sensor;
an unfocused laser radiation sensor system attached to the proximity sensor which is configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome and output the azimuth and elevation angles to the target to a guidance system;
wherein the focused laser radiation sensor system is further comprised of:
a plurality of optical detectors preferably arranged around a longitudinal axis of the proximity sensor, each optical detector on receiving incoming optical energy producing an optical detector output signal;
at least one reflector constructed and arranged to reflect incoming optical energy onto at least one of the plurality of optical detector units;
a signal processor electrically connected to the plurality of optical detectors for receiving the optical detector output signals and providing a guidance signal.
9. The proximity of claim 7 wherein the radome allows radio frequency electromagnetic energy and laser radiation to pass through the radome.
10. The proximity sensor of claim 9 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.
11. The proximity sensor of claim 7 wherein the radome includes a laser aperture in the radome which permits laser radiation to pass through the laser aperture into the radome.
12. The proximity sensor of claim 11 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.
13. A smart bomb comprising:
a bomb;
a guidance system attached to the bomb for guiding the bomb to a predefined coordinate;
a ranging radar proximity sensor attached to the bomb;
a radome connected to the ranging radar proximity sensor;
a laser radiation sensor system attached to the proximity sensor which is configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome and output the azimuth and elevation angle to the target to the guidance system.
14. The smart bomb of claim 13 wherein the guidance system is a OPS guidance system.
15. The smart bomb of claim 13 wherein the laser radiation sensor system is focused.
16. The smart bomb of claim 13 wherein the laser radiation sensor system is comprised of.
a laser radiation sensor attached to the proximity sensor inside the radome and configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome;
an optical assembly mounted inside the radome which is configured an arranged to direct and focus laser radiation which passes through the radome onto the laser radiation sensor;
a processor electrically connected to the laser radiation sensor and configured to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target.
17. The smart bomb of claim 16 wherein the laser radiation sensor is a focal plane array detector, and the processor processes a signal from the plurality of focal plane array detector elements to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target.
18. The smart bomb of claim 16 wherein the radome allows radio frequency electromagnetic energy and laser radiation to pass through the radome.
19. The smart bomb of claim 18 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.
20. The smart bomb of claim 16 wherein the radome includes a laser aperture in the radome which permits laser radiation to pass through the laser aperture into the radome.
21. The smart bomb of claim 20 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.
22. The smart bomb of claim 13 wherein the laser radiation sensor system is unfocused.
23. The smart bomb of claim 22 where the laser radiation sensor system is comprised of:
an unfocused laser radiation sensor system attached to the proximity sensor which is configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome and output the azimuth and elevation angles to the target to the guidance system.
24. The smart bomb of claim 23 wherein the unfocused laser radiation sensor system is further comprised of:
a plurality of optical detector preferably arranged around a longitudinal axis of the proximity sensor, each optical detector on receiving incoming optical energy producing an optical detector output signal;
at least one reflector constructed and arranged to reflect incoming optical energy onto at least one of the plurality of optical detector units;
a signal processor electrically connected to the plurality of optical detectors for receiving the optical detector output signals and providing a guidance signal.
25. The smart bomb of claim 23 wherein the radome allows radio frequency electromagnetic energy and laser radiation to pass through the radome.
26. The smart bomb of claim 25 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.
27. The smart bomb of claim 23 wherein the radome includes a laser aperture in the radome which permits laser radiation to pass through the laser aperture into the radome.
28. The smart bomb of claim 27 wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength of approximately 1 micrometer.
29. A proximity sensor comprising:
a ranging radar proximity sensor configured for mounting on a bomb;
a radome connected to the ranging a proximity sensor;
a laser radiation focal plane array detector attached to the proximity sensor inside the radomes and configured and arranged to detect laser radiation reflected from a target which passes through the radome;
a optical assembly mounted inside the radome which is configured and arranged to direct and focus laser radiation which passes through the radome onto the laser radiation sensor;
a processor electrically connected to the laser radiation sensor and configured to derive the azimuth and elevation angles to the target.
30. The proximity sensor of claim 29, wherein the laser radiation focal plane array detector comprises a four-element sensor.
31. (Canceled).