Patent ID: 8144325

Claim:
An airborne multiple field of view water droplet sensor, comprising: an illumination portion comprising: a first optical beam emitter configured to output a light beam; and a detection portion comprising: a window configured to permit backscattered light from water droplets illuminated by said light beam to pass therethrough; a first lens configured to focus said backscattered light after the backscattered light has passed through said window; a kaleidoscope configured to channel a first portion of the backscattered light that has passed through the first lens, towards an inner reflective surface of a circle-to-line converter; a multiple field of view subsystem comprising at least a first detector configured to receive light reflected by the circle-to-line converter; and a single field of view subsystem configured to receive a second portion of the backscattered light that has passed through the first lens, the second portion not having been reflected by the circle-to-line converter.