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:
Apr. 10, 2007
Filed:
Feb. 22, 2005
Steven G. Buckley, San Diego, CA (US);
Christopher S. Baldwin, Laurel, MD (US);
Kyle Kratzsch, Rockville, MD (US);
Steven G. Buckley, San Diego, CA (US);
Christopher S. Baldwin, Laurel, MD (US);
Kyle Kratzsch, Rockville, MD (US);
LxSix Systems, Inc., Chatsworth, CA (US);
Abstract
A trace species detection system for engine health monitoring, the system including a laser for generating a laser beam, and optics for focusing the laser beam into an exhaust plume of an engine for thereby creating a spark in the exhaust plume. The system further includes spectral analysis instrumentation for detecting light emissions from the spark, and statistical processing instrumentation for analyzing data from the spectral analysis instrumentation for thereby identifying and quantifying specific particles within a volume of the spark. The invention also provides a method of monitoring the health of an engine, the method including generating a laser beam, focusing the laser beam into an exhaust plume of the engine for thereby creating a spark in the exhaust plume, detecting light emissions from the spark, and analyzing data from the detection for thereby identifying and quantifying specific particles within a volume of the spark.