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:
Jun. 12, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 09, 1998
Henry B. Morris, Mesa, AZ (US);
Arvi D. Jeffery, Mesa, AZ (US);
McDonnell Douglas Corporation, St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
A reflected radiance sensor is held in a spaced-apart relationship with a surface so the field of view of the sensor intersects the surface so that the radiation reflected off the surface can be detected and measured. The sensor is configured to detect only reflected radiation so that the reflected radiation is accurately measured without any direct incident component. A support structure is utilized to hold the detector of the sensor in place. The support structure is preferably made of material that is substantially invisible (i.e., transparent) to the radiation wavelength band of interest. The design of a support structure in accordance with the present invention is not limited to any one design, but may be designed for optimum performance in a particular application.