US3768908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote sensing apparatus and methods
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-04
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1991-01-04
Abstract
Abstract A lidar spectroscopic apparatus comprises a laser transmitter and a receiver in which the radiation return is spectranalyzed, a fluorescent target at a considerable distance from said transmitter and receiver, and means for aiming said transmitter and receiver at said fluorescent target. The presence of pollutants between the lidar system and said target is deduced from the attenuation of the radiation return at several wavelengths and/or from the Raman backscatter due to specific air pollutants.
Inventors
- 👤 S Zaromb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0027; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/28; G01J3/44; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/31; G01N21/39; G01N2021/1793
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
Remote sensing apparatus comprising a laser transmitter and a receiver, said receiver comprising an optical system for focusing radiation incident thereon onto a spectro-analyser, said spectroanalyser comprising means for measuring the radiation received at several selected wavelengths, said transmitter and receiver being located near each other and so directed that the laser beam from said transmitter approximately coincides with the volume viewed by said receiver, a fluorescent target at a considerable distance from said transmitter and receiver, said target having quantitatively established fluorescence characteristics, and means for aiming the radiation emitted from said transmitter at said fluorescent target.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
Remote sensing apparatus comprising a laser transmitter and a receiver, said receiver comprising an optical system for focusing radiation incident thereon onto a spectro-analyser, said spectroanalyser comprising means for measuring the radiation received at several selected wavelengths, said transmitter and receiver being located near each other and so directed that the laser beam from said transmitter approximately coincides with the volume viewed by said receiver, a fluorescent target at a considerable distance from said transmitter and receiver, said target having quantitatively established fluorescence characteristics, and means for aiming the radiation emitted from said transmitter at said fluorescent target.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transmitter transmits radiation in the 0.25- 0.3 micron wavelength range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, comprising a neodymium type laser with second and fourth harmonic generators yielding radiation of approximately 0.53 micron and 0.265 micron wavelength, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said target fluoresces in the 0.28- 0.4 micron range.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said target fluoresces in the 0.35- 0.5 micron range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluorescent material in said target is supported by a sheet-like polymeric substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluorescent material in said target is supported by metal foil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said target is air-borne.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means for generating said target in the form of a cluster of numerous small air-borne fluorescent particles.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of detecting air pollutants at a distance which comprises: transmitting laser radiation to a fluorescent target, measuring the intensity of the radiation returning from said target at several different wavelengths, and deducing the presence of said pollutants from the attenuation of the radiation which is emitted by said target.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of detecting air pollutants at a distance which comprises: transmitting laser radiation to a fluorescent target, measuring the intensity of the radiation returning from said target at several different wavelengths, and deducing the presence of said pollutants from the attenuation of the radiation which is emitted by said target.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said fluorescent target is air-borne.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said target is lifted by a ballon and held down by strings which are manipulated to maintain said target in the desired position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 comprising generating a cluster of air-borne fluorescent particles at a large distance from said lidar system.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of remotely detecting sulfur dioxide and ozone which comprises: transmitting laser radiation of at least two distinct wavelengths from a lidar system, at least one of said wavelengths being in the wavelength range of 0.25 to 0.3 micron, measuring the intensity of the radiation returning to said lidar system at several wavelengths which are different than the transmitted wavelengths, some of said different wavelengths arising from the Raman-scattering of the transmitted radiation by at least one major atmospheric constituent, especially nitrogen, and comparing the attenuation of said returning radiation at said different wavelengths.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of remotely detecting sulfur dioxide and ozone which comprises: transmitting laser radiation of at least two distinct wavelengths from a lidar system, at least one of said wavelengths being in the wavelength range of 0.25 to 0.3 micron, measuring the intensity of the radiation returning to said lidar system at several wavelengths which are different than the transmitted wavelengths, some of said different wavelengths arising from the Raman-scattering of the transmitted radiation by at least one major atmospheric constituent, especially nitrogen, and comparing the attenuation of said returning radiation at said different wavelengths.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the presence of pollutants is also deduced from an enhancement of said returning radiation at wavelengths corresponding to the Raman-shifted backscatter due to carbon dioxide and water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 comprising tracking a pollutant plume to its source by measuring the density of the pollutants along different directions and following along the direction of highest pollutant density.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |