Patent ID: 6441387
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An aerosol triggering device, comprising:a conduit forming a passage for an air flow, said conduit including an aerosol intake port comprising a weather cap and an aerosol exit port, wherein said air flow is passed into said conduit through said weather cap and exits said conduit through said aerosol exit port; an optical chamber having at least two detectors for detecting an increase in the presence of an aerosol within said air flow, said optical chamber being in gaseous and optical communication with said conduit, wherein air flow entering said weather cap is capable of entering said optical chamber prior to exiting through said aerosol exit port; a laser beam entrance window attached to said conduit and permitting entry of a laser beam into said conduit and said optical chamber; a laser beam exit window attached to said conduit and in optical alignment with said laser beam entrance window; and, a laser beam system having a laser beam generation source directing a laser beam of a selected frequency into said conduit and said optical chamber, wherein biological aerosol contaminants within said air flow emit elastic and inelastic scattering.