Patent ID: 6648506
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: G01K

Abstract:
A system for determining a temperature distribution of a surface exhibiting spatial, temporal, or combinations thereof variations in temperature over time where there is a layer on the surface with a temperature sensitive fluorescent material in an ultraviolet and fluorescence transparent medium, wherein the material is in thermal contact with the surface, and wherein the fluorescence emission of the material varies as the temperature of the surface varies, which system comprises:(a) as the temperature sensitive fluorescent material a lanthanide(&bgr;-diketone)3 chelate which is resistant to photobleaching when exposed to a fluorescence-inducing energy over time; (b) light producing means for exposing the material to the fluorescence-inducing energy over time as the temperature varies to induce the material to emit fluorescence at one or more visible wavelengths; (c) sensing means for detecting an image of the fluorescence induced by the fluorescence-inducing energy; (d) photodiode means for measuring fluctuations in the fluorescence-inducing energy during calibration of the system or during long exposure times of the material to the fluorescence-inducing energy source; and (e) computer means for processing the image from the sensing means and the measurements from the photodiode means wherein the computer means determines the temperature distribution of the surface over time by establishing a calibration between either (i) a ratio of broadband fluorescent intensity at an unknown temperature and at a known reference temperature for each location on the surface, or (ii) a ratio of fluorescent intensities of at least two distinct wavelengths of fluorescence emission, whereby the ratio is an indication of the temperature for each location on the surface.