Abstract:
A temperature sensor that has a thermally conducting contact with a surface that emits electromagnetic radiation in proportion to the temperature of the contact is disclosed. The sensor has a resilient member attached to the contact and configured to extend the contact toward the object to be measured. A first light waveguide is attached to the contact and is configured to transmit the electromagnetic radiation from the contact. The sensor has a guide with a bore formed therein that the first waveguide is insertable into. When the contact is moved, the first waveguide moves within the bore. A second waveguide is attached to the guide such that a variable gap is formed between the ends of the first waveguide and the second waveguide. Electromagnetic energy from the first waveguide traverses the gap and can be transmitted by the second waveguide. The guide allows the first waveguide to move with the contact in order to ensure that the contact is fully engaged with the surface of the object.
Abstract:
An instrument and method for optically calibrating and balancing low level luminances of lighted instrument panel displays within the operator station of a vehicle is described which comprises a self-contained, calibrated luminance source and a beamsplitter for combining and juxtaposing an image of the calibrated luminance source with an image of the luminance from a lighted instrument panel display to be calibrated or balanced, whereby the images may be compared in luminance, the lighted instrument panel display being adjustable in intensity using the vehicle instrument panel light trim capability.
Abstract:
An input screen for radiological image intensifier tube that includes a scintillator (12), deposited on an aluminum substrate (10), which converts incident X-photons into visible photons which then go on to excite a photocathode (16). Previously, the luminous photons produced by the scintillator were emitted towards and were reflected by the aluminum layer; but this reflection reduces the resolution. According to the invention, in order to suppress this reflection, an input screen--in which a thin layer (20), transparent or slightly absorbent to the wavelengths emitted by the scintillator and or size to cause an anti-reflecting effect--is interposed between the aluminum substrate and the scintillator. Choices of anti-reflecting slightly absorbent layer include indium oxide, or alternatively antimony, tin or bismuth oxide, or a combination of these oxides, such as indium-tin oxide. The thickness is from a few hundred to a few thousand angstroms.