Christopher Lee Baldwin

US Patent:

7202948, Apr 10, 2007

Filed:

Feb 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/061727

Inventors:

Steven G. Buckley - San Diego CA, US
Christopher S. Baldwin - Laurel MD, US
Kyle Kratzsch - Rockville MD, US

Assignee:

LxSix Systems, Inc. - Chatsworth CA

International Classification:

G01J 3/30
G01N 21/63

US Classification:

356318

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.