Steve M Allison

US Patent:

61234559, Sep 26, 2000

Filed:

May 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/850239

Inventors:

David L. Beshears - Knoxville TN
David N. Sitter - Tucson AZ
William H. Andrews - Oliver Springs TN
Marc L. Simpson - Knoxville TN
Ruth A. Abston - Vienna, AT
Michael R. Cates - Oak Ridge TN
Steve W. Allison - Knoxville TN

Assignee:

American Iron and Steel Institute - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01K 1120
G01K 1112

US Classification:

374161

Abstract:

An apparatus for measuring the temperature of a moving substrate includes an air gun with a powder inlet port in communication with the outlet port of a powder reservoir, an air inlet port in communication with a pressurized air source, and an outlet nozzle spaced from and directed toward the moving substrate. The air gun is activated by the air pulses to spray controlled amounts of the powdered phosphor onto the moving substrate, where the phosphor assumes the temperature of the moving substrate. A laser produces light pulses, and optics direct the light pulses onto the phosphor on the moving substrate, in response to which the phosphor emits a luminescence with a decay rate indicative of the temperature of the phosphor. A collection lens is disposed to focus the luminescence, and a photodetector detects the luminescence focused by the collection lens and produces an electrical signal that is characteristic of the brightness of the luminescence. A processor analyzes the electrical signal to determine the decay characteristic of the luminescence and to determine the temperature of the phosphor from the decay characteristic.

US Patent:

59495391, Sep 7, 1999

Filed:

Nov 10, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/966657

Inventors:

Charles L. Britton - Alcoa TN
David L. Beshears - Knoxville TN
Marc L. Simpson - Knoxville TN
Michael R. Cates - Oak Ridge TN
Steve W. Allison - Knoxville TN

Assignee:

American Iron and Steel Institute - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01J 330

US Classification:

356317

Abstract:

A method for determining the decay-time constant of a fluorescing phosphor is provided, together with an apparatus for performing the method. The apparatus includes a photodetector for detecting light emitted by a phosphor irradiated with an excitation pulse and for converting the detected light into an electrical signal. The apparatus further includes a differentiator for differentiating the electrical signal and a zero-crossing discrimination circuit that outputs a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the time period between the start of the excitation pulse and the time when the differentiated electrical signal reaches zero. The width of the output pulse signal is proportional to the decay-time constant of the phosphor.

US Patent:

59862726, Nov 16, 1999

Filed:

Apr 19, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/293916

Inventors:

Charles L. Britton - Alcoa TN
David L. Beshears - Knoxville TN
Marc L. Simpson - Knoxville TN
Michael R. Cates - Oak Ridge TN
Steve W. Allison - Knoxville TN

Assignee:

American Iron and Steel Institute - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01K 1100

US Classification:

2504591

Abstract:

A method for determining the temperature of a fluorescing phosphor is provided, together with an apparatus for performing the method. The apparatus includes a photodetector for detecting light emitted by a phosphor irradiated with an excitation pulse and for converting the detected light into an electrical signal. The apparatus further includes a differentiator for differentiating the electrical signal and a zero-crossing discrimination circuit that outputs a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the time period between the start of the excitation pulse and the time when the differentiated electrical signal reaches zero. The width of the output pulse signal is proportional to the decay-time constant of the phosphor.