Patent ID: 7057197

Claim:
A device for contactless measurement of a linear textile formation, said device comprising: a radiation source for generating a radiation flux; a radiation sensor positioned proximal to said radiation source, said radiation flux receivable by said radiation sensor as said linear textile formation travels between said radiation source and said radiation sensor; a plurality of radiation-sensitive elements disposed within said radiation sensor, said plurality of radiation-sensitive elements aligned in at least one row with each of said radiation-sensitive elements larger in length in a direction of travel of said linear textile formation than in width in a direction normal to said direction of travel of said linear textile formation, whereby said length of said radiation-sensitive elements are inferior to the length of the smallest defect required to be detected in said linear textile formation, such that said length of said radiation-sensitive elements are between about 15 μm and about 200 μm; and said plurality of radiation-sensitive elements measuring at least one property of said linear textile formation based on at least one of a degree of irradiation sensed by said radiation-sensitive elements and a number of radiation-sensitive elements being overshadowed by said linear textile formation as said radiation flux is received by said radiation sensor.