Patent ID: 9404362
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: E21B,G01N

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for measuring fluid characteristics, comprising: a solid transparent body including a plurality of internally reflective surfaces configured to contact a material of interest and configured to internally reflect an electromagnetic radiation beam, the plurality of reflective surfaces defining a n-sided base surface having a polygonal shape and having at least three sides, each reflective surface forming a side of the polygonal shape, the base surface being at least partially perpendicular to the plurality of reflective surfaces, the body including an opposite surface having the polygonal shape and being at least partially perpendicular to the plurality of reflective surfaces, the body including an entry area configured to guide the electromagnetic beam into the body and toward the plurality of surfaces, the body configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation beam along a path within the solid transparent body from the entry area to an exit area on the solid transparent body, the body and the entry area configured to cause the electromagnetic beam to undergo only a selected number of reflections from the reflective surfaces until the electromagnetic beam exits the body via the exit area, wherein the selected number of reflections is less than or equal to a maximum number of reflections, the maximum number of reflections based on a position of the entry area, a position of the exit area and a number “n” of the sides; an electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the entry area on the solid transparent body and configured to transmit the electromagnetic radiation beam into the solid transparent body through the entry area; and a detector coupled to the exit area on the solid transparent body and configured to receive at least a fraction of the reflected electromagnetic radiation beam, the detector configured to generate a signal based on the received electromagnetic radiation beam and transmit the signal to a processor for at least one of analysis of material characteristics and data storage.