Lockheed Martin Corporation

VanWinkle T Townsend

Robert H Fleming

Robert J Varley

An apparatus for detecting particles in a sample of gas is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a single optical radiation source, a sensor head, and detection electronics. The sensor head comprises a housing having an elliptical cross section. The sensor head receives optical radiation from the source through a fiber optic line at the first focus, and a detector is located at the second focus. The detector receives radiation scattered and emitted by particles in the light beam at the first focus. The detection electronics determine the presence, and in one embodiment the identity, of particles based on the radiation incident on the detector.

Distributed contaminant optical monitoring system

An optical coupler includes a housing, and includes first and second optical terminals and a prism disposed in the housing. One terminal is moveable with respect to the other, and the prism maintains an optical alignment between the terminals. Because it includes a prism instead of a more complex and delicate optical assembly, such an optical coupler can often be less expensive and more rugged, and can often have a higher connection density, than prior optical couplers.

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Herndon, VA, United States of America

VanWinkle T Townsend