The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 21, 1987
Filed:
Mar. 06, 1985
Ronald S Conero, San Diego, CA (US);
Terry L Landis, San Diego, CA (US);
Ivac Corporation, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
An improved optical flow sensor for optically detecting and measuring the flow of a fluid through a drip chamber assembly. The sensor comprises an optical energy-emitting chip sealed within a first lens block having a refracting lens in one surface and an optical energy detecting chip sealed within a second lens block having a refracting lens in one surface. The two lens blocks are positioned on the two parallel arms of a 'U'-shaped base with their lens surfaces facing each other across the open space between the arms of the 'U'. The drip chamber assembly has transparent walls defining a drip chamber, and the lenses compensate for the refractive effects of the walls of the drip chamber assembly on the optical energy passing through. As drops of fluid fall through the chamber, they intersect the optical energy passing through the chamber and produce a corresponding output signal from the detector.